1960년대 초 중국외교 좌경화의 원인 — 마오쩌둥의 권력 장악력을 중심으로 —

Abstract

In the summer and fall of 1962, Mao Zedong, emphasizing the importance of class struggle, turned Chinese foreign policy from the pragmatic diplomacy during the 1950s to the left. The Great Leap Forward, a radical economic campaign focusing on steel production together with collectivization of farming, brought about the greatest famine and economic fiasco, which in turn severely weakened Mao Zedong’s political authority. Moreover, the bottom-up demands advocating for easing of tension with the Soviet Union and United States in foreign policy further aggravated Mao’s political standing. Facing these pressing conditions in domestic and foreign policy, Mao deliberately designed “Anti-Imperialism, Anti-Revisionism and Anti-Reactionaries” in order to preserve his grip on power. “Anti-Imperialism” subdued the demands for the peaceful coexistence with the United States, “Anti-Revisionism” targeted Liu Shaoqi, the head of state and a designated successor of Mao, advocating an ease of tension with the Soviet Union, and “Anti-Reactionaries” was a spear wielding against those who criticized the Great Leap Forward asking for economic liberalization. In conclusion, for Mao, the retention of power was a predominant consideration over the national interest and it was a driving force for the left-turn of Chinese foreign policy in the early 1960s.