Description
Book SynopsisFor almost two decades after Mao Zedong's death, an epic, no-holds-barred contest was waged in China between orthodox Marxists and reformers. With Deng Xiaoping's strong support, the reformers ultimately won; but they - and China - paid a heavy price. This is a comprehensive guide to the intricate theater of post-Mao Chinese politics.
Trade Review"Baum demonstrates with this book his command of the Chinese political scene in a critical year of transition for China... Brilliantly researched and full of interpretative and nuanced insights into the leadership struggle, Burying Mao brings China into sharp focus."--Patrick Tyler, The New York Times "This is the right way to look at Chinese politics, in which power and personalities are much more important than ideology, which is regularly twisted to fit current needs... Baum excellently pinpoints how factions, the bane of Chinese politics, align and realign."--The Times Literary Supplement "In this highly readable book, Baum provides a fascinating and extremely detailed account of how Deng Xiaoping came to power, how he reversed Mao's policies and launched China on the path of economic reform, how he handled the complex interaction between the top leaders of the Party, and how he deftly preserved supreme power in his own hands... [Readers] will find much in the book that will help them comprehend developments in contemporary China."--Choice "What the book brings out is how dangerous was the territory through which Deng and his men had to pass. It was not a simple matter of assuming power and issuing decrees... Deng emerges from this study less as an emperor than as a consummate politician... Burying Mao is a first-class work, coolly judged and clearly written, drawing on a mass of carefully sifted material."--Sunday Times (London) "Baum demonstrates that Deng Xiaoping is the ultimate Machiavellian leader... the quality of his analysis is first-rate... This should give the reader insight into China as a future world power."--Library Journal "It is the most comprehensive guide to hand, and is more persuasive for coming in the winter of Dengism."--The Economist "... [a] thorough, balanced and interesting work."--Ian Buruma, Sunday Telegraph "Written by one of the best commentators in the United States on Chinese politics, this is ... [an] extremely thorough, yet accessible account of Chinese politics from 1976 until 1993... Anybody interested in Chinese politics will benefit from reading it, and it will be used widely for courses on Chinese politics in the era of reform."--China Information
Table of ContentsList of Tables and IllustrationsPrefaceAcknowledgmentsA Note on Sources and MethodsAbbreviations Used in the TextIntroduction: The Age of Peng Xiaoping3Pt. IThe Roots of Reform, 1976-198025Ch. 1Burying Mao: April 1976-July 197727Ch. 2Deng Takes Command: August 1977-December 197848Ch. 3The First Fang/Shou Cycle: Novemher 1978-Angust 198066Ch. 4High Tide of Reform: Gengshen, 198094Pt. IIThe Road to Tiananmen, 1981-1989119Ch. 5Polarization and Paralysis: January 1981-April 1982121Ch. 6Defining the Spirit of Socialism: Summer 1982-December 1983143Ch. 7The Rebirth of Liberal Reform: January 1984-Summer 1985164Ch. 8Social Origins of Student Protest: Summer 1985-December 1986189Ch. 9Combating Bourgeois Liberalization: January 1987-Spring 1988206Ch. 10Bittersweet Fruits of Reform: March 1988-April 1989225Pt. IIIThe Beijing Spring, 1989245Ch. 11The Beijing Spring: April-May 1989247Ch. 12CrackingDown: June 1989-February 1990275Pt. IVThe Old Order Changes, 1990-1995311Ch. 13Picking Up the Pieces: Winter 1990-Autumn 1991313Ch. 14Deng's Final Offensive: January-October 1992341Ch. 15The Last Cycle: October 1992-Summer 1993369Ch. 16The Mandate of Heaven: Summer 1993-Summer 1995377Epilogue: Burying Deng391Abbreviations Used in the Notes395Notes397References473Index491
