Commissars in the Economy: "Learn from the PLA" Movement in China

Abstract

Early in 1964, the leaders of Communist China launched an unusual campaign of major proportions calling upon all elements of society to learn from the experience of the armed forces, which are collectively designated as the People's Liberation Army (PLA). The people were especially urged to study the advanced political and ideological work of the PLA.1 Once this campaign was well under way, a closely related, but even more significant program began. All industrial, commercial and financial ministries and bureaus, as well as their subordinate offices and enterprises, were directed to establish military-type political departments. Even the structure of the ruling Communist Party was modified to include political work departments for economic affairs. These are reported to extend from the Central Committee apparatus to local Party committees. There has been speculation as to whether or not these policies presage another Great Leap similar to the disastrous development drive of 1958-60. It appears, however, that the programs represent the lesser, but still important, objective of increasing political controls and indoctrination, while seeking to improve the management discipline and production techniques of the Chinese economy. Nevertheless, these policies threaten economic progress by further subordinating economic to political considerations. The campaign to borrow from the armed services is motivated by the long military experience of the Party leaders, by their ideological convictions and especially their emphasis on the mass line, and by the serious economic problems that still confront the Peking regime. The Chinese Communist Party is a militant organization that came to power through more than twenty years of almost constant warfare. Most of the aging Party leaders long served as military commanders or as commissars. Also, the Party has been surprisingly successful in its past wvars and Mao Tsetung, the sanctified Party chief, has an international reputation as an authority on revolutionary warfare. Thus, it is not surprising that the Party leaders should attempt to adapt the institutions and techniques that have proven successful in military affairs to economic organizations. Furthermore, Marxist-Leninist ideology-as interpreted by Mao Tsetung-inclines the Party to a belief that politics leads and commands everything else and that this is as true of economic development as it is