ABSTRACT

Exploring the remarkable story of China’s rise to global prominence, China since 1949 provides a concise yet comprehensive overview of the events that have shaped the country since the middle of the twentieth century.

Covering the Maoist era through the Reform period to the present day, this book addresses subjects such as China’s position as a world economic power, the Chinese Communist Party’s treatment of ethnic minorities, women’s experiences under the Communist regime, and China’s human rights record. Fully updated throughout, the third edition includes:

  • a new chapter focusing on China since 2010
  • discussion of current issues such as China’s territorial disputes, computer hacking and cyber-espionage, corruption, leadership changes, and the slowing of China’s economic growth
  • extensively revised chapters on China and the World and on Government, Politics and the Economy
  • An updated selection of primary source documents.

Also containing a chronology of events from 1949 to 2015, a Who’s Who of key figures, a glossary and a guide to further reading, China Since 1949 is an accessible and engaging introduction to China’s recent past and essential reading for students of modern Chinese history.

part I|16 pages

China's past

chapter 1|8 pages

General introduction

chapter 2|6 pages

Geographical and historical background

part II|117 pages

China under the Communist Party

chapter 3|14 pages

China's new revolutionary road, 1949–57

chapter 4|14 pages

The radical Maoist phase, 1958–76

chapter 5|13 pages

Building reform-era China, 1977–89

chapter 6|7 pages

Deepening reform

China in the 1990s

chapter 7|11 pages

Challenges in the 1990s

chapter 8|18 pages

Social change after 2000

chapter 9|9 pages

China under President Hu

chapter 10|14 pages

President Xi Jinping and the Chinese dream

chapter 11|15 pages

China and the world

part III|8 pages

Assessing China's rise

chapter 12|6 pages

Conclusions

part IV|42 pages

Documents

chapter 1|1 pages

Document 1: The 1950 Marriage Law

chapter 17|2 pages

Document 17: Atheism in China

chapter 19|1 pages

Document 19: China's new consumer culture

chapter 21|2 pages

Document 21: Chinese history text

chapter 22|1 pages

Document 22: China and climate change

chapter 23|1 pages

Document 23: Nationalism and the internet

chapter 24|2 pages

Document 24: China's economic future

chapter 27|1 pages

Document 27: An assessment of President Hu

chapter 28|2 pages

Document 28: China and Taiwan

chapter 29|1 pages

Document 29: The Chinese dream

chapter 30|2 pages

Document 30: China and the South China Sea