Xiaoping's Four Modernizations
Modernizing Agriculture
Deng Xiaoping, the successor to Mao Zedong, wanted to modernize farming by introducing mechanization, which is the use of machines. By doing this, food production would increase, and hopefully make China self-sufficient in food production. However, to fulfill this goal, every farmer in China needed to be involved. Xiaoping introduced the responsibility system as a way to involve the people.
This system required each farm family to make its own living by producing crops. If they did not have enough land, the government leased land to them. After a harvest, the family would sell a portion to the government in return for a set price. The rest could be sold to the open market for a profit. This encouraged farmers to produce more crops, which benefited both the country and the people. However, China did not adopt capitalism - the government was still in control of most of the economy.
Expanding Industry
Under Mao Zedong, China was undergoing very heavy industrialization. It was developing mining and military weapons. Many factories were set up all over the country, making manufactured goods like tools and furniture. However, Zedong focused on quantity over quality, leaving products to be low quality.
Xiaoping shifted emphasis to light industry, such as consumer goods. Managers of the factories were given the ability to choose what they were going to sell, but were still responsible for making a profit. He extended the responsibility system to industry to make them more efficient. By doing so, managers were not only responsible for making a profit, but were allowed to make money for themselves.
Developing science and technology
After Mao Zedong passed away, Xiaoping removed China's policy of isolation from the world. He wanted ideas about technology and trade to flow into China once more, and had opened the door to foreign trade and investment. To encourage foreign trade, Xiaoping created Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in southeastern China. This further increased trade and ideas for technology.
Upgrading China's defense forces
When Xiaoping came to power, he and his military advisers realized China's lack of up-to-date military weapons. This was an obvious sign that their military was not modernized. Xiaoping quickly began to prioritize the deployment of modern weaponry. However, he prioritized research over production, and gave both old and new weapons a place in the army. Also, Xiaoping encouraged modern training for his soldiers, learning the newest of tactics and strategies to improve battle techniques. Increased nationalism in China also increased the number of soldiers who joined to serve and defend their country.
Deng Xiaoping, the successor to Mao Zedong, wanted to modernize farming by introducing mechanization, which is the use of machines. By doing this, food production would increase, and hopefully make China self-sufficient in food production. However, to fulfill this goal, every farmer in China needed to be involved. Xiaoping introduced the responsibility system as a way to involve the people.
This system required each farm family to make its own living by producing crops. If they did not have enough land, the government leased land to them. After a harvest, the family would sell a portion to the government in return for a set price. The rest could be sold to the open market for a profit. This encouraged farmers to produce more crops, which benefited both the country and the people. However, China did not adopt capitalism - the government was still in control of most of the economy.
Expanding Industry
Under Mao Zedong, China was undergoing very heavy industrialization. It was developing mining and military weapons. Many factories were set up all over the country, making manufactured goods like tools and furniture. However, Zedong focused on quantity over quality, leaving products to be low quality.
Xiaoping shifted emphasis to light industry, such as consumer goods. Managers of the factories were given the ability to choose what they were going to sell, but were still responsible for making a profit. He extended the responsibility system to industry to make them more efficient. By doing so, managers were not only responsible for making a profit, but were allowed to make money for themselves.
Developing science and technology
After Mao Zedong passed away, Xiaoping removed China's policy of isolation from the world. He wanted ideas about technology and trade to flow into China once more, and had opened the door to foreign trade and investment. To encourage foreign trade, Xiaoping created Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in southeastern China. This further increased trade and ideas for technology.
Upgrading China's defense forces
When Xiaoping came to power, he and his military advisers realized China's lack of up-to-date military weapons. This was an obvious sign that their military was not modernized. Xiaoping quickly began to prioritize the deployment of modern weaponry. However, he prioritized research over production, and gave both old and new weapons a place in the army. Also, Xiaoping encouraged modern training for his soldiers, learning the newest of tactics and strategies to improve battle techniques. Increased nationalism in China also increased the number of soldiers who joined to serve and defend their country.
Pros and Cons
Xiaoping's Four Modernizations for China were successful because the economy boomed. GDP rose immensely, and trade flowed through China very smoothly. Also, industrial output rose, due to the automation through factories. During Xiaoping's control, China became one of the world's fastest developing countries. The people were somewhat satisfied, compared to when the country was in a much worse state. They overall population had a better standard of living.
However, the Four Modernizations were unsuccessful in many aspects. Because of the industrialization process, millions of people from the rural areas of China poured into towns and cities, causing overpopulation and the problems that come with it: worse living conditions, poverty, increased rate of disease, etc. Also, the large boom of industry caused air and water pollution to increase exponentially, which was detrimental to the population's health. The crime rate rose, and corruption in populated areas grew. Though the second modernization, which allowed managers the freedom to decide what to sell to the public and make money for themselves, was beneficial to the managers, it created a monumental difference between the rich and the poor.
However, the Four Modernizations were unsuccessful in many aspects. Because of the industrialization process, millions of people from the rural areas of China poured into towns and cities, causing overpopulation and the problems that come with it: worse living conditions, poverty, increased rate of disease, etc. Also, the large boom of industry caused air and water pollution to increase exponentially, which was detrimental to the population's health. The crime rate rose, and corruption in populated areas grew. Though the second modernization, which allowed managers the freedom to decide what to sell to the public and make money for themselves, was beneficial to the managers, it created a monumental difference between the rich and the poor.