Introduction
In the late 1950s, Mao Zedong launched the Great Leap Forward. It was an ambitious campaign aimed at transforming China from an agrarian society into an industrial powerhouse. This radical initiative was intended to accelerate economic growth and modernisation but ended in disaster. In this blog, we delve into the origins of the Great Leap Forward. We explore its immediate impacts and the long-term consequences. We also examine how it has influenced China’s path to modernity.
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Origins of the Great Leap Forward
Mao’s Vision for Rapid Modernisation
Mao Zedong’s vision for the Great Leap Forward was rooted in his desire to rapidly industrialise China and consolidate socialism. By bypassing traditional gradual development strategies, Mao aimed to achieve a swift economic transformation. His plan included the creation of large collective farms. It also included the establishment of backyard steel furnaces to boost agricultural and industrial output.
Related | Revolution, reform and repression: Understanding Mao’s China
Subscribe to get access
Read more of this content when you subscribe today.
Leave a comment