this fills many gaps in the relationship between mao & stalin, marxism with chinese characteristics lays the foundation of the conflicting differences. marx, lenin & stalin were fundamentally european in their perception of history. western historians broadly brush the young mao as an enamoured protege, this lecture begins to explore the breadth of mao’s understanding of revolution originating from peasants sans the slant of bourgeois intellectuals; the enormous challenge of lifting an illiterate population from dependency to self sufficiency. mao’s genius is breath-taking. & stalin, facing empire’s nuclear intention, managed to defend russia & european communism to a draw against capitalism is also breath-taking. it’s only a cursory sketch of the struggles of both russia & china, richard will undoubtedly illuminate further. korea in light of this begins to gain the fulcrum it deserves.
