Saich, Tony:
A very good selection of essays that takes turns challenging Seldon’s Yenan Way. Originally essays from a conference, each essay looks at the development of the CCP prior to its victory in 1949. One challenges Seldon’s assessment that the Yenan way was exported across China. It argues that the CCP was very adaptable to geographic variations, including allying with local landlords for support. They do emphasize that the socio-economic conditions were key in mobilizing the peasantry, but the response was varied. They minimize the politics within the CCP, suggesting that the program was less important than what it was overthrowing.

Another aspect is the overemphasis on the Long March. While the Long March was important, it overlooks the Three-Year War of partisans left behind to occupy GMD forces. It also discusses how the CCP courted intellectuals in Jin-Sha-Ji, whereas it had a harsh rectification campaign in Yenan. In fact, several authors believe Seldon minimized the coercive nature of the rectification, preferring to emphasize peasant cooperation.

One large theme is that the CCP had a decentralized development. Seldon overemphasizes Mao and Yunan to the exclusion of other regions and leaders. The authors of these essays argue that Mao gradually centralized CCP decision making, so that by the early 1940’s, the system was in place for personal ruling by Mao after the success of the Revolution. ( )