The Chinese Revolution

Abstract

Abstract The subject of this chapter is the Chinese Revolution, from around 1930 up until 1970. The Chinese Revolution differs from the French and Russian in that the communists exercised control over significant parts of China before achieving national victory in 1949. As a result, revolutionary and transformational terror coincided in those areas they ruled prior to the achievement of national power. Having achieved control of China nationally in 1949–1950, transformational terror continued to be used in the process of carrying out a program of social transformation, including most importantly agricultural collectivization. Inverted terror broke out with the onset of the Cultural Revolution in 1966, something for which Mao was personally responsible. Throughout, the role of the populace in struggle meetings was important.