대약진운동, or the Great Leap Forward, was a campaign initiated by the Chinese Communist Party from 1958 to 1962. Its primary goal was to rapidly transform China from an agrarian society into an industrialized socialist nation. The movement emphasized collective farming and the establishment of large communes, aiming to boost agricultural and industrial production. However, the Great Leap Forward led to widespread famine and economic disruption. Poor planning and unrealistic production targets resulted in significant food shortages, causing the deaths of millions. The campaign is often regarded as a major failure in Chinese history, highlighting the dangers of extreme political ideologies.