Tiger on the Brink: Jiang Zemin and China's New Elite

Rating:
Summary: Such a love fest
Review: For all the talk of China abandoning the practice of personality worshipping its leaders, here comes a non-Chinese citizen engaging in a veritable Jiang Zemin love fest. A nice introduction to the cast of characters in contemporary, post-Cultural Revolution China, but otherwise lacking in value as a serious reference book.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent introduction to the new age of Chinese politics
Review: Gilley has written a thorough and scholarly, well researched book on Zemin, for Sinophiles and political addicts alike. He has an understanding of the motivations of Ziang in wishing to liberalise the Chinese economy, while holding on firmly to communist ideology. Also explained is the relationship between Ziang and Zhu Rongji, which while evident now, has a history steeped in Shanghai politics. A must read for all those interested in contemporary China.

Rating:
Summary: The first serious work on Jiang is already dated
Review: If Gilley seems to paint a favorable immage of Jiang, it is only because he is the only writer yet to look into Jiang the person and not just Jiang the Communist. Gilley does an outstanding job of developing the evolution to the logic of Jiangs values and political judgement: from his "martyr" uncle to his hands-on approach to managing a factory given foolish central orders from above. It must be understood that Gilley had to work under a limited pool of sources. I think he balances in Chinese government sources with good judgement. The problem with his work however, is that it is already quite dated. Being written before the US bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade and the 50th National Day parade, much more light has been shed on Jiangs self-immage as an equal Mao and Deng. By 2002, when he is to step down from formal office, this fine book will be quite over due for a replacement.