Authority Participation And Cultural Change In China

This 1973 volume is a fascinating collection of original studies on the immediate consequences and the likely long-term effects of the Chinese Cultural Revolution, the enormous social and political upheaval initiated by Mao Tse-Tung in 1966. The authors discuss a series of connected problems, all intimately related to the central theme of leadership and participation in the Chinese pattern of economic development and social change. The collection is edited by Stuart Schram, who also provides a long introduction; he puts the Cultural Revolution in the broad historical perspective of the Chinese revolution as it has taken shape since the end of the nineteenth century.

This 1973 volume is a fascinating collection of original studies on the immediate consequences and the likely long-term effects of the Chinese Cultural Revolution, the enormous social and political upheaval initiated by Mao Tse-Tung in 1966. The authors discuss a series of connected problems, all intimately related to the central theme of leadership and participation in the Chinese pattern of economic development and social change. The collection is edited by Stuart Schram, who also provides a long introduction; he puts the Cultural Revolution in the broad historical perspective of the Chinese revolution as it has taken shape since the end of the nineteenth century.

This book brings together 13 papers published by the author over the past 50 years, arranged chronologically, so the reader can follow the unfolding development of the author’s thinking on the issues discussed here. The essays primarily investigate the role intellectuals in the dramatic changes in China since the fall of the old imperial order, with an emphasis on the tension between the urge towards utopian dreams and the quest for human rights and democracy. The earlier pieces are two chapters from the author’s 1969 Columbia University PhD dissertation dealing with the Chinese Communist Party leadership methods and the conflict between the Party and the peasants during the time of the People’s Commune Movement. Several other essays on the question of human rights date from the 1980s and 1990s. The last two essays go beyond China to take up the debate on Asian values and the concept of peace in Asia. Given the unique perspective which differs from that of the ruling party and government in China, as well as the usual political realist perspective of the Western press, this book will contribute to a better understanding of the complex and entangled role of the intellectuals and the political process on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. It will be helpful to both the academic community and the well-educated general public.

This title was first published in 1980:

As the world’s only English-language historical dictionary of the Chinese Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), this book offers a comprehensive coverage of major historical figures, events, political terms, and other matters relevant to this unique period of modern Chinese history that had profound influence on social and cultural movements of the world in the 1960s and 1970s. This second edition of Historical Dictionary of the Chinese Cultural Revolution covers its history through a chronology, an introductory essay, glossary, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has over 400 cross-referenced entries on important personalities, politics, economy, foreign relations, religion, and culture. This book is an excellent access point for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about this important period in Chinese history.