Partial truth or misleading…?
“Struggle sessions” were used during the “cultural revolution” and at several points in the CCP history. They were often but not always orchestrated and scripted or led/guided by party officials or planted members in a crowd.
In these sessions a person would be public ally attacked, accused, criticized, and berated by a crowd and especially those closest to them.
Essentially the sessions revolved around having the person accused of a crime or social violation or pointing out their character flaws. Using those closest to them added both an aora of legitimacy as well as credibility as well as sending several messages including a central one about loyalty yo the party above all.
These sessions were often politically masterminded to target persons who were deemed to be potential or active opposition to cultural, political, ideological or economic goals of the party or ruling members.
Some people just served as scape goats and were not necessarily problematic so much as they were convenient. A major goal of struggle sessions was to gain public support. They served to offer a way to rally the public and engage them actively Ian’s have them invest in the party line while exercising some of humanities darker impulses.
Students routinely were pitted against teachers- in this example a benefit is seen in several places- kids often have grudges against teachers so giving them a way to punish and humiliate teachers serves to foster a fondness to the party. It helps indoctrinate youth to party thinking, and most forms of practiced communism and their governments have been “anti intellectual” because asides often representing an elite minority vs. common less educated folks, the intellectuals often hold power and those concerned primarily with facts often contradict party thinking in authoritarian idealisms.
We learned from communist revolutions to be very cautious of those who dismiss science and intellectualism for “folksy” popularism, to be wary of those who constantly cast accusations to distract from their own wrong doings and dismiss facts on feelings. We learned that when people in power start speaking about the “common man” and start pushing agendas that logically serve the elite but are out forth as for the “common man” to be wary. To suspect leaders who attempt to fill political appointments with their Allies and cronies, those who think they are above the laws and rules… or like…. You’d think we had.
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“Struggle sessions” were used during the “cultural revolution” and at several points in the CCP history. They were often but not always orchestrated and scripted or led/guided by party officials or planted members in a crowd.
In these sessions a person would be public ally attacked, accused, criticized, and berated by a crowd and especially those closest to them.
Essentially the sessions revolved around having the person accused of a crime or social violation or pointing out their character flaws. Using those closest to them added both an aora of legitimacy as well as credibility as well as sending several messages including a central one about loyalty yo the party above all.
These sessions were often politically masterminded to target persons who were deemed to be potential or active opposition to cultural, political, ideological or economic goals of the party or ruling members.
Students routinely were pitted against teachers- in this example a benefit is seen in several places- kids often have grudges against teachers so giving them a way to punish and humiliate teachers serves to foster a fondness to the party. It helps indoctrinate youth to party thinking, and most forms of practiced communism and their governments have been “anti intellectual” because asides often representing an elite minority vs. common less educated folks, the intellectuals often hold power and those concerned primarily with facts often contradict party thinking in authoritarian idealisms.