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Comparisons between Mao and Stalin

Have to do an essay on the similarities and differences with respect to economic and social policies. ne ideas.

for what it's worth, positive rep will be awarded

Reply 1

plocketyplock

That's a lot of points to cover in an essay!

There're several ways to structure this, but I personally prefer similarities in economic policies, then differences, then similarities in social policies, then differences.

Economic policies: First Five Year Plans in both China and the USSR were similar in aim and in the way they were carried out, but what about the Great Leap Forward? Talk also on collectivisation.

Social policies (ugh, always hated this): My mind's drawing a complete blank! Um, I'm sure you know more than I do, but think of significant events that occurred in both nations during the time and compare and contrast them.

Reply 2

liamb

9

Perhaps the most significant point is that Mao compared himself to Stalin and felt that China would have to go through the same processes as the Soviets did from 1928 -41.

Certainly Collectivition, Five Year Plans, emphasis on heavy 'strategic' industries and a semi-war economy. Socially, there was a rigid regimentation of society and a purge of the party.

Reply 3

Mazraz

1

i also think it would be important to look at the interdependence between the two figures and the changes in power between the two men throughout their relationship. first stalin was definately the most powerful of the two but mao was clever enough to exploit his unique status as the only other large and influential communist party leader, and also due to his shenagingans he kept out of the way of stalin and russian forces for long enough so that he could gain power and be the fully fledged dictator that he wanted to become and to escape the control of moscow and stalin.
in terms of their relationship it is also important that mao and stalin didnt actually like each other, and most of their public appearances were pretentions.
also , when you look at their actual actions, mao caused the deaths of 70 million (check this!!) people, which stalin, for all his purges did not manage to do
other than that the other suggestions on the thread are really good
good luck

Reply 4

FadeToBlackout

15

Mazraz

also , when you look at their actual actions, mao caused the deaths of 70 million (check this!!) people, which stalin, for all his purges did not manage to do

Maybe not, but when you factor in the amount of war dead (many of whom died through Stalin's suicidal-esque tactics) combined with those who died as a result of collectivisation, the purges, the five year plans, in the famines... 70 million is probably exceeded.

I'm not attacking you personally, Mazraz, just putting forwards a few other arguments. I need to do an essay of my own and don't want to, hence TSR procrastination!

Reply 5

ChrisF

10

Mao's favourite thing in the world was noodles whilst Stalin's was Vodka?

Reply 6

liamb

9

Stalin often drank water while everyone else drank vodka to put himself at an advantage.

Maybe tobacco is the answer. His pipe was never far away.

Reply 7

Mazraz

1

FadeToBlackout

Maybe not, but when you factor in the amount of war dead (many of whom died through Stalin's suicidal-esque tactics) combined with those who died as a result of collectivisation, the purges, the five year plans, in the famines... 70 million is probably exceeded.

I'm not attacking you personally, Mazraz, just putting forwards a few other arguments. I need to do an essay of my own and don't want to, hence TSR procrastination!

i am also procrastinating so ill respond... anyway, what i meant to requote was something that Jung Chang wrote, i think her point was that although stalin killed huge numbers of people, as you said through war defeats etc. mao managed to kill 70 million civilians without direct conflict in war. - yes WWII and the civil war were awful but i think that those civilian deaths were inconsequential in comparison to the millions of deaths mao caused through grain requisitioning and purges
anyway, back to venn diagrams...

Reply 8

Wenham

Mazraz

i am also procrastinating so ill respond... anyway, what i meant to requote was something that Jung Chang wrote, i think her point was that although stalin killed huge numbers of people, as you said through war defeats etc. mao managed to kill 70 million civilians without direct conflict in war. - yes WWII and the civil war were awful but i think that those civilian deaths were inconsequential in comparison to the millions of deaths mao caused through grain requisitioning and purges
anyway, back to venn diagrams...

However, there was a difference between China's population and the USSR's population. Stalin may have been directly responsible for the death of 20million soviets (as well as up to 27 million war dead), which is more significant due to the smaller population of the USSR.

Reply 9

FadeToBlackout

15

Mazraz

i am also procrastinating so ill respond... anyway, what i meant to requote was something that Jung Chang wrote, i think her point was that although stalin killed huge numbers of people, as you said through war defeats etc. mao managed to kill 70 million civilians without direct conflict in war. - yes WWII and the civil war were awful but i think that those civilian deaths were inconsequential in comparison to the millions of deaths mao caused through grain requisitioning and purges
anyway, back to venn diagrams...

The other point to make being how do we know how many people died? Estimates for Soviet Russia are just that, estimates, and are subject to academic controversy, hence I'd expect China to be subject to a similar uncertainty.

You do however have a point about Mao's actions; I need to look at more Chinese history.

Comparisons between Mao and Stalin

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