Compare and Contrast the Consolidation of Power by Hitler and Mao

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The implementation of policies, or rather concessions to the lower class, was also of grave importance in consolidating power especially in China. Mao’s policies to enhance the previously poor healthcare amongst the peasants was very well received, and health and life expectancy which dramatically increased from 1949–1953 helped Mao garner massive public support. Further, a Common Programme for China setting out an agenda for political, economic, and social change was implemented in 1949, with land confiscation taking place and making way for the establishment of communes. These policies once again made him popular amongst the poor peasants, who constituted a large part of the Chinese population. Finally, when Mao came to power he empowered women and stated that at least one quarter of those elected to representative bodies had to be a woman. Mao also implicated the new marriage law in 1950, outlawing arranged marriages and the payment to a husband or his family. These policies also helped him gain power through discouraging opposition. Similarly, Hitler in order to appease the public indulged in moving the economy out of recession and help it recover from the effects of the Great depression of 1929. His economic policies indeed did work and the unemployment fell to 1 million in 1936, from 6 million in 1932. This helped the leaders consolidate power, as it made them more popular among the public. As can be seen both leaders were involved in consolidating power through implementing policies, but it can also be seen that Mao indulged in more reform than Hitler did in order to consolidate power.

It can also be argued that the method of Gleichschaltung, or in English – Coordination, was not only used by Hitler to consolidate power and strengthen his position but also by Mao. Hitler did so by the Law for the Reconstruction of State which led to the appointment of Nazi Gauleiter to control states as well as the reorganization of independent trade unions to the German Labor Front (DAF) on 2nd May 1932. Similarly, Mao in order to enhance and grow the control of CCP as Hitler did, he established neighborhood committees to identify with the CCP and punish all those suspected of crime; Mao exerted control over the whole population. Further, The Cadres, who were people who had been fully indoctrinated in Party ideology and methods, permeated all levels of government and administration, as they were given leading roles at a local level in administration and political education. They too had been fully indoctrinated and along with the PLA they were given leading roles to pass on the communist ideology to peasants. Thus through the neighborhood committees and Cadres Mao had complete control in all aspects of life, including the state bureaucracy.

Despite all the similarities in the leader’s methods, they arguably did not share similarities in the area of legality as a method to consolidate power. This can be said as Hitler furthered his consolidation immensely by passing the Enabling Act in 1933, which essentially made his will absolute, as well as the emergency decrees of February 1932 which in effect became the basic law of the Third Reich. Moreover, even terror was shrouded under the veil of legality with the Night of Long Knives an overtly repressive act being deemed legal, as well as the law passed to arbitrarily detain people. On the other hand, Mao was overtly aggressive and repressive as he had no answerability to anyone else. This was because he acquired power though the civil war, and was able to set up his own government with himself on top. This is in stark contrast to Hitler, who at the commencement of his regime had to appear to be within legal bounds to not arise opposition from either Hindenburg, the Reichstag or the public.

In conclusion, both Authoritarian leaders did effectively consolidate power by 1935 and 1953 respectively. As can be seen they also warranted mostly similar methods to consolidate power, but tailored the implementation of the methods to their individual needs and conditions. However, it can also be seen that Mao indulged wholly in reform and terror to consolidate power, whereas Hitler adopted more of a moderate approach and used various methods in cohesion to consolidate power.