We present this study to Marxist-Leninist comrades in the interest of furthering debate and study about the two-line struggle in China. There are many questions we have not dealt with in this paper, among them the division between town and countryside and the movements which have been launched to narrow it, such as the May 7th Road; the struggle of women for equality; the question of the national minorities and their position in the autonomous regions and the central organs; a complete analysis of the two-line struggle in the PLA and its role in the seizure of power by the revisionists; the question of Lin Piao, his Right and “Left” errors and the movement to criticize him; the question of foreign affairs, the superpowers, the 2nd World, the Third World, and international proletarian strategy. We have tried to deal with some of the most important domestic fronts in the two-line struggle of the last two years, those issues that have come up consistently in the reports in the Peking Review, especially during the struggle to beat back the Right deviationist trend and since the purge of October, 1976.
We began this study because we were deeply disturbed about the possible significance of October’s purge. The research we have done so far is limited, but we are convinced from the materials so far available to us that further study will only confirm more clearly the conclusions presented. As the revisionists consolidate their power in China, they will undoubtedly have to become more and more bold in presenting their revisionist line in order to carry out their programs.
We are continuing to carefully observe the process in China and are involved in further researching the above questions. We plan to write a continuation of this study that will include the question of women as well as the further changes in policies and basic line that the revisionists will undoubtedly continue to make. Anyone who is interested in receiving a copy of succeeding documents should write to us – and let us know if you are undertaking similar studies.
The present study will inevitably contain errors and inadequacies. We welcome corrections and criticisms from all readers. Listed here are a number of books and articles that were among our most useful sources. Suggestions for further reading will be appreciated.
The basic resource for this study has been two magazines published in China:
Peking Review, January, 1975, to May, 1977 (weekly), and China Reconstructs, January, 1976, to May, 1977 (monthly). These magazines are both available from China Books and Periodicals:
2929 24th St., San Francisco, California 94110
210 West Madison St., Chicago, Illinois 60606
125 Fifth Ave., New York, N. Y. 10003
Peking Review is published in English, French, Spanish, Japanese, and German. It contains many articles which explain the line of the Chinese Communist Party and the current struggles. As we have said in the body of this paper, the editorship of these magazines changed in October of 1976. PR #42, 1976, and China Reconstructs of November-December, 1976, are the first issues which represent the line of the present leaders.
We recommend the following articles from Peking Review for special study:
“Marx, Engels and Lenin on the Dictatorship of the Proletariat: Questions and Answers” 12 parts, PR #40-51, 1975 (also available in booklet form from Books New China, 53 E. Broadway, N. Y., N. Y. 10002)
“Constitution of the People’s Republic of China; Speeches to the Second Plenary Session of the 10th Central Committee,” by Chang Chun-chiao and Chou En-lai, PR #4, 1975
“Speeches by Chou En-lai and Wang Hung-wen to the 10th Party Congress” PR #35-36, 1973
“Advance Victoriously Along Chairman Mao’s Line in Army Building,” PR #5, 1975
“On the Social Basis of the Lin Piao Anti-Party Clique,” Yao Wen-yuan, PR #10, 1975 (also available in Study Program for Lenin’s State and Revolution, October League, Box 5597, Chicago, 111. 60680)
“Small and Medium-sized Industries Play Big Role,” PR #45, 1975
“Between Cadres and Peasants” and “Socialist New Peasants,” PR#40, #41, 1975
“Fundamental Differences between the Two Lines in Education,” PR #10. 1976
“Criticizing the Program for Capitalist Restoration,” PR #13, 1976
“An Endless Flow of Successors to the Cause of Proletarian Revolution” and “A Dynamic County Party Committee,” PR#26, #27, 1976
“Inner-Party Struggle and Party Development,” PR #34, 1976
“Comments on Teng Hsiao-ping’s Economic Ideas of the Comprador Bourgeoisie,” PR #35, 1976
“Working Class Occupying and Transforming the Superstructure,” PR #37, 1976
The following articles contain the major attacks against the “gang of four”:
“The ’Gang of Four’: A Scourge of the Nation,” PR #48, 1976
“Speech by Chairman Hua,” PR #1, 1977
“Premier Chou in the Great Cultural Revolution,” PR #4, 1977
“A Component Part of the ’Gang of Four’s’ Plot to Usurp Party and State Power: What was their aim in calling for ’creating literary works on the struggle against capitalist-roaders?” PR #5, 1977
“How the ’Gang of Four’ Used Shanghai as a Base,” and “Exposing Wang Hung-wen’s Scheme to Throw China into Disorder” PR #6, 1977
“Study Documents Well and Grasp Key Link” PR #8, 1977
“Chang Chun-chiao Tampers with Chairman Mao’s Educational Policy” PR #8, 1977
“Mechanization: Fundamental Way Out for Agriculture” PR #9, 1977
“Foreign Trade: Why the ’Gang of Four’ Created Confusion” PR #9. 1977
“Ferreting Out ’the Bourgeoisie in the Army’ – Another ’Gang of Four’ Scheme,” PR #10, 1977
“Vice Premier Yu Chiu-li’s Report” PR #22, 1977
“A Serious Struggle in Scientific and Technical Circles” PR #16, 1977
“Grasp the Key Link in Running the Country Well. . ” PR #18, 1977
We recommend the following books for background information:
A Basic Understanding of the Communist Party of China, originally published by the People’s Publishing House in China, published in English by the Norman Bethune Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; available from the National Publications Center, P. O. Box 727 Adelaide Stn., Toronto (explains in depth the basic Principles and foundations of the CCP. It was written for CCP cadre and serves well for party building)
Selected Readings from the Works of Mao Tse-tung Foreign Languages Press, Peking (available from China Books, 2929 24th St. S. F., Calif. 94110) The following articles are especially useful:
On Contradiction, p. 85
Let the Whole Party Unite and Fight to Accomplish its Tasks, p. 313
The Problem of Combatting Erroneous Tendencies Within the Party, p. 352
Preserve the Style of Plain Living and Hard Struggle, p. 362
On the Peoples’ Democratic Dictatorship, p. 371
On the Correct Handling of Contradictions Among the People, p. 432
Speech at the CCP’s National Conference on Propaganda Work, p. 480
Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung Foreign Languages Press, Peking, 1976 (also available from Books New China)
Chairman Mao Talks to the People: Talks and Letters, 1956-1971, Stuart Schram, ed., Pantheon, 1974
The following articles are especially useful:
Talks at Chengtu: Against Blind Faith in Learning, p. 113
Talk at an Enlarged Central Work Conference: On Democratic Centralism, p. 158
Speech at the 10th Plenum of the 8th Central Committee, p. 188
Talk to Leaders of the Centre, p. 253
Talk at the First Plenum of the 9th Central Committee, p. 282
From Marx to Mao Tse-tung: A Study in Revolutionary Dialectics. George Thomson, China Policy Study Group, 62 Parliament Hill, London, NW3 2TJ, Eng. ,1972
The Cultural Revolution in China. Joan Robinson, Penguin Books, 1969. (Includes major documents of the Cultural Revolution: The Circular of May 16, Bombard the Headquarters, The 16 Points, Message to All Shanghai People)
A History of the Chinese Cultural Revolution. Jean Daubier, Vintage, N.Y. , N.Y., 1974
China’s Uninterrupted Revolution. James Peck, Victor Nee, editors, Pantheon, 1973
China’s Socialist Revolution. John and Elsie Collier, Monthly Review Press, (1973) 62 West 14th St., N. Y., N. Y. 10011
Cultural Revolution and Industrial Organization in China. Chls. Bettleheim, MR Press,’74
On the Transition to Socialism. Paul Sweezy, Charles Bettleheim, MR PRess, 1971
How Capitalism has been Restored in the Soviet Union (Red Papers #7) Revolutionary Communist Party, Box 3486, Merchandise Mart, Chicago, Ill.. 60654
The Restoration of Capitalism in the USSR. Martin Nicolaus, Liberator Press, Box 7128, Chicago, Illinois 60680
The Rise and Fall of the “Gang of Four”. Hsin Chi, Books New China, Inc.) 1977
Exercising All-Round Dictatorship Over the Bourgeoisie. Chang Chun-chiao, Books New China, 1975