1958

The "Great Leap Forward" was certainly one of the largest man-made catastrophes in human history, triggered by policital fanatism, ruthless suppression, and technological ignorance. Mao Zedong wanted to transform a predominantly agricultural society into an industrial economy within a few years.

Literature:

Ashton, B. / Hill, K. / Piazza, A. / Zeitz, R. (1984): Famine in China, 1958-61. In: Population and Development Review, Vol. 10, No. 4, 613-645

Becker, Jasper (1996): Hungry ghosts. Mao's secret famine. New York, NY (Henry Holt and Company)

Bo, Yibo (1993): Retrospective of several big decisions and incidents. Beijing (Central Party School)

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Copyright © 2006, 2007, 2008 by Gerhard K. Heilig.