The Great Leap Forward

[Andrew Frank]

One of my favorite features of the final lecture by Professor Dube was discovering the logic behind the Great Leap Forward, as well as all the incredibly smart (albeit manipulative) methods that Mao used to "win over" Chinese citizens once the People's Republic was established. For example, the creation of multiple political parties was an incredibly thoughtful move by Mao, as it allowed individuals to maintain the illusion of choice (when in reality, all the political parties were required to actually support the Communist Party's ideologies). The Land Reform Law also demonstrated Mao's ability to recognize the importance of the poorer members of the Chinese agrarian communities, as well as his ability to gain the capital that is produced from the agriculture economy in the countryside. By framing the struggle for production as a "war" with his "Great Leap Forward," he also was able to maintain stronger control of his citizens, while enhancing socialization within communities through the erasure of private property. It would be fascinating for students to experience a "role play" as Chinese citizens experiencing these changes, then have students write/discuss how each experience would make them feel...