Thought Reform During the Chinese Cultural Revolution: The Case of Deng Kesheng

Abstract

This article looks at a Maoist era thought-reform model through the experiential prism of Deng Kesheng’s ‘Report Back’ – a series of confessional writings crafted from 1966 to 1969. The article analyzes the language utilized by Deng with reference to three main facets: (1) the trust bestowed upon different political agencies; (2) an evolving Mao cult; and, (3) the distinction between the political and intellectual Self.