Communism and Great Leap Forward

Communism is an ideology. The Communist Manifesto written by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engelsm highlights ideal conditions that one must aim for in a society. The Manifesto states a philosophy rather than promote a form of governance. There are no clear and specific steps mentioned or methods delineated to achieve the goal of a communist society. The Manifesto is not a practical handbook but more in the nature of a philosophical treatise. Thus, each nation adopting Communism gave its own interpretation to it and implemented it in a different manner.

The Great Leap Forward was Mao’s interpretation of Communism in a manner that suited China, and was in no way similar to any policy in Russia or elsewhere. The policy aimed to increase agricultural output while simultaneously promoting industry by adapting it to Chinese conditions. Instead of aping the large-scale industries in USSR etc, Mao introduced smaller factories that manufactured machinery used in agriculture. He organized people into large communes that either managed collective farms or operated factories. The communes were also tasked with beefing up infrastructure by building canals, roads, dams, reservoirs and irrigation channels. This policy took the underlying principles of Communism and was implemented by Mao in a way he thought was suitable for Chinese society.