The Anti-Rightist Campaign was a political movement carried out in China between 1957 and 1959. It was initiated by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and aimed to identify, criticize, and purge those who were deemed to be rightists, or those who had expressed anti-Communist or counterrevolutionary views. The campaign was part of the broader Hundred Flowers Campaign, which sought to encourage open discussion and debate of political and social issues in the country.

The Anti-Rightist Campaign was launched in 1957 in response to the Hundred Flowers Campaign, which had encouraged intellectuals to criticize the Communist Party. The Communist Party leadership, led by Mao Zedong, had not expected the criticism to be so widespread and openly expressed. They saw the criticism as a threat to the power of the Party, and so decided to launch the Anti-Rightist Campaign in order to limit and control the discussion.

The campaign saw the government label anyone who had expressed any criticism of the Party as a “rightist”. These individuals were then subjected to public criticism and humiliation, and were often ostracized and removed from positions of power. Many were sent to labor camps, and some were even executed. It is estimated that around 550,000 people were labeled as rightists and subjected to the campaign.

The Anti-Rightist Campaign was part of a larger trend of political repression in China during this period. Despite the harsh measures taken against rightists, the campaign was ultimately unsuccessful in suppressing criticism and dissent. Many Chinese intellectuals remained critical of the Party’s policies, and the campaign only served to alienate them further. The campaign also had a significant impact on the Chinese economy, as the removal of so many intellectuals from positions of power caused a significant decrease in productivity.