On the Correct Handling of Contradictions Among the People

"On the Correct Handling of Contradictions Among the People" was a speech by Mao Zedong in 1957. It distinguished between two types of contradictions within socialist society: antagonistic (between the people and enemies) and nonantagonistic (within the government or among groups of people). Antagonistic contradictions, Mao argued, are resolved through revolution, while nonantagonistic ones can be resolved through criticism and self-criticism. This concept differed from previous Marxist interpretations and was central to Maoism, which adapted Marxist-Leninist thought for China's unique context, emphasizing the revolutionary potential of the peasantry. The speech also touched upon the "Hundred Flowers Campaign," where intellectuals were encouraged to express their views, but this was followed by an anti-rightist movement.1234