Book: On Guerrilla Warfare

Overview and purpose
On Guerrilla Warfare, written by Mao Tse-Tung in 1937, presents both a practical manual and a theoretical framework for irregular struggle adapted to Chinese conditions. It treats guerrilla operations not as a haphazard resort but as a disciplined, politically guided form of warfare that can compensate for conventional military weakness and reshape the strategic balance over time. The text explains how a comparatively weak revolutionary force can wage protracted struggle against a stronger, better-equipped foe by mobilizing popular support and exploiting local conditions.

Fundamental principles
Mao emphasizes flexibility, mobility, and initiative as the core virtues of guerrilla forces. Avoiding direct, large-scale engagements with superior enemy forces, guerrillas strike where the enemy is weak, disperse when threatened, and reassemble to exploit opportunities. Success depends on understanding the enemy, mastering terrain, and maintaining strict discipline so that actions remain politically effective and do not alienate the population that sustains them.

Organization and operations
The book outlines a spectrum of guerrilla organization, from small independent bands to larger units capable of coordinated campaigns. Mao argues that guerrilla formations should be locally rooted, drawing recruits and resources from the countryside, while gradually developing into a more capable force. Tactics described include ambushes, raids, sabotage, intelligence gathering, and the use of deception. Emphasis falls on decentralization: local commanders exercise initiative within broad strategic guidance, enabling rapid adaptation to shifting circumstances.

Political work and mass mobilization
Political mobilization is presented as the indispensable foundation of guerrilla success. Mao insists that military operations must be integrated with political education, propaganda, and organization among peasants and workers. Winning the support of the people supplies recruits, shelter, logistics, and legitimacy. Political work also shapes conduct in the field: discipline toward civilians, protection of property, and efforts to resolve grievances strengthen ties with the population and isolate the enemy.

Relationship with conventional forces and strategy
Guerrilla warfare is not treated as an end in itself but as one component of a larger revolutionary strategy. Mao explains how guerrilla actions should coordinate with regular forces and fit into long-term plans to exhaust and encircle the enemy. By wearing down the opponent, controlling rural areas, and creating liberated base zones, guerrillas prepare conditions for more conventional operations and eventual strategic victory. The text thus situates guerrilla tactics within a protracted struggle aimed at systemic change.

Logistics, discipline, and leadership
Practical concerns such as supply, armament, training, and discipline receive careful attention. Mao stresses self-reliance and improvisation in logistics, including reliance on the population for food and intelligence while avoiding burdensome requisitions. Leadership is portrayed as political as much as military: commanders must educate and inspire, maintain organizational cohesion, and model ethical behavior. Accountability and internal checks are recommended to prevent abuses that would undermine popular support.

Legacy and adaptability
On Guerrilla Warfare became influential far beyond China, studied by revolutionary and national liberation movements worldwide. Its blend of political emphasis, tactical innovation, and strategic patience offers a coherent doctrine for asymmetric conflict. While grounded in a specific historical and social context, many of its lessons, about the centrality of popular support, the necessity of flexibility, and the interplay between politics and military action, remain relevant to understanding irregular warfare in diverse settings.