Was Mao Zedong an uncompromising tyrant who caused the death of millions, or was he a revolutionary leader who was daring enough to imagine an alternative existence? This course is a close investigation of Mao and his world through a global perspective. The students will be exposed to primary sources written by Mao himself, and they will situate Mao within the turbulent decades of China's engagement with Western colonialism, imperialism, and revolutionary thought in the 20th century. Putting Maoism at the center of world history, students will learn the intimate links between China, Southeast Asia, Africa, and North America, and they will examine in detail how Maoism shaped a variety of political and infrastructural transformations around the world, from the Black Panthers to Tanzanian railroads. By the end of the course, students will have a strong grasp of the contradictions that Mao himself faced throughout his life -- contradictions that changed nothing less than the world itself.
Course Attributes: BU BA; BU IS; AS HUM; FA HUM; AR HUM; EN H
