Politics50 years after his death, Mao still shapes China

Mao Zedong died on September 9, 1976, leaving behind a deeply contradictory legacy. He shaped China’s narratives of revolution, nation-building and independence, while successive political campaigns and persecutions caused immense social trauma. Five decades later, Mao-era principles remain embedded in China’s political system, and some of Xi Jinping’s methods have prompted comparisons with Mao.

Mao ZedongChina politicspolitical legacyXi Jinping

DDW★★★☆☆2026-09-08 14:44Original