Mao Zedong: Atheism, Ideology, and the Limits of Communism
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31305/rrijm.2024.v09.n08.023Keywords:
Atheism, Communism, Leninism, MaoismAbstract
Mao Zedong, the principal architect of the People's Republic of China, remains a pivotal yet polarizing figure in modern history. This paper investigates the ideological nature of Mao's leadership, questioning whether he was a genuine adherent to Marxist-Leninist principles or whether his actions were primarily driven by personal ambition and culturally rooted beliefs. By analysing his political strategies, ideological statements, and key policies, the study explores how Mao's vision both converged with and departed from traditional communist thought. The paper argues that Mao's rule illustrates the complexities and limitations of applying communism within a specific national and historical context, particularly when shaped by an individual leader's quest for power and influence.
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0).