Doctoral Dissertations

Caimu Cui

Date of Award

5-1997

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Major

Political Science

Major Professor

Robert B. Cunnigham

Committee Members

Yen-ping Hao, Robert L. Peterson, Yang Zhong

Abstract

Mao Zedong has been widely explained in terms of Marxism- Leninism. Although there are occasional references to his traditional traits, this line of inquiry has never been seriously pursued. The present study attempts to explain Mao in terms of his traditionalism. The main argument is that Mao Zedong is a traditionalist more than a Marxist-Leninist and that his traditionalism accounts for both his successes and failures.

Based on the premise in political socialization theory that an individual's political orientations are the result of his or her political socialization, the study examines Mao's political socialization process. More specifically, it looks at what influences his political socialization agents had on him. It seeks to ascertain whether Mao's political socialization was predominantly a traditional one or a Marxist- Leninist one. Data are garnered mainly from Mao's biographies, memoirs by those close to him, and other monographs and articles on Mao. Mao's own works, including his writings, speeches, and talks, are also used.

The study finds that Mao's political socialization as a whole was predominantly a traditional one. His village, parents, schools, and teachers all exerted largely traditional influences on him. His interest in Chinese history, a result of his socialization, made him all the more exposed to and knowledgeable of Chinese traditional culture. His encounter with Marxism-Leninism was superficial and did not significantly alter his traditional frame of reference. Relying on his traditional frame of reference, Mao deviated from Marxist-Leninist revolutionary theory, carved out a unique revolutionary path for the Chinese Communist Party, and led the Chinese revolution to victory. His continued reliance on his traditional frame of reference after 1949 led to his leadership failure in the Great Leap Forward and in the Cultural Revolution.

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