Fatou Jarju, Book Review
Rebecca E. Karl’s book on ‘Mao Zedong and China in the twentieth-century world: A Concise History Durham Duke University Press, North Carolina’, gives a very insightful account on Mao’s life as a notoriously known communist leader, who reformed the state of China, making it a powerful nation today. His form of leadership and tactical military mind, is still praised in society, as he was respected to be a great philosopher and writer. Rebecca’s style of writing is very clear and concise. With detailed accounts on each important timeline in Mao’s life. She focuses on the pivotal moments within his revolution, having clear comprehension of Mao Zedong and his communist China. She prefaces the book with an important message ‘certain parts of Maoism are now detached from their revolutionary meaning and historical context and reborn as fundamentalist capitalist tenets.’ p.x. Karl humanises Mao, giving a personal account on his childhood all through to his death, other writers usually focus on his glory days as the Chinese president, building a particular narrative surrounding him. Particularly, Lee Edward’s Article on Mao Zedong ‘Can you name the greatest mass murderer of the 20th century? No, it wasn’t Hitler or Stalin. It was Mao Zedong. According to the authoritative “Black book of communism” an estimated 65 million Chinese died as a result of Mao’s repeated, merciless attempts to create a new “socialist” China.’ Edwards Lee. This account on Mao, may hold factual context however the viewpoint is skewed, with biasses of communism specifically.
However, I have found reading R. E. Karl’s book, that she is a reductionist, typically writing these historical accounts simply, and concisely as possible removing any political ideals of her own to the historical events that had taken place. Whilst, this can be seen as positive as her opinion on Mao would be unbiased, it would have been beneficial to see where she aligned with his actions throughout his rule and whether these were condemnable forms of governing. Rebecca E. Karl draws upon the importance of women within this revolution looking with her feminist lens, how working together ultimately created a better nation as well as the impact women have had in his personal life and politically, which many other writes on Mao Zedong, ignore. Shedding a light upon their role in the Chinese revolution and explores the feminist lens during this era, I particularly liked reading about Mao’s female relations beginning with his Mother and how it shaped him to be a better man, ‘Mao loved and revered his mother , ‘nee Wen Qimei’. A hard working woman who died young (at the age of fifty-three), she was reputedly selfless in her sacrifice for her sons and family… highlighted his mother’s steadfastness, her adherence to the traditional virtues, her cleanliness and sense of order, her charity and most important, her hatred for injustice of any sort. Mao credited his mother for being adept at analysis, a skill that she used in supporting his side in his stormy relationship with his father… His mother’s love and affection were a touchstone for Mao throughout his life.’ p.5. Mao highly respected his mother, as she set a standard on how he should present himself. This allows him to lead the party, with dignity and respect.
‘Communist theory posited that women’s oppression was the direct result of the patriarchal family structure, which was part and parcel of a truckers class society. Ultimately, women’s liberation and familial change depended principally on the socialisation of labour relations, including women’s participation in waged labour.’ p.129. The year 1949, great change was established with women rights and equality between the genders. Under Mao Zedong’s rule ‘The famous quotation by Mao Zedong reflects the determination by the government to raise women’s status: “Woman hold up half the sky.” The basic law implemented when the People’s Republic of China was first established in 1949 stated: The PRC shall abolish the feudal system which holds women in bondage. Women shall enjoy equal rights with men in political, economic, cultural, educational and social life. Freedom of marriage for men and women shall be put into effect.’p.31. These laws would allow effective change within Communist China, but these ideals were short lived. Karl elucidates the fall of this ‘feminist movement’ within China by informing the readers on the injustice they faced, reducing these values and laws to nothing. ‘On the sexist assumption that birth control is a woman’s issue, and thus with women’s fertility as the overriding target of population policy. The Women’s federation was put in charge of the draconian implementation, permanently trashing its reputation was an advocacy group for women. p.171 This created a sense of fear and lack of trust within these factions, it was as if though they were reverting back to the former state where women had no voice or rights, making a breeding ground for violence.
In conclusion, Rebecca Karl’s account on Mao Zedong’s China was an insightful read, with grand historical context, allowing the reader to delve into the facts of China as well as educate themselves on Mao Zedong’s important influence whether it may frowned upon or praised, it is crucial to acknowledge the everlasting impact it has had on the politics and people of China. Her feminist focus on the rise of power, that Mao acquired was especially important, illuminating the issues of the women and how this was key in Zedong’s China and how it applies to the present. The positives and the negatives mirrored the states they initially wished to oppose with bringing a new government, is seen in the failed attempts of gender equality after the CCP establish control over the Chinese citizens, thus going against the teachings of male and female cooperation. ‘This book introduces a historical moment, when fundamental global transformation could be thought. It is a moment I admire. Yet, I harbour no illusion to the specific projects toward which Mao Zedong worked are appropriate or even sufficient for today or for his world. I am optimistic, though, something of his philology, passion and historical method can be retrieved for a rethinking of our present’ p.xi.
Bibliography
Rebecca E. Karl. (2010). Mao Zedong and China in the twentieth-century world: A Concise History.. Durham, North Carolina: Duke University Press. p.x.
Edwards Lee, Ph.D. (2010). The Legacy of Mao Zedong is Mass Murder. [Online]. The Heritage Foundation. Last Updated: February 2nd 2010. Available at: https://www.heritage.org/asia/commentary/the-legacy-mao-zedong-mass-murder [Accessed 15 November 2023].
Rebecca E. Karl. (2010). Mao Zedong and China in the twentieth-century world: A Concise History.. Durham, North Carolina: Duke University Press. p.5.
Michael Wielink. (2019). Seeds of Gender Equality. Women and Communist China Under Mao Zedong. 1(1), p.129. [Online]. Available at: https://journals.library.brocku.ca/index.php/bujh/article/download/2126/1758 [Accessed 15 November 2023].
Yuhui Li. (2000). Women’s Movement and Change of Women’s Status in China. [Online]. Bridgewater State university. Last Updated: January 2000. Available at: https://vc.bridgew.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1626&context=jiws [Accessed 14 November 2023].
Rebecca E. Karl. (2010). Mao Zedong and China in the twentieth-century world: A Concise History.. Durham, North Carolina: Duke University Press. p.171-172
Rebecca E. Karl. (2010). Mao Zedong and China in the twentieth-century world: A Concise History.. Durham, North Carolina: Duke University Press. p.xi.
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