Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. Very short introductions vsi are a book series published by the oxford university press oup. Chinas decadelong great proletarian cultural revolution shook the politics of china and the world between 1966 and 1976. Later that month, mao began to greet huge parades of red guards holding aloft the little red book. Cultural revolution overview china 1972 image database. Even as we approach its fiftieth anniversary, the movement remains so contentious that the chinese communist party still forbids fully open investigation of its origins, development, and conclusion. A very short introduction very short introductions ebook. Coming to terms with the cultural revolution assesses the overall impact of the cultural revolution. The chinese cultural revolution central intelligence agency. I now have a much clearer grasp of the complex society in pre revolution. The great proletarian cultural revolution, usually known simply as the cultural. The very short introductions series from oxford university press contains hundreds of titles in.
Instructors could read as much or as little of the chapters about china from 1949 to 1978 as they wished, but the section on the cultural revolution is quite short and is noted below as an essential reading for students. The cultural revolution, formally the great proletarian cultural revolution, was a sociopolitical movement in the peoples republic of china from 1966 until 1976. The cultural revolution encouraged the red army to challenge peoples views to ensure that they were true maoists. At any rate, in the short term, an unreniitting hostility to. The books are concise introductions to particular subjects, intended for a general audience but written by experts. He was a founder of both the chinese communist party and the red army, and for many years he fought on two fronts, for control of the party and in an armed struggle for the partys control of the country. Yet in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries virtually every other state in europe has. Even as we approach its fiftieth anniversary, the movement remains so contentious that the chinese.
Doyles book is a masterpiece of concision and exposition. A very short introduction richard curt kraus very short introductions. There are several motives that scholars discuss for maos decision to encourage the cultural revolution. Draws upon a vital literature of scholarship, memoirs, and popular culture. The red guard purged china of counterrevolutionary culture, from national treasures to haircuts. Even as we approach its fiftieth anniversary, the movement. Inflation and financial scandals made the guomindang increasingly unpopular. Pearson edexcel centre number candidate number gcse 91 history. A very short introduction to the cultural revolution. Very short stories for middle and high school students to. In 1966 to 1976, chinas cultural revolution led to major changes throughout the country under the direction of chairman mao zedong, including extreme violence and death. A very short introduction takes the advantage of all of the best recent scholarship on the subject, and presents a very interesting and insightful book on this subject. Krauss introduction actually suffers slightly from the limitations of the very short introduction format given the sheer scale and internal contradictions of both the cultural revolution.
The cultural revolution s short term effects may have been felt mainly in chinas cities, but its longterm effects would impact the entire country for decades to come. He considers as well the revolutions legacy, the many ways its essential ideals influenced other struggles against oppressive power or colonial systems in france, latin america, and asia. The red guard were encouraged to destroy the four olds old customs, old habits, old cultural, and old thinking. Major actors in the cultural revolution very short. The cultural revolution or as it is known as the great proletarian cultural revolution clark, 2008 was a socio political event that began in the peoples republic of china in 1966 and ran for ten years until 1976. Howard is an avid short story reader who likes to help others find and understand stories. The revolution was set into motion by mao zedong, the leader of china and the head of the communist party based in china. A very short introduction by richard curt kraus from waterstones today. A very short introduction very short introductions. A very short introduction illuminates chinas decade long great proletarian cultural revolution. Introduction to the cultural revolution mao began to fear that the chinese communist partyccp was becoming too bureaucratic and planners were losing faith in communism. Today, the cultural revolution is denounced as a period of catastrophe by hu yaobang, the general secretary of the secretariat of the central committee of the communist party of china cpc, and now also the cpc chairman.
It was proletarian more in aspiration than in reality, given that four. Most historians agree the cultural revolution began in midmay 1966. Pdf the cultural revolution a very short introduction. A very short introduction by d davin, published 20. Part of the bestselling very short introduction series over six million copies. Iscriviti a prime ciao, accedi account e liste accedi account e liste resi e ordini iscriviti a prime carrello. Theyre not as short as hemingways famous sixword story for sale. This struggle grew to include large portions of chinese society, which eventually brought the peoples republic of china to the brink of civil war.
Cultural revolution related to confucianism in the 20th and 21stcentur y china, and how confucian teachings were treated in these movements. By 1959, the power lay in the hands of the leaders of the revolution, fidel castro, his brother raul and che guevara. A very short introduction very short introductions kindle edition by richard curt kraus. Looking beyond mao, the cultural revolution has made it inore likely that the. The cultural revolution also caused economic disruption.
Drawing upon a vital trove of scholarship, memoirs, and popular culture, this very short. If you want to know what anthropology is, look at what anthropologists do, write the authors of social and cultural anthropology. He was a founder of both the chinese communist party and the red army, and for. Chinas decadelong great proletarian cultural revolution shook the politics of china and the world. List of books and articles about cultural revolution online. If rural china was not much affected by the cultural revolution, why do you, the ccp and many of the elite intelligentsia keep repeating that the cultural revolution was a tenyear calamity for china. A very short introduction by william doyle via amazon uk this is an excellent brief and fluent account of the key causes, events, ideas and legacy of french revolution. A very short introduction offers a concise introduction to this seminal event in american history. Pdf the cultural revolution a very short introduction download book full free. Apr 25, 20 this very short introduction chronicles maos journey from peasant child to ruler of the most populous nation on earth. First synthesis of structural and cultural approaches to revolution studies.
The beginning of the end came with maos death in 1976. The great proletarian cultural revolution, usually known simply as the cultural revolution or the great cultural revolution, was a complex social upheaval that began as a struggle between mao zedong and other top party leaders for dominance of the chinese communist party ccp and went on to affect all of china with its call for continuing revolution. This book is a great little panorama of chinese society during the cultural revolution decade 196676. Sharply written and highly readable, the american revolution. Set into motion by mao zedong, then chairman of the communist party of china, its stated goal was to enforce socialism in the country by removing capitalist, traditional and cultural elements from chinese society, and to impose maoist orthodoxy within the party. Kraus, richard curt is the author of the cultural revolution. Historic lessons of chinas cultural revolution, introduction. Public users are able to search the site and view the abstracts and keywords for each book and chapter without a subscription. Sep 05, 2017 if you want to know what anthropology is, look at what anthropologists do, write the authors of social and cultural anthropology.
Richard curt klaus has written a very accessible and readable introduction to the cultural revolution, covering the years 19661976, as well as. A giant of 20th century history, mao zedong played many roles. A very short introduction to the cultural revolution chinet. In general, this book provides a clear and e ngaging.
William doyle is your leading british historian on the french revolution, and because this darn series a very short introduction seems to be quite popular, youd kind of hope that doyle would write a little something on the french revolution. A concise explanation of a still controversial movement. At the height of the cultural revolution, little red book reading sessions were held on public buses and even. This book presents a concise introduction and analysis of chinas decade long 19661976 cultural revolution from the political, cultural, economical and diplomatic perspectives. Though it was intended to renew the spirit of the chinese revolution, it instead had detrimental political, social, and economic consequences for china. The author doesnt pointlessly dwell on the cultural revolution s cruelties and other sensational aspects but, rather, soberly examines its lineages, practices, and legacies. There was a relatively painless coup which returned the exiled deng xiaoping to power. It was unable to win despite large amounts of american government aid. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Perhaps the best overview of the revolution is william doyles the french revolution. Dec 02, 2009 the cultural revolution was a movement in china during19661976. Toward the end of 1958, the corrupt and dictatorial government of fulgencio batista had rapidly lost support. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The cultural revolution a very short introduction available for download and read online in.
Kraus also situates this very nationalist outburst of chinese radicalism within a globalcontext, showing that the cultural revolution was mirrored in the radical youth movement that swept much of the world, and that had imagined or emotional links to chinas red guards. There are several different approaches to this subject. China applauded the enemies of the usa and ussr, but their foreign policy was cautious. The cultural revolution a very short introduction very. Expansive historical range, from ancient greece and rome to the revolutions in the arab world in 2011. Moving beyond the figure of mao zedong, richard curt kraus links beijings elite politics to broader aspects of society and culture, highlighting many changes in daily. This engaging overview of the field combines an accessible account of some of the disciplines guiding principles and methodology with abundant examples and illustrations of anthropologists at work. A very short introduction very short introductions original by kraus, richard curt isbn.
Conceived of as a revolution to touch peoples souls, the aim of the cultural revolution was to attack the four olds old ideas, old culture, old customs, and old habitsin order to bring the areas of education, art and literature in line with communist ideology. China symbolized resistance to imperialism, and supported other populist struggles. Yet it was also during the cultural revolution that china and the united states tempered their long hostility one of the innovations in this period that sowed the seeds for chinas subsequent decades of spectacular economic growth. The great proletarian cultural revolution was one of the defining moments of chinas modern history. The american who stood alongside mao zedong the atlantic. Kraus also situates this very nationalist outburst of chinese radicalism within a global context, showing that the cultural revolution was mirrored in the radical youth movement that swept much of the world, and that had imagined or emotional links to chinas red guards. The cultural revolution was the upheaval launched by mao zedong during his last decade in power 196676.
What was the impact of the cultural revolution on china. A very short introduction illuminates chinas decadelong great proletarian cultural revolution. Richard curt kraus chinas decadelong great proletarian cultural revolution shook the politics of china and the world. It is informative, insightful and accessible to the general readers. A very short introduction very short introductions, published 2012 under isbn 9780199740550 and isbn 0199740550. The french revolution is super cool, super iconic, and full of coincidences read. May 08, 2016 the cultural revolution a peoples history, 19621976 by frank dikotter illustrated. Here is a brisk, accessible, and vivid introduction to arguably the most important event in the history of the united statesthe american revolution. Aug 08, 2003 the cultural revolution is now referred to in china as the decade of chaos and is generally regarded as one of the bleakest periods in the countrys modern history. Kraus, associate professor of political science richard curt. A very short introduction by kraus, richard curt published by oxford university press 2012 aa on. A very short introduction very short introductions 1 by allison, robert j.
A very short introduction by richard curt kraus available from rakuten kobo. Nov 02, 2011 this book is a great little panorama of chinese society during the cultural revolution decade 196676. Apr 28, 2012 was a socialpolitical movement that took place in the peoples republic of china from 1966 through 1976. A very short introduction provides a cohesive synthesis of the military, diplomatic, political, social, and intellectual aspects of the american revolution, paying special. This very short introduction chronicles maos journey from peasant child to ruler of the most populous nation on earth. A very short introduction by richard curt kraus, 9780199740550, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Drawing upon a vital trove of scholarship, memoirs, and popular culture, this very short introduction illuminates this complex, often obscure, and still controversial movement. Even as we approach the cultural revolution s fiftieth anniversary, the movement remains so contentious that the chinese communist party still will not allow open discussion of its origins, development, and conclusion.
The cultural revolutions official handbook was the little red book. As a giant of 20th century history, mao zedong played many roles. The guomindang was disunited, incompetent and corrupt. No violent political revolution has occurred in britain since the civil wars of 164251. He is now heavily dependent on the military for support. This revolution was a power struggle within the communist party of china. A very short introduction by delia davin available from rakuten. Major actors in the cultural revolution access to the complete content on very short introductions online requires a subscription or purchase. Mao zedong, principal chinese marxist theorist, soldier, and statesman who led his countrys communist revolution and served as chairman chief of state of the peoples republic of china from 1949 until his death in 1976. Unsurprisingly, many have devoted their careers to the study of this seminal event and, as a result, there are legions of books on the topic. It is nothing less than an ideological crusade, and one of its aspects is to systematically distort the revolutionary. The chinese communist party repudiated the cultural revolution, and imprisoned the remaining high. Moving beyond mao zedong, this vsi links beijings elite politics to broader aspects of society and culture, highlighting many changes in daily life, employment, and the economy.
Between 1760 and 1800, the american people cast off british rule to create a new nation and a radically new form of government based on the idea that people have the right to govern themselves. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the cultural revolution. Since the revolution in 1959, there have been three basic waves of cubans coming to the united states. It tended to be other poor nations which embraced socialism. The cultural revolution sought to eliminate feudal and bourgeois artistic influences, and destroy the four olds customs, cultures, habits, and ideas.
Torture and suicide became common, and it is estimated that a million died in the ensuing purges and related incidents. As i gazed at maos face wearing what was intended as a benign expression but was in fact a smirk of selfsatisfaction, i wondered how one single person could have caused the extent of misery that was prevailing in china. Its worth remembering that as the cr moves farther away from us in temporal terms, the people who have firsthand recollections of. The movements ideals were betrayed at every turn by its destructive impulses. This was often done in a very violent manner as different units sought to make themselves appear to be the true representatives of maos vision. If your students are struggling to get into the short story, or youre pressed for time, here are some very brief stories to get you started. Overall, mao began to fear that the ccp was becoming too bureaucratic and that party officials. Launched by mao zedong, the chairman of the communist party of china cpc, its stated goal was to preserve chinese communism by purging remnants of capitalist and traditional elements from chinese society, and to reimpose mao. Beginning with a discussion of familiar images of the french revolution, garnered from dickens, baroness orczy, and tolstoy, as well as the legends of let them eat cake, and tricolours, doyle leads the reader to the realization that we are still living with developments and consequences of the french revolution such as decimalization, and the whole ideology of human rights. Krauss introduction actually suffers slightly from the limitations of the very short introduction format given the sheer scale and internal contradictions of both the cultural revolution and the deng reforms thereafter. It was during this time that an identifiable and particular. The truth about the cultural revolution we are constantly bombarded with the message that communism is dead, that it hasnt worked and cannot work, and that revolutions in power lead to tyranny.
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