
A Single Spark Can Start a Prairie Fire (January 1930) (Part Two)
From People's History of Ideas Podcast by Matthew Rothwell
March 21, 2026 · 31 min · Season 1 · Episode 135
About this episode
The episode concludes the analysis of Mao's letter discussing revolutionary tactics and self-criticism.
We conclude our close reading of Mao’s January 5, 1930 letter to Lin Biao. In this episode, Mao discusses his method for understanding the possibilities for revolution in China, as well as the particular tactics to be employed by the Red Army. He also conducts a minor self-criticism. 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, ...
People in this episode
Host: Matthew Rothwell
Topics covered
- revolution
- China
- Red Army
- self-criticism
- Mao Zedong
- political tactics
Keywords
- Mao
- Lin Biao
- revolution
- Red Army
- self-criticism
- political tactics
- China
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: Mao’s Road to Power, Mao Zedong: A Biography
More episodes of People's History of Ideas Podcast
- Winning Over Enemy Troops: Mao’s Leninist Approach to Fomenting Mutiny in the Guomindang (January 1930) · April 4, 2026 · 30 min
- A Single Spark Can Start a Prairie Fire (January 1930) (Part One) · March 14, 2026 · 23 min
- How Brainwashing was Good and Maoist Propaganda was True: An Interview with leading China scholar Aminda Smith · March 7, 2026 · 58 min
- Chen Duxiu Update (or, the Devil Makes Work for Idle Hands) (1929) · December 11, 2025 · 31 min
- Did the German Communists Really Say “After Hitler, Our Turn?” Exploring the Historical Evidence · November 21, 2025 · 19 min
- Revolution in the ‘20s, Go For It: The ‘Third Period’ Comes to China · October 31, 2025 · 27 min
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