Salt of the Earth: The Political Origins of Peasant Protest and Communist Revolution in China

The Chinese Communists gained their mandate to rule the countryside by demolishing the Nationalist government of Chiang-kai Shek and bringing the Chinese Communists to national power on October 1, 1949. Ralph A. Thaxton, Jr. provides a fresh and original interpretation of the political and economic origins of the October revolution in his book "Salt of the Earth." He focuses on the Party's relationship with locally esteemed non-Communist leaders and shows that the Party's role is best understood in terms of its intimate connections with local collective activism and existing modes of local protest.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 446 pages
Publication date: 29 April 2022
Publisher: University of California Press

On October 1, 1949, a rural-based insurgency demolished the Nationalist government of Chiang-kai Shek and brought the Chinese Communists to national power. How did the Chinese Communists gain their mandate to rule the countryside? In this pathbreaking study, Ralph A. Thaxton, Jr., provides a fresh and strikingly original interpretation of the political and economic origins of the October revolution. Salt of the Earth is based on direct interviews with the village people whose individual and collective protest activities helped shape the nature and course of the Chinese revolution in the deep countryside. Focusing on the Party's relationship with locally esteemed non-Communist leaders, the author shows that the Party's role is best understood in terms of its intimate connections with local collective activism and with existing modes of local protest, both of which were the product of rural people acting on their own grievances, interests, and goals. The author's collection and use of oral histories—from the last remaining eyewitnesses—and written corroborative materials are a remarkable achievement; his new interpretation of why China's rural people supported and joined the Communists in their quest for state power is dramatically different from what has come before. This book will stimulate debates on the genesis of popular mobilization and the growth of insurgency for decades to come. This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press's mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published.

Introduction:
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) emerged victorious in the October Revolution of 1949, bringing about a significant shift in China's political landscape. This revolution marked the end of the Nationalist government of Chiang-kai Shek and the establishment of a communist regime under Mao Zedong. However, the question of how the CCP gained its mandate to rule the countryside remains a subject of debate and investigation. In this essay, we will explore the political and economic origins.
Rural-Based Insurgency:
The October Revolution was preceded by a decade of civil war between the Nationalists and the Communists, which had devastated the countryside and left millions of people in poverty and suffering. The rural-based insurgency that ultimately led to the CCP's victory was a result of the widespread dissatisfaction with the Nationalist government's policies and corruption. The peasants, who made up the majority of China's population, had been subjected to years of land confiscation, forced labor, and economic exploitation by the Nationalists.
The Role of the CCP:
The CCP was able to capitalize on the rural-based insurgency and gain support from the peasants by promising them a better future. The CCP's ideology of communism promised equality, social justice, and economic prosperity for all citizens, regardless of their social class or status. The CCP also promised to end the corruption and exploitation that the Nationalists had perpetrated against the peasants.
Collective Activism:
One of the key factors that contributed to the CCP's success in gaining support from the peasants was its ability to organize collective activism. The CCP established a network of grassroots organizations, known as "people's communes," that were responsible for managing the local economy and providing social services to the villagers. These communes were led by local leaders who were chosen by the villagers and were accountable to them.
The Party's Relationship with Local Leaders:
The CCP's relationship with local leaders was crucial in gaining support from the peasants. The CCP recognized the importance of building alliances with local non-Communist leaders, who had influence and power in the countryside. The CCP also offered these leaders positions of power and influence in the new communist regime, in exchange for their support and cooperation.
Conclusion:
The October Revolution was a watershed moment in Chinese history, marking the end of the Nationalist government and the beginning of a communist regime. The CCP's ability to gain support from the rural-based insurgency and build alliances with local non-Communist leaders was a key factor in its success. The CCP's ideology of communism and its commitment to ending corruption and exploitation were also important factors that contributed to its victory.

Weight: 635g
Dimension: 234 x 156 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520306776