On 27 February 1957, Mao Zedong delivered his seminal speech On the Correct Handling of Contradictions Among the People at the Supreme State Conference, elucidating the ideological framework of Maoism in governing a socialist society.
He distinguished between "antagonistic" contradictions—those between the people and their enemies, necessitating coercive measures—and "non-antagonistic" contradictions, which arose within the populace and should be resolved through democratic debate and persuasion.
Emphasising the importance of constructive criticism and intellectual discourse under the Communist Party’s leadership, he launched the Hundred Flowers Campaign, encouraging diverse viewpoints to fortify socialism.
However, this ostensible liberalisation soon morphed into the Anti-Rightist Movement, revealing Mao’s paradoxical approach to dissent—initially fostering debate only to later suppress it when it veered beyond party-sanctioned limits.
