Commentary by the Central Committee on Guangdong Province’s Construction Bureau’s Experience in Mobilizing Backward Elements to Participate in the Rectification Campaign (August 9, 1955) To the Party Committees of All Provinces and Municipalities, the Party Committees of Autonomous Regions, and the Party Groups of All Departments of the Central Government: This document [1] is worthy of recommendation and is particularly useful for technical departments. It is now circulated for your reference.

Printed from Mao Zedong’s manuscript on August 9, 1955, by the Central Committee. Notes [1] Refers to the experience report issued on July 30, 1955, by the Leading Group Office of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee concerning the Second Group of the Guangdong Provincial Construction Bureau’s work in mobilizing backward elements to engage in the rectification campaign. The document describes the experience of consciously mobilizing backward elements as the rectification movement shifted toward practical application: First, it is essential to thoroughly understand the ideological characteristics, behavior, and various concerns of these individuals; appropriate comrades should be assigned to hold individual talks with them, addressing their specific ideological problems and alleviating their fears of being distrusted by the organization and their reluctance to break through emotional barriers. Second, a tailored approach must be adopted—finding an experienced engineer who shares a personal rapport with the individual concerned to conduct the conversation. By emphasizing encouragement of progress and stabilization of their ideological stance, one should inspire and guide them without pressing or coercing. Third, to defeat the enemy, it is necessary to mobilize the masses, especially the backward elements, to come forward with exposures and reports. Practice has shown that the enemy primarily targets the backward elements, while it is precisely these individuals who are most familiar with the enemy’s inner workings. Only by mobilizing the backward elements can authentic evidence about the enemy be obtained. Mobilizing the backward elements is a painstaking process that cannot be accomplished through just a few conversations; it requires firm resolve, patience, and meticulous educational guidance.