The Cambridge History of China: Volume 15, The People's Republic, Part 2, Revolutions within the Chinese Revolution, 1966–1982: (The Cambridge History of China)

Volume 15 of The Cambridge History of China is the second of two volumes dealing with the People's Republic of China since its birth in 1949. The harbingers of the Cultural Revolution were analyzed in Volume 14 and Volume 15 traces a course of events still only partially understood by most Chinese. It begins by analysing the development of Mao's thought since the Communist seizure of power, and, in doing so, attempts to understand why he launched the movement. The contributors grapple with the conflict of evidence between what was said favourably about the Cultural Revolution at the time and the often diametrically opposed retrospective accounts. Volume 15, together with Volume 14, provides the most comprehensive and clearest account of how revolutionary China has developed in response to the upheavals initiated by Mao and Teng Hsiao-p'ing.

Table of Contents:
1. Mao Tse-tung's thought from 1949 to 1976 Stuart R. Schram; Part I. The Cultural Revolution: China in Turmoil, 1966–9: 2. The Chinese state in crisis Harry Harding; 3. China confronts the Soviet Union: warfare and diplomacy on China's inner Asian Frontiers Thomas Robinson; Part II. The Cultural Revolution: The Struggle for the Succession, 1969–82: 4. The succession to Mao and the end of Maoism Roderick MacFarquhar; 5. The opening to America Jonathan D. Pollack; Part III. The Cultural Revolution and its Aftermath: 6. China's economic policy and performance Dwight H. Perkins; 7. Education Suzanne Pepper; 8. Literature and the arts Douwe Fokkema; Part IV. Life and Letters under Communism: 9. The countryside under Communism Richard Madsen; 10. Urban life in the People's Republic Martin King Whyte; 11. Literature under Communism Cyril Birch; Part V. The Separated Province: 12. Twaiwan under Nationalist rule, 1949–82 Ralph Clough; Epilogue: the onus of unity Roderick MacFarquhar.

Review :
"No end of questions could be raised about neglected topics, balance of coverage, the quality of writing in several chapters, and much more, but this volume maintains a commendably high standard, especially when one considers the difficulties of writing the recent history of so complex and opaque a society. The entire series stands as a tribute to its major architect, and one of the two general editors, the late John K. Fairbank." The Historian "Specialists will find much to learn from these essays, which include the latest Western and Japanese scholarship, and undergraduates and graduates will mine them for their term papers. Even in the super-charged world of Chinese research the volume should have a long life." Jonathan Mirsky, New York Review of Books "...the last two volumes of the Cambridge History of China still constitute the most substantial textbook on the history of communist China." René Goldman, Canadian Journal of History "...both editors and authors are surely to be congratulated for their achievement. The book is a fitting capstone to a magnificent compilation of knowledge and wisdom concerning modern China, likely to be invaluable to students and scholars for many years to come." Lowell Dittmer, American Historical Review