The Chinese Communist Revolution IV. Jiangxi, Long March, Shaanxi (1931-37)

 

Strategy of Protest and Revolution 5

Mao Zedong & The Chinese Communist Revolution, 1921-45

Part IV. Jiangxi, Long March, Shaanxi (1931-37)

 

Hi, and welcome to Strategy Stuff. This is the 5^th entry in ‘The Strategy of Protest and Revolution’, where we examine how historical revolutionary and protest movements achieved success. In this series, we focus on 3 key questions:

 

                - How did activists turn public discontent into a coordinated movement?

                - What did successful movements do to achieve their goals? And

                - How have successful movement strategies changed over time?

 

In this 6-part entry, we’ll explore the revolutionary history of the Chinese Communist Party or CCP from 1921 to 45, with a particular focus on the experiences of its eventual leader, Mao Zedong. Here in Part IV, we’ll examine the rise and fall of the Jiangxi Soviet under Zhou Enlai, before briefly looking at the Long March and the Party’s eventual resettlement in northern Shaanxi.

 

Scipio's African Campaign, 204-202 BC

Scipio’s African Campaign, 204-202 BC

  

The last years of the 3^rd Century BC saw the finale to the 2^nd Punic War, a war of supremacy between Rome and Carthage. Under the leadership of Publius Cornelius Scipio, Roman forces would mount a daring overseas expedition to Africa, defeat the great Carthaginian general Hannibal, and achieve what previous invasions could not – eliminate Carthage as a power. In doing so, the victory of Scipio ‘Africanus’ heralded 6 centuries of Roman Mediterranean dominance.

Welcome to Strategy Stuff, and this is the strategy of Scipio’s African Campaign.

The Chinese Communist Revolution III. Insurrection & Guerrillaism, Jinggangshan and Futian (1927-31)

 

Strategy of Protest and Revolution 5

Mao Zedong & The Chinese Communist Revolution (1921-45)

Part III: Insurrection & Guerrillaism, Jinggangshan & Futian (1927-31)

 

Hi, and welcome to Strategy Stuff. This is the 5^th entry in ‘The Strategy of Protest and Revolution’, where we examine how historical revolutionary and protest movements achieved success. In this series, we focus on 3 key questions:

                 - How did activists turn public discontent into a coordinated movement?

                - What did successful movements do to achieve their goals? And

                - How have successful movement strategies changed over time?

In this 6-part entry, we’ll explore the revolutionary history of the Chinese Communist Party or CCP from 1921 to 45, with a particular focus on the experiences of its eventual leader, Mao Zedong. Here in Part III, we’ll go over the various approaches the CCP took to obtain its own independent military power, focusing particularly on Mao’s experiences at Jinggangshan and southern Jiangxi.

 

The Strategy of Saladin 5: The Third Crusade (1187-1193)

 

The Strategy of Saladin 5 

The Third Crusade (1187-1193)

 

Hi, and welcome to Strategy Stuff. In the last video, we saw how Saladin had taken advantage of the Crusaders’ external and internal troubles, and in 1187 launched what would turn out to be a wildly successful campaign: destroying the Crusader army at Hattin, capturing the Holy City of Jerusalem, and conquering almost the entire Crusader Levant. Now, in the twilight of his life, he would have to hold all that he had gained against the might of the Third Crusade.

The Strategy of Saladin 4: The Conquest of Jerusalem (1185-1188)

The Strategy of Saladin 4

The Conquest of Jerusalem (1185-1188)

 

Introduction
Hi, and welcome to Strategy Stuff. In the previous video, we detailed how the strategic and political failures of the Crusaders, particularly the Kingdom of Jerusalem, prevented them from effectively confronting Saladin. All these accumulated problems would come home to roost during the Hattin campaign of 1187, where Saladin would finally achieve his lifelong ambition.

The Chinese Communist Revolution II. Early Attempts & The 1st United Front (1921-27) | Protest & Revolution 5

 

Strategy of Protest and Revolution 5

 Mao Zedong & The Chinese Communist Revolution (1921-45)

Part II: Early Attempts & The 1^st United Front (1921-27)

 

Hi, and welcome to Strategy Stuff. This is the 5^th entry in ‘The Strategy of Protest and Revolution’, where we examine how historical revolutionary and protest movements achieved success. In this series, we focus on 3 key questions:

                 - How did activists turn public discontent into a coordinated movement?

                - What did successful movements do to achieve their goals? And

                - How have successful movement strategies changed over time?

In this 6-part entry, we’ll explore the revolutionary history of the Chinese Communist Party or CCP from 1921 to 45, with a particular focus on the experiences of its eventual leader, Mao Zedong. Here in Part II, we’ll go over the CCP’s early attempts at revolution, culminating in the 1^st United Front.

The Strategy of Saladin 3: The View from Jerusalem (1150s-1185)

 

The Strategy of Saladin 3

The View from Jerusalem (1150s-1185)

 

Introduction

Hi, and welcome to Strategy Stuff. In the last video, we detailed how Saladin secured Egypt and conquered Syria, before committing to Holy War against the Crusader States. In 1187, this culminated in his decisive victory at Hattin, the surrender of Jerusalem, and the near-conquest of the Crusader Levant.

While Hattin and its aftermath demonstrated Saladin’s military and strategic competence, it was, above all, the end result of a decade of Crusader failure, both strategically and politically. We must therefore shift perspective temporarily towards them, and see why they failed so utterly to stop Saladin.

The Strategy of Saladin 2: Ruler of Egypt & Syria (1169-1186)

The Strategy of Saladin 2 

Ruler of Egypt & Syria (1169-1186)

 

Hi, and welcome to Strategy Stuff. When we last left Saladin in the spring of 1169, he had just been appointed Vizier of Fatimid Egypt, one of the richest states of the medieval world, and quite the promotion for a thirty-something-year-old. Inevitably, such power earned him internal and external enemies whose attacks he needed to fend off. Beyond them, Saladin’s rulership would also be further tested as he sought to satisfy both his own dynastic ambitions, and the demands of Sunni Islam’s Holy War.

The Strategy of Saladin 1: The Takeover of Egypt (1164-1169)

The Strategy of Saladin 1 

The Takeover of Egypt (1164-1169)

  

Introduction

Yusuf ibn Ayyub: also known as Salah ad-Din or Saladin, meaning ‘Righteous of the Faith’. To Muslims, he was the Sultan who reclaimed their Holy City of Jerusalem from Christian European Crusaders. To those same Crusaders, he became a symbol of generosity and chivalrous rulership. Beyond them, his career was also one of the more dramatic in the medieval Middle East, rising from obscurity to ruler of Egypt and Syria, and founding a dynasty that would last for a hundred years.

Welcome to Strategy Stuff, and this is the story of how Saladin became the greatest prince in an age of great princes.

The Chinese Communist Revolution I. Chinese Nationalism & Soviet Communism | Protest & Revolution 5

 

Strategy of Protest and Revolution 5

Mao Zedong & The Chinese Communist Revolution (1921-45)

Part I: Chinese Nationalism & Soviet Communism

 

Hi, and welcome to Strategy Stuff. This is the 5^th entry in ‘The Strategy of Protest and Revolution’, where we examine how historical revolutionary and protest movements achieved success. In this series, we’ll focus on 3 key questions:

                 - How did activists turn public discontent into a coordinated movement?

                - What did successful movements do to achieve their goals? And

                - How have successful movement strategies changed over time?

 In this 6-part entry, we’ll explore the revolutionary history of the Chinese Communist Party or CCP from 1921 to 45, with a particular focus on the experiences of its eventual leader, Mao Zedong. Here in Part I, we’ll first do a brief introduction to social movement strategy, before diving deeply into the CCP’s rather-complex ideology combining Chinese nationalism with Soviet Communism.