1956-66 Pre-Cultural Revolution period and Mao’s lack of self-criticism
Abstract
The Cultural Revolution was one of the greatest destructions that world history has ever witnessed. According to Frank Dikötter, a notable historian, ‘it was about loss, loss of trust, loss of friendship, loss of faith in other human beings, loss of predictability in social relationships. And that really is the mark that the Cultural Revolution left behind.’ The Cultural Revolution was a period during which children aged between 12 and 14 would call themselves ‘Red Guards’ and carry out all manner of violence in the streets as Mao’s soldiers. In fact, there was no power in the country that could stop these individuals. Nevertheless, it is worth emphasising that the Cultural Revolution was not the result of spontaneous destruction. In this study, the socio-political and cultural events that took place during the period from 1956 to 1967 in China will be examined, and the factors that caused the cultural revolution will be investigated. As a result of this study, it is understood that the greatest factor which led to the formation of the Cultural Revolution was the lack of self-criticism associated with Mao.
Keywords
Cultural Revolution,Mao Zedong,Self-Criticism,Hundred Flowers Period,Intellectuals
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