What actually happened as a result of these movements? People usually use them as evidence that Mao killed however many millions of people. I’m aware that they aren’t fondly remembered periods in Chinese history, but I’m not sure how accurate the wikipedia entry on the subjects are. Does anyone have further reading?
If anything, history proven that some sort of cultural revolution absolutely needs to be done. Every socialist state which didn’t do it or do it halfassedly experienced massive resurgence of petty bourgeois sentiment (sadly including China too) which is, just as Lenin predicted, way more dangerous than the haute bourgeoisie in the long run.
I agree. It would take generations to change the general mindset here in the USA.