Evaluate the impact of domestic policies on social developments in the People’s Republic of China under Mao Zedong.

The question requires that candidates make an appraisal of the impact of domestic policies on social developments in the People’s Republic of China under Mao Zedong. Impacts of the policies may extend beyond the timeframe but they must be clearly linked to the issue raised in the question. Candidates may refer to the impact of social reforms on women, such as the Marriage Law of 1950 and the legalization of divorce. Women were also liberated and empowered by the banning of old regime practices and the codification of gender equality through universal suffrage and equal rights. Although, many of these policies had little impact on women in traditional rural areas or in the political sphere. However, candidates may refer to the way the Great Leap Forward worsened the social conditions of the rural population through the pursuit of unrealistic targets for economic development. Despite raising literacy rates, Mao’s Cultural Revolution was disastrous for the education system and undermined the family unit. Healthcare policies that focused on preventative care and the establishment of “Barefoot Doctors” during the Cultural Revolution improved life expectancy.

Candidates were required to make an appraisal of the impact of domestic policies on social developments in the People’s Republic of China under Mao Zedong. The most popular question on the paper but it was not handled well for the most part. Candidates seemed to ignore the issue of social developments and instead evaluated a range of Mao's domestic policies. Although these responses were very detailed and showed an excellent understanding of Mao's China they did not address the issue of social developments.