Toward a theoretical understanding of communist China in the post-Mao era: The problem of ideology and revolution from the top

In: Issues & studies: a social science quarterly on China, Taiwan, and East Asian affairs, Band 23, Heft 6, S. 80-97

Abstract

The paper attempts to survey the changes in the PRC in the post-Mao era in terms of K. E. Trimberger's concept of revolution from above. It is found that many of communist China's problems since 1976, such as overthrow of the Gang of Four, the zig-zag course of ideological change, the crackdown on both leftism and volumentary democratic movements from below, can all be explained with reference to the concept of revolution from above. (DÜI-Sen)