Burying Mao

by Richard Baum

For almost two decades after Mao Zedong's death, an epic, no-holds-barred contest was waged in China between orthodox Marxists and reformers. With Deng Xiaoping's strong support, the reformers ultimately won; but they--and China--paid a heavy price. Here, Richard Baum provides a lively, comprehensive guide to the intricate theater of post-Mao Chinese politics. He tells the intriguing story of an escalating intergenerational clash of ideas and values between the aging revolutionaries of the Maoist era and their younger, more pragmatic successors. Baum deftly analyzes the anatomy of the reformers' ultimate victory in his brilliant reconstruction of the twists and turns of the reform process.

Genres: China, History, Politics

528 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

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Dr. Richard Baum is Distinguished Professor of Political Science at UCLA, where he specializes in the study of modern Chinese politics and foreign relations. He earned an M.A. and a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley.

Professor Baum has lived and lectured extensively throughout China and Asia. He has served as Visiting Professor or Visiting Scholar at institutions including Peking University, Meiji Gakuin University (Japan), The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Princeton University, and Arizona State University, where he was honored as Distinguished Visiting Scholar for 2008.

He is the author/editor of nine books, including Prelude to Revolution: Mao, the Party, and the Peasant Question, 1962–1966; and a personal memoir, China Watcher: Confessions of a Peking Tom.

Professor Baum has served on the boards of the National Committee on United States-China Relations and the Joint Committee on Contemporary China of the Social Science Research Council. He has been a consultant to numerous public and private agencies, including the White House, the United Nations, and the RAND Corporation. He is also a frequent commentator on Chinese and East Asian affairs for the BBC World Service, CNN International, and National Public Radio.

Reviews

[Faye · Rating 4 out of 5]

good overview

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very heavy on the political side. Goes into detail about how the bureaucracy is laid out. Loved the chapter on Tiananmen.