Revisions to the Opinions on the Rectification Campaign ⑴
(August 18, 1957)
Following the high tide of socialist transformation, socialism had by
then essentially replaced capitalism. The capitalist economy had lost its
previously positive aspects and had become fundamentally reactionary.
Consequently, those who persisted in a capitalist stance—namely, the
bourgeoisie rightists—who were anti-Communist and anti-socialist, had
also become reactionaries. The contradiction between these bourgeois
rightists—comprising both the bourgeoisie and bourgeois intellectuals—who
were anti-Communist, anti-people, and anti-socialist, and the people was an
irreconcilable, life-and-death antagonism; it was not an internal contradiction
within the ranks of the people. However, they were not labeled “counterrevolutionaries” but rather “rightists,” firstly to facilitate the winning over
of the middle elements, and secondly to promote the division of the rightist
camp, thereby creating the possibility for a portion of them to be converted.
This was deemed necessary. There were approximately 100,000 rightists
nationwide, mainly among the intelligentsia; some of them were indeed
valuable personnel and should be vigorously won over. Another small group
had already abandoned their capitalist position politically and shifted to the
working-class standpoint, becoming leftists. The number of leftists was
growing, reaching as high as ten percent in certain areas, which was an
encouraging development. Nevertheless, the middle elements still constituted
the majority. On the one hand, they tended, to varying degrees, to accept the
socialist road and the leadership of the Communist Party, having taken the
first step along the long journey from a capitalist to a working-class
position; yet, on the other hand, they had not fundamentally abandoned their
capitalist stance. They were far from willingly or sincerely surrendering their
enterprises, embracing socialism, or submitting to the leadership of the
working class and the Communist Party. A nostalgia for capitalism still
lingered, though most kept it to themselves. Nonetheless, they were
vacillating and capable of further progress. In roughly another five years,
they would likely make substantial headway.


When identifying rightists in the industrial and commercial sectors,
in addition to referring to the Central Committee’s approval of the United
Front Work Department’s “Proposal on Criteria for Distinguishing Between
Left, Middle, and Right,” the primary basis for judgment should be their
reactionary words and deeds since the current campaign of open criticism
began this year, supplemented by their conduct after last year’s high-tide
period. Except for a few extreme rightists who had consistently opposed the
Communist Party and the people throughout history, no account should be
taken of their actions prior to the high-tide phase. This is because, before
the implementation of enterprise joint ventures, the industrial and commercial
sectors operated on the basis of legal capitalist enterprises, making their
capitalist stance both natural and lawful. After the advent of the high tide,
however, with the comprehensive adoption of industry-wide joint ventures,
they had indeed made a major leap forward on the path of socialist
transformation. To continue basing judgments on pre-high-tide behavior would
be unpopular and counterproductive to winning over the majority. Given that
this period has lasted just over a year, many individuals have found it
difficult to effect a complete ideological shift from their old position to the
new one. The struggle against the rightists and the rectification campaign,
therefore, can help the majority to overcome this hurdle and advance even
further.