Contemporary China: 1949 to the Present

by Gilles Guiheux, Andrew Brown (Translation)

With a population of 1.5 billion and the world's second largest economy, China is a major player in the world today, and yet many people in the West know very little about contemporary China. This book provides a clear, authoritative and up-to-date history of China since 1949, drawing on extensive research to describe and explain the key developments and to dispel the many myths and misconceptions surrounding this twenty-first century superpower.

In contrast to many commentators who overstate the novelty of the Communist regime, Guiheux emphasizes instead its complex political heritage, highlighting the many continuities it shares with the reformers and revolutionaries of the early twentieth century. At the same time, the ability of China's authoritarian regime to transform the economy and society is key to understanding its breakneck trajectory of modernization - an ability which, as Guiheux explains, far outweighed the importance and effectiveness of Mao's utopian vision. Guiheux also aims to de-exoticize China. While not on the path of a Western-style modernity, China has experienced the same phenomena which have characterised every historical process of modernization: industrialization, urbanization, bureaucratization and globalization.

This expertly researched history of the People's Republic of China will be essential reading for all students and scholars of Chinese history and politics, and for anyone interested in contemporary China.

Genres: China, History

432 pages, ebook

Published July 7, 2023

Reviews

[Erik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very level headed and informative book. It takes the reader through the main phases of the developments in the political system of China, from Mao until today. It does a good job at describing the underlying structural causes for the main developments as well as the underlying objectives. A must read for anyone that feel they need to understand the inner working of China better.

[Vancolondon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Both chronologically and thematically takes the microscope to China, the changes and reasons are charted over the last 70 years to this fascinating country and people.