Rethinking Mao: Explorations in Mao Zedong's Thought

by Nick Knight creative consultant for the exhibition PUNK: Chaos to Couture

Overview

Rethinking Mao offers an innovative perspective on the thought of Mao Zedong, the major architect of the Chinese Revolution and leader of the People's Republic of China until his death in 1976. Utilizing a number of recently discovered documents written by Mao, Nick Knight 'rethinks' Mao by subjecting a number of controversial themes to fresh scrutiny. This book provides a sophisticated analysis of Mao's views on the role of the peasants and working class in the Chinese revolution, his theoretical attempt to make Marxism appropriate to Chinese conditions, and his understanding of the Chinese road to socialism. Knight includes a discussion of the theoretical difficulties in interpreting Mao's thought. Rethinking Mao represents a challenge to many of the conventional accounts of Mao and his thoughts. This book will appeal to scholars and students of Chinese history and politics, as well as the history of Marxism in China.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780739117071
Publisher:	Lexington Books
Publication date:	04/17/2007
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	306
Product dimensions:	6.08(w) x 9.06(h) x 0.74(d)

About the Author

Nick Knight is professor of Asian studies at Griffith University in Australia.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction: Rethinking Mao
Chapter 2 On Questions of Method I - Rethinking Mao and the Mao Texts
Chapter 3 On Questions of Method II - The Marxism of Mao Zedong
Chapter 4 Working Class and Peasantry in Mao Zedong's Thought, 1923-1945
Chapter 5 Politics and Vision: Historical Time and the Future in Mao Zedong's Thought: A Study of Three Documents, 1937-1940
Chapter 6 Perspectives on Marxism and Social Change in Mao Zedong's Thought: A Study of Three Documents, 1937-1940
Chapter 7 Mao Zedong and the "Sinification of Marxism"
Chapter 8 Mao Zedong on the Chinese Road to Socialism, 1949-1969
Chapter 9 From Harmony to Struggle, From Perpetual Peace to Cultural Revolution: Changing Futures in Mao Zedong's Thought

Editorial Reviews

Rethinking Mao not only offers something new, it does so with a critical depth that others eschew.... Rethinking Mao not only offers a sophisticated analysis of Mao's historicism, it is itself an excellent example of historicist scholarship.

Journal of Chinese Political Science - 2008

Nick Knight has distinguished himself over the years as one of the most astute readers and interpreters of Mao's thought. Rethinking Mao brings together a lifetime of scholarship, revisited and revised with the benefit of contemporary hindsight. The volume is a serious reminder of the historical and theoretical significance of Mao's thought at a time when most writing on Mao, riding the wave of anti-socialism, has degenerated into little more than malicious gossip. It also coincides with a reevaluation of Mao's policies in the PRC as possible inspiration in confronting the problems created by three decades of reform that turned its back on his revolutionary legacy.

Arif Dirlik

Distinguished China scholar Nick Knight has been researching Mao Zedong's thought for nearly four decades. Departing from recent conventional research, which tends to demonize and/or scoff at Mao, Knight takes Mao very seriously, both as a socialist leader and as a Marxist. In this important and aptly titled book, Knight reaches many innovative, balanced, and perceptive conclusions that will surely impact greatly on the future study of a man who, whatever his failings, was undoubtedly among the towering figures of the twentieth century.

Colin Mackerras Colin Mackerras

Distinguished China scholar Nick Knight has been researching Mao Zedong's thought for nearly four decades. Departing from recent conventional research, which tends to demonize and/or scoff at Mao, Knight takes Mao very seriously, both as a socialist leader and as a Marxist. In this important and aptly titled book, Knight reaches many innovative, balanced, and perceptive conclusions that will surely impact greatly on the future study of a man who, whatever his failings, was undoubtedly among the towering figures of the twentieth century.--Colin Mackerras, professor emeritus, Department of International Business and Asian Studies, Griffith University

Nick Knight has distinguished himself over the years as one of the most astute readers and interpreters of Mao's thought. Rethinking Mao brings together a lifetime of scholarship, revisited and revised with the benefit of contemporary hindsight. The volume is a serious reminder of the historical and theoretical significance of Mao's thought at a time when most writing on Mao, riding the wave of anti-socialism, has degenerated into little more than malicious gossip. It also coincides with a reevaluation of Mao's policies in the PRC as possible inspiration in confronting the problems created by three decades of reform that turned its back on his revolutionary legacy.--Arif Dirlik, author of Marxism in the Chinese Revolution

Rethinking Mao not only offers something new, it does so with a critical depth that others eschew.... Rethinking Mao not only offers a sophisticated analysis of Mao's historicism, it is itself an excellent example of historicist scholarship.--Journal of Chinese Political Science

From the Publisher

Rethinking Mao not only offers something new, it does so with a critical depth that others eschew.... Rethinking Mao not only offers a sophisticated analysis of Mao's historicism, it is itself an excellent example of historicist scholarship.

Journal of Chinese Political Science

Distinguished China scholar Nick Knight has been researching Mao Zedong's thought for nearly four decades. Departing from recent conventional research, which tends to demonize and/or scoff at Mao, Knight takes Mao very seriously, both as a socialist leader and as a Marxist. In this important and aptly titled book, Knight reaches many innovative, balanced, and perceptive conclusions that will surely impact greatly on the future study of a man who, whatever his failings, was undoubtedly among the towering figures of the twentieth century.

Colin Mackerras