DBWI: No Summary Execution of Red Guards

[Frank Hart]

OTL, it's pretty much an open secret that in 1978, Deng Xiaoping ordered the summary execution of all perpetrators of the Cultural Revolution, purging just about the entire Pro-Maoist faction of the Communist Party. During the purge, official sources dictate that over 600 thousand died, while unofficially, the number is close to 12 million, not counting another million that just disappeared between 1978 and 1983. Those who were pardoned of the death penalty were sent to restoration work for life, and even after the liberalization and democratization of the 1990s, were denied both the right to vote, and the right to access affordable health care. At least, until Li Keqiang came along.

The purge was so extensive that in some places, an entire generation was gone, with the late 1940s/early 1950s generation known as Dàtúshà Shìdài (大屠殺世代, Massacred Generation), essentially confirming the latter number. Unfortunately there are people in the Chinese government who denied the entire massacre, the most infamous of which is Li Peng, who once boasted that "Not one man or woman was executed in my hometown, Yibin" despite ample evidence to the contrary.

Now, what if Deng never ordered the Purge of 1978?

 

[CountDVB]

Even the people who suffered alot from Mao's colossal attack on traditional Chinese culture were horrified by this. Hell, the irony that some of these perpetrators wsould be sheltered some of the very people they attempted to hurt was not lost. It's why the few that were pardoned and escaped any consequence (due to their connections being mundane or weren't important enough) assisted in the Cultural Restoration project.

The entire ordeal was... goddamn nuts and threw diplomacy for a loop. Unsurprisingly, it had an effect on politics at the time. It's how Reagan and Thatcher would end up losing their elections in 1980 due to their initial support over it that soured some people on it over in the end. Mind you, even President Carter and his successor President Ted Kennedy had to do some serious moves to navigate that quagmire.

It's probably why the focused alot on domestic affairs like getting universal healthcare reform passed and so on (the Democrats' dominance thanks to the growing 80s economy helped with that).

The USSR's heads went nutburgers in what they saw and led to some bad fractures. This led to more confidence in uprisings and led to their somewhat rough collapse and split over in the late 80s, which helped Kennedy's 2nd term.

 

[Frank Hart]

Even the people who suffered alot from Mao's colossal attack on traditional Chinese culture were horrified by this. Hell, the irony that some of these perpetrators wsould be sheltered some of the very people they attempted to hurt was not lost. It's why the few that were pardoned and escaped any consequence (due to their connections being mundane or weren't important enough) assisted in the Cultural Restoration project.

The entire ordeal was... goddamn nuts and threw diplomacy for a loop. Unsurprisingly, it had an effect on politics at the time. It's how Reagan and Thatcher would end up losing their elections in 1980 due to their initial support over it that soured some people on it over in the end. Mind you, even President Carter and his successor President Ted Kennedy had to do some serious moves to navigate that quagmire.

It's probably why the focused alot on domestic affairs like getting universal healthcare reform passed and so on (the Democrats' dominance thanks to the growing 80s economy helped with that).

The USSR's heads went nutburgers in what they saw and led to some bad fractures. This led to more confidence in uprisings and led to their somewhat rough collapse and split over in the late 80s, which helped Kennedy's 2nd term.

Hmm, so if Deng didn't order the purge, would Reagan or Thatcher manage to win their election?

Also, OTL, separatism did hit China in the 1980s, and that did manage to cause Zhoushan and Hainan to secede, as well as a British and Portuguese occupation of the Pearl River Delta respectively. Other than that, China stayed intact to this day. I don't think that would be possible without the purge, since a majority of fleeing Red Guards flooded those areas.

 

[CountDVB]

Hmm, so if Deng didn't order the purge, would Reagan or Thatcher manage to win their election?

Also, OTL, separatism did hit China in the 1980s, and that did manage to cause Zhoushan and Hainan to secede, as well as a British and Portuguese occupation of the Pearl River Delta respectively. Other than that, China stayed intact to this day. I don't think that would be possible without the purge, since a majority of fleeing Red Guards flooded those areas.

Well, it's likely. Their policies were terrible, but were winning because of their personality. The support of the Deng hurt them considerably and caused a sort of domino effect of snafus that led them to lost. It did mean lead to a resurgence of leftism in the US and UK as fresh new blood and moe outspoken voices took the reign ad helped the economy.

And yeah, the seceding of the islands were pretty interesting and became considerable hotspots for investment abroad. China wants them back, but they're pobably not gona get them anytime soon.

 

[overoceans]

OOC: I don't think any Reagan/Thatcher support for internal repression in China would have a major impact on their electoral fortunes. Unless maybe footage of anti-Red Guard massacres were being shown on western TV news, night after night, so everyone understood what it was that Ron and Maggie were praising. But it's highly doubtful that China would have allowed that degree of publicity to surround such killings.