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11 - Recent Mao Zedong Scholarship in China

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 August 2012

By
Xiao Yanzhong
Edited by
Timothy Cheek
Timothy Cheek
Affiliation:
University of British Columbia, Vancouver
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Summary

This chapter is a critical review of recent Mao Zedong scholarship in China based on a reading of relevant literature of nearly 3 million Chinese words. It aims to acquaint Western readers with the various points of view, assumptions, and controversies in Mao scholarship in the People's Republic of China (PRC). In consideration of the limited space, this chapter will give only a general account of the positions taken by Chinese scholars, with quotations only from original literature.

This chapter is divided into four parts: (1) the subtle changes of official ideology, (2) the criticisms of the Liberal school, (3) the arguments of the New Left scholars, and (4) the narratives of the Historical school. I will recapitulate the main points and themes of these schools in succession and then offer a brief conclusion.

THE SUBTLE CHANGES IN OFFICIAL IDEOLOGY

Official ideology refers to the interpretation of Mao and his thought by the ruling party [the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)], which controls the power of political discourse in Chinese Mao scholarship in order to reinforce its own political legitimacy. From this perspective, the primary task of Mao studies is to strengthen the influence of the official political discourse. It is worth noting that there exists an approach of subofficial ideology that reinterprets the official points of view on Mao by decorating them with academic language without deviating from the orthodox teaching.

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Chapter
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A Critical Introduction to Mao , pp. 273 - 287
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2010

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References

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