Establishing the New Democracy: 1949-65
In 1949, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) established the People's Republic of China, advocating for a 'New Democracy' that sought to unify all social classes, which differed from the Soviet concept of a 'dictatorship of the proletariat.' The new regime began to take control of key economic sectors, subsequently ending private enterprise and land ownership.
By 1953, the government initiated a program of socialist transformation which culminated in the Great Leap Forward in 1958, a radical campaign aimed at rapid industrialization and collectivization of agriculture through people’s communes. The commune system, encompassing almost all rural populations, sought to mobilize mass participation in these initiatives. However, the program faced significant challenges including inefficiency and unviable steel production from backyard furnaces, leading to widespread poverty and famine.
Despite these setbacks, reforms introduced a societal shift in ideology, as Mao Zedong promoted the emergence of a 'socialist man' who held deep affection for his country, labor, science, and shared property. However, internal dissent arose regarding the socialist policies which emphasized ideology over practical expertise. This discord led to the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, starting in 1965, where Mao sought to eliminate traditional elements and perceived bourgeois thinking, resulting in further turmoil and a repressive atmosphere in the country.
By 1978, the landscape shifted once more towards political pragmatism under reformist leaders recognizing the need for economic flexibility and modernization while maintaining party control, forming a complex backdrop for China's continuing evolution.