Li Lisan

Li Lisan (Chinese: 李立三; November 18, 1899 – June 22, 1967) was an early leader of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Born Li Longzhi in Liling, Hunan province, he adopted the name Li Lisan while participating in the May Fourth Movement.

Li Lisan was a key figure in the CCP's labor movement during the 1920s, organizing numerous strikes and advocating for the rights of workers. He spent time in France as a student and labor organizer, where he became involved with communist circles. Upon returning to China, he rose through the ranks of the CCP, becoming a member of the Politburo in the late 1920s.

In the late 1920s and early 1930s, Li Lisan became the de facto leader of the CCP, promoting what became known as the "Li Lisan Line." This policy emphasized urban-centered uprisings and called for immediate revolution led by the industrial proletariat. This contrasted with Mao Zedong's developing strategy of focusing on rural peasant mobilization.

The Li Lisan Line proved disastrous for the CCP. Numerous urban uprisings failed, resulting in heavy losses for the party. Consequently, Li Lisan was removed from his leadership position in 1931 and criticized for his adventurism and deviation from Marxist-Leninist principles.

Following his removal, Li Lisan spent several years in the Soviet Union, where he studied and worked within the Communist International (Comintern). He returned to China in the 1940s after the CCP had established its base areas.

After the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949, Li Lisan held various government positions, primarily related to labor issues. He served as the Minister of Labor. However, his past political errors and perceived ties to the Soviet Union made him a target during periods of political turmoil.

During the Cultural Revolution, Li Lisan was persecuted and accused of being a Soviet revisionist and counter-revolutionary. He died in prison in 1967. He was posthumously rehabilitated in 1980.