Compte rendu : La récidive
Bergère, Marie-Claire. Lucien Bianco, La Récidive. Révolution russe et révolution chinoise (Recurrence: Russian Revolution and Chinese Revolution). China Perspectives, 2016, n° 1, p. 64.
This book studies and compares the Russian and Chinese revolutions, which occurred at different points in time, the path-breaking triumph of Stalinism (1917-1953) having preceded that of Maoism (1949-1976) by three decades. To ensure the soundness of the parallels, Lucien Bianco displayed honesty and courage in acquiring the competences that have made him an expert on Soviet Russia as well as of Communist China. His project was helped by recent advances in historiography – starting with the opening up of Soviet archives and the multitude of accounts and memoirs published in China.
The book thus presents a vast duo fresco. Chapter 1, entitled “Delay,” deals with the disparity in the initial situations of the two countries. These included economic backwardness and otherness in relation to the West, both more pronounced in China than in Russia; the predominance of nationalism in China while Russia was more concerned with social problems and dreams of a universal project and new humanity; and the decisive role of foreign wars in their success in seizing power (the First World War in Russia and the Japanese invasion of China in 1937). The detailed comparison proceeds theme by theme in a penetrating and virtuoso synthesis.
Lire le texte intégral sur China Perspectives
OpenEdition vous propose de citer ce billet de la manière suivante :
Monique Abud (26 mars 2016). Compte rendu : La récidive. Carnets du Centre Chine (CNRS/EHESS). Consulté le 15 novembre 2025 à l’adresse https://doi.org/10.58079/mfj7


