People's History of Ideas Podcast

Matthew Rothwell

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.

  1. Revolution in the ‘20s, Go For It: The ‘Third Period’ Comes to China

    OCT 31

    Revolution in the ‘20s, Go For It: The ‘Third Period’ Comes to China

    The 1920s that is. The Comintern lets the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Committee know how the objective conditions in China are ripening for revolution. Further reading: Nikolai Bukharin, “On the International Situation and the Tasks of the Chinese Communist Party” Nicholas Kozlov and Eric Weitz, “Reflections on the Origins of the ‘Third Period’: Bukharin, the Comintern, and the Political Economy of Weimar Germany” Robin Kelley, Hammer and Hoe: Alabama Communists during the Great Depression Theodore Rosengarten, All God’s Dangers: The Life of Nate Shaw Sebastian Haffner, Failure of a Revolution: Germany 1918-1919 Chen Jian, Zhou Enlai: A Life Jane Degras, ed., The Communist International, 1919-1943: Documents, vol. 3: 1929-1943 So Wai-chor, The Kuomintang Left in the National Revolution, 1924–1931 Some names from this episode: Nikolai Bukharin, general secretary of the executive committee of the Comintern (1926-1929) Rosa Luxemburg, German communist leader murdered in 1919 Karl Liebknecht, German communist leader murdered in 1919 Li Lisan, leading Communist Stalin, Stalin Feng Yuxiang, northwestern warlord who turned on Chiang Kai-shek during Sino-Soviet war Wang Jingwei, the overall leader of the Guomindang Left Chen Gongbo, main ideologue of the Reorganization Comrades Association Chen Duxiu, co-founder of the Communist Party He Long, leader of a soviet in the Hunan-Hubei border region Episode artwork: Li Lisan with family Support the show

    27 min
  2. The Chinese Communist Party Interventions in the 1929 Sino-Soviet War

    OCT 10

    The Chinese Communist Party Interventions in the 1929 Sino-Soviet War

    How the Chinese Communist Party tried to turn war into revolution in Manchuria in 1929. Further reading: Bruce A. Elleman and Stephen Kotkin, eds., Manchurian Railways and the Opening of China Michael M. Walker, The 1929 Sino-Soviet War Chong-Sik Lee, Revolutionary Struggle in Manchuria: Chinese Communism and Soviet Interest, 1922-1945 “Japan Moves Town to Reach Coal Vein” Some names from this episode: Miles Lampson, British minister to China Yang Jingyu, Fushun special branch secretary of the CCP Liu Shaoqi, Communist labor organizer and secretary of the CCP’s Manchurian Committee from June 1929 to March 1930 Ting Chün-yang, veteran communist sent to Manchuria Meng Yongqian, veteran communist sent to Manchuria Episode artwork: Postcard of a Fushun coal mine from the early 1940s Support the show

    23 min
  3. The 1929 Sino-Soviet War Concludes

    JUN 28

    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 China Michael M. Walker, The 1929 Sino-Soviet War Jay Taylor, The Generalissimo's Son: Chiang Ching-Kuo and the Revolutions in China and Taiwan Some names from this episode: Zhang Xueliang, Manchurian warlord Feng Yuxiang, northwestern warlord who turned on Chiang Kai-shek during Sino-Soviet war Joseph Stilwell, United States military attaché in China Mikhail Borodin, Comintern agent and political head of Soviet mission to aid the Guomindang during the first Communist-Guomindang united front Chiang Ching-kuo, son of Chiang Kai-shek Zhou Enlai, leading Communist Vasily Blyukher, commander of the Special Far Eastern Army Aleksandr Cherepanov, commander of the 39th Rifle Division in the Soviet Far East Episode artwork: Picture of a young Chiang Ching-kuo Support the show

    22 min
  4. The 1929 Sino-Soviet War Begins

    MAY 14

    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 War John Erickson, The Soviet High Command: A Military-Political History, 1918-1941 Some names from this episode: Vasily Blyukher (née Gurov, aka Galen), commander of the Special Far Eastern Army Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher, Prussian general in Napoleonic wars Aleksandr Cherepanov, commander of the 39th Rifle Division in the Soviet Far East Andrei Bubnov, head of the political administration of the Soviet Red Army Feng Yuxiang, warlord close to both the USA and the Soviet Union A. I. Traynin, captain of the Soviet warship Sverdlov Mok Yiuming, captain of the Chinese gunboat Lishui Fedor Vulahov, lead petty officer of the Sverdlov R. I. Yuanzem, commander of the Soviet warship Red East I. I. Nikitin, captain of the Soviet warship Sun Yatsen I. A. Onufriev, the commander of the 2nd “Amur” Rifle Division Episode artwork: Photo of Soviet soldiers with captured Guomindang banners Support the show

    22 min
  5. The Chinese Eastern Railway: Background to the 1929 Sino-Soviet War

    APR 9

    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., Manchurian Railways and the Opening of China Michael M. Walker, The 1929 Sino-Soviet War Some names from this episode: Li Lisan, Chairman of Central Committee Propaganda Department Chen Duxiu, Co-founder of the Chinese Communist Party Li Dazhao, Co-founder of the Chinese Communist Party Lev Karakhan, Soviet deputy commissioner for foreign affairs in 1919 and acting commissioner in 1929 Zhang Zuolin, Manchurian warlord killed by Japan in 1928 Zhang Xueliang, Manchurian warlord, son of Zhang Zuolin Martemyan Nikitich Ryutin, Bolshevik leader of Harbin soviet in 1917 Episode artwork: Flag of the Chinese Eastern Railway Support the show

    20 min
  6. “On the Problem of Party Organization” (The Gutian Resolution—Part Three)

    JAN 25

    “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, July 1927-December 1930 Pang Xianzhi and Jin Chongji, Mao Zedong: A Biography, vol. 1: 1893-1949 “On the Revolutionary “Three-in-One” Combination” Episode artwork: May 1967 poster “Resolutely Protect the Policy of the Revolutionary Three-in-One Combination” Support the show

    26 min
  7. “The Problem of Correcting Erroneous and Nonproletarian Ideological Tendencies in the Party” (The Gutian Resolution—Part Two)

    JAN 18

    “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-December 1930 Pang Xianzhi and Jin Chongji, Mao Zedong: A Biography, vol. 1: 1893-1949 Mao Zedong, “On Correcting Mistaken Ideas in the Party” “Bury the Slave Mentality Advocated by China’s Khrushchov” in Peking Review (April 14, 1967) Some names from this episode: Liu Shaoqi, top level Communist Party leader attacked as China’s Khrushchev during the Cultural Revolution Zhou Enlai, head of the Organization Department of the Central Committee Li Lisan, leading Communist Qu Qiubai, top leader of Communist Party from the summer of 1927 until the Sixth Congress Huang Chao, salt merchant who led a rebellion from 875-884 Li Chuang (Li Zicheng), bandit leader who seized Beijing in 1644 and was later defeated by the Manchus Hong Xiuquan, leader of the Taiping Revolution and claimed to be the younger brother of Jesus Christ Chen Yi, member of Front Committee of Fourth Red Army Episode artwork: Gutian village Support the show

    32 min
  8. The Gutian Resolution (End of 1929) (Part One)

    JAN 10

    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 Jiangxi Soviets, July 1927-December 1930 Pang Xianzhi and Jin Chongji, Mao Zedong: A Biography, vol. 1: 1893-1949 Mao Zedong, “On Correcting Mistaken Ideas in the Party” Episode artwork: Photo of the Gutian Congress Support the show

    26 min
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About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Matthew Rothwell
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2025
  • Episodes
    130
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 People's History of Ideas Podcast
  • Show Website
    People's History of Ideas Podcast

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