Question

Why did Deng’s reforms fail to take hold under Mao Zedong’s leadership?

Deng’s policies contradicted Mao’s policies.
Deng’s policies were seen as too hardline.
Deng’s policies did not offer peasants sufficient protections.
Deng’s policies were the same as Mao’s policies.

Answer 1

Deng’s reforms failed to take hold under Mao Zedong’s leadership primarily because **Deng’s policies contradicted Mao’s policies**. Mao Zedong's leadership was characterized by a focus on collectivization, the Great Leap Forward, and class struggle, which prioritized ideological purity and state control over economic pragmatism. Deng Xiaoping's policies aimed for economic modernization, pragmatic approaches to agriculture, and market reforms that differed significantly from Maoist principles. This fundamental ideological conflict made it challenging for Deng’s reforms to be implemented under Mao’s regime.