An in-depth look at the philosophy and personality of Jiang Zemin - one of the world's most influential leaders. Understand developments in China in key areas such as politics and leadership issues, economic policy and social problems, new trends and ideas for the new century and more.
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
In a graphic account of politics in Beijing in the era of Jiang Zemin that is based on unique access to Chinese sources, Willy Lam provides Western readers with an unrivalled analysis of how Jiang prevailed over his rivals and of the problems that arise from the limitations of his political vision. -- Michael Yahuda Professor of International Relations London Sch. of Economics and Political Science
President Jiang Zemin is about to lead China to "Greater Glories in the 21st Century". As the leader of an emerging superpower, Jiang has been consistently under-rated. Veteran "China Watcher" Willy Lam has put together a gripping story of Jiang, with a lot of interesting anecdotes and personal insights but also backed by extensive research. Timely and up-to-date, this is the kind of book which will appeal to both general readers and specialists. -- John Wong Research Director East Asian Institute, Nat'l. Univ. of Singapore
Pulling no punches and sparing no adjectives, Willy Lam vividly portrays China's newest strongman, Jiang Zemin, as a political overachiever, adept in the ways of Machiavellian manipulation and favor-currying, but lacking a defining vision for China's future - more a "fire-fighter" than a "helmsman". While some may take issue with Lam's free-wheeling, shoot-from-the-hip style, he can lay fair claim to the title of "the China Watcher's China Watcher". Richard Baum Professor of Political Science University of California, Los Angeles, and author of Burying Mao: Chinese Politics in the Age of -- Deng Xiaoping, Princeton University Press, 1996
The Era of Jiang Zemin is another tour-de-force from one of our best China watchers. Willy Lam's masterful study of power politics in Beijing is insightful, thoroughly researched, and very well informed. The book is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the current political scene in China today. -- John P. Burns Head, Dept. of Politics and Public Admin. University of Hong Kong
The Era of Jiang Zemin will cement Willy Wo-Lap Lam's reputation as one of the foremost chroniclers of the times and troubles of modern China. Set against a backdrop of the perennial problems of corruption, party in-fighting, the Taiwan dilemma and the role of the PLA; and the more recent difficulties posed by the Asian financial crisis, the book provides a masterful analysis of the position Jiang has taken on each of these critical issues. Lam is able to draw on his own vast experience and contacts in China to provide fascinating insights into Jiang's personality and how it influences his approach to political problems. As Lam sees it, Jiang is a man obsessed with his place in history, of how his leadership will compare with that of such legendary figures as Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping. Yet, paradoxically, for all his desire to find solutions for China's enduring problems, 'his biggest achievement may be keeping the CCP in power'. This is essential reading for anyone interested in recent Chinese politics. -- Ian Scott Professor of Politics and International Studies Murdoch University
This book is quintessential Willy Lam - it is filled with an extraordinary array of information, tantalizing insights, informative analysis, and bold predictions. The author has mined all available sources and has produced a very readable account. No other study examines China of the late 1990s in such breadth or depth. -- David Shambaugh Director, China Policy Program Professor of Political Science and Int. Affairs George Washington University and The Brookings Institutions
Until now there has been no easily-available source of information on post-Deng Xiaoping Chinese politics, based on comprehensive familiarity with both Chinese and English sources. Now we have one. -- Jonathan Mirsky East Asia Editor, 1993-98, The Times [London]
Willy Lam is one of the best informed observers writing about the shifting kaleidoscope of Chinese leadership patterns. His most recent book is an encyclopedic and important look into the workings of the Chinese Communist Party's "core leadership" that is enormously helpful in figuring out who is whom and where all the fracture points are in this opaque hierarchy. -- Orville Schell Dean, Graduate School of Journalism University of California, Berkeley and author of nine books on China
Willy Wo-Lap Lam, the dean of China watchers, has long been recognized as one of the world's most knowledgeable observors of Chinese politics. This book reveals him in top form - describing the Chinese political scene today with wit and insight, and analyzing the mounting economic and social dilemmas facing China. His extraordinary dissection of the new paramount leader, Jiang Zemin, is alone worth the price of the book for anyone interested in knowing more about China today. -- Jonathan Unger Director, Contemporary China Centre, Australian National University, and Editor, The China Journal
Willy Wo-lap Lam's work is the gold standard of Pekingology. He reads the political messages hidden amid the rhetoric and personnel shifts of Beijing, and gives us the latest on the impact of those power struggles on China's economy, military affairs, foreign affairs, and the prospects for political reform. A bracing skepticism pervades his analysis. If the unexpected should occur in China, this book will best prepare us to understand it. -- Andrew J. Nathan Professor of Political Science Columbia University
President Jiang Zemin is about to lead China to "Greater Glories in the 21st Century". As the leader of an emerging superpower, Jiang has been consistently under-rated. Veteran "China Watcher" Willy Lam has put together a gripping story of Jiang, with a lot of interesting anecdotes and personal insights but also backed by extensive research. Timely and up-to-date, this is the kind of book which will appeal to both general readers and specialists. -- John Wong Research Director East Asian Institute, Nat'l. Univ. of Singapore
Pulling no punches and sparing no adjectives, Willy Lam vividly portrays China's newest strongman, Jiang Zemin, as a political overachiever, adept in the ways of Machiavellian manipulation and favor-currying, but lacking a defining vision for China's future - more a "fire-fighter" than a "helmsman". While some may take issue with Lam's free-wheeling, shoot-from-the-hip style, he can lay fair claim to the title of "the China Watcher's China Watcher". Richard Baum Professor of Political Science University of California, Los Angeles, and author of Burying Mao: Chinese Politics in the Age of -- Deng Xiaoping, Princeton University Press, 1996
The Era of Jiang Zemin is another tour-de-force from one of our best China watchers. Willy Lam's masterful study of power politics in Beijing is insightful, thoroughly researched, and very well informed. The book is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the current political scene in China today. -- John P. Burns Head, Dept. of Politics and Public Admin. University of Hong Kong
The Era of Jiang Zemin will cement Willy Wo-Lap Lam's reputation as one of the foremost chroniclers of the times and troubles of modern China. Set against a backdrop of the perennial problems of corruption, party in-fighting, the Taiwan dilemma and the role of the PLA; and the more recent difficulties posed by the Asian financial crisis, the book provides a masterful analysis of the position Jiang has taken on each of these critical issues. Lam is able to draw on his own vast experience and contacts in China to provide fascinating insights into Jiang's personality and how it influences his approach to political problems. As Lam sees it, Jiang is a man obsessed with his place in history, of how his leadership will compare with that of such legendary figures as Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping. Yet, paradoxically, for all his desire to find solutions for China's enduring problems, 'his biggest achievement may be keeping the CCP in power'. This is essential reading for anyone interested in recent Chinese politics. -- Ian Scott Professor of Politics and International Studies Murdoch University
This book is quintessential Willy Lam - it is filled with an extraordinary array of information, tantalizing insights, informative analysis, and bold predictions. The author has mined all available sources and has produced a very readable account. No other study examines China of the late 1990s in such breadth or depth. -- David Shambaugh Director, China Policy Program Professor of Political Science and Int. Affairs George Washington University and The Brookings Institutions
Until now there has been no easily-available source of information on post-Deng Xiaoping Chinese politics, based on comprehensive familiarity with both Chinese and English sources. Now we have one. -- Jonathan Mirsky East Asia Editor, 1993-98, The Times [London]
Willy Lam is one of the best informed observers writing about the shifting kaleidoscope of Chinese leadership patterns. His most recent book is an encyclopedic and important look into the workings of the Chinese Communist Party's "core leadership" that is enormously helpful in figuring out who is whom and where all the fracture points are in this opaque hierarchy. -- Orville Schell Dean, Graduate School of Journalism University of California, Berkeley and author of nine books on China
Willy Wo-Lap Lam, the dean of China watchers, has long been recognized as one of the world's most knowledgeable observors of Chinese politics. This book reveals him in top form - describing the Chinese political scene today with wit and insight, and analyzing the mounting economic and social dilemmas facing China. His extraordinary dissection of the new paramount leader, Jiang Zemin, is alone worth the price of the book for anyone interested in knowing more about China today. -- Jonathan Unger Director, Contemporary China Centre, Australian National University, and Editor, The China Journal
Willy Wo-lap Lam's work is the gold standard of Pekingology. He reads the political messages hidden amid the rhetoric and personnel shifts of Beijing, and gives us the latest on the impact of those power struggles on China's economy, military affairs, foreign affairs, and the prospects for political reform. A bracing skepticism pervades his analysis. If the unexpected should occur in China, this book will best prepare us to understand it. -- Andrew J. Nathan Professor of Political Science Columbia University
From the Back Cover
The Era of Jiang Zemin will cement Willy Wo-Lap Lam's reputation as one of the foremost chroniclers of the times and troubles of modern China. Set against a backdrop of the perennial problems of corruption, party in-fighting, the Taiwan dilemma and the role of the PLA, and the more recent difficulties posed by the Asian financial crisis, the book provides a masterful analysis of the position Jiang has taken on each of these critical issues. Lam is able to draw on his own fast experience and contacts in China to provide fascinating insights into Jiang's personality and how it influences his approach to political problems. As Lam sees it, Jiang is a man obsessed with his place in history, of how his leadership will compare with that of such legendary figures as Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping. Yet, paradoxically, for all his desire to find solutions for China's enduring problems, 'his biggest achievement may be keeping the CCP in power'. This is essential reading for anyone interested in recent Chinese politics. --Ian Scott, Professor of Politics and International Studies, Murdoch University
Pulling no punches and sparing no adjectives, Willy Lam vividly portrays China's newest strongman, Jiang Zemin, as a political overachiever, adept in the ways of Machiavellian manipulation and favor-currying, but lacking a defining vision for China's future--more a "fire-fighter" than a "helmsman". While some may take issue with Lam's free-wheeling, shoot-from-the-hip style, he can lay fair claim to the titles of "the China Watcher's China Watcher." --Richard Baum, Professor of Political Science, UCLA, and author of Burying Mao: Chinese Politics in the Age of Deng Xiaoping
Until now there has been no easily available source of information on post-Deng Xiaoping Chinese politics, based on comprehensive familiarity with both Chinese and English sources. Now we have one. --Jonathan Mirsky, East Asia Editor, 1993-98, The Times (London)
Willy Lam is one of the best informed observers writing about the shifting kaleidoscope of Chinese leadership patterns. His most recent book is an encyclopedic and important look into the workings of the Chinese Communist Party's "core leadership" that is enormously helpful in figuring out who is whom and where all the fracture points are in this opaque hierarchy. --Orville Schell, Dean, Graduate School of Journalism, UC Berkeley
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Detailed and Interesting,
By BP (Herndon, VA USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Era of Jiang Zemin, The (Paperback)
This book gives a great short course on modern Chinese politics without being dry or bogged down in academic language. It's much easier to get through than Lam's last book, "China After Deng Xiaoping," which is a great reference but a little too detailed.Especially interesting is Lam's description of Jiang's relationship with the military and how this relationship affected China's relations with the US and Taiwan. As China faces a leadership transition in Beijing, Lam's book provides a useful insight into the balance of power among China's elite that will shape this transition.
4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
good info, loopy writing,
This review is from: Era of Jiang Zemin, The (Paperback)
A highly detailed and informative account of the current leadership's rise to power and preoccupations in keeping it. It's perhaps the best source on Beijing's current politics, so its a shame that the writing is so often loopy and unclear. The holes in the research are perhaps forgivable, considering the book's timeliness, but still regrettable.
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