The year 1976 was a watershed year for the development of China.
Three of the most senior officials of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) -
Zhou Enlai, Zhu De, and Mao Zedong - died in that year. The year was also
marked by mass demonstrations and criticism of the Maoist regime.
When Deng Xiaoping attained power in 1978 he created a new atmosphere
of political and economic promise, which in many ways sharply contradicted
governmental and political proceedings of the previous two decades. One of
the most significant changes implemented by Xiaoping was on the economic
front, which included a series of far-reaching economic reforms.. Yet, the
most essential change in China since 1976 has been the decisive move away
from the Maoist emphasis and focus on the class and political struggle to a
There are many reasons for the reforms in China. The fact that the
previous communist reforms were not capable of sustaining and creating
economic growth in the country is one of the reasons for the reforms.
Other very cogent reasons are that China needed to join the international
community for economic and developmental reasons; and because China had for
many years come under pressure, particularly in terms of its social
traditions, to conform to international standards. The demand for
modernization is an important aspect that contributed to China's reform and
this was increased by Western influences.
China eventually had to face the reality that political strategies
alone could not increase productivity. This issue came to a head in the
1970's and resulted in the "Four Mobilizations" program, which was intended
to reform and energize the Chinese economy. These mobilizations or areas of
focus were agriculture, industry, science and technology and the military.
The important aspect that underlies all the other cha...