Mao's Forgotten Successor : The Political Career of Hua Guofeng

Hua Guofeng succeeded Mao in 1976, emerging almost out of nowhere following an unexceptional career in Shanxi and Hunan. In just over two years, Hua had been eclipsed by Deng Xiaoping, a more politically shrewd, progressive and charismatic figure. If Hua's rise to power was remarkable, then this fall was even more so. This book examines the political career of Hua Guofeng, Mao's successor as paramount leader in 1976. Hua emerged seemingly out of nowhere following an unexceptional career as a young revolutionary in Shanxi and a provincial official in Hunan. It was in Hunan that Hua became well-known to Mao and Hua's loyalty to Mao while he was there, just when Mao needed it most, helped to facilitate Hua's later ascent to power. On emerging as paramount leader, Hua moved quickly to arrest his opponents, the Gang of Four. As head of party, state and military, Hua looked well set to remain in power indefinitely. Just over two years later Hua had been eclipsed by Deng Xiaoping, a more politically shrewd, progressive and charismatic figure, with a political legacy that far outweighed Hua's modest beginnings. If Hua's rise to power was remarkable, then this fall was even more so

This book examines the political career of Hua Guofeng, Mao's successor as paramount leader in 1976. Hua emerged seemingly out of nowhere following an unexceptional career as a young revolutionary in Shanxi and a provincial official in Hunan. It was in Human that Hua became well-known to Mao, and Hua's loyalty to Mao while he was there, just when Mao needed it most, helped to facilitate Hua's later ascent to power. On emerging as paramount leader, Hua moved quickly to arrest his opponents, the Gang of Four. As head of party, state and military, Hua looked well set to remain in power indefinitely. Just over two years later Hua was eclipsed by Deng Xiaoping, a more politically shrewd, progressive and charismatic figure, with a political legacy that far outweighed Hua's modest beginnings. If Hua's rise to power was remarkable, then his fall was even more so.

Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 8 List of Figures......Page 9 Acknowledgements......Page 10 List of Abbreviations......Page 11 Introduction......Page 14 1 The Young Revolutionary: Hua in Shanxi (1921–49)......Page 33 2 Towards Rural Reform: Hua in Hunan (1949–57)......Page 56 3 The Great Leap Forward and the Post-Leap Recovery Period: Hua in Hunan (1958–65)......Page 82 4 The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution: Hua in Hunan (1966–70)......Page 105 5 Entering the Centre: Hua in Beijing (1971–6)......Page 125 6 The Return of Deng Xiaoping: Hua in Decline (1977–80)......Page 154 Conclusion......Page 181 Notes......Page 190 Bibliography......Page 196 Index......Page 205