Since the 1920s, Chinese communists overseas aspired to liberate the world from imperialism and were making revolution both in and outside China. Comintern materials allow us to look at heretofore little explored transnational aspect of the Chinese communist revolution, as well as foster a global perspective on Chinese anti-colonial organizations. In the interwar world, Chinese communists built their networks in the old empires and invented new nations. Their rationale was rooted both in long held ideas about China’s place in the world, as well as in the new theories of political revolution which had originated both in and outside China. The historical roles of Chinese communist networks were different in Americas, Europe, and the Southeast Asia. What were the factors? Can social theory shed light on the differences and commonalities in Chinese communist institutions in different parts of the world?