CCP 1981 Historical Resolution Explained | Generated by AI
I’ll provide a comprehensive English introduction to this important Chinese Communist Party document.
Introduction to the “Resolution on Certain Questions in the History of Our Party Since the Founding of the People’s Republic of China”
Official Title: Resolution on Certain Questions in the History of Our Party Since the Founding of the People’s Republic of China (关于建国以来党的若干历史问题的决议)
Adoption: June 27, 1981, at the Sixth Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party
Historical Context: This resolution is the second major historical resolution issued by the CCP, coming 40 years after the first historical resolution of 1945. It was drafted during a critical transitional period in Chinese politics, following Mao Zedong’s death in 1976 and the arrest of the “Gang of Four.”
Purpose and Significance
The 1981 Resolution served several crucial functions:
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Assessment of Mao Zedong: It provided an official evaluation of Mao’s role in Chinese history, acknowledging his contributions while also recognizing his serious errors, particularly regarding the Cultural Revolution
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Legitimization of Reform: The document created ideological space for Deng Xiaoping’s reform and opening-up policies by critiquing past mistakes without completely repudiating the CCP’s historical legitimacy
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Party Unity: It aimed to unite the Party by settling historical disputes and establishing a consensus narrative about the PRC’s first three decades
Key Themes and Conclusions
On Mao Zedong: The Resolution famously concluded that Mao’s contributions outweighed his mistakes, using the formulation that his achievements were “primary” while his errors were “secondary” (often summarized as “70% correct, 30% wrong”). It distinguished between “Mao Zedong Thought” as a collective achievement and Mao’s personal errors.
On the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976): The document unequivocally condemned the Cultural Revolution as “responsible for the most severe setback and the heaviest losses suffered by the Party, the state, and the people since the founding of the People’s Republic.” It attributed this catastrophe to Mao’s mistakes while maintaining that it was not representative of the Party as a whole.
On Historical Periods: The Resolution divided PRC history into distinct phases:
- Socialist transformation period (1949-1956): Generally positive
- Socialist construction period (1956-1966): Mixed, with both achievements and “leftist” errors
- Cultural Revolution (1966-1976): Catastrophic period
- New period of socialist modernization (post-1976): Path forward
On Moving Forward: The document emphasized learning from history, upholding the Four Cardinal Principles (socialist road, people’s democratic dictatorship, CCP leadership, Marxism-Leninism-Mao Zedong Thought), and focusing on socialist modernization.
Political Context and Drafting
The Resolution was drafted under Deng Xiaoping’s guidance over approximately two years, with input from thousands of Party members. It represented a careful political balancing act between:
- Reformers who wanted thorough repudiation of Maoist excesses
- Conservatives who resisted criticism of Mao
- The need to maintain CCP legitimacy and continuity
Legacy and Impact
The 1981 Resolution has had lasting significance:
- It established the official Party line on PRC history that remains largely intact today
- It enabled the economic reforms that transformed China
- It created a model for how the CCP handles internal criticism while maintaining institutional authority
- It became one of three major historical resolutions (alongside the 1945 resolution and a third resolution adopted in 2021)
The document remains required reading for understanding contemporary Chinese politics, as it established interpretive frameworks that continue to shape official discourse about Party history and legitimacy.