Land Reform and Rural Policies under the Chinese Communists 1937-1949

Rural Classes Landlords live primarily off the labor of others, get

their wealth through renting their surplus of land, give high interest loans to villagers

Rich Peasants: are families with enough land to have some surplus grain at the end of the season (thus capital), and may even rent some land to others, give out loans

Middle Peasants: Families that break even. Have enough to eat, but little or no surplus, but likely no loans either—they usually don’t borrow or lend

Poor Peasant: Not enough land feed the family, they need loans to survive

Laborers, etc: no land at all

Land Reform Progressive Taxation: tax the rich more

than the poor Interest Rate Reduction: make loans

accessible and realistic Rent Reduction Campaigns: most

difficult, involves mobilization and active participation of poor peasants

Results: A gradual equalization of landholdings---a “Silent Revolution”

Rent Reduction

Experiments in grass roots activism Peasant association: poor and middle

peasants Tactics:

1) venting grievances

2) settling accounts

3) group discussions