Everyone with a minimal knowledge of world history knows who Mao Zedong was. One of the bloodiest characters in the past 20th century, and in History, with capital H, I would dare to say, the Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party can be considered a master of propaganda. During the civil war he fought against the nationalist Kuomintang he managed to reverse an adverse situation, where his enemy had almost five times more manpower and means, thanks, among other reasons, to the popular support he was able to gathered and to the nationalists’ incompetence.
On October 10th 1947, the Manifesto of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) drafted by Mao himself was first published. Also known as the October 10th Manifesto, this document set the eight basic policies of the PLA. Throughout the manifesto, Mao constantly identifies the PLA with the people and refers to Chiang Kai-shek’s men as a bunch of looters, rapists and murderers. The Chinese communist also exploits the inability of the Kuomintang during the Second World War to oppose the powerful Japanese Empire and labels their leader as a traitor. 1. Unite workers, peasants, soldiers, intellectuals and businessmen, all oppressed classes, al people’s organizations, democratic parties, minority nationalities, overseas Chinese and other patriots; forma a national united front; overthrow the dictatorial Chiang Kai-shek government; and establish a democratic coalition government.
3. Abolish Chiang Kai-shek dictatorship, carry out the system of people’s democracy and guarantee freedom of speech, of the press, of assembly and of association for the people
7. Recognize the right to equality and autonomy of the minority nationalities within the borders of China.
Yes, it is not a typo; Mao Zedong talked about establishing a democratic coalition government. In fact, the term “democracy” can be read various times throughout the text. Yes, Mao also mentioned guaranteeing key liberties that we know he brutally suppressed like freedom of speech, press and assembly. And finally, Chairman Mao also promised autonomy to the numerous minorities that lived, and live, in China. Pure and utter propaganda. However it is not surprising that he was able to rally massive support: who wouldn’t have fought against a traitor, corrupt and evil dictatorship to defend and extend democracy, civil liberties and rights? Attacking his enemy, blaming him for all of the country’s maladies and identifying his party with the people (workers, peasants, businessmen, intellectuals…), Mao managed to speak out to a vast proportion of the Chinese population. There is no hint in his words of his lust for power, of his authoritarian and ruthless behavior. He presents the Chinese communists as people fighting for the people, with the support of the people. In order to reach to a broad audience, he declared he would pardon and accept in his ranks all those officers and men that were then fighting for Chiang Kai-shek. No wonder he actually succeeded.
Now, 65 years after the manifesto was first published, we can see the result of it: since Mao took power in China there has been no democracy, no freedom of speech, press, association and assembly and no rights or autonomy have been granted to the minorities (ask the Uyghurs and Tibetans about it). Nonetheless, the October 10th Manifesto can be considered as a fine example of lies and populism, the sort that helped authoritarian regimes seize power during the last century. Unfortunately, this does not differ a lot from the strategies used by politicians to win elections in modern day democracies (or should we call them pseudo democracies?)
