China's Leaders - From Mao to Now by David Shambaugh (US edition, hardcover) - 9781509546510

Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China over 70 years ago, five paramount leaders have shaped the fates and fortunes of the nation and the ruling Chinese Communist Party: Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin, Hu Jintao, and Xi Jinping. Under their leaderships, China has undergone an extraordinary transformation from an undeveloped and insular country to a comprehensive world power. In this definitive study, renowned Sinologist David Shambaugh offers a refreshing account of China’s dramatic post-revolutionary history through the prism of those who ruled it. Exploring the persona, formative socialization, psychology, and professional experiences of each leader, Shambaugh shows how their differing leadership styles and tactics of rule shaped China domestically and internationally: Mao was a populist tyrant, Deng a pragmatic Leninist, Jiang a bureaucratic politician, Hu a technocratic apparatchik, and Xi a modern emperor. Covering the full scope of these leaders’ personalities and power, this is an illuminating guide to China’s modern history and understanding how China has become the superpower of today.Table of Content List of Boxes, Tables and Figures Preface and Acknowledgements 1. On China’s Leaders and Leadership 2. Mao Zedong: Populist Tyrant 3. Deng Xiaoping: Pragmatic Leninist 4. Jiang Zemin: Bureaucratic Politician 5. Hu Jintao: Technocratic Apparatchik  6. Xi Jinping: Modern Emperor 7. Conclusion: China’s Leaders in Perspective NotesReview Quote “Fresh, fun, and insightful. Shambaugh has written a must-read book for understanding contemporary China.”Elizabeth C. Economy, Senior Fellow, The Hoover Institution“An engrossing mosaic of profiles that brings to life the very different men who have led China over the past decades.”Orville Schell, Director of the Center on U.S.–China Relations, Asia Society“A significant and important book from one of modern China’s leading analysts.”Kerry Brown, Director of the Lau China Institute, King’s College London “Shambaugh’s comparative leadership lens leads to some intriguing insights.”The China Quarterly“A highly readable and well-documented book by the doyen of China scholars.”Global Asia“A highly regarded and experienced specialist in the study of Chinese elite politics, Shambaugh is in his element delineating the overlaps and divergences in the leadership styles of Mao and four of his successors.”Jeffrey Wassertrom, Chancellor’s Professor of History, University of California-Irvine“In this fresh look at the interplay of cultural, psychological, and systemic factors shaping top Chinese leaders, Shambaugh explores how the idiosyncrasies of PRC rulers have intersected with broader changes in state behavior. Displaying extraordinary precision and perception, this book