50 Years Since the Death of Mao Zedong and the Defeat of Socialism in China
Learning From and Going Beyond Mao's Great Breakthroughs to the New Communism of Bob Avakian
September 7, 2026
Introduction
Fifty years ago, on September 9, 1976, Mao Zedong died. Mao led the monumental and tremendously liberating Chinese Revolution of 1949-1976. This revolution was a breakthrough for oppressed humanity and all who yearn for a better world. But shortly after Mao’s death, new bourgeois forces in China carried out a violent coup—and began the process of restoring capitalism. Despite continuing to claim to be socialist, today China is in fact a major capitalist-imperialist power and the main rival to U.S. imperialism.
The defeat of socialism in China in 1976 marked the end of the first stage of communist revolution—beginning with the short-lived Paris Commune of 1871... the Russian Revolution of 1917-56... and the Chinese Revolution. The Russian and Chinese revolutions were the first and historic attempts in modern history to create societies free from exploitation and oppression. Incredible, transformative changes took place in extremely difficult circumstances. There were also serious shortcomings and problems, including some grievous errors.
Mao Zedong’s greatest contribution was the theory and practice of continuing the revolution under socialism and preventing the restoration of capitalism. This took expression in the Cultural Revolution of 1966-76. Contrary to the vicious lies and slanders directed against it, the Cultural Revolution was in fact an unprecedented and far-reaching struggle led by Mao and his followers to revolutionize thinking and restructure society away from all exploitation and oppression. And to do so based on the conscious involvement and initiative of tens and hundreds of millions of people.
Following the defeat of socialism in China—in the face of confusion and disorientation among communists worldwide and unremitting anticommunism—Bob Avakian set out to sum up the first stage of communist revolution. This involved deeply learning from and defending this precious experience—while at the same time identifying significant problems in method and approach in how these revolutions were led, as well as particular policies and orientation.
Through decades of theoretical work and struggle, Bob Avakian has synthesized the new communism. He has drawn from diverse spheres of human understanding and endeavor—the arts, sciences, philosophy, and wider history. He has analyzed big changes in the world. The new communism builds on the achievements of the first stage of communist revolution but is a qualitative leap beyond and also, in important ways, a break with communist theory as it has been previously developed.
At the heart of the new communism is a thoroughly and consistently scientific approach to reality.
Humanity now has a radically different and far better framework to guide a new stage of communist revolution. To make an all-the-way emancipating revolution that can actually lead to overcoming all exploitation, social oppression, and corresponding ways of thinking. To create a world in which human beings can truly flourish. That is why being a communist today means being a follower of Bob Avakian.
In marking 50 years since Mao’s death, we are posting an excerpt from Bob Avakian’s recent work, Humanity on the Brink..., that provides critical understanding of the Chinese revolution and Mao’s leadership. We are also reposting a 2005 interview with BA digging into this experience, and providing a brief historical timeline.
