The speech was delivered in February, 1957. At the 1 1 (enlarged) meeting of the Supreme State Council, Mao Zedong delivered a speech on correctly handling contradictions among the people. The basic contents are as follows:
First of all, it comprehensively analyzes the basic contradictions and their characteristics in socialist society. It is pointed out that there are still contradictions in socialist society, and the basic contradictions are still contradictions between productive forces and relations of production, and contradictions between economic base and superstructure. However, the contradictions in socialist society are not antagonistic and can be constantly adjusted and resolved through the socialist system itself.
Secondly, the problem of strictly distinguishing and correctly handling two kinds of social contradictions is clearly put forward. It points out two kinds of social contradictions before us, namely, the contradiction between ourselves and the enemy and the contradiction among the people. Among them, a large number of contradictions among the people are widespread. The nature of the two contradictions is different, and the methods of handling them are also different. Generally speaking, the contradiction between the enemy and ourselves is antagonistic and must be solved by dictatorship and coercion; Contradictions among the people are not antagonistic and should be solved through democratic persuasion and education.
Third, it puts forward specific policies to correctly handle contradictions among the people. That is, the policy of "unity-criticism-unity" is implemented politically; Implement the policy of "long-term existence and mutual supervision" in the relationship between the production party and the democratic parties; Carry out the policy of "letting a hundred flowers blossom and a hundred schools of thought contend" in scientific and cultural work; In economic work, the policy of giving overall consideration to the interests of the state, the collective and the individual at all levels in urban and rural areas throughout the country is implemented.
Fourthly, it has become the theme of national political life to emphasize the correct handling of contradictions among the people. It is pointed out that the large-scale stormy mass class struggle during the China Revolution has basically ended, and the main task in the future is to correctly handle contradictions among the people, so as to unite the people of all ethnic groups throughout the country to wage a new war-a war with nature, develop China's economy and culture, consolidate our new system and build our new country.
The exposition of "On Correctly Handling Contradictions among the People" enriches and develops the thoughts of the Eighth National Congress of the Communist Party of China and is a great achievement in exploring the road of socialist construction in China. It has made an original contribution to the development of Marxist theory and has a long-term guiding role in the development of China's socialist cause.