Why did Mao Zedong industrialize china?

Answer 1

Mao Zedong aimed to industrialize China to transform it from an agrarian society into a modern socialist state capable of competing with Western powers. He believed that rapid industrialization would strengthen the economy, reduce reliance on foreign imports, and support his vision of a communist society. The Great Leap Forward, initiated in 1958, was a key effort in this direction, emphasizing collective farming and the establishment of small-scale, localized industries. However, this campaign ultimately led to economic disruption and widespread famine.