An abortive Chinese enlightenment: The Cultural Revolution and class theory

This thesis treats the Cultural Revolution (1966-69) essentially as an ideological movement to inspire the Chinese people to build an ideal society transcending class polarization. Based on research in official documents, Red Guard publications, and underground journals, this study focuses on the differentiation of two class theories, old and new. The old class theory prevailed before the Cultural Revolution, emphasizing social divisions prior to the Communist victory of 1949. The new class theory arose with the unfolding of the Cultural Revolution, stressing social inequalities under socialism. Conflict between these two theories was a major factor contributing to the rebel/conservative division among the masses during the revolution. Indoctrination in the old class theory greatly enhanced the state's efforts to remold society. The rise of the new class theories unleashed social forces to transform the state. Ideological transformations were a leading force for change in Mao's China. This conclusion challenges the models of both totalitarianism and civil society, which presuppose a conventional paradigm of the relationship between state and society. My examination of the new class theory suggests that ideology provided the space for state and society to exchange ideas--a space where argument and logic, not violence and political power, determine the outcome. Ideology thus belonged to both state and society, constituting the public sphere.; The Cultural Revolution failed, however. It came to a premature end, leaving no positive ideology for the Chinese people. The failure of the Cultural Revolution struck a death knell for Mao Zedong Thought, perhaps the greatest tragedy of the Cultural Revolution. By totally negating the Cultural Revolution and abandoning Mao Zedong Thought, the Chinese people negated numerous great efforts of their revolutionary past and abandoned many fine Chinese traditions, resulting in their complete surrender to vulgar Western ideologies.; The thesis concludes, nevertheless, that the final stage of the Cultural Revolution is yet to come. Driven by an unrestrained market economy to moral uncertainty, the Chinese people are now desperately looking for alternatives. The revolutionary ideas and ideals of the Cultural Revolution may yet become an ideological source for their future.