David M. Lampton, Following the Leader: Ruling China, from Deng Xiaoping to Xi Jinping

Excerpt

This impressive study of political elite in China spans 42 years, and is based on 558 personal interviews with political, military, academic leaders from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan. The time span of the study and the ranks and status of the interviewees are truly striking. One has to admire the ability of the author in gaining access to such a long list of high-ranking political figures, including Zhou Enlai, Deng Xiaoping, Zhao Ziyang, and Jiang Zemin. The author’s leading academic and administrative roles or affiliations, such as Asia Foundation, National Committee on United States and China Relations, the Nixon Center and the American Enterprise Institute, have no doubt given him an advantage in interviewing or participating in conversations with these political leaders. The voices reflected in this well-written volume will certainly be considered historically significant and used as valuable primary sources to document the mindset of several generations of leaders in Chinese contemporary history. …