People's History of Ideas Podcast
In this podcast, Matthew Rothwell, author of Transpacific Revolutionaries: The Chinese Revolution in Latin America, explores the global history of ideas related to rebellion and revolution. The main focus of this podcast for the near future will be on the history of the Chinese Revolution, going all the way back to its roots in the initial Chinese reactions to British imperialism during the Opium War of 1839-1842, and then following the development of the revolution and many of the ideas that were products of the revolution through to their transnational diffusion in the late 20th century.
- Update frequency
- every 9 days
- Average duration
- 27 minutes
- Episodes
- 128
- Years Active
- 2019 - 2025
The 1929 Sino-Soviet War Concludes
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 …
The 1929 Sino-Soviet War Begins
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 …
The Chinese Eastern Railway: Background to the 1929 Sino-Soviet War
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.,…
“On the Problem of Party Organization” (The Gutian Resolution—Part Three)
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, Ju…
“The Problem of Correcting Erroneous and Nonproletarian Ideological Tendencies in the Party” (The Gutian Resolution—Part Two)
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…
The Gutian Resolution (End of 1929) (Part One)
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 J…
Two Letters and “On Correcting Mistaken Ideas in the Party” (November to December 1929)
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:
Pa…
The Battle for Shanghang (mid-September 1929)
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 P…
The Politburo in Shanghai Discusses the Line Struggle in the Red Army and Issues the September Instruction
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: 1893-194…
Mao gets Kicked from Party Leadership, and Organizes a Land Reform in Western Fujian
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 14 June 1929 Letter to Lin Biao
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 organiza…
The Line Struggle Between Mao Zedong and Zhu De (May to June 1929)
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 Cho…
The Red Army Victorious: The Conquest of Several Counties in Jiangxi and Fujian in the Spring of 1929
The conquest of Yudu, Xingguo, Ningdu, Longyan, and Yongding counties by the Fourth Red Army. Zhu De reminisces. Also, poetry.
Further reading:
Pang Xianzhi and Jin Chongji, Mao Zedong: A Biography, vo…
Mao Tells Zhou Enlai about Guerrilla Warfare
Mao’s April 5, 1929 reply to Zhou Enlai.
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 …
The Party Center Attempts to Assert Control over the Red Army and Orders Mao and Zhu to Report to Shanghai
A close look at Zhou Enlai’s February 7, 1929, letter to Mao Zedong and Zhu De.
Further reading:
Pang Xianzhi and Jin Chongji, Mao Zedong: A Biography, vol. 1: 1893-1949
Stuart Schram, ed., Mao’s Road t…
Mao’s March 20 Letter to the Central Committee, and the 5th Red Army’s Retreat from the Jinggangshan (January to April 1929)
Mao plans to expand guerrilla warfare, and meets up with Peng Dehuai in Ruijin.
Further reading:
Pang Xianzhi and Jin Chongji, Mao Zedong: A Biography, vol. 1: 1893-1949
Stuart Schram, ed., Mao’s Road t…
On the Experience of the National Bourgeoisie in the New Democratic Revolution
Some reflections on the experience of Shanghai capitalists after 1949 prompted by the ‘Notice to Merchants and Intellectuals’ that Mao issued after taking Changting in 1929.
Further reading:
Stuart Sch…
A New Communist Order in Changting (March 1929)
Looking at what Mao and Zhu De did to install a new Communist order after conquering Changting.
Further reading:
Pang Xianzhi and Jin Chongji, Mao Zedong: A Biography, vol. 1: 1893-1949
Agnes Smedley, T…
Leaving Donggu, Taking Changting (February to March 1929)
How the Fourth Red Army spent their time in Donggu, and how they took the first city in the new base area in the Jiangxi-Fujian border region.
Further reading:
Pang Xianzhi and Jin Chongji, Mao Zedong:…
From Dabodi to Donggu: The Retreat from the Jinggangshan Continues (February 1929)
The Mao-Zhu Army raises funds in Ningdu and moves on to the Donggu base area for rest and recovery. Background on Donggu.
Link to map of Jiangxi province: https://www.chinamaps.org/china/provincemaps/…