THE CONCEPT OF THE CHINESE PEASANTRY IN THE WRITINGS OF KARL MARX AND MAO TSE-TUNG

The Problem. My primary objective has been to examine the writings of Karl Marx and Mao Tse-tung in order to make a comparison on their concepts of the role of the Chinese peasantry.;Sources Used. Research from the works of Marx, Mao, and numerous secondary sources, both official and independent, have been used. To the best of my knowledge no publication or dissertation dealing specifically with the above noted questions is in existence.;Research Procedure. This study has been based on careful and methodical review and analysis of primary and secondary sources to produce an understanding of Marx and Mao in relation to their views to the peasantry.;Conclusion. Marx was greatly influenced by his nineteenth century urban European background. Mao was greatly influenced by his twentieth century rural Chinese background. But Mao was also influenced by Western ideas, especially those of Marx. He considered himself a Marxist.;I have attempted to clarify the following questions: (1) What was Karl Marx's view to the peasantry, and his perception of Asia in general, and what was his concept of the Asiatic mode of production? (2) What was Mao Tse-tung's view to the peasantry and how did it fit into his plans for the Chinese Revolution? (3) Did Mao's view on the peasantry conform with Marx's position or were adaptations and modifications severe enough to place Mao outside of Marx's tradition?;Marx's position on the peasantry was that it constituted a vacillating sector of the middle classes, an essentially reactionary class, but one which could occasionally be counted on in a temporary class alliance under proletarian leadership to fight for socialist revolution.;Mao's position on the peasantry was that they constituted the only practical means of winning a socialist revolution by virtue of their great numbers and their devotion to the proletarian line elucidated by the Communist Party of China.;I found Sinification of Marxism had occurred in Mao's position. The Chinese Revolution was only theoretically a proletarian led revolution, but in fact it was a peasant revolution. The conclusion which I drew was that Mao was not a Marxist, at least in his view to the peasantry.