The Study On The Theory And Policy Of The Rural Class Of Mao Zedong During The Period Of Democratic Revolution

In the 20th century of China, the revolution guided by the theory of class struggle could be said an important topic of historical development, the problem of peasant was the main problem of the Chinese revolution. For that Chinese rural peasant class and revolution problem in modern times became one of investigative problems of the history of the communist party of China, Chinalized Marxism, political science, the modern history of China. It was still an important research topic even in the modern times. In recent years, with the emergence of new situations and the changes of people ideology, some people were making reflections on the history of Chinese class and revolution. In the "reflection", there were two viewpoints aroused people’s high attention. One was to doubt the necessity of the revolution and then proposed "farewell revolution". In their point, there were problems in the division and nature determination for rural residents at that time. Most of landlords and rich peasants had achieved prosperity by working hard and living frugally. They were promoters in development of rural productivity and they should not have been main target of attack. The second viewpoint was that not only the history of class struggle and revolution should not be doubt but also the issues of class and class struggle should be paid a high attention to, even today.The issues of the rural class and the peasant revolution were the fundamental problem of class and revolution in the democratic revolution period. Why should Mao Zedong and the Communist Party of China have divided rural residents into five classes of landlord, rich peasant, middle peasant, poor peasant and farmhand? Whether the rural class policies existed rationality or not in the process of the Chinese revolution? What influences did Mao Zedong’s theory and policy of rural class have done on the Chinese revolution? Did we need to use class analysis methods and class struggle perspectives to regard Chinese society. These questions needed further research. Mao Zedong’s rural class theory and policy in democratic revolution period was an important topic in the research of the history of the communist party of China. In addition, to study this topic was also practical need to answer their questions.From the academic research point of view, the studies on Mao Zedong’s theory of peasant problem, analysis of class and class struggle theory had been worked more, especially there were voluminous treatise on issues concerning peasant. And there were also large numbers of thesis researching on Mao Zedong’s rural class theory and policy issues. Though, many research achievements had been done in academic circles, but there were still many issues that needed to expand the research. With some files and documents published in recent years and the diversification of research methods, the further researches with new approaches, perspectives and information were also needed, even if some of original issues had been studied. Therefore, to study the subjects had important theoretical value.In the article, according to the class theory and peasant problem theory of Marxism, making use of relevant theories and data in political science, sociology, economics, adopting the method of unified history and logic, starting from the perspective of the relationship among the Chinese Communist Party, farmers and revolution, the formation and development, I should analyze main content, the reasons of success and failure of Mao Zedong’s rural class theory and policy in democratic revolution period thoroughly. And on that, I would try my best to processed new thinking on some issues and put forward plausible views and perspectives.Mao Zedong’s rural class theory and policy mainly include theory of dividing rural class, analyzing the different classes in rural areas politically, the Communist Party of China’s rural class line and class policy. Technology path of this paper was expanded in accordance with the internal logic of the main content of Mao Zedong’s rural class theory and policy. It was from theoretical background to rural class divisions, to political analysis for rural class, to class lines and class policy of Communist Party of China, and to the overall evaluation and revelation at last. Then, the main content of this paper was divided into three major parts.First of all, I would analyze the theoretical basics, historical conditions and historical process which promoted Mao Zedong’s rural class and policy theory creating and developing (1 and 2 chapter). From the period of Great Revolution to the early stage of founding new China, Mao Zedong’s rural class and policy theory had come through four stages of germination and prototype, preliminary formation, mature, development and improvement. Its emergence and development had lied on ideological origin, national conditions, ear conditions and practical methods. The main ideological origin and theoretical basis were the class and class struggle theory of Marxism and the theory of peasant problem.Secondly, the main content of Mao Zedong’s rural class and policy theory would be researched in the second part of the paper (3-5 chapter). Mao Zedong’s theory and policy about China’s rural class was expanded along with a path which was from investigating economic relations to dividing class or stratum and then to analyzing political attitude, confirming class lines and class policy. That’s to say, it was a process that according to the economic relations divide classes and strata to analyzing the political tendencies of all classes in political relations (especially the attitude toward the Chinese revolution), to confirming the rural class strategy and class policy of the Communist Party of China. Class division was the precondition of analyzing political attitude of all classes. Class division and political analysis were the basic foundation of formulating class line and class policy for Mao Zedong and the Communist Party of China. In order to educate the peasant and mobilize them to support and join in the revolution, Mao Zedong had determined and implemented class lines and policies suitable for national situations. That was the standing point of Mao Zedong’s theory of rural class.In addition discussed those topic, I would analyze Mao Zedong’s contribution or error and their causes, the practice effect. And I would put forward my own viewpoints on those topics.Thirdly, I would sum up the experience and enlightenment of Mao Zedong’s understanding and solving the problem of rural class (6 chapter). I would analyze its theoretical value, especially the principle and historical experience of Mao Zedong’s understanding and dealing with rural class problems. And contacting with today’s rural peasant problems to discuss related issues and I would try to draw some thinking of enlightening significance.In the paper, on the basic of expounded Mao Zedong’s rural class theory and policy in the period of democratic revolution, I have made a special effort to investigate and study the following topics and try to put forward my own viewpoints:1. The relationship between Mao Zedong’s theory of rural class and Marxism-Leninism theory of class and class struggle. Looking from the theoretical origin, Mao Zedong’s theory of rural class had mainly derived from the Marxism theory of class struggle. But for the national conditions and cognitive reasons, they were different. However Mao Zedong had put the class struggle theory equivalent to the scientific socialism, which obviously had deviation on understanding.2. The standards and purposes about the division of the rural class. Mao Zedong had divided class mainly according to the economic standards, especially the exploitation factors. The main purpose of the division was to serve for the political revolution. But he had emphasized on the political function of class divisions, which was connected with that he had based on the political thought to divide class in his later years.3. About the definition on the class attribute of various stratum in rural areas. Mao Zedong had considered that tenants were rural proletariat, poor peasants were rural semi-proletariat, rich peasants were the rural bourgeoisie. His viewpoint was debatable. In theory, this definition was different from the exposition by classic Marxism.4. The perception about the status of various stratum in rural areas in revolution. The conclusion had reached by Mao Zedong that poor peasants and middle peasants as the main body of the peasant class were the main driver of Chinese revolution was an extraordinary view of Marxism. To put this viewpoint on the combination of Marxism’s theory and the actual situation of the Chinese revolution, it could show its important position and outstanding contribution. However, Mao Zedong’s understanding of the relationship between the level of revolutionary and the degree of wealth, the relationship between class elements and political ideas had deviation certainly.5. The issues of theory, route and policy about educating and mobilizing peasant, liberating rural peasant class and carrying out the rural revolutionary struggle. Among them, the routes and policies of land system reform, the policies and measures of educating and mobilizing peasant which were formulated by Mao Zedong were the key issues to probe into.6. To summarize the principles, experience and inspiration which ran through Mao Zedong’s theory, policy of rural class and the theory, practice of peasant problem. The position, principles and spirit that were embodied in the analysis of rural class and the peasant problems by Mao Zedong were not out of date. Class analysis method had its value all the same. By now, national conditions were greatly changed from the democratic-revolution periods’. How should we to analyze the current rural social stratum, to treat the peasant class, to solve the problem of the peasant in new situation. We should have new mentality and methods.