"Maoist Economics and the Revolutionary Road to Communism: The Shanghai Textbook on Socialist Political Economy" (1975) presents a detailed exposition of the Chinese perspective on socialist political economy under Mao . Developed during the Cultural Revolution, it outlines a theoretical framework for the functioning of a socialist alternative to capitalism. The book was formulated under the direction of Zhang Chunqiao, who played a central role in discussions, content planning, and final reviews of the draft.
The text argues for organizing society on the basis of collective ownership, aiming to remove exploitation, private gain, and competition. It also critiques social fragmentation, alienation, and bureaucratic dominance as outcomes of specific economic and technological structures. Drawing on experiences in China between 1949 and 1976, the book examines the challenges and attempts made in building a socialist economy.
The Shanghai Textbook discusses the transition to communism through practical efforts in constructing a new socialist society. It references both the Soviet model under Stalin and the adaptations made by Maoist thinkers. The book suggests that Mao attempted to address perceived limitations of centralized planning by emphasizing mass participation and guarding against bureaucratization.
The work also critiques dominant models of economic development, particularly Western approaches that advocate integration into the global capitalist system. In contrast, the Chinese strategy emphasized self-reliance, prioritization of agriculture, use of simple and intermediate technology, and limited external dependency.
The text acknowledges that errors occurred during this period, including economic weaknesses and flawed social institutions. Mass mobilization efforts also resulted in mistakes, often due to overreach or rigid ideological interpretations. However, it situates these within the broader objective of structural transformation and class struggle.
The book conceptualizes socialism as comprising three key elements: proletarian class rule; a shift from private to collective ownership with production for social need; and a transitional phase marked by class struggle aimed at abolishing class distinctions globally. It explores Marxist political economy with a focus on production relations, ideological influences, and social dynamics in China’s industrial and agricultural sectors. Central to this is the critique of the "three great differences"—between industry and agriculture, urban and rural areas, and manual and mental labour.
The text also addresses the concept of “bourgeois right,” defined as legal and policy structures that promote formal equality but reinforce material inequality. This includes the principle of distribution based on work, which the text suggests may entrench disparities despite its egalitarian intent.
Designed for accessibility, the book was part of a Youth Self-Education Series in China. It was aimed at a general readership, not restricted to academic audiences. The textbook was accompanied by volumes on philosophy, literature, science, and technology. An afterword discusses the performance of China’s economy during the Maoist period.
The text attempts to educate readers on how structural features of socialist society required transformation, and how to prevent reversals in revolutionary progress. It remains a reference for those studying comparative economics, Chinese development, and socialist theory.
Critique of the Shanghai Textbook
The textbook has been criticized for replicating certain aspects of classical political economy and for drawing conclusions similar to those of the Russian Narodniks. Specifically, it emphasizes agriculture as the foundation of the national economy and places limits on the expansion of heavy industry.
This position is seen by critics as misaligned with core principles of Marxist political economy, which emphasize that under socialism, the growth of agricultural productivity is significantly influenced by the development of heavy industry. The idea that simple cooperation in agriculture could drive development without a strong industrial base is viewed as a misreading of socialist transition requirements.
The Shanghai Textbook is also seen as reflecting a theoretical stance that undermines the role of industrial development in overcoming rural underdevelopment. Critics argue that its economic conclusions exhibit a petit bourgeois orientation and deviate from a Marxist-Leninist framework. The use of revolutionary rhetoric in the text has also been interpreted as a cover for theoretical weaknesses or right-leaning interpretations.
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*Freelance journalist
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