ABSTRACT
Together with rectification doctrine, a variety of techniques and sanctions gave the Party reform process its distinctive cast in the entire period from the early 1940s to the Cultural Revolution. In this chapter we first highlight the nature of Chinese rectification by contrasting it with Stalinist terror. Next, we discuss the crucial role of small group methods during rectification movements. We then elaborate the various informal and formal disciplinary sanctions involved in the process, including their impact on the careers of high ranking officials. Finally, an assessment is made of the effectiveness of rectification by examining factors enhancing and limiting this approach to elite discipline. In this assessment we evaluate persuasive and coercive measures and develop a persuasive-coercive continuum for analyzing different rectification movements.
