Based on interviews, field trips to factories and rural communes, this is an attempt to assess the political history of China and its future devleopment. Modern China has gone through stages of chaos and crisis. From the empire to a democratic republic, and to a Sovietized-Marxian dictatorship and finally to Dengist de-centraliziing reform, the nation tragically has paid a high toll in sacrifice. The reformers today are seen to operate without a new ideological stand. Until a new "idelogical fix" replaces its current void, the regime will not abandon its superficial adherence to Mao Zedong thought. Even Deng's "socialist democracy" and "socialism with Chinese characteristics" will have to wait for their future refined definitions and true contents.

Foreword by: Robert A. Scalapino