On Internal Contradictions Within, and Democratic Management of, Agricultural Co-operatives

Abstract

I am in full agreement with the evaluation made by the city committee concerning achievements accomplished last year in the suburbs of Beijing. During the high tide of agricultural co-operativisation and the subsequent high tide in agricultural production, the suburbs of Beijing played a leading role in the activities of the nation. Last year the achievements of our rural work were very great and must be emphasised. We cannot lower our estimation of these achievements simply because there were some shortcomings in our work. However, from another point of view, we must recognise that in the high tide there were still some shortcomings in our work. Even if many of these shortcomings were difficult to avoid, we must humbly investigate them and analyse their root causes and resolutely overcome them. We cannot use them to conceal our weaknesses simply because our achievements are of major significance. This would be of no advantage; on the contrary it would be detrimental to our future work. Evaluation of our achievements must be in line with a realistic consideration of the facts; we must judge our weaknesses and improve our work. Here, then, are my opinions and proposals concerning our work last year in the rural areas of Beijing and I place them for reference at the disposal of my comrades.

Deng Zihui, ‘On Internal Contradictions Within, and Democratic Management of, Agricultural Co-operatives’; speech given at the third large-scale meeting of Party Committee Secretaries, convened at the Beijing branch of the Communist Party of China, 20 April 1957. Renmin Ribao, 7 May 1957.