Development must put the people first
The 60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China is a remarkable milestone. Six decades filled with turbulence and various modernisation efforts, have culminated in recent economic prosperity. But the lessons learned from the past should not be forgotten.
Born out of civil war in the aftermath of the second world war, the new people's republic was founded in a difficult situation. It was poor and although industry had developed since the late 19th century, signs of modern industrialisation were limited. In the nation's infancy, it was thus paramount to stress economic development.
Drawing from its neighbours' practices, the adoption of a centrally planned economy, with a strategy of high-speed industrialisation, with emphasis on heavy industry, was preferred. It was a mistake in hindsight. It idolised the utility of a planned economy and mistakenly regarded the market economy as necessarily capitalistic. The pride of the nation was placed ahead of the welfare of its people.
In the adolescent phase, further mistakes were made. To improve modernisation efforts, the Great Leap Forward encouraged peasants to form people's communes and industrial workers to increase steel production by all possible means. Another significant mistake was made with the Cultural Revolution. The end result was slowed production and an almost bankrupt national economy. Again, the pursuit of an ideologically-driven development led to mass starvation.
Luckily, the installation of Deng Xiaoping as leader in the late 1970s, marked the effective end of the socialist model of modernisation.
Economic development was still a key priority in the new market system of modernisation, with state-owned enterprises coexisting with other forms of ownership. Although science and education were not given attention in the early years, greater focus will be given as a basic means towards national revival. China's economic growth has lifted millions out of absolute poverty. But its leaders must learn from the past.