From Post-Maoism to Post-Marxism : The Erosion of Official Ideology in Deng's China

This text chronicles Deng Xiaoping's institution of far-reaching and practical economic reforms that seem at odds with Communist theory and its emphasis on ideology. In fact, while Deng often turned to Mao for ideological justification of his reforms, those very reforms seemed to wear away to official ideology. Ultimately, even though the post-Mao government has fostered economic growth, improved standards of living and intellectual pluralism, these changes have resulted in a decline on the perceived legitimacy of the regime.

The revolutionary banner passed from Marx, to Mao to Deng, but where is it now? In China after Mao, Deng Xiaoping began instituting far-reaching and practical economic reforms that seem at odds with communist theory and its emphasis on ideology. While Deng often turned to Mao for ideological justification of his reforms, those very reforms seemed to wear away at official ideology.

From Post-Maoism to Post-Marxism chronicles Deng's failure to produce a coherent and internally consistent ideology to support new policies. In the end, China has been unable to find a sustainable middle ground between socialism and capitalism. Even though the post-Mao government has fostered economic growth, improved standards of living and intellectual pluralism, these changes have resulted in a decline in the perceived legitimacy of the regime.

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Addresses a paradoxical development of the Deng Xioping era in China: the decline of the regime's legitimacy during a period in which it produced high levels of economic growth, extensive relaxation of state controls, and intellectual pluralism. Misra (political science, U. of Tulsa) analyzes the key ideological debates to illustrate that the root of the problem lay in the fact that there is no long-term sustainable "middle ground" between socialism and capitalism. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

The Criterion Of Truth -- Revolutionary Practice And Economic Determinism -- Stages Of Socialism -- The Problem Of Class In Socialist Society -- Refuting The Theroy Of A Bureaucrat Class And Affirming Socialist Democracy -- Conclusion. Kalpana Misra. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 225-257) And Index. "From Post-Maoism to Post-Marxism" chronicles Deng Xiaoping's failure to produce a new, internally consistent and persuasive ideology to support the post-Mao regime. In the end, China has been unable to find a sustainable middle ground between socialism and capitalism.