Acclaimed national researcher Hu Angang presents Mao and the Cultural Revolution, an immensely rich account of the massive political event of 1966-1976 that brought seismic changes to the landscape of New China. A culmination of Mao Zedong's political ambitions, the Cultural Revolution restored his power and prestige as paramount leader, albeit at great costs to the economic and social development to the country. The impact of the movement -- more significantly, the politics that drove it -- deeply influences political philosophy in China today. Hu Angang's work provides a unique perspective and objective assessment of the progression of the Cultural Revolution, focusing on the intraparty politics, the Politburo's international outlook, and the political thought of the Chinese leadership that shaped this pivotal decade. Volume 1 introduces the international and domestic background that motivated Mao to prepare for a new revolutionary movement in China, including the intrigues that occurred in the wake of the collapse of Sino-Soviet relations and the disastrous failure of the Great Leap Forward. It analyses how Mao's masterful maneuvers successfully undermined state and party institutions, enabling Mao to mobilize masses and allies and remove his rivals from power.