Presence and Future Of The Past

There are numerous cataclysmic phases in contemporary Chinese history that are in need of a critical reappraisal. “The Great Leap Forward” (1958-1961) and the “Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution” (1966-1976) are just two examples of deep scars on the collective Chinese psyche. In 1981, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) detailed the framework for a party-politically approved interpretation of the past, which is still cemented in history books today. Beijing is also striving for the monopoly on the accepted historiography in international exchanges.