On The Correct Handling Of Contradictions Among The People by Mao Zedong

The work argues that social contradictions fall into antagonistic and non‑antagonistic categories and that they require different methods of resolution: antagonistic contradictions must be confronted firmly, while non‑antagonistic contradictions among the people should be handled through investigation, persuasion, discussion, criticism and education rather than suppression. It emphasizes the constructive role of managed dissent and mass participation, the importance of correct leadership and policies to hear and rectify mistakes, and the practice of criticism and self‑criticism to preserve unity, promote progress in socialist construction, and prevent non‑antagonistic differences from becoming antagonistic.