To what extent had Mao Zedong consolidated his rule in China by 1961?

The question requires that candidates consider the merits or otherwise of the suggestion that Mao Zedong consolidated his rule in China by 1961. This is a broad question and candidates may choose from a wide variety of social, political and economic factors as supporting evidence. Candidates may refer to the political campaigns which enabled Mao to silence his opponents. These could include the Speak Bitterness, the Four Antis and the Hundred Flowers Campaign. They may also argue that Mao increased his political control by centralizing power, bringing autonomous regions directly under his control and using the PLA to achieve this. Candidates may also argue that his social and economic policies, including the Marriage Law, Land Reform and the First Five Year Plan, consolidated his control by increasing support for himself and the party. Candidates may challenge the assumption in the question that Mao had consolidated his power and argue that the Hundred Flowers Campaign and the aftermath of the Great Leap Forward are evidence of how vulnerable his position still was within the party. Tibetan and Islam insurgencies in the 1950s also demonstrated Mao did not have full control. Candidates’ opinions or conclusions will be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence.

This was a very popular question. The question required that candidates considered the merits or otherwise of the suggestion that Mao Zedong consolidated his rule in China by 1961. There was an exceptional amount of in-depth knowledge applied in the responses seen to this question. However, some candidates went well outside the time frame in the question with lengthy sections of their response focused on the Cultural Revolution. This was a broad question and a few candidates tried to cover so many factors that they lacked in-depth discussion of the points raised. Candidates should be reminded to select the best examples to support their argument.