China's Great Leap Forward of 1958

Paper Summary:

This paper examines the significance of the "Great Leap Forward" of 1958 within the broader perspective of the Chinese revolution. This paper reviews the ideological significance of the Great Leap Forward in terms of both the identification of the goals and aims of those who claimed leadership of the revolution. The author explains the interdependence of "pure" and "practical" ideology and the concept of "thought" and "theory".

From the Paper:

"Since 1953, the CCP took great care in making the distinction between the universality of theory and the particularity of "thought". "Marxism-Leninism" was considered the guideline for all action; but, although clearly related, "Marxism" was regarded as the basis for theory and so offered a "world view" (shijie guan), Schurmann's "pure ideology". "Leninism" contributed a systematic body of thought concerning the practical application of Marx's "universal truths" in relation to social revolution and revolutionary organization, namely practical ideology. This recognition of and stress on duality persists during the period of the Great Leap Forward, although the two components of CCP ideology assume different names."

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