Burying Mao

Rating:
Summary: Part 2 of the Best Do-It-Yourself Intro to Chinese Politics
Review: The story of China from 1949-1997 can be oversimplified, with some reservation, into the story of Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping. This book is an introduction to the latters attempt to build on and undo much of the former's legacy. While this is understandable to bright people who have the most basic knowledge of Chinese/Marxist politics, Lieberthal's Governing China is actually the best place to start for an absolute beginner who would like to know "who-does-what in China, what exactly did Mao do" background.

This work shows Deng clawing his way to the top, his fights w.important high-ranking technocrats (Chen Yun) and die-hard Maoists (who hardly handed the Party over to Deng after Mao died in '76). Bureaucratic infighting, skillful propaganda work to separate the Dengist party from the Maoist party of the disasterous Cultural Revolution and the Great Leap Forward while remaining connected to the anti-KMT revolution make this interesting and useful reading. Definitely recommended for those interested in understanding China beyond the NYTimes headlines and for those needing a refresher of the big picture.