Extract from British report titled ‘The Power Struggle in China’ published 2 February 1967. Catalogue ref: FO 1110/2317
Transcript
Chaotic results of the Cultural Revolution
The cultural revolution has caused much disruption in ordinary life and work particularly in the urban areas. Party and Government offices have been raided by Red Guards, the schools have been closed, industrial production in some factories halted and the transportation system disrupted by the movement of Red Guards and, latterly, by workers’ delegations on their way to Peking to present grievances. The most serious effects have been noted during the last 2 months when the cultural revolution was extended to the factories and farms. The damage to the Chinese economy is difficult to assess but clearly has been considerable. It will take some time to sort out the chaos.
These sources are evaluations of the Cultural Revolution from different perspectives: the Chinese Communist Party (Source 4a), British government officials (Source 4b), and countries around the world (Source 4c). (It’s useful to note that all of these perspectives were translated and selected by British government sources.) Look through each piece of evidence and form your opinion to answer the question: did the Cultural Revolution achieve its aims?
- How would you describe the language and tone of Jiang Qing, speech (Source 4a)?
- How does she justify a ‘proletarian dictatorship’?
- How does this explain her view on the Cultural Revolution?
- How do British officials describe the impact of the Cultural Revolution in Source 4b?
- Apart from economic effects of the Cultural Revolution, can you think of its possible effects on education, cultural life, and the arts?
- What are the similarities and differences in perspective from other countries on the Cultural Revolution in Source 4c?
- Do you think the Cultural Revolution was successful in achieving its aims? Give your reasons with reference to source documents found in this lesson.