What was one of the major consequences of Mao Tse-Tung's Great Leap Forward?

The Great Leap Forward, initiated by Mao Tse-Tung in the late 1950s, aimed to rapidly transform China from an agrarian society into a socialist society through rapid industrialization and collectivization. One of the major consequences of this ambitious campaign was indeed the occurrence of a massive famine.

This famine resulted from several factors, including the forced collectivization of agriculture, which disrupted traditional farming practices, and unrealistic production targets set by local officials to meet central government expectations. Poor management, lack of proper agricultural techniques, and over-reporting of grain production further exacerbated the food shortage. It is estimated that tens of millions of people died as a result of this famine, marking it as one of the deadliest famines in history.

The scale of starvation and suffering during this period starkly contrasts with the other mentioned outcomes, which either did not materialize or were not a result of the Great Leap Forward. For instance, there was no economic boom, as the policies led to economic dislocation instead of growth. Furthermore, the cultural aspects and political stability did not see significant enhancements due to the chaos and repercussions caused by the Great Leap Forward. The famine highlighted the failures of Mao's policies and had lasting impacts on Chinese society and governance.