TOTAS: The Cultural Revolution with Dr. Ping (2/4) - Context and the Great Leap Forward.

In 1966 Mao unleashed Chinas indoctrinated youth on a campaign to purge the nation of the ideologically impure and erase the history and traditions of China's past in a bid to consolidate his own power and cement his ideological hold on the nation. The violence, chaos and disintegration of social trust resulting from this period have been acknowledged by China as a grave error.

What lessons does this dark and chaotic time hold for the rest of the world? In this series we explore the events surrounding the Cultural Revolution and the subsequent consequences to better understand why Chinese immigrants to the USA and other western countries are raising the alarm that the west seems to be descending into its own Cultural Revolution.

Dr. Pingnan Shi is a Chinese immigrant who grew up in China during the Cultural revolution. He has graciously offered to share his experience and perspective as we explore this chapter of history.

In part 2 of this 4 part overview of the Cultural Revolution, we examine the historical events leading up to the Cultural revolution including the Land reform movement, the Hundred Flowers campaign and the great leap forward as well as the death of Stalin and his repudiation by Khrushchev and what that may have meant to Mao.

Part 1: Dr. PIng introduction: https://youtu.be/FjyKddSMWFo
Part 2: Context and the Great Leap Forward: https://youtu.be/kGXqDhQdPp4
Part 3: The Revolution Begins: https://youtu.be/3l7eqD7PG9w
Part 4: Ideology and Social Disintegration: https://youtu.be/YSzro_RbB0A