Mao's War against Nature: Politics and the Environment in Revolutionary China (Studies in Environment and History)

In clear and compelling prose, Judith Shapiro relates the great, untold story of the devastating impact of Chinese politics on China's environment during the Mao years. Maoist China provides an example of extreme human interference in the natural world in an era in which human relationships were also unusually distorted. Under Mao, the traditional Chinese ideal of "harmony between heaven and humans" was abrogated in favor of Mao's insistence that "Man Must Conquer Nature." Mao and the Chinese Communist Party's "war" to bend the physical world to human will often had disastrous consequences both for human beings and the natural environment. Mao's War Against Nature argues that the abuse of people and the abuse of nature are often linked. Shapiro's account, told in part through the voices of average Chinese citizens and officials who lived through and participated in some of the destructive campaigns, is both eye-opening and heartbreaking. Judith Shapiro teaches environmental politics at American University in Washington, DC. She is co-author, with Liang Heng, of several well known books on China, including Son of the Revolution (Random House, 1984) and After the Nightmare (Knopf, 1986). She was one of the first Americans to work in China after the normalization of U.S.-China relations in 1979. In Clear And Compelling Prose, Judith Shapiro Relates The Great, Untold Story Of The Devastating Impact Of Chinese Politics On China's Environment During The Mao Years. Maoist China Provides An Example Of Extreme Human Interference In The Natural World In An Era In Which Human Relationships Were Also Unusually Distorted. Under Mao, The Traditional Chinese Ideal Of Harmony Between Heaven And Humans Was Abrogated In Favor Of Mao's Insistence That Man Must Conquer Nature. Mao And The Chinese Communist Party's War To Bend The Physical World To Human Will Often Had Disastrous Consequences Both For Human Beings And The Natural Environment. Mao's War Against Nature Argues That The Abuse Of People And The Abuse Of Nature Are Often Linked. Shapiro's Account, Told In Part Through The Voices Of Average Chinese Citizens And Officials Who Lived Through And Participated In Some Of The Destructive Campaigns, Is Both Eye-opening And Heartbreaking.-- Introduction -- Population, Dams, And Political Repression: A Story Of Two Environmental Disasters And The Scientists Who Tried To Avert Them -- Deforestation, Famine, And Utopian Urgency: How The Great Leap Forward Mobilized The Chinese People To Attack Nature -- Grainfields In Lakes And Dogmatic Uniformity: How Learning From Dazhai Became An Exercise In Excess -- War Preparations And Forcible Relocations: How Factories Polluted The Mountains And Youths Opened The Frontiers -- The Legacy. Judith Shapiro. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 253-268) And Index. Judith Shapiro, in clear and compelling prose, relates the great, untold story of the devastating impact of Chinese politics on China's environment during the Mao years. Maoist China provides an example of extreme human interference in the natural world in an era in which human relationships were also unusually distorted. Under Mao, the traditional Chinese ideal of 'harmony between heaven and humans' was abrogated in favor of Mao's insistence that 'People Will Conquer Nature'. Mao and the Chinese Communist Party's 'war' to bend the physical world to human will often had disastrous consequences both for human beings and the natural environment. Mao's War Against Nature argues that the abuse of people and the abuse of nature are often linked. Shapiro's account, told in part through the voices of average Chinese citizens and officials who lived through and participated in some of the destructive campaigns, is both eye-opening and heartbreaking. "In clear and compelling prose, Judith Shapiro relates the great, untold story of China in the Mao years - the devastating impact of Maoist politics on China's environment. Under Mao, the traditional Chinese ideal of "Harmony between the Heavens and Humankind" was abrogated in favor of Mao's insistence that "Man Must Conquer Nature." Mao and the Chinese Communist Party's "war" to bend the physical world to human will often had disastrous consequences for both human beings and the natural environment. Mao's War Against Nature argues that the abuse of people and the abuse of nature are often linked." --Book Jacket Our story begins not in the physical world but in the political one - with a struggle among human beings.