masses in a counter-revolutionary manner. The theoretical problem inside
Marxism of the idea of a cultural revolution is that it implies an autonomy of
thought from socio-economic structure, which does not fit well with the
general thesis that thought and attitude are superstructural, dependent on the
economic substructure. Ultimately the cultural revolution in China did great
harm, and after Mao’s death thousands of desperately needed experts and
professionals had to be rehabilitated to help drag China back on to a more
orthodox path towards social and economic development.
Cultural Revolution