Chen Duxiu Update (or, the Devil Makes Work for Idle Hands) (1929)

Chen Duxiu Update (or, the Devil Makes Work for Idle Hands) (1929)

From People's History of Ideas Podcast by Matthew Rothwell

December 11, 2025 · 31 min · Season 1 · Episode 132

About this episode

This episode explores how Chen Duxiu, co-founder of the Chinese Communist Party, became a Trotskyist.

The story of how the co-founder and first General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party became a Trotskyist. Further reading: Gregor Benton, China’s Urban Revolutionaries: Explorations in the History of Chinese Trotskyism, 1921-1952 Gregor Benton, Prophets Unarmed: Chinese Trotskyists in Revolution, War, Jail, and the Return from Limbo Lee Feigon, Chen Duxiu: Founder of the Chinese Communist Party Chang Kuo-t’ao [Zhang Guotao], The Rise of the Chinese Communist Party (2 volumes) Tony Sa...

People in this episode

Host: Matthew Rothwell

Topics covered

  • Chinese Communist Party
  • Trotskyism
  • Chen Duxiu
  • history
  • revolution

Keywords

  • Chen Duxiu
  • Trotskyism
  • Chinese Communist Party
  • Gregor Benton
  • history of Trotskyism

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Chinese Communist Party

Books & works: China’s Urban Revolutionaries: Explorations in the History of Chinese Trotskyism, 1921-1952, Prophets Unarmed: Chinese Trotskyists in Revolution, War, Jail, and the Return from Limbo, Chen Duxiu: Founder of the Chinese Communist Party, The Rise of the Chinese Communist Party

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