注意：此題目原是DSE歷屆試題，但為免侵犯版權，題目經過修改，同學可以按試題之年份及題號自行查閱原題目。以下內容乃K.W.Ho之補習教材，於課堂教授，內容乃配合K.W.Ho之答題方法及風格所製作，同時內容可能有錯誤之處以供在課堂上糾正。非補習學生在未有得到課堂教學的情況下錯誤使用，恕不負責，同學請敬請留意。
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原題目題號：DSE-2015-Essay-02(以毛澤東作為例子)
你是否同意毛澤東對中國發展的影響是利多於弊？
背景 毛澤東是20世紀期間對中國發展有著舉足輕重影響力的人物，雖然其成功帶領共產黨擊敗國民黨，建立中華人民共和國。 // 立場 雖然其對中國的發展有著重大的貢獻，然而，相比其所造成的負面影響，實弊多於利。 // 架構 以下，將從政治、經濟、社會、教育及外交方面比較。
主旨句 政治方面，毛澤東雖然有助新中國的建立，但卻使中國陷入專制及政治鬥爭，是弊多於利。 // 項目A(利處) 雖然毛澤東成功帶領共產黨於第二次國共內戰(1946-49年)中擊敗國民黨，建立了新中國。並且，於新中國建立後積極建設社會主義，成功於1956年宣佈中國進入社會主義國家。 // 項目B(弊處)然而，其帶來的弊處更多。因其帶領下建立的新中國是實行一黨專制的體制，使中國未能有效發展民主。此外，毛澤東個人心胸狹窄，貪戀權力，於大躍進失敗而被迫退居二線後，其一直伺機奪回權力，最終發動了文化大革命，煽動紅衛兵打倒「走資派」，結果使中國陷入十年浩劫，政黨機構癱瘓，人才盡失，其中前國家主席劉少奇就於文革的放逐及拘禁期間病逝。同時，長期的政治鬥爭也導致人民對黨﹑馬列主義和政府失去信心，造成「三信」危機，遺禍甚深。 // 對比(~20%) 相比之下，雖然毛澤東有助新中國的建立及社會主義的建設，但卻使中國無法發展民主，專制本質維持至今，更導致政治鬥爭不斷，令人民對政府失去信心，造成政治危機，妨礙了中國的發展，故實是弊多於利。
經濟方面，毛澤東雖然對中國經濟不無貢獻，但卻是弊多於利。毛澤東於1950-52年進行土地改革，有助解放土地予貧農及佃農，刺激生產力。而且，毛澤東領導的一五計劃也取得了顯著的成果，其中1957年的工業總產值較1952年增長了128.6%，奠定了中國工業化的基礎。然而，其帶來的弊處更多。於一五計劃取得驕人成果後，毛澤東急功近利，發動大躍進(1958-60年)，但由於落後的生產方式及質素參差的鐵具，煉出來的鋼鐵質量差劣，所煉成的1,108萬噸鋼中有一半以上均不符合標準，其中1/4更是不能使用的廢鐵，浪費大量人力物力，加上農業虛報的情況底下，最終中國陷入3年的困難時期，非正常死亡人數達到1,500-3,000萬人，經濟大受打擊。及後，毛澤東為奪回權力而發動了文革，國民忙於批鬥，經濟生產停頓，估計使中國經濟損失達5,000億元，經濟發展大受阻礙。相比之下，儘管毛澤東於新中國成立初期對中國有著顯著的正面意義，但後來其發動的大躍進及文革的災難性影響完全蓋過了其之前的功勞，加上1950-70年代是國際經濟發展的黃金期，因而更使中國失去發展的良機，經濟遠落後於其他國家，弊遠多於利。
社會方面，毛澤東對中國文明價值及道德倫理帶來的禍遠多於福。儘管毛澤東提高了女性的地位，因其鼓勵女性在大躍進、文革中的參與。此外，毛澤東於文革時期號召群眾「破四舊」，破除舊思想、舊文化、舊風俗、舊習慣，也有助國民擺脫傳統封建的習俗及文化。然而，其對社會方面帶來了更多的弊，因毛澤東發動的文革摧毀了中國積累數千年的文明價值，例如在「破四舊」中，大量珍貴的文物、古蹟受到空前破壞，傳統學說也受到盲目批貶，使中國傳統文明價值觀也受到重大的打擊。加上，毛澤東號召群眾進行批鬥，許多年輕人更認為「爹親娘親不及毛主席親」，起而揭發、批鬥，如薄熙來批鬥其父薄一波便是其中的代表例子，使社會倫理驟然崩潰。相比之下，毛澤東雖然有助提高女性地位及擺脫部分陋習和思想，但卻使中國文明受到史無前例的摧毀，更令社會道德倫理崩潰，帶來了無可挽回的傷害，弊遠較利為多。
教育方面，毛澤東大大阻礙了中國教育的發展，是弊多於利。雖然毛澤東對於中國教育發展不無正面影響，因毛澤東於1968年發動「上山下鄉運動」，使多達1600萬知識青年到農村勞動，部分知青協助興辦小學教育，令小學入學率由1963年的57%增至1976年的96%，對中國的基礎教育發展而言起了積極性的作用。然而，整體而言，毛澤東使中國教育發展倒退，因毛澤東「重紅不重專」，重視忽視專業知識和教育，如大躍進中號召全民大煉鋼和農業大躍進，鼓勵人民參與生產而無需學習，使教育受到忽視。更甚，至文化大革命，毛澤東更號召群眾批鬥知識分子，使「知識愈多愈反動」、「讀書無用﹑愈讀愈蠢」等思想於全國蔓延，結果使一代人才真空，估計1982年中國的文盲及半文盲人數多達2億人。相比之下，雖然毛澤東發動的「上山下鄉運動」對於中國基礎教育起了正面作用，但其對於教育方面的忽視及輕視則使中國高等教育及學術發展進入空白的一頁，教育發展不進反退，實令遺禍甚深，弊多於利。
外交方面，毛澤東帶來的影響也是損害多於有利中國外交發展。雖然毛澤東有助提高中國在共產主義陣營內的地位，例如派兵參與韓戰(1950-53年)，並成功協助北韓抗衡了南韓及美國的軍隊，使中國在共產主義陣營中扮演了更重要的角色。然而，其帶來了更多的弊處，因毛澤東出兵干預韓戰一事導致了聯合國對中國實施禁運，同時也使中國與西方國家長期交惡，外交一面倒向共產主義國家。及後，毛澤東於1950年代末批評蘇聯赫魯曉夫是「走資派」導致了中、蘇關係交惡，蘇聯更撤走了過千名援華的專家，中國外交更趨孤立。再者，毛澤東發動的文革出現盲目的仇外情緒，紅衛兵公然衝擊外國使館，毆打外國駐華使節，大大惡化了中外關係。儘管中、美關係透過「乒乓外交」(1971年)而有所改變，但毛澤東發動的文革的確是使中國外交陷於新中國成立後的谷底。相比之下，雖然毛澤東希望提高中國在共產主義陣營中的外交地位，但卻使中國外交變得一面倒，其後更導致中外關係惡化至谷底，大大妨礙了中國與其他國家的接觸及交流，因此是弊多於利。
總括而言，雖然毛澤東在新中國成立之前及成立初期有著重大的正面影響，然而，基於其急功近利、野心極大的性格，最終為中國帶來的無可挽回的負面影響，故其對中國發展的影響是弊多於利。
Do you agree that Mao Zedong’s impact on the development of China was more positive than negative?
Mao was an influential person who affected the development of China a lot. Though he succeeded in leading the CCP to defeat the KMT and founded the People’s Republic of China, having many contributions to China. When compared to the negative impact created by him, negative impact was more than positive impact. Political, economic, social, educational and diplomatic aspects are to be discussed.
In political aspect, although Mao established a new China, the People’s Republic of China, he dragged China into autocracy as well as political struggles. Thus, negative impact was more than positive impact. True, Mao led the CCP to defeat the KMT during the Chinese Civil War國共內戰(1946-49) and built the new china. Plus, Mao was eager to build socialism in China and he even announced China stepping into a socialist state社會主義國家 in 1956. However, there were more negative impact. Since the leadership under Mao was one-party dictatorship一黨專制, China was thus failed to develop democracy. Besides, Mao was narrow-minded, craving for more powers. When he failed during the Great Leap Forward and he was forced to retreat to the second line, he was determined to reclaim the power. Eventually, he initiated the Cultural Revolution文化大革命, which advocated mass mobilization. Red guards were gathered together to fight against the ‘capitalist roaders’ and ‘revisionists’. China was then plunged into 10-year dark period. Not only did the party paralyze, but capable leaders were also lost, including Liu Xiaoqi劉少奇, who died during the Cultural Revolution. Meanwhile, the long-lasting political struggles also made people lose faith and confidence towards the PRC, Marxism-Leninism and the government, which in turn contributed to the ‘San Xin Weiji’ 三信危機, jeopardizing China. Comparatively speaking, even though Mao helped establish the new China and socialism, he did not help China develop democracy and autocracy even remained today. Political struggles were frequent and people lost confidence on the government, giving rise to the challenges in governance, which hampered the development of China. Hence, negative impact was more than positive impact.
In economic aspect, though Mao did have contributions to China’s economy, negative impact outweighed positive impact. Mao carried out the Land Reform土地改革(1950-52), which expropriated large area of land from landlords and rich peasants, redistributing to peasants who had no land. This boosted the productivity. On top of that, the First Five Year Plan一五計劃 led by Mao achieved impressive results. In 1957, the gross value of industrial output increased by 128.6% when compared with that of 1952, laying a solid foundation for China’s industrialization. However, negative impact was more than positive impact. After achieving a significant result during the First Five Year Plan, Mao became so idealistic that he launched the Great Leap Forward大躍進(1958-60). Owing to backward production as well as the poor quality of iron, the quality of the resulting steel was extremely poor. In spite of the 11.08 million tons of steel produced, half of which were below standard. To make matters worse, about 1/4 could not be used at all. Many of the manpower and resources were wasted. The failure of steel production, together with the fabrication of the production figures in agricultural produce, dragged China into difficult three-year period (1960-62). 15-30 million people died because of massive famines. Afterwards, Mao, in order to reclaim the power, started the Cultural Revolution文革 (1966-76), during which people were busy criticizing each other, halting economic production. It is estimated that the ten years of the revolution cost China 500 billion yuan of national income. Economic development was obstructed. Comparatively speaking, it is true that Mao made impressive results in economy during the earlier period, which was the 1950s. However, the catastrophic Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution started by Mao seriously hindered China’s economic development. What he had achieved in earlier period was covered by his mistakes made in these two events. Plus, the period of 1950-1970s was the golden period of economic development around the world. China failed to grab this great opportunity. Her economy remained poor. Hence, negative impact was more than positive impact.
In social aspect, in terms of preserving China’s traditional cultures and moral, Mao undoubtedly brought more negative impact than positive impact. Mao made an attempt to enhance the status of women, and encouraged women to take part in the Great Leap Forward大躍進 as well as the Cultural Revolution文革. Apart from enhancing women’s status, he also urged the masses to ‘destroy the Four Olds’ 破四舊. This favored Chinese to get rid of the traditional culture and customs. However, negative impact was more than positive impact as Mao started the Cultural Revolution to destroy the traditional values of China that had lasted for a few thousand years. For example, during the ‘destroy the Four Olds’ 破四舊, many valuable antiques and monuments were damaged at the same time. Confucianism was also criticized unreasonably. This seriously distorted the traditional cultures of China. Moreover, Mao mobilized the masses to criticize, making many teenagers at that time believed that ‘parents may love me, but not as much as Chairman Mao爹親娘親不及毛主席親.’ They supported Mao rather than their parents and teachers. Bo Xilai薄熙來, who purged his father, was a typical example. The society was divided and moral decline resulted. Comparatively speaking, Mao undeniably enhanced women’s status and helped get rid of some feudal values, he also destructed many traditional values, one of which was Confucianism, leading to moral decline, which was irreversible. Hence, negative impact was more than positive impact.
In educational aspect, Mao seriously impeded the educational development in China. Negative impact was thus more than positive impact. Despite the fact that Mao implemented the ‘Up to the Mountains and down to the countryside movement上山下鄉運動’ in 1968, sending 16 million ‘sent-down youth’, who set up schools in rural areas and became teachers. This facilitated the development of basic education. Due to the efforts made by the knowledgeable youngsters, the primary school enrolment rate increased from 57% in 1963 to 96% in 1976. Their contribution to basic education in China was significant. However, generally speaking, Mao hampered the educational development of China as he placed emphasis on ‘redness’ at the expense of ‘expertise’ 重紅不重專, turning a blind eye to knowledge and technology. For instance, during the Great Leap Forward大躍進, he attached much importance to industrial production, frowning upon learning and education. Worse still, during the Cultural Revolution文革, Mao mobilized the masses to criticize the intellectuals and professionals. Education was regarded as unproductive and worthless. People believed that ‘the more knowledge, the more reactionary’ 知識愈多愈反動 and ‘the more you study, the more foolish you become讀書無用﹑愈讀愈蠢.’ This created a generation lacking education. In 1982, more than 200 million people were illiterate and semiliterate. Comparatively speaking, although the ‘Up to the Mountains and down to the countryside movement’ made a positive influence on China’s basic education, the neglect and overlook on education generated a generation lacking in knowledge. Hence, negative impact was more than positive impact.
In diplomatic aspect, Mao brought more negative impact than positive impact. Though Mao succeeded in enhancing the status of China as a communist country in communist bloc such as participating in the Korean War韓戰(1950-53), helping North Korea to confront South Korea as well as the US, playing an important role in communist bloc. However, there was more negative impact. Since Mao intervened in the Korean War, the United Nations thus enforced embargo禁運 on China, together with the poor relations with the west, diplomacy only maintained with communist countries. In the late 1950s, Mao openly criticized Khrustchev赫魯曉夫 as ‘capitalist roader走資派’, aggravating the relations between China and the USSR. The Soviet even called back the professionals in China, isolating China. To make things worse, during the Cultural Revolution文革, strong anti-foreign feelings emerged. The Red Guards attacked foreign legations and assaulted ambassadors inside. The worsened the relations with the west. Though China used Ping Pong Diplomacy乒乓外交(1971) to improve relations with the US, what Mao did during the Cultural Revolution brought China to a more serious isolation. Comparatively speaking, though Mao hoped to enhance China’s status in the communist bloc, he lopsided China’s diplomacy. China’s relations with the Western countries nearly broke off during the Cultural Revolution, hindering the interaction with other countries. Hence, negative impact was more than positive impact.
In conclusion, though Mao played a significant role and brought great influence on China during the earlier period, he became ambitious, aggressive and idealistic later. Eventually, he brought irreversible negative impact to China. Hence, negative impact was more than positive impact.
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