How might China become a democracy? And what lessons, if any, might Taiwan's experience of democratization hold for China's future? The authors of this volume consider these questions, both through comparisons of Taiwan's historical experience with the current period of economic and social change in the PRC, and through more focused analysis of China's current, and possible future, politics.
Bruce Gilley is associate professor of political studies at Portland State University. His numerous publications include China's Democratic Future, Model Rebels: The Rise and Fall of China's Richest Village, and Tiger on the Brink: Jiang Zemin and China's New Elite. Larry Diamond is senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, and founding coeditor of the Journal of Democracy. Most recent of his many works on democracy and democratization are Developing Democracy: Toward Consolidation and Promoting Democracy in the 1990s.
"Specialists who study Taiwan and China will gain much from reading the rich analyses presented in this volume, but its appeal is much broader.... The chapters also will be of interest to students of comparative politics generally."—Jerry McBeath, Journal of Chinese Political Science
"This is an excellent book. Without exception the essays are well crafted and insightful.... Both informative and thought provoking."—Scott L. Kastner, Perspectives on Politics
"An important contribution.... The incisive analyses and inescapable conclusions should be considered required reading for any student of democratization or Asian politics."——Dennis V. Hickey, Pacific Affairs
"Offers an informative look at Taiwan’s past and China’s present, with an illuminating application of social science theories."—Andrew J. Nathan, Foreign Affairs
"A wonderful group of high-powered essays on an extremely important issue."—Edward Friedman, University of Wisconsin
"A first-rate and welcome addition. This volume will influence the thinking of specialists and generalists on China's political future for years to come."—Bruce Dickson, George Washington University
"Political Change in China presents, at a very high level of scholarship, a balanced and nuanced picture of a complex and controversial topic."—Cal Clark, Auburn University
