Maoism : A Global History

Winner of the 2019 Cundill History Prize "Revelatory and instructive . . . [a] beautifully written and accessible book" — The Times (London) For decades, the West has dismissed Maoism as an outdated historical and political phenomenon. Since the 1980s, China seems to have abandoned the utopian turmoil of Mao’s revolution in favour of authoritarian capitalism. But Mao and his ideas remain central to the People’s Republic and the legitimacy of its Communist government. With disagreements and conflicts between China and the West on the rise, the need to understand the political legacy of Mao is urgent and growing. The power and appeal of Maoism have extended far beyond China. Maoism was a crucial motor of the Cold War: it shaped the course of the Vietnam War (and the international youth rebellions that conflict triggered) and brought to power the murderous Khmer Rouge in Cambodia; it aided, and sometimes handed victory to, anti-colonial resistance movements in Africa; it inspired terrorism in Germany and Italy, and wars and insurgencies in Peru, India and Nepal, some of which are still with us today – more than forty years after the death of Mao. In this new history, Julia Lovell re-evaluates Maoism as both a Chinese and an international force, linking its evolution in China with its global legacy. It is a story that takes us from the tea plantations of north India to the sierras of the Andes, from Paris’s fifth arrondissement to the fields of Tanzania, from the rice paddies of Cambodia to the terraces of Brixton. Starting with the birth of Mao’s revolution in northwest China in the 1930s and concluding with its violent afterlives in South Asia and resurgence in the People’s Republic today, this is a landmark history of global Maoism. Since The Heyday Of Mao Zedong, There Has Never Been A More Crucial Time To Understand Maosim. Although To Western Eyes It Seems That China Has Long Abandoned The Utopian Turmoil Of Maoism In Favour Of Authoritarian Capitalism, Mao And His Ideas Remain Central To The People' Republic And The Legitimacy Of Its Communist Government. As Disagreements And Conflicts Between China And The West Are Likely To Mount, The Need To Understand The Political Legacy Of Mao Will Only Become More Urgent. Yet During Mao's Lifetime And Beyond, The Power And Appeal Of Maoism Has Always Extended Beyond China. Across The Globe, Maoism Was A Crucial Motor Of The Cold War: It Shaped The Course Of The Vietnam War (and The International Youth Rebellion It Triggered) And Brought To Power The Murderous Khmer Rouge In Cambodia; It Aided, And Sometimes Handed Victory To, Anti-colonial Resistance Movements In Africa; It Inspired Terrorism In Germany And Italy, And Wars And Insurgencies In Peru, India And Nepal, Some Of Which Are Still With Us Today - More Than Forty Years After The Death Of Mao. In This New History, Acclaimed Historian Julia Lovell Revaluates Maoism, Analysing Both China's Engagement With The Movement And Its Legacy On A Global Canvas. It's A Story That Takes Us From The Tea Plantations Of North India To The Sierras Of The Andes, From Paris's 5th Arrondissement To The Fields Of Tanzania, From The Rice Paddies Of Cambodia To The Terraces Of Brixton. Starting From The Movement's Birth In Northwest China In The 1930s And Unfolding Right Up To Its Present-day Violent Rebirth, This Is The Definitive History Of Global Maoism--,The Untold Story Of How Maoist Ideology Spread Throughout The World During The Cold War, Playing A Major Role In Shaping Politics From Asia To Africa To The American Left. This Revelatory New Work Of World History Challenges Our Understanding Of The Geopolitics Of The Twentieth Century. While The Cold War Is Traditionally Seen As A Competition Between Soviet Communism And American Capitalism, Maoism: A Global History Shows For The First Time How China Played A Central Role In The Struggle. Julia Lovell Takes Us To The Movement's Birth In Northwest China In The 1930s And Makes Clear How, Across The Globe, Maoism Was A Crucial Motor Of The Cold War, Shaping The Course Of The Vietnam War (and The International Youth Rebellion It Triggered) And Bringing To Power The Khmer Rouge In Cambodia. Maoism Also Inspired Anti-colonial Resistance Movements In Africa; Terrorism In Germany And Italy, And Wars And Insurgencies In Peru, India, And Nepal, Some Of Which Are Still With Us Today--more Than Forty Years After Mao's Death. Moving From The Tea Plantations Of India To The Andes, From Paris's 5th Arrondissement To Tanzania, From The Rice Paddies Of Cambodia And The Chicago Protests Of 1968 To The Present-day Violent Rebirth Of The Ideology, This Is The Definitive History Of Global Maoism-- ••• WINNER OF THE 2019 CUNDILL HISTORY PRIZESHORTLISTED FOR THE BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION 2019SHORTLISTED FOR THE NAYEF AL-RODHAN PRIZE FOR GLOBAL UNDERSTANDINGSHORTLISTED FOR DEUTSCHER PRIZELONGLISTED FOR THE 2020 ORWELL PRIZE FOR POLITICAL WRITING•••'Revelatory and instructive... [a] beautifully written and accessible book'The TimesFor decades, the West has dismissed Maoism as an outdated historical and political phenomenon. Since the 1980s, China seems to have abandoned the utopian turmoil of Mao's revolution in favour of authoritarian capitalism. But Mao and his ideas remain central to the People's Republic and the legitimacy of its Communist government. With disagreements and conflicts between China and the West on the rise, the need to understand the political legacy of Mao is urgent and growing.The power and appeal of Maoism have extended far beyond China. Maoism was a crucial motor of the Cold War: it shaped the course of the Vietnam War (and the international youth rebellions that conflict triggered) and brought to power the murderous Khmer Rouge in Cambodia; it aided, and sometimes handed victory to, anti-colonial resistance movements in Africa; it inspired terrorism in Germany and Italy, and wars and insurgencies in Peru, India and Nepal, some of which are still with us today – more than forty years after the death of Mao.In this new history, Julia Lovell re-evaluates Maoism as both a Chinese and an international force, linking its evolution in China with its global legacy. It is a story that takes us from the tea plantations of north India to the sierras of the Andes, from Paris's fifth arrondissement to the fields of Tanzania, from the rice paddies of Cambodia to the terraces of Brixton.Starting with the birth of Mao's revolution in northwest China in the 1930s and concluding with its violent afterlives in South Asia and resurgence in the People's Republic today, this is a landmark history of global Maoism. "Since the heyday of Mao Zedong, there has never been a more crucial time to understand Maoism. Although to Western eyes it seems that China has long abandoned the utopian turmoil of Maoism in favour of authoritarian capitalism, Mao and his ideas remain central to the People's Republic and the legitimacy of its communist government. As disagreements and conflicts between China and the West are likely to mount, the need to understand the political legacy of Mao will only become more urgent. Yet during Mao's lifetime and beyond, the power and appeal of Maoism has always extended beyond China. Across the globe, Maoism was a crucial motor of the Cold War: it shaped the course of the Vietnam War (and the international youth rebellion it triggered) and brought to power the murderous Khmer Rouge in Cambodia; it aided, and sometimes handed victory to, anti-colonial resistance movements in Africa; it inspired terrorism in Germany and Italy, and wars and insurgencies in Peru, India and Nepal, some of which are still with us today--more than forty years after the death of Mao. In this new history, acclaimed historian Julia Lovell revaluates Maoism, analysing both China's engagement with the movement and its legacy on a global canvas. It's a story that takes us from the tea plantations of north India to the sierras of the Andes, from Paris's 5th Arrondissement to the fields of Tanzania, from the rice paddies of Cambodia to the terraces of Brixton. Starting from the movement's birth in northwest China in the 1930s and unfolding right up to its present-day violent rebirth, this is the definitive history of global Maoism"-- Provided by publisher "The untold story of how Maoist ideology spread throughout the world during the Cold War, playing a major role in shaping politics from Asia to Africa to the American left. This revelatory new work of world history challenges our understanding of the geopolitics of the twentieth century. While the Cold War is traditionally seen as a competition between Soviet communism and American capitalism, Maoism: A Global History shows for the first time how China played a central role in the struggle. Julia Lovell takes us to the movement's birth in northwest China in the 1930s and makes clear how, across the globe, Maoism was a crucial motor of the Cold War, shaping the course of the Vietnam War (and the international youth rebellion it triggered) and bringing to power the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. Maoism also inspired anti-colonial resistance movements in Africa; terrorism in Germany and Italy, and wars and insurgencies in Peru, India, and Nepal, some of which are still with us today--more than forty years after Mao's death. Moving from the tea plantations of India to the Andes, from Paris's 5th Arrondissement to Tanzania, from the rice paddies of Cambodia and the Chicago protests of 1968 to the present-day violent rebirth of the ideology, this is the definitive history of global Maoism"-- Provided by publisher "The untold story of how Maoist ideology spread throughout the world during the Cold War, playing a major role in shaping politics from Asia to Africa to the American left. This revelatory new work of world history challenges our understanding of the geopolitics of the twentieth century. While the Cold War is traditionally seen as a competition between Soviet communism and American capitalism, Maoism: A Global History shows for the first time how China played a central role in the struggle. Julia Lovell takes us to the movement's birth in northwest China in the 1930s and makes clear how, across the globe, Maoism was a crucial motor of the Cold War, shaping the course of the Vietnam War (and the international youth rebellion it triggered) and bringing to power the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. Maoism also inspired anti-colonial resistance movements in Africa; terrorism in Germany and Italy, and wars and insurgencies in Peru, India, and Nepal, some of which are still with us today--more than forty years after Mao's death. Moving from the tea plantations of India to the Andes, from Paris's 5th Arrondissement to Tanzania, from the rice paddies of Cambodia and the Chicago protests of 1968 to the present-day violent rebirth of the ideology, this is the definitive history of global Maoism"-- Summary **Winner of the 2019 Cundill History Prize "Revelatory and instructive . . . [a] beautifully written and accessible book"****__The Times__ (London)**The power and appeal of Maoism have extended far beyond China. Maoism was a crucial motor of the Cold War: it shaped the course of the Vietnam War (and the international youth rebellions that conflict triggered) and brought to power the murderous Khmer Rouge in Cambodia; it aided, and sometimes handed victory to, anti-colonial resistance movements in Africa; it inspired terrorism in Germany and Italy, and wars and insurgencies in Peru, India and Nepal, some of which are still with us today – more than forty years after the death of Mao. Starting with the birth of Mao’s revolution in northwest China in the 1930s and concluding with its violent afterlives in South Asia and resurgence in the People’s Republic today, this is a landmark history of global Maoism.