Question: Joseph Esherick “Ten Theses on the Chinese Revolution” - Does Esherick offer any analysis that delegitimates the account offered by Snow?

Expert answer

1) In his first thesis, Esherick argues that the CCP was not a monolithic organization, and that there were sharp divisions within the Party over strategy and tactics. He cites the conflict between Chen Duxiu and Li Dazhao as an example of this internal division. However, the account in Red Star Over China presents a very different picture of the CCP. Edgar Snow portrays the Party as being united behind a common goal, and willing to make sacrifices in order to achieve it. For example, when Chen Duxiu is purged from the Party, his replacement, Mao Zedong, does not hesitate to carry out the purge, even though he is close friends with Chen. This shows that the Party was willing to put aside personal differences in order to achieve its goals.

2) Esherick’s second thesis is that the CCP did not have a clear ideology when it started out, and only developed one after it came into contact with the Soviet Union. However, the account in Red Star Over China shows that the CCP was already beginning to develop its own ideology before it came into contact with the Soviets. For example, Mao Zedong’s idea of using guerrilla warfare to fight the Japanese is an example of an indigenous Chinese Communist ideology, not something borrowed from the Soviets.

3) Esherick’s third thesis is that the CCP was not originally a Marxist party, and only became one after it came into contact with the Soviet Union. However, the account in Red Star Over China shows that the CCP was already familiar with Marxist ideology before it came into contact with the Soviets. For example, Li Dazhao was already teaching Marxism at Peking University before the CCP was founded, and Chen Duxiu was already familiar with Marx’s work.

4) Esherick’s fourth thesis is that the CCP did not have a clear idea of what it wanted to achieve when it started out, and only developed its goals after it came into contact with the Soviet Union. However, the account in Red Star Over China shows that the CCP already had a clear idea of its goals before it came into contact with the Soviets. For example, the CCP’s goal of overthrowing the Nationalist government and establishing a Communist state is something that it was already striving for before it came into contact with the Soviets.

5) Esherick’s fifth thesis is that the CCP was not originally a revolutionary party, and only became one after it came into contact with the Soviet Union. However, the account in Red Star Over China shows that the CCP was already a revolutionary party before it came into contact with the Soviets. For example, the CCP was already engaged in armed struggle against the Nationalist government before it came into contact with the Soviets.

6) Esherick’s sixth thesis is that the CCP did not have a clear idea of how to achieve its goals when it started out, and only developed its strategy after it came into contact with