Page 47 - All About History - Issue 34-16

Time Traveller’s Handbook
MAOIST CHINA

WHO TO BEFRIEND
Cadre children. With such all-encompassing power
The agents of Mao’s state control, cadres over the life of the average Chinese worker,
are appointed members of the Chinese it would be a big advantage to have one of
Communist Party tasked with controlling these state representatives on your side.
a specific work unit, or danwei. The
responsibility of cadres is large: they will Extra tip: The Communist Party and Red FIG.04
allocate housing, grain, oil and other vital Guard are particularly hostile towards
rations. They also have the ability to grant ‘experts’, such as doctors, teachers and
workers permission to join the Communist other intellectuals, so if you have any
Party and change career. Perhaps most qualifications, keep them to yourself.
importantly of all, they issue permits to Xenophobia is also a shared interest, so
marry, travel, and even conceive or adopt lambast other countries at every turn,.

WHO AVOID
Chairman Mao Zedong
He may be the most powerful man in China, having brainwashed a
nation and become almost a religious figurehead, but Chairman Mao
is one to avoid. His enemies find themselves bad-mouthed to the
entire country, shunned in policy and ousted by society (if not killed),
while former comrades, like head of state Liu Shaoqi, disappear or are
shunned as ‘capitalist roaders’ when they seem to get too powerful.
Even those he claims to protect – the Chinese people – die in their
millions under his leadership, primarily as a result of famine following
the Great Leap Forward. You can’t win with Chairman Mao, so it’s
probably best to steer clear.

Violence and political brainwashing might be
prevalent skills in Mao’s China, but if you’re not so FIG.06
keen on those methods, these can help you too Kung Fu
Used by the well-
Hard work trained army, this
Young people born traditional Chinese
n this era will come martial art could help
o be called ‘the lost you out of a tight
generation’ as education spot. Its combination
s sidelined in favour of of defence and attack
abour. If you are lazy means you’ll be
n your work, you will covered in any conflict
be p i h d you encounter

The Cultural Revolution aims to encourage
the rejection of authority figures, so that
Mao can cling to power without threat. As
such, rebelling against teachers and other
authority figures will gain you favour.
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