Question
How successful were Mao’s economic policies in industrialising China throughout the first five year plan and the Great Leap Forward?
Answer
Mao’s economic policies during the First Five-Year Plan and the Great Leap Forward aimed to rapidly industrialize China. The First Five-Year Plan (1953-1957) achieved some success in industrial growth, particularly in heavy industry, with the economy growing at a rate of 8.5% (Lardy, 1987; Amin, 2015). However, this growth was regionally concentrated and did not lead to sustained national output growth (Lardy, 1987).
First Five-Year Plan
Successes: The First Five-Year Plan focused on heavy industry and achieved significant growth, contributing to the construction of an industrial base (Amin, 2015; Johnson, 1969).
Limitations: Despite industrial achievements, the plan did not address agricultural development adequately, leading to imbalances (Amin, 2015).
Great Leap Forward
Objectives: Launched in 1958, the Great Leap Forward aimed to transform China into a modern industrialized state by rapidly increasing industrial and agricultural production (Amin, 2015; Jung, 2017).
Failures: The Great Leap Forward was a catastrophic failure, leading to a collapse in grain production and widespread famine due to unrealistic production targets and mismanagement (Li and Yang, 2005; Chen, 2009). The diversion of resources from agriculture to industry and excessive grain procurement were major factors in the decline of agricultural output (Li and Yang, 2005; Chen, 2009).
Consequences: The policy resulted in severe demographic impacts, including excess mortality and fertility shortfalls, due to food shortages and economic mismanagement (Peng, 1987). The failure of the Great Leap Forward set back China’s development by about a decade (Johnson, 1969).
Conclusion
Mao’s economic policies during the First Five-Year Plan and the Great Leap Forward had mixed results. While the First Five-Year Plan achieved industrial growth, the Great Leap Forward was a significant failure, causing economic disruption and famine. The policies highlighted the challenges of balancing industrial and agricultural development in a centrally planned economy.
References
Lardy, N., 1987. Economic recovery and the 1st Five-Year Plan. **, pp. 144-183. https://doi.org/10.1017/CHOL9780521243360.004
Amin, K., 2015. THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA UNDER MAO ZEDONG: POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. **, 3, pp. 316-323.
Li, W., & Yang, D., 2005. The Great Leap Forward: Anatomy of a Central Planning Disaster. Journal of Political Economy, 113, pp. 840 – 877. https://doi.org/10.1086/430804
Jung, H., 2017. On the “Great Leap Forward” under Strategy to the “Progress and Surpass” by Mao Zedong. DEStech Transactions on Social Science, Education and Human Science. https://doi.org/10.12783/DTSSEHS/ERMM2017/14742
Chen, Y., 2009. Cold War competition and food production in China, 1957-1962.. Agricultural history, 83 1, pp. 51-78. https://doi.org/10.3098/AH.2008.83.1.51
Peng, X., 1987. Demographic consequences of the Great Leap Forward in Chinas provinces.. Population and Development Review, 13, pp. 639. https://doi.org/10.2307/1973026
Johnson, C., 1969. The Two Chinese Revolutions. The China Quarterly, 39, pp. 12 – 29. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0305741000049286
