What ideologies did Mao's programs to transform China reflect?
1 Answer
They reflected his interpretation of Marxism which became known as Maoism.
Explanation:
Mao's policies reflected Marxism in that the communist state would control the country on behalf of the proletariat.
This was reflected in state ownership of the economy and land. As in the Soviet Union a number of 5 year plans were introduced, setting targets to increase industrial production.
The main difference in Maoism was the emphasis placed on agriculture and the peasants. China was far more agrarian than the Soviet Union and lacked an industrial proletariat on the scale of the Soviet Union.
During the Chinese civil war Mao based his armies on the peasantry. He emphasised the need to treat the peasants with respect. Therefore on coming to power much of Mao's policies were concerned with agriculture.
For example, the Great Leap Forwards in 1958 aimed at increasing industrial production particularly steel production, and re-organising agriculture into large scale communes.
