People's Wars in China, Malaya, and Vietnam

Peoples Wars in China,Malaya,and Vietnam explores why some insurgencies collapse after a military defeat while others maintain influence,rebuild strength,and ultimately defeat the government. The author argues that the size of the social coalition established by each side during the conflict determines the outcome. The empirical chapters of the book consist of six case studies of the most consequential insurgencies of the 20th century, providing unprecedented detail into the workings of successful and unsuccessful insurgencies.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 402 pages
Publication date: 22 December 2021
Publisher: The University of Michigan Press

The book "Peoples Wars in China,Malaya,and Vietnam" delves into the complex dynamics of insurgencies, shedding light on why some collapse after a military defeat while others manage to maintain influence, rebuild strength, and ultimately defeat the government. The author argues that the ultimate success in civil wars hinges on the size and breadth of the social coalitions established by each side during the conflict. When insurgents form broad social alliances, even after experiencing military defeats that result in territorial loss, they retain support from the civilian population and civilians are less likely to defect to the incumbent government. In contrast, when insurgents establish narrow coalitions, civilian compliance is primarily driven by coercion rather than genuine support. When insurgents adopt governing strategies that rely on coercion, battlefield defeats often lead to political defeats, ultimately causing the insurgency to collapse.

The empirical chapters of the book present six case studies of the most consequential insurgencies of the 20th century, including the Chinese Communist Party's insurgency from 1927 to 1949, the Malayan Emergency (1948-1960), and the Vietnam War (1960-1975). These case studies provide a detailed analysis of the strategies, tactics, and outcomes of these insurgencies, drawing on a wealth of Chinese-language archival sources that offer an unprecedented level of insight into the workings of successful and unsuccessful insurgencies.

"Peoples Wars" adopts an interdisciplinary approach, appealing to both political scientists and historians. The book offers valuable insights into the complex factors that contribute to the success or failure of insurgencies, and its findings have the potential to inform policy-makers and scholars alike in their efforts to address and resolve conflicts.

Weight: 558g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780472038749