China's Continuous Revolution

China's Continuous Revolution: The Post-Liberation Epoch 1949-1981 explores the ambitious and transformative era of China's political landscape after the founding of the People's Republic in 1949. This meticulously researched volume delves into the ideology of continuous revolution under the dictatorship of the proletariat and its profound impact on Chinese politics. Drawing from extensive interviews and historical analysis, the book examines key elements such as charismatic leadership, mass mobilization, and the complex restructuring of authority, highlighting the successes, failures, and eventual exhaustion of revolutionary zeal. It provides a nuanced perspective on China's socio-political evolution during a pivotal era of change, grappling with questions about legitimacy, power dynamics, and the role of ideology in shaping policy and governance.

Dittmer's work also contrasts China's revolutionary trajectory with global ideological movements, presenting a critical examination of the enduring tensions between utopian aspirations and practical governance. By analyzing the Cultural Revolution, agricultural collectivization, and the broader socio-political reforms of the era, the book offers a compelling narrative of a nation's struggle to reconcile revolutionary ideals with the realities of modern state-building. Scholars, students, and readers interested in China's contemporary history and political development will find this an invaluable resource for understanding the complexities of revolution and reform in a rapidly transforming society.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1987.