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China's road to disaster : Mao, central politicians, and provincial leaders in the unfolding of the great leap forward, 1955-1959 By Frederick C. Teiwes with Warren Sun Published by M. E. Sharpe (1999) |
Book description
This text analyses the dramatic shifts in Chinese Communist Party economic policy during the
mid to late 1950s which eventually resulted in 30 to 45 million deaths through starvation as a
result of the failed policies of the Great Leap Forward. Teiwes examines both the substance and
the process of economic policy-making in that period, explaining how the rational policies of
opposing rash advance in 1956-57 gave way to the fanciful policies of the Great Leap, and
assessing responsibility for the failure to adjust adequately those policies even as signs of
disaster began to reach higher level decision makers.
In telling this story, Teiwes focuses on key participants in the process throughout both "rational" and "utopian" phases - Mao, other top
leaders, central economic bureaucracies and local party leaders. The analysis rejects both of the
existing influential explanations in the field, the long dominant power politics approach focusing
on alleged clashes within the top leadership, and David Bachman's recent institutional
interpretation of the origins of the Great Leap. Instead, this study presents a detailed picture of
an exceptionally Mao-dominated process, where no other actor challenged his position, where
the boldest step any actor took was to try and influence his preferences, and where the system
in effect became paralysed while Mao kept changing signals as disaster unfolded.
About the Author
Dr. Warren Sun is a senior lecturer in Chinese Studies in the Department of Arts at Monash University.
Borrow it: Monash University Library members can borrow this book. View the catalogue record for details.
Buy it: This book can be purchased online from amazon.com
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