"Mao Fever" in France: The Reception of Maoism in the French Mass Media, 1963-1979

This project delves into the phenomenon of “Mao Fever” that swept across France during the 1960s and 1970s. It examines how French Maoists embraced Mao Zedong Thought and how the broader public perceived Mao-related representations. Through quantitative and qualitative analysis of media coverage from 1963 to 1979 using the “France – Maoïstes” collection at the Sciences Po Paris library, this study uncovers the everchanging use of terminology related to Maoist groups and Maoism in French newspapers. It identifies three phases of French Maoism: the prelude (1963-1969), climax (1969-1972), and epilogue (1972-1979). Initially, Maoism manifested as fringe political groups aligned with pro-Chinese organizations. However, as mainstream newspapers portrayed it, Maoism transformed into a dissident movement marked by acts of violence and destruction. Over time, the Maoists faced rejection from the French public and abandonment by the Chinese authorities, leading to a decline in their influence. While “Maoism” and “Mao Thought” are often used interchangeably today, this study argues that they carried distinct meanings for the French public during that era. French Maoism was seen as a disruptive dissent movement, whereas Mao Thought was celebrated for its perceived contribution to humanity. By unraveling the shifting dynamics of Maoism in the popular French imagination, this article aims to enrich our understanding of global Maoism, highlighting the continuity and discontinuity in the usage of Mao-related terms in 1960s and 1970s France. Additionally, it also emphasizes the value of digital humanities tools in visualizing the evolution of ideas in contemporary intellectual historical research.