The Myth of Mao Zedong and Modern Insurgency

Softcover Nachdruck of the original 1. Auflage 2019
ISBN: 978-3-030-08483-7
Verlag: Springer International Publishing

Buch, Englisch, 219 Seiten, Previously published in hardcover, Format (B × H): 148 mm x 210 mm, Gewicht: 306 g

Tackling one of the most prevalent myths about insurgencies, this book examines and rebuts the popular belief that Mao Zedong created a fundamentally new form of warfare that transformed the nature of modern insurgency. The labeling of an insurgent enemy as using “Maoist Warfare” has been a common phenomenon since Mao’s victory over the Guomindang in 1949, from Malaya and Vietnam during the Cold War to Afghanistan and Syria today. Yet, this practice is heavily flawed. This book argues that Mao did not invent a new breed of insurgency, failed to produce a coherent vision of how insurgencies should be fought, and was not influential in his impact upon subsequent insurgencies. Consequently, Mao’s writings cannot be used to generate meaningful insights for understanding those insurgencies that came after him. This means that scholars and policymakers should stop using Mao as a tool for understanding insurgencies and as a straw man against whom to target counterinsurgency strategies.

Zielgruppe

Research

Autoren/Hrsg.

Grice, Francis

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politikwissenschaft Allgemein Politische Theorie, Politische Philosophie
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politische Gewalt Revolutionäre Gruppen und Bewegungen, Bewaffnete Konflikte
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politische Systeme Politische Führung
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Militärwesen Theorie der Kriegsführung und Militärwissenschaft
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Internationale Beziehungen Konflikt- und Friedensforschung, Rüstungskontrolle, Abrüstung
• Interdisziplinäres Wissenschaften Wissenschaften Interdisziplinär Friedens- und Konfliktforschung
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politikwissenschaft Allgemein Politische Geschichte

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1. Introduction.- 2. What Mao Actually Taught.- 3. The Unoriginal Mao.- 4. Mao and the Chinese Revolutionary Civil War.- 5. The Insignificant Mao.- 6. The Deification of Mao.- 7. Conclusion.

Über Autor(innen)

Francis Grice is Assistant Professor of Political Science and International Studies at McDaniel College, Maryland, USA.