On the New Stage

"On the New Stage" is a work by Mao Zedong, written in October 1938. In this piece, Mao adopted a conciliatory stance towards the Nationalists, assigning them a leading role in both the war against Japan and the subsequent national reconstruction. However, by the winter of 1939-40, Mao shifted to a firmer position, asserting communist leadership. He argued that the Chinese revolution was part of a global proletarian revolution against imperialism, and internally, the country should be governed by a joint dictatorship of parties within the anti-Japanese united front. While acknowledging the immediate alignment of CCP and Nationalist aims, Mao maintained the ultimate necessity for communists to seize power to advance towards socialism. This work reflects Mao's evolving strategy and his vision for China's revolutionary path, adapting Marxist principles to Chinese conditions.12