Mao Zedong Case Study

Mao Zedong had numerous economic policies dealing with both agriculture and industry that enabled him to sustain power. Policies such as his Land reform programme of 1950,his first five year plan which lasted from 1953-1957, Collectivization and his Great leap forward of 1958 both brought him major successes and failures enabling him his maintenance of power.

In 1950 Mao’s land reform program allowed him to gain massive support from the peasants who at the time made up the majority of China’s population. Mao seeing the peasant’s strength began to redistribute land from the landowners to the peasants. The programmes aim was to liberate the forces to increase productivity in agriculture resulting in gained support and power. This programme displayed a number of successes as well as weaknesses for Mao. Through the land reform programme the living standards of the peasants increased as they received land and were relieved of rent payments. Peasants were given a say in revolution and therefore supported Mao highly. On the other hand millions of landlords died and Mao became more unpopular amongst them. All in all this policy was a success for Mao as the peasants had a higher influence on his maintenance of power compared to the landlords as they did not only help China to increase the majority of its agricultural output but also made up the majority of Chinas population making their group more essential supporters.

Furthermore Mao’s first Five-year plan, from 1953-1957, aimed at achieving high growth rates in heavy industry. This was to be done by organising farmers into collectives to increase productivity, abolishing private-ownership in land and industry and increased employment to assist in industry. The government began by setti...

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...gesting and starting beneficial economic policies to persuade the people enabling him the support he required. However when in power with adequate supporters Mao took the tern he needed to develop a powerful country no longer caring about the human costs. Therefore one can state that at the beginning of his leadership he did maintain power due to his economic policies. This remained to some extent but the unfavourable factors were larger damaging his status making him lose support. Ultimately like most other leaders when lacking supporters, the favour of the elimination of opposition takes over resulting in a regime, which is safe for the ruler to maintain power. Therefore I do agree that the economic policies played a huge role in his maintenance of power at the start but later they took and unbeneficial turn forcing Moa to take extreme measures to maintain power.