Cultural Revolution

Definition

The Cultural Revolution was a socio-political movement in China from 1966 to 1976, initiated by Mao Zedong with the goal of preserving Chinese communism by purging remnants of capitalist and traditional elements from Chinese society, and to re-impose Maoist thought as the dominant ideology. It led to significant upheaval, including the persecution of intellectuals, destruction of cultural artifacts, and a cult of personality around Mao.

Related terms

Communism: A political and economic ideology advocating for a classless society in which all property is publicly owned and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs.

Maoism: A form of communist theory derived from the teachings of the Chinese political leader Mao Zedong, focusing on peasant-led revolution and guerrilla warfare as methods for achieving political transformation.

Cult of personality: A situation where a public figure, like a political leader, is presented to the populace in an idealized or heroic manner through mass media propaganda, often resulting in uncritical approval and glorification by their supporters