Evaluate the effects of Collectivisation and industrialisation on Mao's china.

Collectivization

POSITIVE EFFECTS

Increased agricultural productivity: By pooling resources and labor through collective farming, there were instances of improved agricultural output. Moreover, Chinese Communists believed that carrying out large scale collectivization would eventually lead to an increased agricultural production. They emphasized organization and collective effort, which was seen as a means to overcome shortages of tools and animals, utilize labor more efficiently, improve irrigation, and organize surplus farm labor for secondary production.

Social cohesion: Collectivisation aimed to create a sense of communal ownership and cooperation among peasants, fostering social unity.

Redistribution of land and trade: The land reform associated with collectivisation aimed to eliminate feudalistic land ownership and redistribute land to the peasants. The Chinese government made significant progress in regulating and monopolizing the trade of agricultural products through cooperatives. State purchases of major crops like wheat and cotton were carried out through cooperatives, indicating that collectivization facilitated state control over trade and distribution channels.

SOCIAL IMPACTS

ECONOMIC IMPACTS

Decreased Productivity: the swap from voluntary collectivization to complusory collectivization lead to a decrease in productivity in 1957. Agricultural production decreased from 103 as the average production rate in Chinese provinces in 1957 to 85 average in 1958, this decreased overall economic standings and became the precusor for the great chinese famine.

NEGATIVE EFFECTS

Loss of Individual Incentives: The success of agricultural collectives depended on a self-enforcing contract. However, the deprivation of the right to withdraw from a collective farm in the fall of 1958 changed collectivization from being something farmers could easily repeat by withdrawing or engaging themselves to being locked into the system of collectivization. This shift likely undermined individual incentives to work diligently, innovate, or take responsibility for agricultural outcomes.

Collapse in Agricultural Production: Despite the initial success of the collectivization campaign, agricultural production dramatically declined in the years following 1958. Output had dropped by 15 percent by 1959, which eventually only reached 70% of the grain output of 1958 in 1960 and 1961. Grain output went from 200 million metric tons to 140 million metric tons in 1961. This collapse suggests that there were systematic failures due to collectivization attempts in the agricultural sector. Ka-kui, Tse

Famine and food shortages: The Great Chinese Famine (1959-1961) was partly attributed to the disruptions caused by collectivization, including forced requisitioning of grain and agricultural mismanagement.

Industrialization

ECONOMIC IMPACTS

Diversification of the Economy: Industrialization diversified the Chinese economy, it heavily reduced its original dependence on agriculture. When the industrial sector exmaonded new job opportunities were created and alternative sources of income arose for rural population, thereby reducing rural poverty and transforming China into a more balanced economy.

Infrastructure Development: Industrialization spurred investment in infrastructure projects such as transportation networks, energy systems, and telecommunications. The construction of railways, highways, dams, and power plants laid the foundation for further economic growth and development.

SOCIAL IMPACTS

Urbanization: Industrialization spurred mass migration from rural areas to urban centers in search of employment opportunities. This migration fueled the growth of industrial cities and contributed to significant demographic shifts in Chinese society.

Changes in Traditional Social Structures: Industrialization changed traditional social norms, this was especially present in rural areas. The collectivization of agriculture, industrialization and the establishment of communes altered traditional farming practices and communal ties within rural communities. The shift from agrarian lifestyles to wage labor in factories also brought about changes in family dynamics and community relationships.

Gender Roles and Women's Empowerment: Industrialization influenced gender roles and women's empowerment in Chinese society. While women increasingly participated in the labor force and gained economic independence through employment in factories and industries, they also faced gender discrimination and unequal treatment in the workplace. Industrialization contributed to the gradual transformation of traditional gender norms and the emergence of new opportunities for women in urban areas.

NEGATIVE EFFECTS

Human cost: Industrialization led to harsh working conditions, low wages, and limited labor rights, with workers subjected to long hours and minimal safety regulations. There was an estimated 30 million deaths due to poor agricultural output as well as degrading living and working conditions arising from poor management of collective farms. Ka-kui, Tse

Chronic Rural Poverty: Despite significant industrial growth, there persisted chronic rural poverty in certain regions, as indicated by the example of Guizhou province, which had the lowest reported life expectancy and a significant concentration of rural poverty.

Resource Diversion: Mao's strategy of emphasizing heavy industry and industrialization led to the diversion of resources from agriculture to support industrial growth. This diversion contributed to agricultural neglect and the exacerbation of rural poverty and hardship.

POSITIVE EFFECTS

Rapid Industrial Growth: Mao's focus on industrialization created efficient industrial and economic growth, with the section of industry in the country's GDP increasing from 21% in 1952 to 48% in 1978. This rapid industrial growth contributed to the modernization and development of China's economy prior to the GLF aswell as after.

Technological Advancements: Industrialization necessitated technological advancements and innovations, which spilled over to other sectors of the economy, including agriculture. Improved technology and infrastructure in transportation, communication, and energy helped modernize agricultural practices and increase productivity.