Great leap forward

The Great Leap Forward was a crucial epoch in the economic history of China. It was conceived as developmental problems. a panacea for all

The great leap strategy of socio-economic development relied on what the Maoists perceived to be the revolutionary enthusiasm of the masses, especially the peasants. Mao believed that ideological conciousness on the part of the masses would boost the developmental process, and enable China to overtake Britain in 15 years. However, during the movement, politics replaced economics.

In 1945 Mao Tse-tung declared that the Chinese communists would not follow the Soviet example after they come to power. Russian history had created the Russian system and the Chinese history must create the Chinese system.

The successful revolutionaries have to face new challenges after assuming power. On the whole, the Chinese communists were better equipped than other revolutionaries, including the Russians, to manage the transformation of their society.

The leap forward phase witnessed significant economic development and kaleidoscopic political changes characterized by Mao's new strategy. The present study is an appraisal of this strategy.