113 episodes

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.

People's History of Ideas Podcast Matthew Rothwell

    • History
    • 4.9 • 113 Ratings

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.

    Mao’s March 20 Letter to the Central Committee, and the 5th Red Army’s Retreat from the Jinggangshan (January to April 1929)

    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 to Power, vol. 3: From the Jinggangshan to the Establishment of the Jiangxi Soviets, July 1927-December 1930
    Stephen Averill, Revolution in the Highlands: China’s Jinggangshan Base Area
    Peng Dehuai, Memoirs of a Chinese Marshall

    Some names from this episode:
    Yuan Wencai, Bandit leader who joined with Mao Zedong
    Wang Zuo, Bandit leader who joined with Mao Zedong
    He Changgong, secretary of the Ninggang County Party following the departure of the Fourth Red Army
    Long Chaoqing, former secretary of the Ninggang County Committee of the Communist Party
    Peng Dehuai, leader of the Fifth Red Army
    Li Wenlin, Communist guerrilla commander
    Duan Yuequan, Communist guerrilla commander
    Liu Shiyi, Guomindang commander
    Xiao Jiabi, reactionary militia leader
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    • 25 min
    On the Experience of the National Bourgeoisie in the New Democratic Revolution

    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 Schram, ed., Mao’s Road to Power, vol. 3: From the Jinggangshan to the Establishment of the Jiangxi Soviets, July 1927-December 1930
    Yao Wenyuan, “On the Social Basis of the Lin Piao Anti-Party Clique” (for heavenly horses reference)
    David Apter and Tony Saich, Revolutionary Discourse in Mao’s Republic
    Lynn White, Policies of Chaos: The Organizational Causes of Violence in China’s Cultural Revolution
    David Barbosa, “Rong Yiren, a Chinese Billionaire, Dies at 89”

    Some names from this episode:
    Wu Zhongyi, Shanghai capitalist
    Rong Yiren, Shanghai capitalist
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    • 26 min
    A New Communist Order in Changting (March 1929)

    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, The Great Road: The Life and Times of Chu Teh [Zhu De]
    Stuart Schram, ed., Mao’s Road to Power, vol. 3: From the Jinggangshan to the Establishment of the Jiangxi Soviets, July 1927-December 1930
    Mao Zedong, “On New Democracy”

    Some names from this episode:
    Guo Fengming, bandit turned Guomindang local despot in Changting
    Feng Yuxiang, warlord close to both the USA and the Soviet Union
    Wang Jingwei, leader of the Guomindang left
    Dai Jitao, Guomindang ideologue
    Yan Xishan, warlord accused by Mao of being a running dog for the Japanese imperialists
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    • 34 min
    Leaving Donggu, Taking Changting (February to March 1929)

    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: A Biography, vol. 1: 1893-1949
    Agnes Smedley, The Great Road: The Life and Times of Chu Teh [Zhu De]
    Joseph Fewsmith, Forging Leninism in China: Mao and the Remaking of the Chinese Communist Party, 1927–1934
    Gao Hua, How the Red Sun Rose: The Origins and Development of the Yan’an Rectification Movement, 1930-1945
    Stephen Averill, “The Origins of the Futian Incident”

    Some names from this episode:
    Xiao Ke, an officer in the Fourth Red Army
    Peng Pai, Communist peasant organizer
    Long Chaoqing, important early Communist in Jinggangshan area
    Peng Dehuai, Leader of the 5th Red Army
    Guo Fengming, Bandit turned Guomindang local despot in Changting
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    • 22 min
    From Dabodi to Donggu: The Retreat from the Jinggangshan Continues (February 1929)

    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/jiangxi-province-map.html

    Further reading:
    Stuart Schram, ed., Mao’s Road to Power, vol. 3: From the Jinggangshan to the Establishment of the Jiangxi Soviets, July 1927-December 1930
    Pang Xianzhi and Jin Chongji, Mao Zedong: A Biography, vol. 1: 1893-1949
    Agnes Smedley, The Great Road: The Life and Times of Chu Teh [Zhu De]
    Joseph Fewsmith, Forging Leninism in China: Mao and the Remaking of the Chinese Communist Party, 1927–1934

    Some names from this episode:
    Wang Chuxi, big landlord in Donggu area who lived in Futian
    Ye Jianying, Communist who led division of the National Revolutionary Army which took Ji’an during the Northern Expedition
    Duan Qifeng, Donggu bandit chief who joined with Communists
    Wang Zuo, Bandit leader who joined with Mao Zedong
    Lai Jingbang, first leader of the Donggu communists
    Wang Liangzhao, younger brother to Wang Chuxi
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    • 20 min
    Running for Their Lives: The Retreat from the Jinggangshan (January to February 1929)

    Running for Their Lives: The Retreat from the Jinggangshan (January to February 1929)

    Mao and the Fourth Red Army break the encirclement of the Jinggangshan and retreat across southern Jiangxi with the Guomindang in hot pursuit.

    Link to map of Jiangxi province: https://www.chinamaps.org/china/provincemaps/jiangxi-province-map.html

    Further reading/watching on the difficulties of finding good maps of China:
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restrictions_on_geographic_data_in_China
    https://www.reddit.com/r/Maps/comments/b6qnvc/just_blew_my_mind_every_map_of_china_is/
    https://www.reddit.com/r/China/comments/7pju2c/why_is_google_maps_coverage_of_china_slightly_off/

    Further reading:
    Stuart Schram, ed., Mao’s Road to Power, vol. 3: From the Jinggangshan to the Establishment of the Jiangxi Soviets, July 1927-December 1930
    Pang Xianzhi and Jin Chongji, Mao Zedong: A Biography, vol. 1: 1893-1949
    Agnes Smedley, The Great Road: The Life and Times of Chu Teh [Zhu De]
    Stuart Schram, ed., Mao’s Road to Power, vol. 4: The Rise and Fall of the Chinese Soviet Republic, 1931-1934

    Some names from this episode:
    Chen Yi, Political commissar for the 28th regiment of the Fourth Red Army
    Lin Biao, Battalion commander in the 28th regiment
    Wu Ruolan, Communist cadre and Zhu De’s wife
    Support the show

    • 22 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
113 Ratings

113 Ratings

notoriousNTB ,

History of the Chinese Revolution

Great in depth history and analysis of the Chinese Revolution!

pkahsy ,

Very educational

Great thing to listen to after the revolutions podcast - love the detail !

Wanger Hilton ,

Good podcast!

Good for learning Chinese history.

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