Mao Zedong was the leader of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from its founding in 1921 until his death in 1976. During this time, he sought to transform China from a semi-feudal and semi-colonial society into a powerful, modern socialist state. At the same time, he also sought to bring about a long-term ideological revolution in Chinese society to create a new, classless society free of exploitation. For this reason, Mao’s objectives centred on three main areas: economic development, political revolution, and cultural transformation.
Economic Development
Mao Zedong’s focus on economic development was driven by his belief that China required a strong economic foundation if it was to become an independent and prosperous nation. For this reason, Mao’s primary economic objective was to establish a centrally planned economy. This centralized system of economic planning would allow the CCP to control all aspects of the Chinese economy and implement economic policies with the aim of rapidly developing the country’s infrastructure, industry, and agriculture.
Mao believed that this could best be achieved through the large-scale nationalization of private businesses and the introduction of a series of Five Year Plans. The first Five Year Plan was introduced in 1953 and contained ambitious targets for industrial and agricultural production. In addition, Mao also sought to strengthen the state sector and expand public ownership of land and resources.
Political Revolution
Mao Zedong also saw political revolution as an essential part of the Communist Party’s objectives. This revolution was aimed at establishing the CCP’s absolute rule over all levels of the Chinese government and creating a unified command economy.
For this reason, Mao sought to gain total control over the Chinese government by introducing a number of political reforms. These included the establishment of a single-party dictatorship, the adoption of a new Constitution in 1954, and the introduction of a series of mass campaigns such as the Great Leap Forward (1958–62) and the Cultural Revolution (1966–76). These reforms were aimed at eliminating all potential opposition to the CCP and ensuring its absolute dominance of the Chinese political system.
Cultural Transformation
Finally, Mao Zedong’s objectives also included a cultural revolution. This revolution was aimed at eliminating traditional Chinese values and rituals and replacing them with new socialist values and beliefs. Mao believed that in order to create a new socialist society, it was necessary to break free from the old customs, traditions, and superstitions which had been passed down over many generations.
To achieve this, Mao introduced a number of Cultural Reforms during the 1950s and 1960s. These included the closure of Confucian temples and the abolition of traditional festivals, as well as the creation of a new educational system, the development of a new revolutionary literature, and the introduction of a new “socialist lifestyle”. Mao also sought to eliminate “bourgeois ideas” such as private property and individualism and replace them with “proletarian” values such as collectivism and equality.
Overall, Mao Zedong’s objectives for the Chinese Communist Party were the creation of a powerful centrally planned economy, the establishment of absolute political control, and the transformation of Chinese culture. These goals were achieved to varying degrees during his lifetime and continue to influence Chinese politics and society to this day.