Bringing together substantial essays by leading scholars, this volume offers a comprehensive introduction to and analysis of the politics of the People's Republic of China from 1949 to the mid-1990s. The first four chapters are drawn from The Cambridge History of China, Volumes 14 and 15. The last two chapters have been written specifically for the second edition. Richard Baum's chapter covers the events of the 1980s, and Joseph Fewsmith's concluding essay extends the coverage into the 1990s.

1 One of the only books on post-1949 China that offers complete, chronologically seamless coverage of political history

2 Goes beyond politics to offer historical analysis

3 Contributors are extremely well known and respected in their field

4 New chapter for this edition brings it up to date, covering post-Tiananmen politics

5 First edition was widely adopted for undergraduate courses. The writing is clear enough to expect sales to the general, educated public - especially journalists and policy makers

Roderick MacFarquhar, Harvard University, Massachusetts