Professor Julia Lovell, author of "Maoism: A Global History," discusses the global reach of Maoist ideology in the 50s and 60s. She explores how diverse groups, from the Black Panthers to the Shining Path in Peru, adopted Mao's ideas. Lovell highlights the 'counterculture craze' that drew Western youth to Maoism, seeing it as a model for protest. Additionally, she addresses the complexities of Mao's foreign policy, including its effects on Vietnam and humanity's darker encounters with Mao-inspired movements across different regions.
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Vietnam War Aid
Ho Chi Minh, a disciple of Mao, relied on China for aid and strategic blueprints in the Vietnam War.
China provided $20B, trained thousands of Vietnamese, and supplied essential items, enabling their fight against the French and US.
insights INSIGHT
Aid over Starvation
Mao's China prioritized international aid even during domestic famine, like the Great Leap Forward.
This act showcased China as a global power, influenced by Stalin's ruthless model, despite the tragic domestic consequences.
insights INSIGHT
Vietnamese Nationalism
While Vietnamese communists accepted Chinese aid, strong Vietnamese nationalism resisted admitting Maoist influence.
This tension, rooted in historical rivalry, escalated into the Sino-Vietnamese War.
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Fanshen is a detailed account of how land reform was implemented in Long Bow Village, northern China, during the Chinese Civil War. The book explores the social and economic transformations that occurred as peasants gained land and political awareness, while also highlighting the challenges and excesses of the revolution. It provides a unique insight into the lives of peasants and the complex social processes of rural China during this period.
Little Red Book
Hazelden Foundation
The Little Red Book is a non-conference approved study guide to The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. It distills the essence of the Twelve Steps into actionable insights, providing detailed explanations and actionable advice for those seeking recovery from addiction. The book emphasizes the importance of community support, mutual aid, and personal transformation through the 12-step program. It serves as a lifelong tool for maintaining recovery, promoting personal growth, and encouraging involvement in the supportive community of AA[2][4][5].
Stalin
The Court of the Red Tsar
Simon Sebag Montefiore
This biography transforms our understanding of Stalin as Soviet dictator, Marxist leader, and Russian tsar. Based on groundbreaking research, Simon Sebag Montefiore reveals the daily life, family relationships, and the brutal cruelty of Stalin's secret world. The book is praised for its elegant prose, rich detail, and the author's ability to humanize Stalin while highlighting his brutal and chilling nature. It is a masterful and terrifying account that has become a classic of modern history writing.
Maoism
A Global History
Julia Lovell
Julia Lovell's 'Maoism: A Global History' provides a detailed analysis of Maoism's influence both within China and internationally. The book examines how Mao's ideology shaped global events, including anti-colonial movements and the Cold War, while also highlighting its darker aspects such as violence and repression. Lovell explores how Maoism has been adapted and interpreted in various contexts, from Asia and Africa to Europe and the Americas.
Red Star Over China
The Classic Account of the Birth of Chinese Communism
Edgar P. Snow
Red Star Over China is a historical account written by Edgar Snow after he spent four months with the Chinese Communist leaders in 1936. The book provides the first authorized account of Mao Zedong's life, a history of the famous Long March, and insights into the men and women responsible for the Chinese revolution. It includes extensive notes on military and political developments in China, further interviews with Mao, a chronology covering 125 years of Chinese revolution, and detailed biographies of key figures. The book is significant for its unique perspective on the early years of Chinese communism and its prophetic insights into the future of the movement.
This week, in part 2 of a special two-part edition of ChinaEconTalk, Jordan interviews Professor Julia Lovell, author of the recently published book on Mao’s international legacy entitled Maoism: A Global History. In this episode, Lovell recounts the ways in which Maoism truly started going global in the 1950s and 1960s. With some prompting courtesy of the Chinese government’s propaganda machine, self-described Maoist groups sprang up in Southeast Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, Western Europe, and even the U.S. Lovell explains how groups around the world interpreted the works and words of Mao in various ways and with varying results — from Black Panthers hosting study sessions of Mao’s Little Red Book in the U.S. to members of the Shining Path who espoused a Marxist-Leninist-Maoist ideology as they committed acts of guerilla warfare in Peru. Sign up here for the ChinaEconTalk newsletter. Learn more about CLI here and use the promo code 'jordan' for $100 off any program. Quotes to listen for on this week’s episode: 21:19: Lovell describes the “counterculture craze” of the 1960s in Western Europe and the U.S., and the appeal of Maoism to such groups. “Student protestors, for example, who were dissatisfied with their universities and with their governments identified — or misidentified — Mao’s Cultural Revolution as a youth protest, and adopted its slogans such as ‘To rebel is justified’ (造反有理 zàofǎn yǒulǐ) or ‘Bombard the headquarters’ (炮打司令部 pàodǎ sīlìngbù) in their own revolts and demonstrations… Many Western radicals felt solidarity with Mao’s China, which was America’s number one detractor through this time. And this really followed the logic of ‘My enemy’s enemy is my friend.’” 34:13: Lovell tells the story of one of Mao Zedong’s generals, operating under the pseudonym of Mafaxian, who was sent to Zambia in an effort to recruit and indoctrinate lieutenants loyal to the political and militaristic precepts of Maoism. His mission was ultimately a failure, with Mafaxian feeling “embittered” toward the end of his years-long tenure. Lovell explains how this oral history is a “perfect grassroots example of how limited the possibilities of China’s ability to export its model were, despite the huge amounts of generosity and largesse.” Get bonus content on Patreon
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