'Rightist' Dissent in China During I957-58

Abstract

This article forms part of a larger study on intellectual dissent in China. Concentrating on the intellectuals who were accused, during the anti-rightist campaign of 1957-58, of holding rightist views, an attempt is made to define what constituted rightism in the eyes of the rulers of China at a particular period of time. The primary aim being to examine the nature of dissent, we shall draw largely upon the views of the rightists which were not in favour of the regime. However, rightist views which were in appreciation of the policies, programmes and performance of the regime will not be ignored in assessing the area of difference between the communist rulers and the rightists.