Evolution failed to resolve most of the grievances and tensions it so dramatically spotlighted. Big income differentials still divide bureaucrat and worker in China (although they are still far lower than those between capitalist and worker in a country like India), and the Chinese press revealed widespread bureaucratic corruption and abuse of power during the 1973-75 camPaugus Historically, Maoism drew its strength from the mass movement, in its struggle both for power in the country and power in the party. The erosion of the Maoists' mass base since the cultural revolution has left them stranded, and incapable of dealing a death-blow to their opponents at the top. This is the root cause of the persistingly unstable balance of power in the Chinese Communist Party leadership In the cultural revolution Mao struck down Liu Shao-chi by launching the masses against him. Today Teng is toppled by a blow not from the Maoists' base but from his own, i.e. as a result of the recklessness of a section of his supporters who created the space for unwelcome tensions to rise and express them selves. This is the ultimate measure of the degeneration of Maoism in China.
Even during the present crisis this fear has played a major part in the calculations of the Maoists, who continued to warn their supporters against independent mass action even after the ten-an-men rots. Short of pictures last week because of a process workers' strike. Rupert Murdoch's Sun promised its buyers 'lots more to read" instead. On China there were more wores but orecious litte to understand John Greally set the scene on 6 April. According To nim it was a question or a nue lotus vower whi became a fire-breathing dragon' —a reference to Mao's wite, cniang ening, Ine troubie all started apparenty when 'sex kitten Chiang ... moved into his legendary cave, and into his plank bed".
Surely that explained everything? Not quite. Two days later it was lain Walker's turn to come up with a sensational new angle on China's problems: "Mrs Mao, who wears baggy trousers and a workman's cap, has organised a campaign against well-dresser Teng, who has the best-cut tunic in the country!
haute couture rivalries as une explanation of China's crisis was perhaps pushing it a bit far aven Tor sun readers. but it renects murdoch s policy oi cutting his cloth to fit a particular purpose.
Rupert and his mates are doing well out of capitalism, and the problem with news about political and social conflicts is that it tends to raise awkward ques tions about the policies which flow from that system The answer-trivialise everything so that it becomes simov a matter or Dersonanties. n the snon term fi pays. In the end, however-as strikes by his journaists and orinters in Australa nave arready snownIs Murdoch himseit wno will get scorned