Mao Zedong: Tyrant Or Hero?

Mao’s rise to power was a result of favourable conditions resulting from both the failures of the Nationalist party (GMD) and the various successes of the Communist party (CCP). Before Mao was able to consolidate his power over China in 1949, he first had to become solitary leader of the CCP party which he accomplished through his effective use of propaganda, ideology, policies and use of force. Prior to this, China had been led by incompetent leaders and as a result of their actions, it experienced a weakness of political system, impact of war and various economic factors. Towards the beginning of the 20th century, the Qing dynasty which had ruled China for nearly two millennia, was on the verge of collapse.

Also, during the Agrarian Revolution, his policy of grabbing and killing landlords and distributing their properties to the poor won the respect of the masses. Mao also enjoyed their praise. Actually, from 1945 to 1957, not only did Mao criticize or pretend to criticize personal idolization of leaders, but the party also held rules and executed them against idolization. So, at this point, the enormous respect paid to Mao failed to evolve into idolization.

Although Mao claimed that these achievements were to be accomplished in the interests of the Chinese population, it is clear that the damage caused by the Great Leap Forward was too extreme to reflect a policy which was in the interests of the people. Mao introduced the idea of communes as he believed these would increase production.

The transition of power in China changed the dynamics of post-World War II relations. For the United States, the so-called “Loss of China” was a a catastrophe, not only because the US supported Chiang Kai-shek in the last few years, but also because it seems to be a victory for the Soviet Union and the global Communism. For China, in 1949 started for the first time in its history the possibility to build foreign relations without being “suppressed by unequal treaties” by western powers. But China‘s relations to other countries remained very complicated and complex.

World War II was a crucial time in history, where dictators rose to power and promised to bring a change to their country, through tough love and intimidation. A prime example of a dictator who was all about these principles was Joseph Stalin. A man who made his name through instilling fear into the hearts of those who crossed his path. Joseph Stalin grew up poor and didn't have much. .It ’s fair to say he indeed had a harsh childhood, and you would think that a man who had that kind of upbringing would not be so desensitized to the rest of his people, however, that was not the case.

Around 1966 Mao decided that not enough people were supporting his government, so he decided that the country needed a Cultural Revolution. He got college students and young people involved in destroying the past. They tore down architecture that was representative of the past. The destroyed art and books from the days of the emperors. Mao also put together the Red Guard which questioned people about the allegiance to the communists and even jailed or executed individuals who they thought were not good communists.

After the World War 2 until the '90s there was this strong contrast between an economic boom in the United States created by the capitalist system and consumerism versus the spread of Communism, a system of social organization based on the holding of all property in common. The clash between these two systems and the countries influenced by them gave birth to the Cold War. The situation become more unbalanced than before when Mao Tse Tung became the communist leader of China. When he declares the founding of the modern People 's Republic of China on October 1st, 1949, he transformed China into a Communist superpower, but his political view was different from the Russian one. He began to lose power during the '70s because of a series of failed reforms such as the Cultural Revolution and because of his bad health.

For example, during Warring States Period in China, when seven major states were unable to protect their citizens from conquering by foreign countries and maintain peaceful life, fierce wars happened and China was inevitably in chaos. Eventually, the Qin dynasty unified China and ended the chaos. Numerous accomplishment of economy and improvement of policies were made after the unification.(Doc 4) Heinrich von Treitschke, who was one of the most influential proponents of militant nationalism in Germany, proclaimed that a united country should be able to protect itself and maintain usual orders. Small states would not have abilities to prevent themselves from being conquered by foreign countries and this means a large state will be more functional and beneficial to all citizens. Nationalist referred them as comrades instead of individuals and it inspired people to get rid of selfishness but cooperate with each other in order to maximize the power of Germany.

The Party’s destruction of society’s individuality reveals humanity’s potential for evil and corruption in their struggle for power over

Hitler used the idea of artworks to control the Germans and manipulate them to love the regime and believe in it at all costs. Hitler wanted was to manipulate the people in the name of struggling to defend the survival of the state and lead them into World War 2. Hitler 's regime spent a lot of tax payer 's money to recruit and train soldiers. The artists’ artworks encouraged and boosted the morale of soldiers in order to believe and love Hitler’s regime and its ideals. Through the use of art, Hitler promoted the view that the primary creative impulse was more of political than artistic .

The Continental Army was a major activist group,wanting to change the ways of the British Army for many reasons but mainly for taxing the civilians without consulting the local governing bodies of the colonies. To solve this issue the Continental Army was formed on June 14th, 1775 to fight against the British forces and Benedict Arnold was one of the Continental Army’s most important leaders who provided soldiers hope and passion into achieving a new nation. Benedict Arnold played a major part for the colonists but he is also one of America’s most infamous traitors, who joined the British in an attempt to get money and a high military ranking in exchange for the plans to west point. He and Major Jon Andre would meet up in a discreet place to trade the plans but they got caught in

“Nationalism is an infantile disease. It is the measles of mankind” (Albert Einstein). Around the time of the World Wars, different leaders used nationalism as a persuasive tool to gain absolute power. Many leaders were able to obtain power in America, China, and Germany and help the citizens restore pride and confidence in one's country. For example, President Woodrow Wilson of the United States used his vision for a democratic legislation and world peace to unite the Americans.

America. This was a magical name on the eastern coast of the province of Fujian, where both of my parents were born. My parents grew up during the Cultural Revolution, a movement initiated by Mao Zedong’s belief that his Communist Party was shunting him aside and propelling the country in the wrong, inegalitarian direction. Mao attempted to reassert his authority over the Chinese masses by enforcing his ideology. He mobilized the Red Guards, paramilitary groups of students, to destroy the Four Olds—old ideas, old culture, old customs, and old habits.