American Studies On The Chinese Cultural Revolution (1966-1969)

The Chinese Cultural Revolution (CCR) is one of the most important periods incontemporary Chinese history. It involved virtually all Chinese people and shocked the world.China encountered difficulties, setbacks and isolation in the international relations in theearlier years of the CCR. Americans are among the earliest who studied the CCR. During thepast nearly four decades, American studies of the CCR have been well underway and a goodnumber of works have been published. This doctoral dissertation just focuses on the historical topic about the CCR amongAmericans, especially policymakers and intellectuals, in an effort to describe and analyze thecomplicated process, during a significant transitional period in the history of Sino-U.S.Relations, in which Americans were seeking to recognize the mainland China, and to trace theChinese impression that existed in the minds of contemporary Americans, so as to bettercomprehend history through the Americans' accumulated knowledge and understanding ofChina. The subject is a new area in the field of Sino-US relations in Chinese academiccommunity. The dissertation falls into five parts: Introduction In this part, a survey of American studies of the CCR has been examined. It points outthat American studies of the CCR is very comprehensive which have involved studies ofAmerican policymakers, think tanks, and intellectuals as well, and developed into amulti-discipline subject. The basis for the selection of the thesis proposal is accounted for. Therealistic significance is discussed. Chapter â… , American Studies of the Origin of the CCR In this chapter, American studies of the origin of the CCR are explored. With regard tothis topic and elaborate various viewpoints, American interpretation of the origin of the CCRis summed up into 6 schools:1. domestic threats; 2.threat from outside; 3.stuggle to be Mao'ssuccessor; 4. end of the dynasty; 5. Mao's personalities as main factors; 6. necessary steps ofsocialistic development. Americans tend to go back to the history of pre-cultural revolution toseek for the deep root of the outbreak of the CCR. They usually don't deny that the abovefactors interacted together to cause the CCR. Chapter â…¡, American Analysis of Chinese Politics in the Process of the CCR This chapter looks at how Americans have assessed the major events such as Red GuardMovement and the process of the CCR during the first three years. Americans examine RedGuard Movement from two main perspectives. One is that they view it as a top-down massmovement schemed by Mao Ze-dong; the other is that they view it as a down-top spontaneousmass movement. At the early stage of the CCR, most American believed that among thecommunist party they have appeared Mao's opposition. Zhou En-lai and the PLA have bothmade their efforts and attributed to the stabilities of China. Chapter â…¢, American Presumption of the Aftermath of the CCR Chapter â…¢ views American presumption of the aftermath of the CCR and theirspeculation on the regulation of U.S.-China policies. Americans had presumed three possibleresults of the CCR which all turned to be wrong. On the basis of tracing back the U.S.-Chinapolicies before the CCR, the further thoughts of the U.S.-China policies at the beginning ofthe CCR are also analyed in this Chapter. Conclusion The conclusion is a brief summary over the views of the Chinese Cultural Revolutionamong Americans at a great turning point in the history of Sino-U.S. relations.