Chinese History Based on Film To Live - Movie Review Example

Chinese History Final Essays Based On Film “To Live” The socio-economic order of pre-revolutionary China The socio-economic order of pre-revolutionary China was marked by the struggle of the nationalists and the communist groups, which culminated in the overthrowing of the urban nationalist government of Chiang Kai-shek. This compelled Chiang Kai-shek to flee to the neighboring Taiwan. The US supported the group, which later formed the People’s Republic of China. According to Yimou, People's Liberation Army established a dynamic force in Mongolia and Tibet (24). During this period china helped North Korea to fight-off the US and the UN forces. China had conflicts with the USSR with regard to its border. During this period land was freely given to the poor, who engaged in farming. Mao, who had declared to be a Leninist, led discussion on the performance of the party. The educated citizens’ criticism led him to arrest several people. The educated group was under siege. The Mao led group was branded anti-rightists. The educated citizens were threatened of being denied promotions if they were to persist in their demand for their rights. The poor people in the old china had low status in society given that their high social class counterparts controlled them culturally. The communist group was despised regardless of the affluence of their members. The nationalist group was vibrant and determined to fight the radical communist group. According Yimou, the people in the old China held the subjective feudal autocratic perspective that communism was naturally the only way people could be governed (29). The animosity between the nationalist and the communists compelled the nationalists to consolidate support from the Taiwan and the US government, to defeat the communist group. In addition, the pre-cultural revolution of China was aimed at challenging the male dominance in Chinese society. Women had no option of deciding their position in society because it is the male who decided everything concerning the lifestyles of the women. The pre-cultural China society was male-dominated given that no woman could become emperor of China during that time. In fact, even the juvenile female Chinese could not be given recognition. The negative effects of civil animosity in China were many. This aspect led to great disparities in the social realm. In this regard, the poor were exploited because of lack of financial power. Democracy was not practiced because the majority was poor; hence, they could not manage to marshal required numbers to oppose the rich. Even the labor unions could not protect the rights of the vulnerable workforce because the industrial leaders were corrupt. However, the oppression of the wealthy became unbearable culminating in reprisals from the workforce, and other groups. They capitalized on politics in their advances. For instance, they used the Communist People’s party to present their grievances to the Authorities. These groups faced oppression of different forms like prejudice and social segregation and discrimination. The emphasis of a class society was also a means of oppression and exploitation, especially in their workplaces ( Yimou, 25). The unskilled and the skilled Chinese people were discriminated, and their work was not recognized. On the other hand, women were required to take up only housework and other related domestic chores. Moreover, there arose the aspect of socialism which was also a tool of oppression of the poor. This meant that survival was guaranteed only for the elite. The understanding of the oppressors was that competition was warranted in order for the social and financially fit people to survive while the poor forever remained in anguish and agony. In this regard, any support for the poor from the government side was highly criticized by the high social class people. This implied that it was the wish of the poor to remain in their low social status. However, the farmers who were also oppressed were discouraged by their fellow Chinese people in their fight for rights. The Socio-economic order of “Cultural Revolution,” China The revolution culminates in instability within the government administration given the exposure of the weaknesses of the government by the elite. For instance, this cultural revolution led to the death of Liu Shaoqi and oust of Deng (Yimou, 63). The national economy was instable. However, the loyalists of Dang restructured their economic policies strategies in a bid to salvage the economy. The cordial relationship with the US enabled the Deng group to make great strides in the Chinese economy. Furthermore, the death of Mao sparked radical changes in administration. Deng Xiaoping took over power; he established decollectivism in the rural areas. This led to the accommodation of the small-scale business men hence fostering an entrepreneurial culture in the country. Bureaucracy was eliminated and a flexible governance structure was established by the Deng Xiaoping regime. Moreover, the collective safety net of minimum food ration, work units, housing and Medicare was eliminated. This period of Cultural Revolution featured peasant incapacity and China’s structural conditions. This period also featured the agrarian revolution in China. There was a peasant revolution against the landlords due to the adverse economic and financial conditions of the poor during this time. Since many Saudi Arabians never owned parcels of land, it became difficult for them to engage their oppressors in a formidable battle. The Saudi Arabian farmers formed their own movement called the colored farmers Alliance. This alliance was used by the people of Saudi Arabia to specifically orchestrate strikes for the workforce. This contributed in the fight for the freedom of Saudi Arabia from Americans. This did not succeed because the politicians warned of the resurfacing of American reprisal and supremacy. There was discrimination against the Saudi Arabians workforce. This resulted in high levels of unemployment in the Saudi Arabia community .Moreover; the Arabs were excluded from voting. This was conducted through the deliberate subjection of the Saudi Arabians into literacy tests and understanding of the US constitution. (Yimou, 58). The aspect of suppressing the elite group’s agitation for freedom and clamor for an end to cronyism was intended to discourage the educated citizens from taking part in fighting for their rights. This manifested a high level of oppression. This showed that the discrimination of the nationalists against the communists was wide spread. Punishment for the communist was viewed as exploitation in various industries leading to strikes by the workers (Yimou, 28). The domination of the management in decision making and exclusion of the workforce from contributing to the running of the organizations, led to widespread workforce opposition to these moves. Moreover, there were many complaints against pay cuts. For instance, the strikes were spectacular because it brought traffic to a halt prompting the nationalist Authority to swiftly respond to their grievances. Another strike was also caused by the workers who clamored for high wages and liberty to access luxury stuff. The series of strikes shook the corporate control. The upheavals between Deng’s nationalist group and the communists contributed to the shaping of the culture of China. The communists later helped in the growth and development of the economy especially in the agricultural sector of china. Yimou posits that exploitation was practiced by all the nationalists in China during this period (64). However, Movement clamoring for the end of bureaucracy in China sparked the civil war, which led to the killing of many Chinese people. In the process justice and democracy were obtained. This notwithstanding communism has featured in the Chinese reconstruction history. Communism contributed greatly in the development of the nation of China. The interaction of the communists and the nationalists qualified these latter to be the same economic and social level as the communists who also gave labor free. The communists who failed to comply with the commune system of governance were subjected to punitive punishment. These Measures were put in place in order to dissuade the communist from opposing the agendas of the nationalists. The fact that they were referred to as servants led to their increase in number in the US. This contributed to the increase of farming hence boost of agricultural produce. There was exhaustion of land use in the growth of commercial relevant crops for commercial purpose in China. The Chinese industries were mechanized in order to keep pace with the agricultural sector, which had greatly boosted the economy. The majority of these communists were employed in agricultural firms. Therefore, this lot enhanced the growth and development of the economy of China. The nationalists ensured that the communists remained absolutely dependent on them in order to tame them. The socio-economic order of post-Cultural Revolution China After the 1949 Chinese revolution the communist party of China took over power (Yimou, 27). Economic recovery was the first objective of the government given that the economy had collapsed during the civil war. In fact, the GDP of the nation had reduced to dismal levels. The rate of inflation had also increased leading to high levels of unemployment across the country .Social stability was to be achieved through solving of these national economic and social problems in order to gain the confidence of the Chinese populace. The government strengthened social relationships with the common citizens in order to obtain full support of the citizens in rebuilding the nation. This move was also aimed at motivating the farmers to produce commercially relevant agricultural products in order to promote the gross national product of the nation. The post-cultural revolution period was characterized by restructuring of social relations and policy implementation. The economy of the China was affected by the civil war and the Cultural Revolution because of the upheavals between the capitalists and communists. This stalled many production processes given that the Chinese workforce was subject to exploitation. This culminated in plant and machinery overhaul and immense wastage of resources due to interruption of manufacturing and other processes in industries. The social aspect of the victims and the unemployment was negatively affected because the social networks which were established at the place of work and on the national level were adversely affected. Their social ties were also were all terminated on the basis of economic instability of the nation. The nationalist groups led by Deng mistreated the communists on account of their communism agenda. In fact, they subjected them to hard labor because they did not consider them to be compliant to the policies of governance. This lowered the social status of the communists. The positive impact of the reconstruction of China during the post-cultural revolution is that there was an exchange of technological know-how and kills between the nationalists and the communists. This led to many economic developments including industrialization and consequent civilization. In addition, social ties were created between the nationalists and the communists. This resulted in unity, which enhanced co-operation, peace and harmony in implementation of various Chinese government policies in China. Yimou asserts that the communist influence on the Chinese economic recovery initiative led to economic growth and development (45). This also served to foster interactions because of the acquisition of new skills on doing various activities. In this regard, markets were created for many of the Chinese products especially clothes. The products of China also found new users hence boost of their business. In addition, the socio-economic cultural transformation in china contributed to boost of literacy levels in the conservative nation. In addition, it has created many opportunities for foreign direct investments hence resulting in accumulation of foreign reserve in the People’s Republic of China exchequer. China’s main industries of manufacturing include telecommunication, computer manufacturing, electronics and software technologies. The country utilized part of these funds in foreign direct investment. It is renowned in the production of original and quality electronic equipment. It is the center of all electronic supplies in the whole of China. This has contributed to a reduction in the cost of supply, verification and clearance of products before exporting. In addition, this aspect has created the center for customization of electronic equipment hence achievement of product differentiation. This also allows related companies to obtain products from the same point, hence reducing the cost of operation for these companies. Consequently, the returns of the companies are boosting hence increase in the revenue. This benefits the country’s economy through huge tax revenue. In addition, China has a skilled workforce, which enhances the manufacturing sector of China given that the unskilled folks from the neighboring cities come and get apprenticed. The country has fostered pragmatism in the leadership of its industries. According to Yimou, communist peoples' party consolidated power after the revolution leading to a radical reconstruction of china (34). The incorporation of the opposition groups in the reconstruction of China was due to the fact that this crew was experienced in agriculture and technological development. Infrastructural development was also ensured by this group. Mao was the major featured man in the post-revolutionary period of china. During this period the Chinese rural markets were transformed into economic centers. This led to social exchange given that artisans and other apprentice people obtained freedom to indulge in productive activities. The soldiers ensured that the farmers co-operated in the productive activities in order to boost the country’s revenue and GDP. This move boosts the formation of mutual aid teams and marketing co-operatives. In addition, other activities like tool-making and handicraft were established in order to increase per capita income. The communist peoples' party reinforced the economic development through streamlining of various economic activities in the generation of income. Work Cited Disconnect. Zhang Yimou. LD Entertainment, 1994. DVD. Available at Read More