ABSTRACT
Since the Communist Party of China took over power in 1949, China has been under communist rule for over 60 years. This major development can be divided into two distinct historical eras: (1) the making of the new communist state from 1949 to 1976, and (2) the post-Mao transition from 1978 to the present day. Each era is characterized by different goals and ideological justifications, different central tasks and adjusted action means to achieve them, different leadership styles, and changes of continuity in Chinese politics and government. Each era can be further divided into several epochs. This chapter provides a brief overview of each historical era of the developments of the Mao era, during which the new communist state, new economy, and new society were established through radical social transformation and political campaigns, and of the post-Mao era, during which pragmatic economic reform was implemented to transition from centrally planned command economy under Deng Xiaoping and his successors. For studies of modern Chinese history and detailed historical accounts of the historical events, students are advised to refer to the Further reading list and online review essays.1
