Liberals Becoming Marxists: The New Culture and May 4th Movements (1915-1919)

In this episode we explore the move from liberalism toward Marxism among progressive intellectuals in the 1915-1919 period, and how those ideas began to be brought to the working class in China’s cities. This includes the New Culture Movement, the May 4th Movement, and the June 5th Movement.Further reading:Maurice Meisner, Li Ta-Chao and the Origins of Chinese MarxismArif Dirlik, The Origins of Chinese Communism Some names from this episode:Yuan Shikai, leader of the Beiyang Army and dictator after the fall of the QingSun Yat-sen/Sun Zhongshan, leader of the GuomindangChen Duxiu, editor of New Youth and leading New Culture intellectualLu Xun, progressive writer who wrote “A Madman’s Diary” for New YouthLi Dazhao, collaborator with Chen Duxiu and leading proponent of learning from the Russian RevolutionSupport the show