Example research essay topic: Hua Guofeng Mao Zedong - 1,302 words

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Economic development in China from Mao till the opening of Chinese economy This big and highly populated country could be one of the strongest economic powers of the world. It owns rich natural resources, including coal, oil, iron and tungsten, as well as timber and sources of the electric power. Arable lands of China can supply almost the whole population. It was long time ago, when this country was famous for its dealers, handicrafts men and inventors.

The Chinese scientists have presented compass, porcelain, the printing machine tool and even paper money to the world. Despite all of these, development of China was always braked by different kinds of economic difficulties. Two years after the death of Mao Zedong in 1976, it became obvious to many of Chinese leaders that economic reform was needed. During his term as China's premier, Mao supported social movements, which had as their bases such ideologies as serving the people and maintaining the class struggle. But by 1978 the leaders of China looked for a solution to serious economic problems produced by Hua Guofeng, who had succeeded Mao Zedong after his death, becoming premier and party chairman. His main concerns included stabilizing politics, aiding recovery from massive earthquakes, and last but not least fostering economic development.

In February of 1978 Hua Guofeng presented a ten year plan for the period 1976 - 1985. The Plan consisted of 120 projects consisting of: The Ten Year Plan (2) Sector Plan Iron and Steel 10 complexes Nonferrous Metals 9 complexes Oil and Gas 10 fields Coal 8 mines Electricity 30 power stations Railroad 7 trunk lines Water Transportation 5 harbors In 1977 China still had a mainly agricultural economy and its government did not support institutional and technological measures to increase productivity and, as a consequence, per capita production of grains had remained at 1955 levels. By 1979 it was officially acknowledged that the initial phase of the Ten Year Plan failed because of insufficient preparation which led to enormous wastes. In June of 1979 there was announced a period of adjustment, reconstruction, consolidation and improvement for the economy. Priorities were shifted, away from heavy industry toward agriculture and light industry. (2) In general the 1980 's were distinguished by a relaxation of control by the Communist Party. It was allowed to sell over-quota production at prices above the government-set prices.

Workers had more freedom when deciding about their own welfare. Enterprises could lend funds and even seek foreign joint-venture partners. Five Special Economic Zones were created. But anyway the career of Hua Guofeng as a country leader was not that long and soon the party named a new one a moderate reformer Deng Xiaoping. In a year he already had a firm control of the government. His main focus was on the problem of reducing poverty through economic growth.

As his guiding motto, he supported the Four Modernizations of Agriculture Industry Science and Technology National Defense In practical terms this meant electricity in the rural areas, industrial automation, a new economic outlook, and greatly enhanced defense strength. " (2) The idea of Deng was that it was more important to innovate the most advanced technologies available to improve the efficiency of agriculture, industry, research and development, and the military than to achieve the social objectives that had been associated with the Maoist Era. (1) In agriculture, Deng developed measures toward dismantling the commune system. He established a so-called responsibility system according to which rural households were given land and other assets that they could deal with as with their own. Anything that was produced above belonged to the household, and could be either kept or sold. The state supported sideline enterprises, setting up small businesses, the profits of farmers rapidly grew. Deng made new steps forward: he imported foreign technology to help modernize industry, his approach to the self sufficiency of China was different meaning that he did encourage foreign investors. Chinese students received a chance to get an advanced technical and management training abroad.

By that time the countrys population was more than 1 billion, already pressing the limits of its resources, and it was necessary to introduce the control of population growth. The government encouraged one-child families through financial incentives and bureaucratic regulations. Chinas relationship with Western nations and Japan improved; diplomatic relations were set up with the United States. When television came to every Chinese home in the 1980 s, ordinary people learned more about life in other countries and demanded a lot new on the government for improvements in their standard of living and more choice in their daily lives. Despite this relative openness in the cultural and economic spheres, the government kept a tight reign on political criticism. People protested against political corruption, injustice, and lack of political freedom.

With the fall of the Communist governments in Eastern Europe in 1989 and the break-up of the USSR in 1991, China remained the only major world power with a Communist government that worked to ensure that its own system did not fall like in the USSR. The state continued to establish further economic policies that reduced poverty. Deng still remained the dominant figure in China throughout the 1980 s and early 1990 s. With his help, Jiang (general secretary of the party) slowly united his power and influence within the party and government and in 1993 he became president. Not like the period after Mao's death, Chinas political climate remained still after Deng's death in 1997, and Jiang went further in the direction of the economic liberalization begun by Deng. The reforms of these two in the 1990 s were especially successful at motivating economic growth of the country, while creating problems for the Communist leadership.

Chinas foreign debt increased quickly, increasing consumer demand led to rising inflation. Wild agricultural and industrial growth initiated environmental degradation. Besides, there was persistent corruption among party and government officials who benefited from their power. The late 1990 s were marked by improvement of Chinas international standing. The Chinese economy fared quite well in a currency crisis that swept the region. In 1999 China and the United States signed a trade agreement in which China promised to reduce obstacles to imported goods and foreign investments if U.

S. supports Chinas application for membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO). China also had such bilateral agreements with other countries to have their support for its entry in WTO. And finally in December 2001 China formally became a member of the WTO. 2002 was the year when Jiang retired as general secretary of the CCP, and the remaining party member, Hu Jintao, was chosen to succeed him. In March 2003 Hu also succeeded Jiang as president of China. The 16 th Chinese Communist Party Conference taken place in 2002 contributed to further progress, and the President claimed that from now on the government would only supervise the market and regulate the economy.

It was a big step towards favourable economic environment where all the players have equal opportunities. China is viewed as one of the countries with the most rapid economic growth. Today, economists assume that the GDP of China will be higher than of France in 2005. China is being persistent while moving towards leading positions in the world market and becoming the second largest world economy after United States.

The country attracts investors from different industries, creating potential customers for companies and promises quite a successful future to those. Bibliography: Gabriel, Satya J. Economic Liberalization in Post-Mao China: Crossing the River by Feeling for Stones. Published October 1998. Retrieved from the Web December 7, 2004, web Watkins, Thayer.

Economic Developments in China After Mao. Based upon China Without Mao by Immanuel C-Y Hsu 1983. Retrieved from the Web December 7, 2004, web

Research essay sample on Hua Guofeng Mao Zedong