Social+policies+Mao+and+Nasser

-Generally, the social policies of single party state rulers depend on whether they are right wing or left wing. One common factor is that citizens must generally conform to a norm set by the leader. Daily life is usually more controlled. -Right wing/ conservative regimes usually attempt to return to a past “golden age,” relying on tradition to dictate social policies. They support traditional values “in relation to the status of men and women, family life, education, moral values, occupations, class structure and hierarchy.” They generally respect authority, support nationalism, and are suspicious of liberal or progressive ideas. -Left wing/ radical regimes promote more progressive ideas. Examples would be gender equality, destruction of social classes, and forgetting the past and moving towards the future. Minorities, the poor, and other “lower-ranked” citizens are treated more liberally.
 * Social Policies:**

-**Great Leap Forward (1958-1961):** Mao wished to rush China into an industrial and agricultural powerhouse. -Private farming was illegal (collectivization) -People forced into communes to promote communism -Food was greatly rationed -Crops/rationing failed and resulted in famine; approximately 20 million people died -**Cultural Revolution (1966-1976):** a violent mass movement to attempt social, political, and economic change. -Much of it focused on building Mao’s cult of personality -Red Guards attacked the Four Olds (old customs, culture, habits, and ideas), resulting in the raiding and destruction of several religious buildings, museums, etc. -Religion and religious leaders were eliminated - Caused general confusion among citizens
 * Mao Zedong:**

-Egyptian police and some purging, but not as bad as Mao -Attempted land reform to redistribute land to more Egyptians (Agrarian Reform Law of 1952) -Did not eliminate poverty, but did increase welfare of middle-level peasants -Redistributed money by heavily taxing people with big salaries and providing low-end workers with benefits -Strong sense of nationalism and pan-Arabism -Moved away from Western influence -Nationalized lots of enterprises, as well as news and media -Wanted to seem powerful, but also portrayed as a "common man" -Egyptian population grew at approx. 2.5 percent a year
 * Gamal Abdel Nasser:**

Both Mao and Nasser are definitely more similar to the described “left-wing” regimes than the right wing. Both looked towards the future, rather than relying on the past; they were both somewhat Socialist, although Nasser did not like communism. Both also attempted to redistribute wealth and support egalitarianism (to some extent). However, Mao seemed to fail to a much larger degree than Nasser did. In addition, Nasser did not seem to control every single aspect of the daily lives of Egyptians, while Mao very much did. Nasser was also much more of a "common man" than Mao, who wanted to look like a superhuman.
 * Comparison:**