Communications and National Integration in Communist China explores the unprecedented efforts of Mao Zedong’s government to unify a vast, diverse nation through mass persuasion and propaganda. Dr. Liu delves into the innovative, low-cost communication systems—wired loudspeakers, grassroots discussions, and mobile cinema teams—that reached even the most remote corners of China. This insightful analysis contrasts the radical, ideology-driven campaigns of Mao’s voluntarist vision with the more pragmatic, bureaucratic approaches inspired by Soviet models. From the Great Leap Forward to the Cultural Revolution, the book examines how the CCP sought to reshape not only social and economic systems but also the consciousness of its citizens.

Dr. Liu’s comprehensive study offers a rare glimpse into the mechanics of Maoist mass communication and its lasting impact on national integration. By analyzing the successes and failures of these campaigns, the book provides valuable insights into the limits of propaganda as a tool for societal transformation. Perfect for historians, political scientists, and anyone interested in the intersection of ideology, media, and modern governance, Communications and National Integration in Communist China presents a compelling narrative of one of history’s most ambitious experiments in reshaping human consciousness.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1971.