Burying Mao
By employing a classical Lasswellian political analysis-who says what, to whom, through which channel, with what effect-Baum (political science, UCLA) demonstrates that Deng Xiaoping is the ultimate Machiavellian leader, controlling the development and articulation of policy in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). He emphasizes that it is impossible to apply constant, unchanging, ideological labels to individuals and groups in Chinese politics and provides details of interactions that have occurred among a number of powerholders in the CCP. He identifies the theme of "fang/shou" (letting go/tightening up) as a popular, and also misleading, inter- pretation of Chinese politics. The sheer number of actors Baum discusses may lose the reader, but the quality of his analysis is first-rate. He points out that the majority of Chinese revolutionaries are now dead, and the remainder, including Deng himself, are afflicted with varying diseases associated with old age. Therefore, China has already disregarded the fang/shou cycle. This should give the reader insight into China as a future world power. Highly recommended for academic collections.Peggy Spitzer Christoff, Oak Park, Ill.Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.