Mao Zedong and the founding of the People's Republic of China (2/3)

From peasants' son to revolutionary leader — Mao Zedong laid the foundation for modern China. This three-part documentary offers an in-depth look at one of the most influential figures of the 20th century.

The legacy of the "founding father" of the People's Republic of China remains deeply controversial. Revered in Europe as a revolutionary icon in the late 1960s, Mao led China to the brink of disaster and ultimately clung to power with a regime of terror. Yet today's leaders in Beijing continue to draw on the cult of Mao. China is now a global power, a transformation that would be difficult to imagine without Mao Zedong.