People's History of Ideas Podcast

When the enemy advances, Mao and Zhu retreat from Fujian into Jiangxi province, drawing the Guomindang’s joint suppression force deep in after them, only to later circle back around and defeat it. In this episode we discuss how Mao conducted propaganda directed at enemy troops in order to win them over to join the Red Army. Further reading: Stuart Schram, ed., Mao’s Road to Power, vol. 3: From the Jinggangshan to the Establishment of the Jiangxi Soviets, July 1927-December 1930 Pang Xianzhi and Jin Chongji, Mao Zedong: A Biography, vol. 1: 1893-1949 Bixin Huang, “A Movement Without Vitality: Communist Revolution in Fujian, 1924-1934” Mao Zedong nianpu, 1893-1937 (毛泽东年谱) Agnes Smedley, The Great Road: The Life and Times of Chu Teh [Zhu De] Some names from this episode: Lin Biao, commander of the first column of the Fourth Red Army Jin Handing, commander of the joint-suppression force launched against the western Fujian base area Lo Pinghui, Yunnanese colonel who switched from the Guomindang to the Communists Episode artwork: photo of Jin Handing Subscribe on Substack: peopleshistoryofideas.substack.com Support the show

We conclude our close reading of Mao’s January 5, 1930 letter to Lin Biao. In this episode, Mao discusses his method for understanding the possibilities for revolution in China, as well as the particular tactics to be employed by the Red Army. He also conducts a minor self-criticism. Further reading: Stuart Schram, ed., Mao’s Road to Power, vol. 3: From the Jinggangshan to the Establishment of the Jiangxi Soviets, July 1927-December 1930 Pang Xianzhi and Jin Chongji, Mao Zedong: A Biography, vol. 1: 1893-1949 Mao Zedong, “A Single Spark Can Start a Prairie Fire” Some names from this episode: Lin Biao, commander of the first column of the Fourth Red Army Lu Diping, general who ruled Hunan from 1928–29 and Jiangxi from 1929-31 Episode artwork: Envelope from a different letter that Mao wrote to Lin Biao Subscribe on Substack: peopleshistoryofideas.substack.com Support the show

We begin our close reading of Mao’s January 5, 1930 letter to Lin Biao. Further reading: Stuart Schram, ed., Mao’s Road to Power, vol. 3: From the Jinggangshan to the Establishment of the Jiangxi Soviets, July 1927-December 1930 Pang Xianzhi and Jin Chongji, Mao Zedong: A Biography, vol. 1: 1893-1949 David Apter and Tony Saich, Revolutionary Discourse in Mao’s Republic Mao Zedong, “A Single Spark Can Start a Prairie Fire” Some names from this episode: Lin Biao, commander of the first column of the Fourth Red Army Li Lisan, leading Communist He Long, leader of a soviet in the Hunan-Hubei border region Li Wenlin, leader of Donggu base area Fang Zhimin, leader of Northeastern Jiangxi soviet Episode artwork: Picture of a prairie fire (in Illinois) Subscribe on Substack: peopleshistoryofideas.substack.com Support the show

This interview with Dr. Aminda Smith of Michigan State University touches on topics including why good PRC history is left history; thought reform, reeducation through labor, and brainwashing; the veracity of the propaganda produced for a global audience during the Mao years; and the Maoist legacy in China today. Further reading and watching: Aminda Smith, Thought Reform and China’s Dangerous Classes Aminda Smith, “The Maoism of PRC History” Aminda Smith, “Brainwashing and World Revolution” Aminda Smith, “The Legacies of 'Brainwashing': Cold War Ideology and Modern Chinese History” (the content of this talk is similar to the paywalled book chapter on brainwashing) Stephen Andors, China’s Industrial Revolution Positions Politics website H-PRC website Brian DeMare, Land Wars: The Story of China's Agrarian Revolution Richard Wolin, The Wind From the East: French Intellectuals, the Cultural Revolution, and the Legacy of the 1960s Philosophy is no Mystery Mao Zedong, “On Contradiction” Jonathan Spence, The Search for Modern China Zheng Yangwen, Ten Lessons in Modern Chinese History Maurice Meisner, Mao's China and After Jonathan Spence, The Gate of Heavenly Peace: The Chinese and Their Revolution Rebecca Karl, Mao Zedong and China in the Twentieth-Century World: A Concise History Yueran Zhang, “Leninists in a Chinese Factory: Reflections on the Jasic Labour Organising Strategy” “Seeing through Muddied Waters, Part 1: Jasic, Strikes & Unions” “New Alliance of Students-Workers in Struggle of Union Formation: The Case of Jasic Conflict” “Longing for the Cultural Revolution in China Today” Rae Yang, Spider Eaters: A Memoir Support the show

The story of how the co-founder and first General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party became a Trotskyist. Further reading: Gregor Benton, China’s Urban Revolutionaries: Explorations in the History of Chinese Trotskyism, 1921-1952 Gregor Benton, Prophets Unarmed: Chinese Trotskyists in Revolution, War, Jail, and the Return from Limbo Lee Feigon, Chen Duxiu: Founder of the Chinese Communist Party Chang Kuo-t’ao [Zhang Guotao], The Rise of the Chinese Communist Party (2 volumes) Tony Saich, The Rise to Power of the Chinese Communist Party Jane Price, Cadres, Commanders, and Commissars: The Training of the Chinese Communist Leadership, 1920-1945 Some names from this episode: Chen Duxiu, co-founder of the Communist Party of China Li Dazhao, co-founder of the Communist Party of China Zheng Chaolin, Chinese Trotskyist Li Lisan, leading Communist Yin Kuan, resigned as Provincial Secretary in Anhui Peng Shuzhi, resigned as Provincial Secretary in Zhili Wang Zekai, Chinese Trotskyist Liu Bojian, former Provincial Secretary in Hubei Ren Xu, Chinese Trotskyist Xiang Ying, Jiangsu Provincial Secretary following the 6th Party Congress Cai Zhende, member of Jiangsu Provincial Committee Zhou Enlai, head of the Organization Department of the Central Committee Wang Ruofei, sent to work in a factory in Moscow as punishment for Trotskyism before recanting Qu Qiubai, top leader of Communist Party from the summer of 1927 until the Sixth Congress Zhang Guotao, leading Communist Episode artwork: Chen Duxiu with Peng Shuzi in 1932 Support the show

Responding to listener queries about the evidence behind this common assertion regarding the KPD’s underestimation of the fascist threat. Further reading: Jane Degras, ed., The Communist International, 1919-1943: Documents, vol. 3: 1929-1943 International Press Correspondence Communist International journal (1933) Documents from the 13th Plenum of the ECCI Some names from this episode: Chen Duxiu, co-founder of the Communist Party of China Hermann Remmele, leading KPD Reichstag member Heinrich Brüning, German Chancellor from 1930-1932 Osip Piatnitsky, leading Comintern figure Wilhelm Pieck, leader of KPD from 1934 Episode artwork: Autonome Antifa (M) poster from 1991 Support the show

The 1920s that is. The Comintern lets the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Committee know how the objective conditions in China are ripening for revolution. Further reading: Nikolai Bukharin, “On the International Situation and the Tasks of the Chinese Communist Party” Nicholas Kozlov and Eric Weitz, “Reflections on the Origins of the ‘Third Period’: Bukharin, the Comintern, and the Political Economy of Weimar Germany” Robin Kelley, Hammer and Hoe: Alabama Communists during the Great Depression Theodore Rosengarten, All God’s Dangers: The Life of Nate Shaw Sebastian Haffner, Failure of a Revolution: Germany 1918-1919 Chen Jian, Zhou Enlai: A Life Jane Degras, ed., The Communist International, 1919-1943: Documents, vol. 3: 1929-1943 So Wai-chor, The Kuomintang Left in the National Revolution, 1924–1931 Some names from this episode: Nikolai Bukharin, general secretary of the executive committee of the Comintern (1926-1929) Rosa Luxemburg, German communist leader murdered in 1919 Karl Liebknecht, German communist leader murdered in 1919 Li Lisan, leading Communist Stalin, Stalin Feng Yuxiang, northwestern warlord who turned on Chiang Kai-shek during Sino-Soviet war Wang Jingwei, the overall leader of the Guomindang Left Chen Gongbo, main ideologue of the Reorganization Comrades Association Chen Duxiu, co-founder of the Communist Party He Long, leader of a soviet in the Hunan-Hubei border region Episode artwork: Li Lisan with family Support the show

How the Chinese Communist Party tried to turn war into revolution in Manchuria in 1929. Further reading: Bruce A. Elleman and Stephen Kotkin, eds., Manchurian Railways and the Opening of China Michael M. Walker, The 1929 Sino-Soviet War Chong-Sik Lee, Revolutionary Struggle in Manchuria: Chinese Communism and Soviet Interest, 1922-1945 “Japan Moves Town to Reach Coal Vein” Some names from this episode: Miles Lampson, British minister to China Yang Jingyu, Fushun special branch secretary of the CCP Liu Shaoqi, Communist labor organizer and secretary of the CCP’s Manchurian Committee from June 1929 to March 1930 Ting Chün-yang, veteran communist sent to Manchuria Meng Yongqian, veteran communist sent to Manchuria Episode artwork: Postcard of a Fushun coal mine from the early 1940s Support the show

The final Soviet offensive, and some details on Chiang Ching-kuo’s activities as a student in Moscow. Further reading: Bruce A. Elleman and Stephen Kotkin, eds., Manchurian Railways and the Opening of China Michael M. Walker, The 1929 Sino-Soviet War Jay Taylor, The Generalissimo's Son: Chiang Ching-Kuo and the Revolutions in China and Taiwan Some names from this episode: Zhang Xueliang, Manchurian warlord Feng Yuxiang, northwestern warlord who turned on Chiang Kai-shek during Sino-Soviet war Joseph Stilwell, United States military attaché in China Mikhail Borodin, Comintern agent and political head of Soviet mission to aid the Guomindang during the first Communist-Guomindang united front Chiang Ching-kuo, son of Chiang Kai-shek Zhou Enlai, leading Communist Vasily Blyukher, commander of the Special Far Eastern Army Aleksandr Cherepanov, commander of the 39th Rifle Division in the Soviet Far East Episode artwork: Picture of a young Chiang Ching-kuo Support the show

Some basic military history of the beginning of the war. Further reading: Bruce A. Elleman and Stephen Kotkin, eds., Manchurian Railways and the Opening of China Michael M. Walker, The 1929 Sino-Soviet War John Erickson, The Soviet High Command: A Military-Political History, 1918-1941 Some names from this episode: Vasily Blyukher (née Gurov, aka Galen), commander of the Special Far Eastern Army Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher, Prussian general in Napoleonic wars Aleksandr Cherepanov, commander of the 39th Rifle Division in the Soviet Far East Andrei Bubnov, head of the political administration of the Soviet Red Army Feng Yuxiang, warlord close to both the USA and the Soviet Union A. I. Traynin, captain of the Soviet warship Sverdlov Mok Yiuming, captain of the Chinese gunboat Lishui Fedor Vulahov, lead petty officer of the Sverdlov R. I. Yuanzem, commander of the Soviet warship Red East I. I. Nikitin, captain of the Soviet warship Sun Yatsen I. A. Onufriev, the commander of the 2nd “Amur” Rifle Division Episode artwork: Photo of Soviet soldiers with captured Guomindang banners Support the show

The Guomindang moves to seize Soviet assets in Manchuria. Also, subscribe to the new substack at https://peopleshistoryofideas.substack.com/. Further reading: Bruce A. Elleman and Stephen Kotkin, eds., Manchurian Railways and the Opening of China Michael M. Walker, The 1929 Sino-Soviet War Some names from this episode: Li Lisan, Chairman of Central Committee Propaganda Department Chen Duxiu, Co-founder of the Chinese Communist Party Li Dazhao, Co-founder of the Chinese Communist Party Lev Karakhan, Soviet deputy commissioner for foreign affairs in 1919 and acting commissioner in 1929 Zhang Zuolin, Manchurian warlord killed by Japan in 1928 Zhang Xueliang, Manchurian warlord, son of Zhang Zuolin Martemyan Nikitich Ryutin, Bolshevik leader of Harbin soviet in 1917 Episode artwork: Flag of the Chinese Eastern Railway Support the show

Mao discusses problems in party organization and how to fix them. Further reading: Stuart Schram, ed., Mao’s Road to Power, vol. 3: From the Jinggangshan to the Establishment of the Jiangxi Soviets, July 1927-December 1930 Pang Xianzhi and Jin Chongji, Mao Zedong: A Biography, vol. 1: 1893-1949 “On the Revolutionary “Three-in-One” Combination” Episode artwork: May 1967 poster “Resolutely Protect the Policy of the Revolutionary Three-in-One Combination” Support the show

We continue our textual analysis of the Gutian Resolution. Further reading: Stuart Schram, ed., Mao’s Road to Power, vol. 3: From the Jinggangshan to the Establishment of the Jiangxi Soviets, July 1927-December 1930 Pang Xianzhi and Jin Chongji, Mao Zedong: A Biography, vol. 1: 1893-1949 Mao Zedong, “On Correcting Mistaken Ideas in the Party” “Bury the Slave Mentality Advocated by China’s Khrushchov” in Peking Review (April 14, 1967) Some names from this episode: Liu Shaoqi, top level Communist Party leader attacked as China’s Khrushchev during the Cultural Revolution Zhou Enlai, head of the Organization Department of the Central Committee Li Lisan, leading Communist Qu Qiubai, top leader of Communist Party from the summer of 1927 until the Sixth Congress Huang Chao, salt merchant who led a rebellion from 875-884 Li Chuang (Li Zicheng), bandit leader who seized Beijing in 1644 and was later defeated by the Manchus Hong Xiuquan, leader of the Taiping Revolution and claimed to be the younger brother of Jesus Christ Chen Yi, member of Front Committee of Fourth Red Army Episode artwork: Gutian village Support the show

On the importance of the Resolution, and a beginning discussion of the actual text. Further reading: Stuart Schram, ed., Mao’s Road to Power, vol. 3: From the Jinggangshan to the Establishment of the Jiangxi Soviets, July 1927-December 1930 Pang Xianzhi and Jin Chongji, Mao Zedong: A Biography, vol. 1: 1893-1949 Mao Zedong, “On Correcting Mistaken Ideas in the Party” Episode artwork: Photo of the Gutian Congress Support the show

We look at two letters written by Mao on November 28, 1929, and introduce our discussion of “On Correcting Mistaken Ideas in the Party” and the other parts of the Gutian Resolution. Further reading: Pang Xianzhi and Jin Chongji, Mao Zedong: A Biography, vol. 1: 1893-1949 Stuart Schram, ed., Mao’s Road to Power, vol. 3: From the Jinggangshan to the Establishment of the Jiangxi Soviets, July 1927-December 1930 Mao Zedong, “On Correcting Mistaken Ideas in the Party” Abimael Guzmán, “Report of the Meeting of the Central Leadership with the Cangallo-Fajardo Regional Committee” Peking Review (Feb. 3, 1967) Some names from this episode: Li Lisan, Chairman of Central Committee Propaganda Department Yang Kaihui, Mao’s first wife Mao Anying, Mao’s first son Chen Yi, member of Front Committee of Fourth Red Army Chen Duxiu, former general secretary of the Communist Party Mao Zemin, Mao’s brother Xie Hanqiu, observer from the Fujian Provincial Committee Liu Heting, Guomindang military commander Jin Handing, Guomindang military commander Zhang Zhen, Guomindang military commander Episode artwork: He Kongde’s Gutian Meeting poster Support the show

The Communists take the fortified city of Shanghang in southwestern Fujian. Further reading and watching: Agnes Smedley, The Great Road: The Life and Times of Chu Teh [Zhu De] The Battle for Dien Bien Phu Pang Xianzhi and Jin Chongji, Mao Zedong: A Biography, vol. 1: 1893-1949 Stuart Schram, ed., Mao’s Road to Power, vol. 3: From the Jinggangshan to the Establishment of the Jiangxi Soviets, July 1927-December 1930 Some names from this episode: Lin Biao, commander of the first column of the Fourth Red Army Lu Hanmin, Guomindang militarist Liu Angong, special envoy sent by Party Center to the Fourth Red Army Episode artwork: Aerial view of modern Shanghang Support the show

The Central Committee turns out to support centralized leadership. Also, the Comintern publishes Mao’s obituary. Further reading: Pang Xianzhi and Jin Chongji, Mao Zedong: A Biography, vol. 1: 1893-1949 Stuart Schram, ed., Mao’s Road to Power, vol. 3: From the Jinggangshan to the Establishment of the Jiangxi Soviets, July 1927-December 1930 Joseph Fewsmith, Forging Leninism in China: Mao and the Remaking of the Chinese Communist Party, 1927–1934 Mao Zedong nianpu, 1893-1937 (毛泽东年谱) Chen Jian, Zhou Enlai: A Life Zhou Enlai, Selected Works of Zhou Enlai, vol. 1 Some names from this episode: Chen Yi, replaced Mao as secretary of the Front Committee Xiang Zhongfa, General secretary of the CP Zhou Enlai, head of the Organization Department of the Central Committee Li Lisan, Leading Communist Liu Angong, special envoy sent by Party Center to the Fourth Red Army Support the show

The line struggle continues and does not go Mao’s way. Plus, comments on the historiography. Further reading: Pang Xianzhi and Jin Chongji, Mao Zedong: A Biography, vol. 1: 1893-1949 Stuart Schram, ed., Mao’s Road to Power, vol. 3: From the Jinggangshan to the Establishment of the Jiangxi Soviets, July 1927-December 1930 Joseph Fewsmith, Forging Leninism in China: Mao and the Remaking of the Chinese Communist Party, 1927–1934 Mao Zedong nianpu, 1893-1937 (毛泽东年谱) Chen Jian, Zhou Enlai: A Life Some names from this episode: Liu Angong, special envoy sent by Party Center to the Fourth Red Army Lin Biao, commander of the first column of the Fourth Red Army Chen Yi, replaced Mao as secretary of the Front Committee Zhou Enlai, head of the Organization Department of the Central Committee Jiang Hua, secretary general of the political department of the Fourth Red Army Episode artwork: photo of Jiang Hua Support the show

We continue our close reading of Mao’s letter to Lin Biao. In this episode, Mao discusses the roving rebel band mentality and the organizational state of affairs in the army, party, and mass organizations. Further reading: Pang Xianzhi and Jin Chongji, Mao Zedong: A Biography, vol. 1: 1893-1949 Stuart Schram, ed., Mao’s Road to Power, vol. 3: From the Jinggangshan to the Establishment of the Jiangxi Soviets, July 1927-December 1930 Agnes Smedley, The Great Road: The Life and Times of Chu Teh [Zhu De] Mao Zedong, “On Correcting Mistaken Ideas in the Party” Some names from this episode: Liu Angong, special envoy sent by Party Center to the Fourth Red Army Yang Sen, Sichuan warlord Zhu Yunqing, chief political advisor to the Fourth Red Army Episode artwork: photo of Zhu Yunqing Support the show

The Party Center’s intervention in the Fourth Red Army combines with a string of military victories to bring a simmering dispute between Mao and Zhu to a head. Further reading: Pang Xianzhi and Jin Chongji, Mao Zedong: A Biography, vol. 1: 1893-1949 Stuart Schram, ed., Mao’s Road to Power, vol. 3: From the Jinggangshan to the Establishment of the Jiangxi Soviets, July 1927-December 1930 Joseph Fewsmith, Forging Leninism in China: Mao and the Remaking of the Chinese Communist Party, 1927–1934 Mao Zedong nianpu, 1893-1937 (毛泽东年谱) Some names from this episode: Zhou Enlai, head of the Organization Department of the Central Committee Liu Angong, special envoy sent by Party Center to the Fourth Red Army Lin Biao, commander of the first column of the Fourth Red Army Peng Dehuai, commander of the Fifth Red Army Support the show