Chinese Democracy [Paperback]

Andrew J. Nathan (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Nathan provides a sober judgment on the redirection of Chinese politics since Mao Zedong's death in 1976. He concludes that ``there is little prospect the party will adopt . . . either of the two conditions the radical Chinese democrats identified as essential for authentic democracy: free elections and an independent press.'' Concepts such as democracy are notoriously difficult to interpret in a cross-cultural context, but Nathan's command of Chinese intellectual history serves him well. He argues that Chinese intellectuals and politicians have seen democracy as a means to focus a natural harmony between the state and the individual. Thus, they have never felt it necessary for democracy to provide protections for the individual against the state's power. Drawing on this insight, he explores the problems of the individual and the state, the role of the press, and the place of elections in China today. An engrossing book with broad appeal. Highly recommended. David D. Buck, History Dept., Univ. of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 313 pages
• Publisher: University of California Press (October 8, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0520059336
• ISBN-13: 978-0520059337
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,941,241 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars it is worth reading, though not excellent, July 10, 2007

By 

Guo Wu - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Chinese Democracy (Paperback)

This reviewer is strange...the source of funding should not and does not really determine the approach and conclusion of the scholar. If this person who gives one star is "of Columbia U.", and suppose he is financially supported by "Columbia U.", does this mean that all his opinions are regulated by Columbia University? To be fair, I think this book is worth reading. First, it is lucid and easy to read, second, iit provides a very interesting and historical perspevctive to look at Chinese dissident politics. And you will find how Chinese political dissidents of the early 1980s, i.e. Democracy Wall, thought, talked and acted the same way the older generations of political activists did decades ago...It is through these flashbacks the book unfolds a century long Chinese political culture, as embodied in people's aspiration of democracy, however you define it. Think about Nathan's Peking Politics...He is concerned with Chinese political culture...something underlies the upheavals. As for the resource of funding...as a reader, what matters is the book itself.

1 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Privately financed by Taiwan, his words are worthless!, October 23, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Chinese Democracy (Paperback)

Backed by Japan, Taiwan wants its independence. Neither Taiwan nor Japan wants China to become a democratic country to grow stronger and to be close to the Americans and the West. This author's project are mostly funded by the Taiwan government controled sources, or from the source that funded by the Taiwan government. He just pretends to concern making China a free world, but his job is actually to hold China there under the Communist regime to satisify his financier. - Of Columbia U.