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Deng Xiaoping and the Making of Modern China
Credited as the architect that brought the Chinese economy into the global market, Deng Xiaoping is considered one of China’s greatest leaders. From his peasant upbringing, to his political rise in Bejing, this complete biography gives a rare look inside the private life of the celebrated politician.
384 pages, Paperback
Published May 1, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 2, 2022
Wow, apparently Chinese revolution produced more politicians and conspiracies than all the world revolutions combined. Reader has to navigate through all Li-s, Hu-s, Chang-s, Zhang-s to make sense of country's history.
This was a solid, well structured account of Deng Xiaoping, the man who who introduced in China "a socialism with Chinese characteristics". This included friendly relations with US, aiding Afghani mujahideen against USSR and opening free trade zones with cheap Chinese labour. All in the name of Marxism-Leninism.
Back in 1995, when this book was published China was hardly a threat but a carnival ground for victorious Western capital. Therefore Evans' account has this cheerful air of impartiality towards Chinese revolution and politicians, which has become very rare nowadays as China decided to act as a superpower.
Once China the cheap labour El Dorado was transformed into China the global superpower, Western scholars' all pretence at impartiality went out the window, and books like Lovell's Maoism was quick to side with the new cold warriors. Now it is all about evil machinations of Mao (with an extra emphasis on his love affairs, unpleasant body odour and ugly teeth to represent him as displeasing as possible), massacres of the Chinese state etc.
The book, however, is very weak about the economic transformation and foreign policy that Deng promoted.
This was a solid, well structured account of Deng Xiaoping, the man who who introduced in China "a socialism with Chinese characteristics". This included friendly relations with US, aiding Afghani mujahideen against USSR and opening free trade zones with cheap Chinese labour. All in the name of Marxism-Leninism.
Back in 1995, when this book was published China was hardly a threat but a carnival ground for victorious Western capital. Therefore Evans' account has this cheerful air of impartiality towards Chinese revolution and politicians, which has become very rare nowadays as China decided to act as a superpower.
Once China the cheap labour El Dorado was transformed into China the global superpower, Western scholars' all pretence at impartiality went out the window, and books like Lovell's Maoism was quick to side with the new cold warriors. Now it is all about evil machinations of Mao (with an extra emphasis on his love affairs, unpleasant body odour and ugly teeth to represent him as displeasing as possible), massacres of the Chinese state etc.
The book, however, is very weak about the economic transformation and foreign policy that Deng promoted.
March 2, 2018
"How did Deng's years in France affect him ...? They certainly inoculated him against the sinocentrism which was so marked a feature in the outlook of Mao Zedong -- and all of the other Chinese communist leaders, like Lin Biao, who never lived abroad." (23)
"His style was forthright and his manners were plain. Even in the 1980s, when he received scores of foreign visitors, it was his habit on all but the most formal occasions to clear his throat and spit when speaking." (116)
"Its [the movement associated with the Gang of Four] most famous saying was that a socialist train which ran late was better than a capitalist train which ran to time. It was a view with which Deng Xiaoping was to take bitter issue." (143)
"In 1966, he had agreed to make a humiliating statement of self-criticsm; in 1976, when put under pressure (by Mao himself, through Ye Jianying) to do so again, he steadfastly refused. His calculation, no doubt, was that Mao could not live for much longer and that, once he had died, no one would have the authority to get his friends to to suggest to him that he should humiliate himself. He knew too that he would stand to lose in the political warfare which was bound to follow Mao's death by saying anything critical about his own behaviour since 1973." (207)
"'Had chairman Mao died in 1956, there would have been no doubt that he was a great leader of the Chinese people ... Had he died in 1966, his meritorious achievements would have been somewhat tarnished. However, his achievements were still very good. Since he actually died in 1976, there is nothing we can do about it.'" (quoting Deng, 249)
"Deng was able to savour his triumph when, carefully watched by Deng Rong, he walked slowly down an aisle of the congress hall on the final day of the meeting [14th party congress]. He made no speech and did not stay for long. But the applause showed that the delegates liked him better as an architect that they had ever liked Mao as a helmsman. It showed, too, that they were going to miss him." (309)
"His style was forthright and his manners were plain. Even in the 1980s, when he received scores of foreign visitors, it was his habit on all but the most formal occasions to clear his throat and spit when speaking." (116)
"Its [the movement associated with the Gang of Four] most famous saying was that a socialist train which ran late was better than a capitalist train which ran to time. It was a view with which Deng Xiaoping was to take bitter issue." (143)
"In 1966, he had agreed to make a humiliating statement of self-criticsm; in 1976, when put under pressure (by Mao himself, through Ye Jianying) to do so again, he steadfastly refused. His calculation, no doubt, was that Mao could not live for much longer and that, once he had died, no one would have the authority to get his friends to to suggest to him that he should humiliate himself. He knew too that he would stand to lose in the political warfare which was bound to follow Mao's death by saying anything critical about his own behaviour since 1973." (207)
"'Had chairman Mao died in 1956, there would have been no doubt that he was a great leader of the Chinese people ... Had he died in 1966, his meritorious achievements would have been somewhat tarnished. However, his achievements were still very good. Since he actually died in 1976, there is nothing we can do about it.'" (quoting Deng, 249)
"Deng was able to savour his triumph when, carefully watched by Deng Rong, he walked slowly down an aisle of the congress hall on the final day of the meeting [14th party congress]. He made no speech and did not stay for long. But the applause showed that the delegates liked him better as an architect that they had ever liked Mao as a helmsman. It showed, too, that they were going to miss him." (309)
March 3, 2021
A mostly well structured, concrete and enticing account of Deng's life. The only reason I've docked a star is due to the fact that Deng's period as national leader isn't given as much attention as I'd have expected it to. In fact, this period is only really given a couple of chapters, with his time in various positions of power and disgrace before 1979 given the largest portion of the book. If you aren't familiar with the Chinese civil wars or the revolutionary periods, this work goes above and beyond to explain the context of each time period. This works both for an against it. On the one hand, it helps to contextualise many of Deng's political decisions and thought processes, but on the other it takes considerable time away from other periods of his life which could have done with more detail.
November 7, 2017
Overall a great book to read.
This is the first biography that I read about a Chinese political leader. The narration itself is fluent and enjoyable. I finished the book within a week.
The book depicts Deng's life in a chronological order, from his childhood, to the time when he studied abroad in France, to the time when he join the communist party and came back to China, to the time when he participated in the Anti-Japanese War and the Civil war, to the Cultural Revolution, and finally to his time of modern China.
The book also covers a lot of anecdotes of Mao and other major political leaders in modern China, from the period of 1940~1990 mostly. Insightful book. Really enjoyed it.
This is the first biography that I read about a Chinese political leader. The narration itself is fluent and enjoyable. I finished the book within a week.
The book depicts Deng's life in a chronological order, from his childhood, to the time when he studied abroad in France, to the time when he join the communist party and came back to China, to the time when he participated in the Anti-Japanese War and the Civil war, to the Cultural Revolution, and finally to his time of modern China.
The book also covers a lot of anecdotes of Mao and other major political leaders in modern China, from the period of 1940~1990 mostly. Insightful book. Really enjoyed it.
June 4, 2021
Incisive history on the turbulent twentieth century in China with Deng Xiaoping as the nominal lead character even though he’s not always the main focus. Author does admirable job of covering a lot of ground and the book has a great flow in its narrative. One particular oversight was ignoring the human indignity of Deng’s one child policy, which is hardly touched on and not considered except in a short, pragmatic way at the end, which may be due to when this book was written and lack of insight at the time. Overall worth the read.
December 31, 2024
A well written book explaining the creation of a modern China and the turmoil involved in the process. Very complicated turn of events all along the way made for a long read but now I feel I have a better understanding of the country and how it found a place in the international world.
January 2, 2025
Wonderful overview of both Deng and Chinese Communist history from the 1920s through the 1990s, easy to read and understand and is able to represent him and the communists in an unbiased way.
February 10, 2022
I don't question the author's intent and this is a meticulously researched book, however if you were to ask me who Deng Xiaoping was I'm not sure I could give you a straight answer. While all his ranks and titles within the communist party are set and thoroughly explained, his actual actions and thoughts are obscured. I would assume the issue lay at fault with the Chinese official records which Richard Evans was supplied with. It seems like censorship in that he is considered a hero in China but the government cannot put out any acknowledgement of any specific actions without submitting his legacy to criticism. His well known stances are covered and explained however, so for this I still award 3 stars.
January 20, 2016
Deng Xiaoping and the Making of Modern China, by Richard Evans, is an interesting biographical account of Deng Xiaoping and his role in the transformation of the Chinese State. Deng was born near the end of the Qing Empire, and was raised by a progressive family who sought to educate him in modern subjects abroad. This brought Deng into close proximity with the revolutionary element being born in China. Deng eventually became involved with a group of communist students in Paris, France, where he engaged in acts of social unrest. He eventually went on to Moscow for official training, and returned to his native China during its struggle with Warlords and Japanese invaders.
Deng was a small figure within the Communist Party in China at the beginning, but quickly proved his worth, eventually becoming a military leader within a large area of southern China. Here he helped fight Japanese troops and Nationalist contingents, until the Communists eventual victory in 1949.
From then on, he was a figure of note within the communist high command. His relationship with Mao Zedong was rocky, and he was forced into periods of self-examination and exile during the cultural revolution, for his "rightist" views on economic reform. After Mao's death, however, he quickly gained power and eventually became the head of the Chinese communist party. He presided over periods of rapid economic growth, civil unrest and diplomatic overtures. He was a man both committed to reform, and holding the party line.
Deng is a controversial figure. Widely respected for opening up China, he was also completely committed to China's one party system. His life as a leader was marked by military success, massive economic restructuring and the normalization or relations with both the Soviet Union and the United States. However, he was also involved with the Tiananmen Square massacre, which saw a widespread military crackdown on democratic dissidents with military units.
Even so, his drive and energy, and his zeal for the betterment of the Chinese state and people, have shone through the years. Evans offers a fascinating biographical account of Deng's political life, and some of the influences behind many of his later decisions as head of state. This is a wonderful read on one of the worlds greatest figures, and is solidly recommended to those who enjoy reading on Chinese history, politics or economic reform.
Deng was a small figure within the Communist Party in China at the beginning, but quickly proved his worth, eventually becoming a military leader within a large area of southern China. Here he helped fight Japanese troops and Nationalist contingents, until the Communists eventual victory in 1949.
From then on, he was a figure of note within the communist high command. His relationship with Mao Zedong was rocky, and he was forced into periods of self-examination and exile during the cultural revolution, for his "rightist" views on economic reform. After Mao's death, however, he quickly gained power and eventually became the head of the Chinese communist party. He presided over periods of rapid economic growth, civil unrest and diplomatic overtures. He was a man both committed to reform, and holding the party line.
Deng is a controversial figure. Widely respected for opening up China, he was also completely committed to China's one party system. His life as a leader was marked by military success, massive economic restructuring and the normalization or relations with both the Soviet Union and the United States. However, he was also involved with the Tiananmen Square massacre, which saw a widespread military crackdown on democratic dissidents with military units.
Even so, his drive and energy, and his zeal for the betterment of the Chinese state and people, have shone through the years. Evans offers a fascinating biographical account of Deng's political life, and some of the influences behind many of his later decisions as head of state. This is a wonderful read on one of the worlds greatest figures, and is solidly recommended to those who enjoy reading on Chinese history, politics or economic reform.
April 20, 2014
Reaffirms my thoughts on China's architect of development. He's the catalyst for China's expansion policy. As with Churchill, a true statesman with great farsightedness. Clear and driven on his plans for greater China.
April 3, 2015
Quite a complex man. Good overview of life under Mao and that reform is not always in favor of freedom
January 2, 2017
A clear account, even if somewhat unbalanced.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews