Zhao Ziyang and China's Political Future

by Wu; Guoguang

• ISBN13: 9780415465144
• ISBN10: 0415465141
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2008-09-04
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

What legacies have previous reformers like Zhao Ziyang left to today's China? Does China have feasible political alternatives to today's repressive 'market Leninism' and corrupt 'state capitalism'? Does Zhao's legacy indicate an alternative to the past and for the future? For those who are familiar with the development of Chinese politics since the reform years, Zhao is now widely regarded as a major architect of the nation's profound transition. His contributions to China's post-Mao development are rich and multi faceted, including those on rural and urban economic reforms extending to accountable governance, liberal policies concerning domestic affairs and China's foreign relations. Featuring contributions from leading experts in the field such as Richard Baum and Xiaonong Cheng this book explores the historical development of China's political reform issues, and how his political legacies are relevant to China's political development since the 1980s to the future. Using recently translated recollection articles by veteran reformers who worked with Zhao in the 1980s, like Du Runsheng, An Zhiwen, Li Rui, Bao Tong, Zhao Ziyang and China's Political Future is a valuable contribution for students and researchers interested in the Chinese politics, Asian politics and political development in Asia.

Table of Contents

Editors and contributors	p. vii
Acknowledgments	p. xi
Introduction	p. 1
Zhao Ziyang's reform legacies	p. 15
Zhao Ziyang's visions: Victims of political turmoil or seeds of a democratic future?	p. 17
Democracy and rule of law in Zhao Ziyang's political reform	p. 32
Inaugurating China's information age: Zhao Ziyang's visionary role in China's information revolution	p. 58
Zhao Ziyang and the evolution of grassroots liberal movements	p. 75
"What if Zhao had tried to stay?": A review of Zong Fengming, Ruanjinzhong de tanhua	p. 95
China's political future	p. 107
Zhao Ziyang and China's "soft authoritarian" alternative	p. 109
Neo-authoritarianism, urban bourgeoisie and China's democratization	p. 122
Back from honeymoon to political tension: Reform politics from Zhao Ziyang to Hu Jintao	p. 135
Zhao Ziyang's contributions to reform in historical perspective	p. 151
Conclusion: Zhao Ziyang and China's political transition from communism	p. 164
Index	p. 186
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