The Battle for China's Past
Subtitle: Mao and the Cultural Revolution
Publisher: Pluto Press
Published: May 28, 2008
Language: eng
Format: Paperback
Number of pages: 240
ISBN-13: 9780745327808
Subjects: Asian / Middle Eastern history; History; History - General History; History: World; China; Asia - China; History / China; Europe - Ireland
Description: Publisher description: As China embraces capitalism, the Mao era is being denigrated by the Chinese political and intellectual elite. This book tackles the extremely negative depiction of China under Mao in recent publications and argues that most people in China, including the rural poor and the urban working class, actually benefited from Mao's policies. Under Mao there was a comprehensive welfare system for the urban poor and basic health and education provision in rural areas. These policies are being reversed in the current rush towards capitalism. Offering a critical analysis of mainstream accounts of the Mao era and the Cultural Revolution, this book sets the record straight, making a convincing argument for the positive effects of Mao's policies on the well-being of the Chinese people.