Origins of the CCP

Sarah Paine describes Mao Zedong’s rise to power and complex legacy within Chinese communism. The lecture chronicles Mao’s strategic evolution from his early life to becoming a significant military and political leader emphasizing his innovative use of propaganda, grassroots support among peasants, and guerrilla warfare tactics amidst civil and external conflicts. Contrasting Mao’s approach with conventional military theorists, she outlines his unique strategies such as “triangle building” and creating base areas, which were crucial to defeating both internal and external enemies, including the Nationalists and Japanese forces. The lecture also highlights the lessons drawn from Mao’s military framework, suggesting its relevance to contemporary insurgencies and its adaptation of Marxist principles to China’s socio-political landscape, ultimately portraying Mao as a strategist who effectively mobilized various social groups while maintaining a brutal grip on power.