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Read three book about Asian countries with communist leaders and they all had their indoctrination in France. Won't mind a book about how France escaped such a strong community and not become socialist in itself.
The cult of Mao. That is such an encompassing statement in how we view China. Equal part brillant and mad. Well most demagogue usually are. - republic.com.ng/aprilmay-2018/…
More political inclined than economically, eccentric megalomaniac obsessed with holding power and controlling the people of China towards what they thought was his will.
He doomed the society with his "great leap foward program" fractured it with cultural revolution to deflect from faolire which was even a larger failure. He had to walk it back blaming his juniors.
Deng "fall" from power and his rise to power was based on the this cycle of Mao's rule but fortunately for China. This cycle helped to influence his thinking on the society. He helped govern & how the focus on political ideology rather then production and economics stagnated them
Unfortunately the same concerns over his legacy that pushed Mao to fix the effects of the cultural revolution made him back track and push Deng into position from management of the country for the 2nd time.
Wonder how about the psychology of criticism and self-criticism under communist regimes. More I read about it, the wilder it seems. Its an amazing tool of social control. It creates huge psychological stress and all the ailments that brings.
The death of Mao and the arrest of gang the gang of four allowed for a smooth transition under Hua Guofeng (who replaced him) who eventually brought back Deng in a reduced position to continue implementation of the policies he had begun. The end of Maoism.
Deng third rise to power saw him take control of science technology and education with an overview of foreign affairs. He wished to raise the intellectual class and impact of the best and the brightest.
Given current Japan-China relations especially due to the islands and past ones (wars). One would not know how close their relationship was in helping china with ideas and technology to kickstart thir economy. "When we drink water, we cannot forget those who dug the well."
On returning within a few week a plan was developed to adopt new economic policies, to affect public perception of economic production while changing the landscape of efficiency in the country.
" Our nation's system is basically taken from the Soviet Union. It is backwards, deals with issues superficially, duplicates structures and advlcayes bureaucratism.. If we can't grow faster than the capitalist countries we cant show the superiority of our system."
Deng's view of democracy was like Lord Ye's view of dragons. "Lord Ye loved looking at a book with pretty dragons, but when a real dragon appeared, he was terrified."
"Some people think that democracy means they can do whatever they want.. What we advocate is democracy under the guidance of centralism."
Amazing how someone who is basically deaf can run a country. Book never talks if he ever considered the option of an earing aid. Unlike Robert Moses who refused the options due to his vanity. The deafness always plays out as an apt metaphor.
Reading about the creation of the special economic zones of Guangdong & Fujian. You see the unique geographical and political economic reality at play, in shapping it. It was not just a find a coast and concentrate manufacturing towards exportation policy that we tend see..
The Four Modernizations goals to strengthen the fields of agriculture, industry, national defense, and science and technology in China,were the main policy goals of Deng when he finally became party chairman.
"Move heavy things as if they are light" One of the principles of Deng despite wanting to push very fast accumulate a lot of debt and have lots of industries. Deng was actually balanced by people in his administration towards more moderate goals and planning.
This created a lot of political tension and intrigue over how this balance of fast growth while maintaining a solid economic base could be achieved. The fear of repeating "the great leap foward" fiasco & the eastern Europeans were always there to temper expectations.
Its important too note in China, there was there one panacea foor all their development issues. It varried and had lots of success and failures. Huge reforms were not introduced untill minor ones had been tried and were successful.
No matter brilliant the leadership is. The most important thing is to create systems where with the right strategy goals communicated the underlings can take bold steps in achieving them.
Hong Kong is a very interesting island politically. In between Taiwan, China and its British colonial masters. Its a weird mixture.
"A sound political system is ome that contributed to political stability, national unity, higher living standards and continued development of productive forces." said this to Paul Biya so...
His handover to Zaho allowed for more broader structural changes to the political system. Deng during his rule concentrated reforms on leadership. His handover rather than waiting for his death also allowed for political stability.
But like they say the 3rd generation of any empire is where the cracjs started to show. With presure from high inflations, the fall of the Soviet emoire and sanctions and international pressure from the Tiananmen square protest. The new leader thought to cool down on the reforms
So important point to note is when rthere is always political pressure for change reforms with new leaders. It was left to Deng to go on a campaign to renew their leadership qnd the country's confidence on market socialism. Securing his legacy and China economic growth. End.
