The communist victory in 1949 was due as much to the shortcomings of the Kuomintang as it was to the leadership of Mao Zedong. How far would you agree with this assessment?

The Communist Revolution of China was a conflict that was led by the Communist Party of China and Chairman Mao Zedong. The revolution was the result of the declaration of the creation of the People’s Republic of China on October 1, 1949. It ended with the civil war between the Chinese Communist Party and the Nationalist Party or Kuomintang.

Shortcomings of the Kuomintang

• The alliance of Kuomintang and the Communist Party of China broke up in 1927 and it resulted in the retreat of the Communists and eventually the communists built up local bases.
• Chiang Kai-Shek’s government was filled with incompetent and corrupt officials.
• The political strategy of the Kuomintang was not up to that mark.
• The party was full of people of more self interest-oriented and non-KMT views. It stalled the effective implementation of the ideology of KMT.
• The decision of civil war stopped the economic reconstruction of China.
• The younger generation never supported KMT since the 1990s.

The leadership of Mao Zedong

• Mao Zedong focused on gaining the support of the peasants in the civil war. He included them as a significant part of the war.
• Mao Zedong focused on the immediate development of each and every area the communists acquired during the war.
• They returned the property of the poor peasants which was previously confiscated by the landlords.
• Each and every member of Mao Zedong’s People’s Liberation Army was treated with huge respect.
• The land reform of Mao Zedong’s party transformed China into a true Communist society.

Comment

It is quite clear that the communist victory in 1949 was due as much to the shortcomings of the Kuomintang as it was to the leadership of Mao Zedong.

Topics: GS-I: World Wars, Cold War and Other Major Events of 20th Century