CHAPTER 31CHINA, INDIA, AND SOUTHEAST ASIA

China is the most populous nation in the world

Last time we discussed China, what was happening?

Communism under Mao Zedong 1949, Communist setup the People’s Republic of China

Wanted to transform from agricultural society into a modern industrial nation

Little Red Book :A book circulated throughout China during the reign of Mao Zedong, which contained his political philosophy for China. It was required reading in all schools.

Changing Role of Women Traditionally women were treated as inferior to men

In communist China, women gained some rights

Women won equality under the law

The Great Leap Forward called on people to increase agricultural and

industrial output

To make more productive farms, he created communes: groups of people who lived and work together and hold property in common (similar to Russia)

This program failed Commune-based industries turned out poorly made

goods

Agricultural output declined

Bad weather created widespread famine

The Cultural Revolution renew people’s loyalty to communism and to

establish a more equitable (equal) society Shut down schools/universities

Students formed groups of fighters called the Red Guards

1976, Mao Zedong died and

Deng Xiaoping took control

Communism under Deng Xiaoping

Brought more economic freedom but little political change

Economic Reforms: The Four Modernizations Farming-methods were modernized and mechanized

Industry-was upgraded and expanded

Science and Technology-were promoted and developed

Defense-systems and military forces were improved

Limited Privatization Allowed land to be leased to individual farmers

Increased agricultural output

Foreign Investment Welcomed foreign technology/capital

Setup special enterprise zones where foreigners could own and operate business

Result of Reforms

Positive Negative

1.Economy grew 1. Crime/corruption grew

2. Better standard of 2. Gap between rich/poor

living widened

3.Foreign relations/trade

improved

Tiananmen Square demonstrators occupied Tiananmen Square,

demanding more rights/freedoms

When they refused to disperse, gov. sent troops and tanks

Thousands of Chinese were killed/wounded

This incident showed order was more important than political freedom

During the 1990s, efforts were made to force China to end human rights violations, but were limited