8. How important was Lin Biao in the Cultural Revolution?

About this Lecture

Lecture

In this module, we think about the role of Lin Biao in the Cultural Revolution, focusing in particular on: (i) the importance of army in the Cultural Revolution, and Lin Biao’s own military background; (ii) the politicisation of the army in the Cultural Revolution, including the mandatory reading of Mao’s ‘Little Red Book’; (iii) the importance of the 9th National Congress of the CPC, and the emergence of Lin as a potential successor to Mao; and (iv) Lin’s premature death in 1971.

Course

In this course, Professor Michael Dillon (Durham University) explores the Cultural Revolution in China through nine key questions: (1) What was the meaning of the name ‘Cultural Revolution’?; (2) Why did Mao launch the Cultural Revolution when he did?; (3) Is it accurate to describe the Cultural Revolution as the ‘decade of disaster’?; (4) To what extent were Mao’s motives ideological rather than political?; (5) What was the role of the Red Guards in Mao’s strategy?; (6) Why was traditional Chinese culture a prime target in the Cultural Revolution?; (7) What part did Mao’s wife, Jiang Qing, play in the Cultural Revolution?; (8) How important was Lin Biao in the Cultural Revolution?; and (9) To what extent was the Cultural Revolution a success?

Lecturer

Michael Dillon was founding director of the Centre for Contemporary Chinese Studies at Durham University, where he taught courses on modern China, Chinese history, and Chinese language. He has also been a visiting professor at Tsinghua University, is a fellow of the Royal Historical Society and the Royal Asiatic Society, and a member of the Royal Institute of International Affairs.