[lbo-talk] A Call from the Maoists of Iran

[Jonathan Lassen]

Chris,

Mao is utterly despised by most intellectuals in China, although most of 
their ire is usually directed at post-anti-rightist-movement (1957) Mao. 
Some still admire and respect the fact he actually led a revolution which 
kicked out the colonial powers and the KMT, and did away with the landed 
aristocracy.

The CCP of course can't entirely repudiate Mao in word, as they stand on 
the Maoist legacy to a large extent. But in deed they've done their best.

Very different picture among farmers and workers. You'll find lots of 
nostalgia there. Mao is used as a foil to protest the corruption, 
arbitrariness and powerlessness that people experience daily. How 
widespread? I have no idea. But workers in northeast China carried 
portraits of Mao when they demonstrated. I have no doubt that Mao - with 
his emphasis on egalitarianism, collectivism, self-sacrifice and solidarity 
- will continue to be a resource that people draw on in their struggles.

At least that's my take,

Jonathan



At 05:06 2003-7-1, you wrote:
>>From: Thomas Seay <entheogens at yahoo.com>
>
>>Chiang,
>
>>Mao once said that Stalin was 85% good, 15% bad.  That
>>should be some indication of his orientation, no?  Or
>>do you defend Stalin as well?
>---
>Well, that opinion is rather widespread in Russia. You can make a 
>perfectly rational cost-benefit analysis and argue that Stalin was good 
>for the country (note that you cannot do so with Hitler). I don't agree 
>with it, but people who make the argument are hardly kooky and they do 
>have a lot of good points.
>
>What is Mao's popularity in China? Does anybody know?
>
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