Little Red Book, Big Red Ideas: Part 2 of A Global History of Maoism
Jul 23, 2019
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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.
Maoism's global influence sparked diverse interpretations worldwide, shaping revolutionary movements and ideologies globally.
China, under Mao, transformed from aid recipient to aid provider, significantly influencing political, economic, and military outcomes in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Africa.
Deep dives
China's Aid Program and Maoism's Global Legacy
China, under Mao's leadership, provided significant material aid to Vietnam and Cambodia, as well as other revolutionaries around the world. This aid included financial assistance, training, and essential supplies, which played a crucial role in the success of their revolutions against French and US control. China's aid program under Mao also aimed at establishing itself as a global power, transitioning from being a recipient of international aid to becoming a giver. The aid programs in Vietnam and Cambodia were particularly significant, representing a large proportion of China's national budget. While these countries were major beneficiaries, other regions, such as Africa, also received significant aid. Overall, Mao's aid programs had a direct impact on the political, economic, and military outcomes in these regions.
Impact of Maoism on Vietnam and Cambodia
Vietnamese Communists, under Ho Chi Minh's leadership, were greatly influenced by Maoism. They looked to Maoist China as a source of strategic blueprints and material aid, receiving substantial support in their fight against French and later US control. China played a crucial role in their ability to sustain their resistance and fight for independence. Similarly, Cambodia's Khmer Rouge regime also drew inspiration from Mao's cultural revolution and received support from China before and after gaining power. Maoist ideas and strategies, such as land reform and radical collectivization, were adopted in Cambodia, leading to widespread suffering and the death of millions of people. The relationship between China, Vietnam, and Cambodia was complex, with historical rivalries and tensions playing a significant role in shaping their interactions.
Maoism's Influence in Africa
Maoism had a limited impact in Africa compared to Vietnam and Cambodia. While China provided significant aid to various African countries, the full adoption of Maoist political models was rare. African leaders displayed more pragmatism and creativity, often taking bits and pieces of Maoist strategies that suited their specific circumstances. Julius Nyerere in Tanzania, for example, incorporated aspects of Maoist principles like self-reliance and political puritanism but carefully blended them with other ideologies and influences. Maoist ideas found a more receptive audience in South Asia and Latin America, where they translated into insurgencies and civil wars with significant political consequences.
Maoist Legacy in the Present and Neo-Maoism in China
While Maoism's direct influence has waned in present-day China, remnants of Mao's ideas and strategies persist. Under Xi Jinping's leadership, elements of Maoist culture and politics have experienced a revival. This includes criticism and self-criticism sessions, the reintroduction of the mass line approach, and efforts to cultivate a personality cult similar to that of Mao. However, the revival of Maoist politics is selective, with certain aspects from Mao's era being suppressed, like the bottom-up mobilizations of the cultural revolution. China's soft power abroad has not seen the same level of success as in the past, as the political values of Mao's era clash with China's current political stability. Domestically, there is a neo-Maoist movement, particularly among younger generations, which seeks to reinterpret and apply Mao's ideas in contemporary protests and activism. However, their efforts face significant opposition from the state.
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
