Chairman Mao Zedong: The People's Republic Of China

Within the People’s Republic of China, Chairman Mao Zedong during the latter years of his reign, mid-1960’s to mid-1970’s, implemented a series of reforms that attempted to further guide China towards a socialist society vis-à-vis a communist society. These reforms that Mao implemented were in regards to the increase corruption found within local leadership and underdevelopment found within villages, for example: Chen Village. Chen Village, a village within the People’s Republic of China, experienced massive waves of reforms and backlashes under the reign of Chairman Mao, such narrative of Chen Village’s radical transformation is depicted in Anita Chan’s, Chen Village: Revolution to Globalization. Although Mao intended to advance villages and rid corruption it simultaneously allowed for the rise of new leaders. Within Chan’s book, the rise of the sent-down youth Ao to local leadership occurred via her involvement in the Mao’s Thought Counselors causing her to move within the ranks to becoming head of the Public Security Committee. Although Ao progressed greatly through the chain of commands, gaining significant recognition amongst the local leadership throughout her stay in Chen Village; due to this …show more content…
The candidates that provided the role of counselors were the sent-down youth; reasoning based on the original notion that they are highly educated and loyal to Mao’s ideology. Such characteristics were pivotal during this period because many peasants in Chen Village forgot Mao’s ideology; therefore, Ao and the sent-down youth facilitated the role as educators—reiterating the teachings of the four bad kinds and maintain the consistent stride of collective work to maintain a socialist