The Red Star Over China by John K. Fairbank details the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) strategic evolution, particularly during the Long March (1934–1935) and the Yan'an period. The CCP's emphasis on mobile warfare, mass mobilization, and ideological unity enabled its survival against Nationalist forces and internal challenges. Mao Zedong's leadership during this era solidified the party's commitment to rural-based revolution, contrasting with the urban-focused strategies of earlier leaders. The book underscores how the CCP's adaptability and grassroots organization fostered its eventual dominance in China.

The CCP's success during the Long March and Yan'an period stemmed from its ability to align with local grievances and leverage Soviet support while maintaining autonomy. During the Long March, the Red Army reduced its ranks from approximately 86,000 to 8,000, but this attrition强化了 party cohesion and clarified Mao's leadership. Yan'an, with a population of around 200,000, became a political and military hub, hosting international communist delegates and media figures like Edgar Snow, who popularized the CCP's narrative globally. Soviet aid, though limited post-1937 due to ideological tensions, provided critical early funding and training. By 1945, the CCP controlled 19% of China's territory and 30% of its population, per U.S. intelligence estimates, highlighting its organizational superiority. The CCP's emphasis on education, healthcare, and land reform in Yan'an also cultivated rural loyalty, contrasting with the Nationalists' corruption and inefficiency. These factors, combined with the CCP's pragmatic alliances and ideological discipline, positioned it as the dominant force in postwar China. Fairbank's analysis remains influential for its emphasis on the CCP's strategic flexibility and the role of leadership in shaping revolutionary success.