Mao Zedong: A Political and Intellectual Portrait (Polity Political Profiles Series)

Revolutionary and ruler, Marxist and nationalist, liberator and despot, Mao Zedong takes a place among the iconic leaders of the twentieth century. In this book, Maurice Meisner offers a balanced portrait of the man who defined modern China. From his role as leader of a communist revolution in a war-torn and largely rural country to the disasters of the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution, the relationship between Mao's ideas and his political action is highly disputed. With unparalleled authority, Meisner shows how Mao's unique sinification of Marxism provides the key to looking at this extraordinary political career.The first part of the book is devoted to Mao's revolutionary leadership before 1949, in particular the influence of the liberal and anarchist ideas of the May Fourth era, his discovery of Marxism, Leninism and his conviction that peasants held the potential for revolution. In the second part, Meisner analyses Mao's early successes as a nationalist unifier and modernizer, the failure of his socialism and his eventual transformation into a tyrant. Contents 4 Preface 5 1 Youth 1893-1921 10 Family background and education 10 The New Culture movement 14 The Influence of Western ideas 20 Anarchist influences 23 Socialism and the advantages of backwardness 25 Miss Zhao's suicide 30 2 Communism and Marxism 34 Conversion to Communism 34 The founding of the Chinese Communist Party 39 Mao and the urban working class 43 The national revolution 46 Return to politics 49 3 Peasant Revolution 51 The discovery of the peasantry 51 The 'Hunan Report' and the birth of Maoism 56 Counter-revolution 61 The birth of the Red Army 63 Jinggangshan 1927-9 65 The Jiangxi Soviet 71 Futian 72 The fall of the Jiangxi Soviet 78 4 Nationalism and Social Revolution 1935-49 81 The Long March 81 Maoism and nationalism 85 The Japanese invasion 92 Marxism and 'The Thought of Mao Zedong' 93 Maoism and capitalism 97 The origins of the Mao cult 100 Civil war: the last phase (1945-9) 106 The unification of China 113 5 Mao Zedong in Power: Nationalism and Modernization 1949-57 117 State, Party, and class 117 Mao and Stalin 123 The Korean War 127 Land reform 128 Industrialization 133 The stages of development 135 Leader and party 139 6 Utopianism 149 'Poor and blank' 152 Clash at Lushan 160 Mao and the famine 166 7 The Cultural Revolution and the Exhaustion of Maoism 170 Mao versus the Party 172 The idea of 'cultural revolution' 176 Rebellion: the Red Guard movement 178 The urban working class 185 The role of the PLA 189 Mao and Nixon 196 Last years 198 Epilogue: Progress and Tyranny, Marxism and Maoism 202 Notes 208 Writings of Mao Zedong 217 Bibliography 218 Index 222 Revolutionary And Ruler, Marxist And Nationalist, Liberator And Despot, Mao Zedong Takes A Place Among The Iconic Leaders Of The Twentieth Century. In This Book, Maurice Meisner Offers A Balanced Portrait Of The Man Who Defined Modern China. From His Role As Leader Of A Communist Revolution In A War-torn And Largely Rural Country To The Disasters Of The Great Leap Forward And The Cultural Revolution, The Relationship Between Mao's Ideas And His Political Action Is Highly Disputed. Meisner Shows How Mao's Unique Sinification Of Marxism Provides The Key To Looking At This Extraordinary Political Career. The First Part Of The Book Is Devoted To Mao's Revolutionary Leadership Before 1949, In Particular The Influence Of The Liberal And Anarchist Ideas Of The May Fourth Era, His Discovery Of Marxism-leninism, And His Conviction That Peasants Held The Potential For Revolution. In The Second Part, Meisner Analyzes Mao's Early Successes As A Nationalist Unifier And Modernizer, The Failure Of His Socialism, And His Eventual Transformation Into A Tyrant.--book Jacket. A Note On Chinese Names X -- 1 Youth, 1893-1921 1 -- 2 Communism And Marxism 25 -- 3 Peasant Revolution 42 -- 4 Nationalism And Social Revolution, 1935-49 72 -- 5 Mao Zedong In Power: Nationalism And Modernization, 1949-57 108 -- 6 Utopianism 140 -- 7 The Cultural Revolution And The Exhaustion Of Maoism 161 -- Epilogue: Progress And Tyranny, Marxism And Maoism 193 -- Writings Of Mao Zedong 208. Maurice Meisner. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 209-212) And Index. Writings Of Mao Zedong: P. 208. Revolutionary and ruler, Marxist and nationalist, liberator and despot, Mao Zedong takes a place among the iconic leaders of the twentieth century. In this book, Maurice Meisner offers a balanced portrait of the man who defined modern China. From his role as leader of a communist revolution in a war-torn and largely rural country to the disasters of the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution, the relationship between Mao's ideas and his political action is highly disputed. With unparalleled authority, Meisner shows how Mao's unique "sinification of Marxism" provides the key to looking at this extraordinary political career. The first part of the book is devoted to Mao's revolutionary leadership before 1949, in particular the influence of the liberal and anarchist ideas of the May Fourth era, his discovery of Marxism-Leninism, and his conviction that peasants held the potential for revolution. In the second part, Meisner analyzes Mao's early successes as a nationalist unifier and modernizer, the failure of his socialism, and his eventual transformation into a tyrant Revolutionary and ruler, Marxist and nationalist, liberator and despot, Mao Zedong takes a place among the iconic leaders of the twentieth century. In this new book, Maurice Meisner offers a balanced portrait and in-depth account of the man who defined modern China.