On Protracted War

Originally delivered as a series of lectures in Yan'an in 1938, On Protracted War stands as one of the most influential strategic treatises of the twentieth century. Written during the early stages of the Sino-Japanese War, Mao Zedong systematically dismantles both defeatist "national subjugation" narratives and impulsive "quick victory" fantasies, arguing instead that China's path to liberation lies in a deliberately protracted struggle. Through a dialectical analysis of strength and weakn...