Mao and Stalin: Leaders in the Pursuit of Socialism

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Mao, leader and founder of the People's Republic of China, and Stalin, leader of the Soviet Union of Russia, were two powerful leaders with a goal of making his nation a model of socialism. Though they both were greatly influenced by Marxism, they both added a personal twist to his original theory. In the Soviet Union, Stalin with his Five-year Plan, forced the nation to industrialize in an impossible rapid pace. Strict interpretations of Marxism suggest that Socialism is a stage that may only happen after the stage of Feudalism is overtaken by Capitalism. No stage can be missed in the process. Is it possible to skip a stage in this process successfully? However, Stalin created the Five-year Plan in an attempt to jumpstart a nation from Feudalism straight into Socialism. Russia had only abolished serfdom about eighty years before, but had not yet embraced or developed into Capitalism. Also, following Lenin's lead, he ruled with an small elite class, not using the power of the proletariat as Marx idealized.

Mao, on the other hand, received all his power from peasants and his support of peasants was strong. Unlike strict interpretations of Marxism, Mao looked to the masses of peasants rather than the middle working class. China's working class at the time was small, but rather than industrializing as Stalin had, using Britain as a model, Mao sought to create small work places everywhere and mobilize the people. China had looked to the Soviet Union for support and as a model of socialism and the transition. However, Mao's Great Leap forward destroyed that link, as the Russians criticized the policy. Mao saw Russia as imperialists and Russia saw him as a "modern revisionist," (McKay 984) who strayed from true Marxism.

They both used propaganda and fear to transition into socialism. Marx wrote that violence and fear is necessary during the transition from Capitalism to Socialism. Is it possible without propaganda? Both Mao and Stalin turned into "gods" of his nation, leading the people to the golden place of socialism. They bombarded the public with propaganda, in an attempt to brainwash all the people. Rather then achieving Socialism, both became intoxicated with his own power and caused the death of thousands of their people, without remorse. Is it possible to achieve Socialism without one strong leader? Can the proletariats rise up and make the transition themselves, violent or not? In both cases, the transition was not in the hands of the proletariat as Marx wrote it should be. For Russia, it was a small elite, and for China, their large masses of peasants. Neither stayed true to the socialism that Marx created, but is there a country ever ready to follow the strict interpretation of Marxist socialism?

Indian Revolution: Satyagraha

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Mahatma Gandhi, through satyagraha, experimented with peaceful means of fighting for civil rights, discovering the strength of nonviolence. Satyagraha was the nonviolent, yet active path of civil disobedience against unjust oppression by making the evil side aware of its fault. When would satyagraha be used? Gandhi stressed that only as a last resort should the strong weapon of satyagraha be wielded for the cause. The cause had to be worthy of it, and the people worthy of committing to it. Gandhi's strategic use of satyagraha made the world aware of India's struggle against Britain, which by threatening to tarnish Britain's reputation, achieved success. Would satyagraha work in other countries and other time periods? Although Gandhi's nonviolence was not always followed during his lifetime, Gandhi was a model for many future civil rights leaders. Martin Luther King JR., for example is a man who spoke of his admiration for Gandhi. He, with peaceful protests and boycotts, succeeded in helping the black community gain equal rights. Not only did Gandhi's use of satyagraha liberate India, but provided a blueprint for other civil rights movements and immortalizes him as one of the greatest and most influential leaders of the world.