("Red Guards," n.d.) (Chong, 2002)
However, over the course of time is when the Red Guards became more of a paramilitary unit. This is because they were considered to be reserves of the Chinese People Liberation Army. Any activities they were directly involved in, gave the army certain amounts of flexibility in achieving different objectives. As a result, the tactics that were utilized became so extreme that abuses began to occur. This led to changes in the attitudes and ideas of society. When this happened, select segments became more radicalized by these practices. ("Red Guards," n.d.) (Chong, 2002)
The Red Guards Lasting Impact on China
The Red Guards lasting impact on China was to serve as the final symbol of Mao's 1949 communist revolution. This is when there was a focus on going after those remnants from society who were still embracing the ideologies of the past. However, during this process is when these practices became so extreme that ordinary people who supported the Communist party line were targeted. ("Red Guards," n.d.) (Chong, 2002)
This created a form of radicalism that pushed China to embrace many of the ideas of openness and moderation from the 1970s onward. These attitudes were the cornerstone in implementing changes to the economy. This allowed the country to become friendlier to the West and it helped to encourage China's modernization. In many ways, one could argue that this radicalism pushed Chinese society to want to embrace ideas that were more open and understanding. This enabled reformers to run China after Mao's death. ("Red Guards," n.d.) (Chong, 2002)
However, the close association that the Red Guard had with the military, meant that they became more nationalistic. This created a sense of radicalism that is affected the mindset of military personnel. In the future, these contrasting views helped to keep the Communist party in power. While at the same time,...
This meant that China became conflicted by wanting to maintain its close ties to the revolution and the need to embrace more liberalized ideas. In this aspect, one could argue that China became radicalized from the Red Guard and the ideas they imposed upon the military. ("Red Guards," n.d.) (Chong, 2002)
The lasting impacts of Red Guard on China were to transform the way that the country looked at itself. This created changes in cultural norms and social attitudes. Over the course of time, this invited policies that were considered to be more liberal and open towards the West. This set the stage for China's modern economic development and rapid growth that was experienced from the 1970s onward. ("Red Guards," n.d.) (Chong, 2002)
Yet, it also helped to radicalize the Communist party. This is from these views on Chinese nationalism being embraced by many hardliners in the army and government. As the more liberal reforms were taking place, they ensured that many of the traditional policies remained. This helped to make China a society that was dealing with internal conflicts about its attitudes and the way it interacted with the world. These issues are still being dealt with to this day. ("Red Guards," n.d.) (Chong, 2002)
Conclusion
Clearly, the Red Guard wanted to promote more radical ideas of Communism. During this process, is when they became so extreme that they pushed China to embrace attitudes of openness and radicalism. This created a change that helped to modernize the nation. but, it also made the country more conflicted about the scope of these reforms. As a result, China has become a nation which is divided among itself from these conflicting views.
References
Red Guards. (n.d.).
Chong, L. (2002). Chinas Great Proletariat Cultural Revolution. New York, NY: Rowman and Littlefield.
