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Cults in social psychology
Cults in social psychology
Social psychology of cults
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Chairman Mao Zedong was idolized in the eyes of his subjects. He was placed upon a pedestal and his word was taken to heart and published into the book Quotations from Chairman Mao. Mao was thought to have created a personality cult. This occurs through the use of mass media and propaganda to create a heroic/idealized image. This image is presented with a plethora of flattery and, in some cases, worshiped. The personality cult created surrounding Chairman Mao ensured that his beliefs would preserve long after his death. Mao Zedong acknowledged the importance of the mass. This insured a successful increase in population. Men were the backbone of this policy in order to provide protection for the nation. Although Mao is no longer chairman, …show more content…
The movie follows the life of a man, Fugui, that looses everything due to gambling. He uses his talent to entertain with puppets to survive war. A majority of the movie captures his life upon return from war living in a society governed by the Red Guard and beliefs of Mao. In this particular scene, citizens of the province rotated donating iron to create a ______. When the town officials asked if the family had any more iron, the young boy eagerly brought out his dad’s old puppet trunk, offering the nails as a further donation (Zhang Yimou 1994). The dedication of this young boy represents the loyalty citizens had to their …show more content…
“Some of the mass campaigns were actually designed to make China ‘physically’ stronger by directing the masses towards projects that would increase economic production and strengthen China’s infrastructure” (Weatherly 2014). By increasing the economic production, it is necessary to supply companies with viable works. Furthermore, in order to increase infrastructure throughout the country, a strong population is essential for not only creating this improvements, but also implementing and upholding them. By increasing the strength of the country as a whole, individuals will be encouraged to uphold this same responsibility and standard. Cycling back to governmental loyalty, utilizing mass campaigns, particularly for the strength of the government, allows the people to feel involved in the government and, as previously stated, increase loyalty.
Mao valued a strong workforce. This placed a great importance of the citizens of China, the mass. The multiple ongoing wars, World War I, World War II, and the Sino-Japanese War, put an emphasis on the strength of Chinese citizens. At a time in which national security was crucial, men were highly valued as they typically filled such warrior –like
Mao Zedong was a very influential man in history. He forever changed the face of Chinese politics and life as a whole. His communist views and efforts to modernize China still resonate in the country today. Jonathan Spence’s book titled Mao Zedong is a biography of the great Chinese leader. Spence aims to show how Mao evolved from a poor child in a small rural village, to the leader of a communist nation. The biography is an amazing story of a person’s self determination and the predictability of human nature. The book depicts how a persuasive voice can shape the minds of millions and of people. It also shows the power and strength that a movement in history can make. This biography tells an important part of world history-the communist takeover of China.
After Deng Xiaoping gained power in 1978, a new political atmosphere was promised for the Chinese people. A promise of a free land with a modern economic state was made by Deng in order to gain public support. During Deng’s reign, a series of economic reforms were made. These reforms had major impacts on both the economy and the society of China.
Growing up in a traditional and wealthy family, Mao attended a good, but Confucianist primary school. It was in these years that he began his hate for Confucius, his teachings, beliefs, and policies. Mao was a revolutionist at heart, and spent his formative education years in novels instead of scholarly readings. Eventually graduating primary school, Mao worked on his family farm, getting to spend more time in books of his political choice - of Communism, Marxism, and Leninism. These books fired revolution in his soul and he developed strong political opinions, ...
Once China’s population began to grow at an exponential rate the government feared that there would eventually be social unrest, and chaos. This social unrest and chaos would eventually cause an internal crisis for the country. At that time, China’s leaders believed that population control was one of its top priorities because it was precondition for the coun...
Mao's period of communal reform and the establishment of the Communist party from 1949-1976 was needed in order for Deng's individual oriented, capitalist society to thrive. Mao's period encompassed the structure of a true dictatorial communist government. It strove to concentrate on unifying communities to create a strong political backbone while being economically self-sufficient and socially literate and educated in Maoist propaganda. Under Mao's leadership individual wealth was seen as a hindrance to community goals in meeting production quotas and was crushed by such policies as collectivization, land reformation, and movements such as The Great Leap Forward and Cultural Revolution. Under his rule, modeled under the Stalinist USSR archetype, China raised its masses from poverty and starvation to a standard of living that was considered a substantial upgrade.
In 1949 China became a Communist nation the leader Mao Zedong had idea on how he wanted China to be runned. Mao Zedong liked the idea of having a big nation . Zedong wanted a big population because that meant he would how more young workers than old retired people in his nation. Zedong told all the couples to have lots of babies to make the population grow but once he had seen how fast it was growing he want to go back and never said what he said. After he already had a big population he had to think of how he was going to provide clothes and food for everyone . He came up with this policy to try to fix his problem.
Among the ashes and ruins caused by the devastation of World War Two, two superpowers rose and a new war erupted, the Cold War. The United States and its NATO allies as the capitalists versus the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact as the communists. It was named the Cold War due to the fact the neither countries would attack each other, so they fought proxy wars around the globe. Many small countries started taking sides and one of the most important country in the world sided with the communists, China. During Mao's reign they established the People's Republic of China, changed the tide in the Korean War and aided the Viet Minh; making him the most influential person during the cold war.
Mao: Well first of all Stalin created the cult of personality, everyone loved him and admired him because in all the images he was depicted on he seemed powerful. When Stalin turned Russia into a superpower after winning World War II everyone admired him even more. When the second Sino-Japanese war happened It was me who created a massive guerilla warfare and defeated the Japanese. Because of my formidable and effective fighting force I was the savior of China and everyone loved me. Superman was loved by everyone in the Soviet Union because he kept everyone save while still implemented Communist ideals. We were all saviors and if you did not agree with our ideals we would send you to rectification camps. For example, when superman defeated super villains he put them in a rehabilitation program that
With the Industrial Revolution and Age of Imperialism intensifying among Western nations in the 19th century, China faced an impending threat to its ancient cultural values. Pressured to adapt to the changing global environment but fearful of losing its traditional identity, China and its reform leaders have since attempted to incorporate a “ti-yong” distinction between utilizing Western function and preserving Chinese values, most notably in the Self-Strengthening movement beginning in 1860 and Deng Xiaopeng’s economic reforms of the 1980s. The Qing’s attempts at self-strengthening proved unsuccessful with humiliating defeats in the Sino-French and Sino-Japanese Wars in the late 1800s. However, Deng’s utilization of Western market techniques in China’s socialist state proved wildly successful, with annual economic growth of 8-15% throughout the decade. The disparity of success between these two movements demonstrates the evolving political strength of the Chinese state that has revolutionized in its sovereignty and organization since the mid-nineteenth century, providing the foundation for mass reform and Chinese modernization.
When Mao Zedong was born in 1893, his homeland of China was in deep political and economic trouble. Long before the rise of Mao, China believed that they were the most superior country in comparison to all other cultures and religions, resulting in complete isolation and a lack of contact with foreign countries. However, China’s political stability was tested in the early 1830’s when Western countries such as Great Britain, Germany, France, and the United States of America threatened China to open up their main trading port known as Canton, modern day Guangzhou. As a result, the Chinese faced unequal treaties and rights through this sphere of influence, leading to the loss of land to the West. 1 Furthermore, the Imperial Government and Republic
Often times we look at China and immediately think about the political constraints that the government has in place. This book puts a human element on the Chinese experience during this time. The human element that Hessler so eloquently writes about, explains why this economic shift was so passionately driven by the people. I have learned that there is a unique relationship between the ordinary citizens of China and the state. China was able to promote nationalism through its education system while providing people with opportunities that they were previously incapable of providing for themselves. You are taught at a very young age to work hard and never give up. You are taught to understand and recognize your imperfection in comparison to the state. It is almost as if the people of China are constantly seeking the approval of the state and not the other way around, like in a democracy. This reflects what we have learned in our readings. It was difficult to understand why one would surrender their pots and pans for the greater good of the state. After reading this book, I now grasp the Chinese passion for a better
This was the result of a complete loss of nationalist credentials. The Sino-Japanese War, 1931-45, left a big impact on both KMT and CCP. Mao took advantage of the situation and gained support from the locals as a leader and was recovered, planned and prepared by that time. Mao had improved his leadership skills compared to the First Civil War, however, Chiang Kai-shek kept on failing.
“Mao’s Last Dancer” is a book about the life of Li Cunxin. Li Cunxin was born into poverty in China under the rule of Mao Ze dung. The book was first published in 2003 and since then has won several awards including the book of the year award. Throughout the novel the composer chronologically cites the life of Li Cunxin and how he felt and where he belonged at certain points in his life.
“To understand is hard. Once one understands, action is easy.” (Lifequoteslib, 2011, p. 1) These symbolic words were spoken by Sun Yat-Sen at one of his many speeches. Sun Yat-Sen was a Chinese revolutionary who sought to make China into a republic so he could end the suppressive Qing dynasty, and was elected by officials to become the first president in 1911.
In 1966, Mao mobilized the Chinese youth to initiate the “Cultural Revolution”, a violent process eliminating old Chinese culture, customs, thoughts and habits, purging “counter-revolutionary” party members, and heightening Mao’s personality cult. I will summarize evidence collected from textbooks, official documents, biographies and eyewitness reports about the events between 1959 and 1966. I will describe the failure of the Great Leap Forward, Mao’s resignation as president, his power struggle with Liu Shoaqi and Deng Xiaoping and the propagating of his personality cult. Then I will identify how these events may have given Mao reasons for launching the Cultural Revolution, and whether his motives were of an ideological or selfish nature. After carrying out a Source Evaluation of the “16 Point Directive on the Cultural Revolution” and Jung Chang’s “Mao: The Unknown Story” and analysing my evidence, my essay will answer the question: To what extent were Mao’s motives for starting the Cultural Revolution ideological?