People's History of Ideas Podcast

In response to a listener request, we consider the situation in the United States today in light of historical thinking on the question of revolutionary situations.Further reading:Lenin, The Collapse of the Second International (chapter two)Lenin, Letters from AfarLenin, “Marxism and Insurrection”Support the Show.

The Communist Party tries to figure out how to put the workers in the lead of the nationalist revolution, and has some initial success.Further Reading:Steve Smith, A Road Is Made: Communism in Shanghai, 1920-1927Some names from this episode:Deng Zhongxia, Leading Communist labor organizerLi Dazhao, Co-founder of the Communist Party, often credited as China’s first MarxistLi Lisan, Leading Communist labor organizerChen Duxiu, Chen Duxiu, General secretary of the Communist PartyGregory Voitinsk...

The thinking of Chinese Communism’s two founders, Li Dazhao and Chen Duxiu, diverges as revolutionary experience is gained.Further Reading:Maurice Meisner, Li Ta-Chao and the Origins of Chinese MarxismSome names from this episode:Li Dazhao, Co-founder of the Communist Party, often credited as China’s first MarxistChen Duxiu, Co-founder and first general secretary of the Communist PartyZhang Guotao, Communist leader and opponent of ‘united front from within’ with GuomindangSupport the Show.

As both the Guomindang and the Communist Party benefit from their collaboration, tensions build.Further reading:Tony Saich, The Origins of the First United Front in ChinaSteve Smith, A Road Is Made: Communism in Shanghai, 1920-1927Alexander Pantsov, The Bolsheviks and the Chinese Revolution, 1919-1927C. Martin Wilbur and Julie Lien-ying How, Missionaries of Revolution: Soviet Advisers and Nationalist China, 1920-1927Arif Dirlik, “Mass Movements and the Left Kuomintang”Some names from this epi...

A podcast version of a recently published article which argues that the rightward turn of Chinese politics in the 1970s was a key contributing factor in ending the revolutionary era of the long and global 1960s and ushering in the neoliberal age of reaction which followed.The article can be read on the podcast website.Support the Show.

The Communist Party of China tries to find a way to implement the united front with the Guomindang in 1923, but ultimately has to wait for the Soviet-Guomindang alliance to mature.Further reading:Tony Saich, The Origins of the First United Front in ChinaStuart Schram, ed., Mao’s Road to Power, vol. 2Some names from this episode: Sun Zhongshan/Sun Yatsen, leader of the GuomindangWang Jingwei, leader of Guomindang left-wing, later president of Japanese puppet state in ChinaCao Kun, northern war...

The Communist Party begins its labor organizing drive, and the Comintern pushes for a united front with the Guomindang.Further reading:Elizabeth Perry, Shanghai on StrikeTony Saich, The Origins of the First United Front in ChinaSteve Smith, A Road Is Made: Communism in Shanghai 1920-1927 Some names from this episode:Henk Sneevliet, alias Maring, Dutch Communist and Comintern leader in China beginning in 1921Zhang Guotao, emerged from founding congress as an important Communist leaderSun ...

The early divergence in strategic thinking and revolutionary priorities between the CCP and the Comintern. Further reading:Tony Saich, The Origins of the First United Front in ChinaSome names from this episode:Chen Gongbo, Founding Chinese Communist who studied at Columbia and later joined the Japanese puppet regimeHenk Sneevliet, alias Maring, Dutch Communist and Comintern leader in China beginning in 1921Sun Zhongshan/Sun Yat-sen, leader of the GuomindangGeorgii Chicherin, People’s Com...

Polemics with non-revolutionary Marxists and anarchists, and then the party congress in July 1921.Further reading:Arif Dirlik, The Origins of Chinese CommunismSome names from this episode:Chen Duxiu, editor of New Youth and leader of Shanghai Communist nucleusGregory Voitinsky, Leader of Comintern delegation to China in 1920Karl Kautsky, Second International theorist of economic determinist MarxismLi Dazhao, Beijing-based revolutionary Marxist leaderZhang Dongsun, Exponent of a non-revolution...

Gregory Voitinsky comes to China and helps get the ball rolling to found the Communist Party. Also, a few words on commodity fetishism as the keystone of Marx's Capital and how this leads to Lenin's innovations in conceptualizing communist party formations...