To understand these momentous turns of history, a fresh view is required of the Malayan Communist Party as political actor. This book gives a political history of the Party from 1930 to 1948, and explains why the MCP was launched into this collective act of self-destruction in 1948. In particular, Lockwood questions assumptions that post-War politics led inevitably to armed struggle, and questions the accepted narrative of Party Chairman Lai Teck's treachery. This is a strongly revisionist history of a period, and political force, that has left a lasting mark on the politics of Malaya and Singapore.

1. Malayan Communist Party ? History. 2. Malaya ? Politics and government ? History. 3. Malaya ? History ? Malayan Emergency, 1948-1960.