Great Democracy and Small Democracy

In November 1956, in his speech to the Second Plenary Session of the Eighth Central Committee of the CPC, Mao Zedong quoted and explained the terms of "Great Democracy" and "Small Democracy", and criticized some people's wrong views of advocating great democracy and saying that small democracy is not satisfying enough.

He said: "A few cadres with an intellectual background at the level of department or bureau head advocate great democracy, saying that small democracy is not satisfying enough. Their "great democracy" means the adoption of the bourgeois parliamentary system of the West and the imitation of such Western stuff as "parliamentary democracy", "freedom of the press" and "freedom of speech". Their advocacy is wrong, for they lack the Marxist viewpoint, the class viewpoint. However, the terms great democracy and small democracy are quite graphic, so we have borrowed them.

“Democracy is a method, and it all depends on to whom it is applied and for what purpose. We are in favour of great democracy. And what we are in favour of great democracy under the leadership of the proletariat. “Who is this great democracy directed against? Against imperialism, feudalism and bureaucrat-capitalism, and against capitalism.”

Mao Zedong advocated that "the solution to the problems within the people and within the Party is not to adopt great democracy but small democracy". The method of small democracy is the one of gentle breeze and mild rain, that is, democracy, discussion and consultation; the method of big democracy is the one of storm and storm, that is, mandatory methods, such as demonstrations, strikes and so on. “It is important to understand that, on the part of the people, all the great democratic movements in history have been used against the class enemy.” "It is not in the interest of the majority of the people to have a big democracy.” Especially in literature, journalism, etc., the problem should be solved with small democracy, and the word "small" should be added on top of small democracy, which means gentle breeze and mild rain.

Mao Zedong believed that the social disturbances should not be advocated. Nevertheless, as he also said, I also agree with the idea of a great democracy now. This refers to the situation where someone engages in bureaucratism, which attracts the opposition of the masses and causes trouble in the streets.

He said that we disapprove of social disturbances, but what should we do if the disturbances still happen? So "strikes, marches, demonstrations, petitions should be regarded as a way to adjust social order." He pointed out: "There are places where there is no small democracy, no democracy at all, but bureaucratism.” This forced a great democracy, so there can be demonstrations and strikes. We do not advocate demonstrations or strikes, but rather the use of critical methods to solve problems within the scope of the people. If the bureaucratism is very serious in some places, demonstrations and strikes are allowed in such a context. We regard strikes, marches, demonstrations and petitions as a supplementary method to overcome the internal contradictions of the people and to adjust the social order.

In February 1957, during his speech at the Eleventh (Enlarged) Session of the Supreme State Council on the internal contradictions of the people, he specifically addressed the issue of how to understand and deal with the disturbances that occurred at that time. In his view, “these disturbances cannot be said to be mainly due to counter-revolution, but mainly due to shortcomings in our work, our inability to educate and lead." He said, "I have put forward four ways to solve this problem, and let's see if they are right."

Firstly, overcome bureaucratism and properly handle conflicts so that they do not make trouble; secondly, let them make trouble; thirdly, let them make enough trouble; fourthly, except for individuals, generally do not fire. In his opinion, riot has a dual nature. He hoped that through the correct handling of the problems, so that bad things become good, so that both the party and government leading organs and the people are educated, to learn a lesson.