“卫星”是如何上天的--乡村基层干部和“大跃进”

How "Satellites" Were Launched:Grass-Roots Cadres in Rural China and the Great Leap Forward

本文探讨基层乡村干部在"大跃进"粮食"放卫星"中扮演的角色。基层乡村干部身处层层加压的统治链条中,如同被一股强大的潮流所裹胁。由于自身的社会特征,他们在压力之下,成为推波助澜者。进一步,他们之所以能够在乡村社会掀起狂澜,是因为共产主义革命以来基层乡村社会的变化为他们提供了巨大的政治活动空间。最重要的,是因为他们面对的是已经与传统小农判若两人的农民:那些因为财产权利屡受侵犯、利益纽带不断松懈而越来越漠然的农民,在那种特殊的情况下,选择了随波逐流。

The author discusses the role of grass-roots cadres in rural China during the so-called ＂satellite launch＂ of grain production （i.e. dramatically increasing the yields of production）during the Great Leap Forward. Grassroots cadres operated under many layers of political pressure, leading them to play along with the political movement. The social changes in rural society brought about by the Communist revolution provided them with huge political space to trumpet the party line. Most importantly, the peasants they dealt with were totally different from peasants in the traditional society. After having their property rights repeatedly violated, these peasants chose to follow the tide rather than resist.