Since its first publication in 1961, On Guerrilla Warfare has become one of the classics of military literature and the essential manual for understanding revolutionary warfare. In his translation, Brigadier General Samuel Griffith traces the development of Mao's strategic thought and assesses its impact on global affairs. Read by President Kennedy and others, On Guerrilla Warfare had a major role in the creation of American counter-insurgency doctrine and forces. Griffith pioneered the American study of Chinese military thought, translating from Chinese the ancient strategist Sun-Tzu, as well as Mao, and was instrumental in alerting the American people to the challenges of unconventional warfare. Griffith's original introduction and notes, reproduced here, are important in their own right. To these, this new edition adds an authoritative introduction that places Mao and Griffith in their historical contexts and discusses the unexpected events that have affected the validity of Mao's theory and practices of guerrilla warfare. Have Mao's beliefs that revolutionary wars can succeed without the need for conventional forces been proven false? What can we learn from the test of time?
Description:
Griffith pioneered the American study of Chinese military thought, translating from Chinese the ancient strategist Sun-Tzu, as well as Mao, and was instrumental in alerting the American people to the challenges of unconventional warfare. Griffith's original introduction and notes, reproduced here, are important in their own right. To these, this new edition adds an authoritative introduction that places Mao and Griffith in their historical contexts and discusses the unexpected events that have affected the validity of Mao's theory and practices of guerrilla warfare. Have Mao's beliefs that revolutionary wars can succeed without the need for conventional forces been proven false? What can we learn from the test of time?