Marxism's Influence and the Great Leap Forward

            Karl Marx once said: "History does nothing; it does not possess immense riches. It is men, real, living, who do all this."1 As one of the most influential thinkers in the nineteenth century, Marx has had a direct, deliberate and powerful influence upon mankind both during and after his lifetime. Upon his moral links with his followers, the strength of which was unique even in that golden age of democratic nationalism, he has also influenced various great leaders in the 21st century, such as Mao. The followers of Marx has spread communism into every perspective of today's society. The inquisition on the extent Marxism influenced China's Great Leap Forward has been brought to attention. Marxism influenced China's Great Leap Forward economically, socially and politically, as well as developing Maoism. This topic has come to my concern due to my interest as a Chinese to my own nation's history and culture, as well as the significant experiences and stories I was told as a kid by my grandmother, who has spent her childhood in Shanghai during the period of China's Great Leap Forward. This essay evaluates the extent of Marxist influences on China's Great Leap Forward economically, socially and politically, with the use of pictures, books, internet research, movie productions as well as interviews with my grandmother as the role and viewpoints of the bourgeoisie during China's Great Leap Forward.
             Background.
             Marxism is a series of economical, social and political based ideologies that oppose capitalism. As defined by the communist slogan, "From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs." 2 Marxism in other words are equality for all, which Karl Marx believed was the key factor to keeping peace in the world, since he proclaimed history as a repeating cycle of wars, caused by class struggles and uprisings. 3 In terms of economy, Marxism lays basis of labour and its relation to capital, abandons private ownership of property, and exploits surplus value made formally by the middle class under a capitalist economy.