Communes and Agricultural Production: A Historical Overview

This lecture discusses the role of communes in agricultural production during a significant period in China. It highlights how large communes were organized to handle extensive projects, enabling rapid completion of tasks with thousands of workers. The instructor explains the military-style discipline imposed on production brigades, which were deployed to areas deemed most in need. The party's narrative framed this approach as a more efficient method for building socialism, following the elimination of private land ownership. The lecture also addresses the impact on family life, with central kitchens for food preparation and communal child care. Mao's ambitious goal of doubling food production within a year is examined, emphasizing his belief in revolutionary enthusiasm overcoming obstacles. The instructor recounts a visit by Chairman Mao to a commune, where he questioned the feasibility of promised yields, revealing the disparity between expectations and reality. The competition among communes to inflate production figures is also discussed, illustrating the lengths to which they went to meet party demands.