Traditionally, political scientists and economists have seen China as a single entity; business people have seen China as a single market. This book challenges the notion of a centralized and unified China, and outlines how provinces are taking on new economic and political roles, forced upon them by decentralization. Whilst central leadership in Beijing retains overall initative, decision-making powers in major policies are shifting to the provinces. They are becoming economic and political agents with their own economic/social agendas, and distinct political and cultural identities. This...

Traditionally, political scientists and economists have seen China as a single entity; business people have seen China as a single market. This book challenges the notion of a centralized and unified China, and outlines how provinces are taking on new economic and political roles, forced upon them by decentralization. Whilst central leadership in Beijing retains overall initative, decision-making powers in major policies are shifting to the provinces. They are becoming economic and political agents with their own economic/social agendas, and distinct political and cultural identities. This...

During the War of Resistance to Japan from 1937 to 1945, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) grew from a marginalized political force on the geographical periphery of Chinese society to a position of national leadership. Explaining this transformation has long been a major point of contestation among scholars. This groundbreaking volume draws on newly available documentary sources to explore key facets of the partyOs move to power. Leading scholars from China and the West compare the varied experiences of the CCP_and its interactions with local society_in all the border regions and base areas...