82riceballs Posted March 13, 2008 at 09:24 PM Report Share Posted March 13, 2008 at 09:24 PM Recently at school, I've been learning about the French revolution, and I've found several connections to the Chinese cultural revolution: 1. Society: majority of people = peasants displeased with bad harvests, corrupt govt officials, and poverty. 2. The people were constantly being watched, and any counterrevolutionary actions were reported. (In France, if you called someone by the traditional title, "madame" or "messeur" you could be reported. Is there any equivalent of this in the Chinese cultural revolution? the teenage Red Guards?) 3. In both cases, the revolutionaries wanted to create an ideal society, but failed miserably. 4. Economy:the revolutions killed the economy are there any other similarities I have not mentioned? (I bet there're a lot) please tell me any help is appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heartless Posted March 14, 2008 at 12:08 PM Report Share Posted March 14, 2008 at 12:08 PM Instead of similarities alone, i want to point out something on both similarities and differences. The manner of how the revolution is started and carried out. French revolution is from the bottom to the top, while the cultural revolution is more likely from the top to bottom. Although both had something to do crisis in agricultural development and food supply and peasant poverty, cultural revolution was more related to the political struggles for the ultimate controlling position within the party and thus was used by politicians as political tools to strike opponants. But French revolution shares no such features, at least at the very beginning. On the other hand, both country's revolutions intrigger extreme political fevers in its people, which went beyond control at last and caused great catastrophe not only in economy, but also in humanity, social justice and culture and tradition. Only my rough thinking. Hope others can contribute more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
82riceballs Posted March 15, 2008 at 12:41 AM Author Report Share Posted March 15, 2008 at 12:41 AM Wow! This is very insightful! Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob07 Posted March 15, 2008 at 01:53 AM Report Share Posted March 15, 2008 at 01:53 AM well apparently Henry Kissinger asked Zhou Enlai what he thought about the French revolution. Zhou Enlai said it was too early to tell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
82riceballs Posted March 15, 2008 at 04:55 PM Author Report Share Posted March 15, 2008 at 04:55 PM Why would kissinger ask something like that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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