The following is a list of several interview questions between Mao Zedong and Time Magazine, found here: http://www.openzine.com/aspx/Zine.aspx?IssueID=17641
Time: Mao since you have been so involved with the CPC, what is your opinion on it?
Mao: “The Chinese Communist Party is the core of leadership of the whole Chinese people. Without this core, the cause of socialism cannot be victorious.” (May 25, 1957)
Time: I can tell that you believe that the CPC has greatly improved China, but can you evolve on answer?
Mao: Well...The Chinese Communist Party must lead the people to be successful and without this leadership the communist state cannot be successful in its actions. The people must be for the CPC and agree with its choices. If the people do not agree than our party will not be successful. Maoism is supposed to give equal opportunity and when one person doesn’t follow it, it will be unsuccessful.
Time: Thank you very much for explaining. Now, I am not very familiar with your kind of communism, Maoism. Can you give me a better perspective on it?
Mao: “The unification of our country, the unity of our people and the unity of our various nationalities these are the basic guarantees of the sure triumph of our cause.” (February 27, 1957)
Time: Well, I am still a bit confused on the principles on Maoism. What do you mean when you saw that unity will help triumph your cause?
Mao: I am saying that unity will in the end, help us all [the people], become successful. Once, unity, is achieved there will be no violence among our countries, no violence among our people, and therefore none in all of the numerous nationalities that society shares today. If all societies, gain this [unity] our cause will, in the end, be triumphant.
Time: Oh, I see. Now, that I understand the overall principles can you explain some of your basic concepts and thoughts on Maoism?
Mao: We stand for self-reliance. We hope for foreign aid but cannot be dependent on it; we depend on our own efforts, on the creative power of the whole army and the entire people. (January 10, 1945)
Time: I can tell that Maoism stands strongly on independence. Can you tell us in more depth your concepts?
Mao: Our country does not function without every one's consent and approval. We are one unit and must function as one. If we don’t have the capability of working together than we don’t have the capability to work at all. Our country is a unit and we must advance into battle together. They will always be struggle between classes, but after the revolution the people will be able to come together as a community. Communism will be able to lead.
Time: Now I understand. The people are one of the main concepts in Maoism. How much power do the people have?
Mao: “The people, and the people alone, are the motive force in the making of world history.”
(April 24, 1945)
Time: I see the people have a lot of power. What happens if they make a bad decision?
Mao: The people are responsible for their mistakes if they misuse their power, they are the ones, ultimately, who will suffer. As far as, bad decisions go, if someone makes one it is everyone who will suffer. The people will start the revolution. They are the ones to put communism in affect. People are making history whether is good or bad decision.
Time: If the people have so much power, what about the army?
Mao: “The army must become one with the people so that they see it as their own army. Such an army will be invincible...” (May 1938)
Time: Wait so are all the people in the army?
Mao: No. No. No. You see the people and the army is not the same, it is just that peoeple volunteer to fight for the nation. The government will not fund an army, It will be expected of the people to declare war and go fight in it. If it is a revolution they want, then they must fight it on their own. The people will start the revolution not the government. The people are their own army.
Time: Since people have to start their own revolution, how are they united?
Mao: “In class society everyone lives as a member of a particular class, and every kind of thinking, without exception, is stamped with the brand of a class.” (July 1937)
Time: When you say class, what do you mean?
Mao: By class society I mean an ‘economic status’ society. In this society, everyone is divided into classes, hence: the Bourgeoisie, the Proletarians, and the Aristocrats of Marxism. The people were divided into those classes. So, when one has an idea if categorized by a class their idea will be considered according to their placement in society.
Time: Thank you very much explaining. I understand that the struggle between classes you mentioned is another basic concept of Maoism. Will the tension between classes ever end?
Mao: “Give full play to our style of fighting courage in battle, no fear of sacrifice, no fear of fatigue, and continuous fighting (that is, fighting successive battles in a short time without rest).”
(December 25, 1947)
Time: What makes you believe that there will never be peace?
Mao: They will always be struggle between classes. The proletarians will always want to over throw the bourgeoisie to have a bigger role in society. Once the revolution happens, the battle between classes will stop. In Communism, everyone will have equal opportunity and status. Even will equal status, someone will want to overthrow the peace. There will always be fighting between classes.
Time: I only have one more question and then you can be on your way. Do think Communist China is the best and most powerful and best country?
Mao: “We must never adopt an arrogant attitude of great-power chauvinism and become conceited because of the victory of our revolution and certain achievements in our construction. Every nation, big or small, has its strong and weak points.” (September 15, 1956)
Time: So you do believe there are stronger nations?
Mao: No, I do believe China is very powerful but it still has flaws. China is the closest nation to a perfect nation. A revolution would stop the fighting between the classes and then establish a very close society. We would then grow on each other and become a perfect society where there is perfect peace. Although there will always be flaws because there is always people against Maoism.
Time: Okay, thank you very much for joining us today. I have had a great time talking to you. I hope you can come again and have another exciting conversation with me.
Time: Mao since you have been so involved with the CPC, what is your opinion on it?
Mao: “The Chinese Communist Party is the core of leadership of the whole Chinese people. Without this core, the cause of socialism cannot be victorious.” (May 25, 1957)
Time: I can tell that you believe that the CPC has greatly improved China, but can you evolve on answer?
Mao: Well...The Chinese Communist Party must lead the people to be successful and without this leadership the communist state cannot be successful in its actions. The people must be for the CPC and agree with its choices. If the people do not agree than our party will not be successful. Maoism is supposed to give equal opportunity and when one person doesn’t follow it, it will be unsuccessful.
Time: Thank you very much for explaining. Now, I am not very familiar with your kind of communism, Maoism. Can you give me a better perspective on it?
Mao: “The unification of our country, the unity of our people and the unity of our various nationalities these are the basic guarantees of the sure triumph of our cause.” (February 27, 1957)
Time: Well, I am still a bit confused on the principles on Maoism. What do you mean when you saw that unity will help triumph your cause?
Mao: I am saying that unity will in the end, help us all [the people], become successful. Once, unity, is achieved there will be no violence among our countries, no violence among our people, and therefore none in all of the numerous nationalities that society shares today. If all societies, gain this [unity] our cause will, in the end, be triumphant.
Time: Oh, I see. Now, that I understand the overall principles can you explain some of your basic concepts and thoughts on Maoism?
Mao: We stand for self-reliance. We hope for foreign aid but cannot be dependent on it; we depend on our own efforts, on the creative power of the whole army and the entire people. (January 10, 1945)
Time: I can tell that Maoism stands strongly on independence. Can you tell us in more depth your concepts?
Mao: Our country does not function without every one's consent and approval. We are one unit and must function as one. If we don’t have the capability of working together than we don’t have the capability to work at all. Our country is a unit and we must advance into battle together. They will always be struggle between classes, but after the revolution the people will be able to come together as a community. Communism will be able to lead.
Time: Now I understand. The people are one of the main concepts in Maoism. How much power do the people have?
Mao: “The people, and the people alone, are the motive force in the making of world history.”
(April 24, 1945)
Time: I see the people have a lot of power. What happens if they make a bad decision?
Mao: The people are responsible for their mistakes if they misuse their power, they are the ones, ultimately, who will suffer. As far as, bad decisions go, if someone makes one it is everyone who will suffer. The people will start the revolution. They are the ones to put communism in affect. People are making history whether is good or bad decision.
Time: If the people have so much power, what about the army?
Mao: “The army must become one with the people so that they see it as their own army. Such an army will be invincible...” (May 1938)
Time: Wait so are all the people in the army?
Mao: No. No. No. You see the people and the army is not the same, it is just that peoeple volunteer to fight for the nation. The government will not fund an army, It will be expected of the people to declare war and go fight in it. If it is a revolution they want, then they must fight it on their own. The people will start the revolution not the government. The people are their own army.
Time: Since people have to start their own revolution, how are they united?
Mao: “In class society everyone lives as a member of a particular class, and every kind of thinking, without exception, is stamped with the brand of a class.” (July 1937)
Time: When you say class, what do you mean?
Mao: By class society I mean an ‘economic status’ society. In this society, everyone is divided into classes, hence: the Bourgeoisie, the Proletarians, and the Aristocrats of Marxism. The people were divided into those classes. So, when one has an idea if categorized by a class their idea will be considered according to their placement in society.
Time: Thank you very much explaining. I understand that the struggle between classes you mentioned is another basic concept of Maoism. Will the tension between classes ever end?
Mao: “Give full play to our style of fighting courage in battle, no fear of sacrifice, no fear of fatigue, and continuous fighting (that is, fighting successive battles in a short time without rest).”
(December 25, 1947)
Time: What makes you believe that there will never be peace?
Mao: They will always be struggle between classes. The proletarians will always want to over throw the bourgeoisie to have a bigger role in society. Once the revolution happens, the battle between classes will stop. In Communism, everyone will have equal opportunity and status. Even will equal status, someone will want to overthrow the peace. There will always be fighting between classes.
Time: I only have one more question and then you can be on your way. Do think Communist China is the best and most powerful and best country?
Mao: “We must never adopt an arrogant attitude of great-power chauvinism and become conceited because of the victory of our revolution and certain achievements in our construction. Every nation, big or small, has its strong and weak points.” (September 15, 1956)
Time: So you do believe there are stronger nations?
Mao: No, I do believe China is very powerful but it still has flaws. China is the closest nation to a perfect nation. A revolution would stop the fighting between the classes and then establish a very close society. We would then grow on each other and become a perfect society where there is perfect peace. Although there will always be flaws because there is always people against Maoism.
Time: Okay, thank you very much for joining us today. I have had a great time talking to you. I hope you can come again and have another exciting conversation with me.