Description

The talk introduces Bianco’s forthcoming book comparing the Russian and Chinese Revolutions under Stalin and Mao. Starting with a brief comparison of two great empires at the early phase of economic development, the book assesses their developmental processes and strategies as accomplished by 1953 and 1976. How are we to explain and evaluate Mao’s additions to “Marxism-Leninism”? While similarities of Soviet and Chinese political institutions and practices are emphasized, the book argues that we cannot overlook the significance of Mao’s attempt to correct the Russian model. Setting aside the sacrosanct proletariat, the book compares both Russia and China’s repressive peasant policies which, in spite of their divergent beginnings and paths, brought about catastrophic results. The book also compares the development of what Milovan Djilas had called the “new classes” in both revolutionary regimes, and examines how Stalin and Mao dealt with them.

Lucien Bianco is Professor and Director of Studies Emeritus at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales, Paris. His recent (post-2000) English-language publications include: “Peasants Without the Party : Grass-roots Movements in Twentieth-Century China”, (M.E. Sharpe, 2001), winner of 2003 Joseph Levenson Prize; ” Jacqueries et Révolution dans la Chine du Xxème siècle”, (La Martinière, 2005), winner of 2005 Augustin-Thierry Prize; “Les origines de la révolution chinoise, fourth revised and updated edition”, (Gallimard, 2007); (with Eric Dessert), “Une autre Chine”, (Editions Lieux-dits, 2009); “Wretched Rebels : Rural Disturbances on the Eve of the Chinese Revolution”, (Harvard University Press, 2009)