From Post-Maoism to Post-Marxism: The Erosion of Official Ideology in Deng's China

by Kalpana Misra

Overview

This text chronicles Deng Xiaoping's institution of far-reaching and practical economic reforms that seem at odds with Communist theory and its emphasis on ideology. In fact, while Deng often turned to Mao for ideological justification of his reforms, those very reforms seemed to wear away to official ideology. Ultimately, even though the post-Mao government has fostered economic growth, improved standards of living and intellectual pluralism, these changes have resulted in a decline on the perceived legitimacy of the regime.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415920339
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	06/23/1998
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.61(d)

About the Author

Kalpana Misra is Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Tulsa.

Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS Timeline Acknowledgements Introduction 1. The Criterion of Truth 2. Revolutionary Practice and Economic Determinism 3. Stages of Socialism 4. The Problem of Class in Socialist Society 5. Refuting the Theory of a Bureaucrat Class and Affirming Socialist Democracy 6. Conclusion Glossary of Names Bibliography Index

Editorial Reviews

Addresses a paradoxical development of the Deng Xioping era in China: the decline of the regime's legitimacy during a period in which it produced high levels of economic growth, extensive relaxation of state controls, and intellectual pluralism. Misra (political science, U. of Tulsa) analyzes the key ideological debates to illustrate that the root of the problem lay in the fact that there is no long-term sustainable "middle ground" between socialism and capitalism. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Booknews

"What happened to Maoism? Kalpana Misra's excellent analysis of the complex and lingering death of theory in Chinese Communist politics reveals how official ideology lost its privileged position in public discourse. Her meticulously researched study shows how, despite some intelligent efforts to make Chinese Marxism relevant to the changes sweeping across the nation, China's reform-era elite proved incapable of achieving meaningful intellectual consensus. The resulting Party positions cannot be seen as guides to action, but as post-Marxist rationalizations which will not endanger elite interests." — Richard Kraus, University of Oregon

From the Publisher