This book explores the history and development of modern Chinese politics. Written by Dr. Mingsheng Wang, a renowned Chinese political scientist, it presents a truly groundbreaking and thought-provoking study of the sociopolitical forces behind Chinas gradual emergence as a new global power in the 20th century and its rapid rise as the worlds second-largest economy over the past 40 years. The authors argument, illuminated by comparative theoretical analyses based on meticulously detailed empirical research, functions as a lens through which readers can better understand Chinas remarkable accomplishments as well as consider broader issues that have perplexed many: Is there a China Path to sociopolitical progress? What is socialism with Chinese characteristics? Can China redefine its niche and maintain its growing momentum in an increasingly multilateral world? And finally, what lessons can we draw from Chinas continuing progress in the post-COVID era?

As the author argues eloquently and with persuasive evidence, Chinas ongoing progress has followed neither the mode of Russian-style socialism nor that of Western prototypical capitalism. Rather, it represents a distinctively different model of progress and a continuous search for a viable alternative route to modernity that is permeated with Chinese realities. By identifying an alternative system described as the China Path, the author demonstrates convincingly that there exist ample options for different types of modernity and that economic growth means not only industrialization, but also the development of political democratization and the realization of the rule of law. In this sense, this book significantly enriches our understanding of modern China. The 33 carefully selected essays in the anthology provide a much-needed opportunity for scholars, policy makers and all interested readers to obtain an insiders view of the history and prospect of Chinas political development. 

Mingsheng Wang (Ph.D., Nanjing University) is Professor of Political Science at Nanjing University (NJU) in China. He is Member of the Advisory Committee on Senior Faculty Positions and NJU Director of the Jiangsu Provincial Research Center of Theoretical Studies of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics. He has also served as Vice President of the Jiangsu Provincial Research Society of Scientific Socialism and Executive Director of the Jiangsu Provincial Research Society of Politics. In addition, he is Recipient of a Five One-Group Talent Award from Jiangsu province and a New Century Talent Award by the Chinese Ministry of Education. His research interests focus on studies of political history and development in modern China, Mao Zedong Thought, theoretical studies of Chinese socialism, and sociopolitical reforms in China in the Post-Mao era. He has published more than 100 scholarly articles in newspapers and journals such as Peoples Daily, Guangming Daily, and Qiushi Journal. He is Author of more than 15 books, including Political Participation in Contemporary China, History and Logic of Political Development in Contemporary China, and Designs on Economic Development by Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping. He has received three distinguished awards: Second Prize of Outstanding Achievement Award in the Humanities and Social Sciences from the Ministry of Education, First Prize of Outstanding Achievement Award in Philosophy and Social Sciences in Jiangsu province, and First Prize of Outstanding Achievement Award in Philosophy and Social Sciences of Universities in Jiangsu province.   

Xiao-huang Yin (PhD, Harvard University) is Professor of Asian/American Studies at Occidental College in the United States and Dean of the School of Foreign Studies at Northwestern Polytechnic Studies in China. He served as founding Director of the Global Studies in the Arts and Humanities at Michigan State University, Fulbright Distinguished Chair Professor to China, and Changjiang Scholar Chair Professor at Nanjing University. Specializing in Chinese transnationalism, modern China, and US-China relations, he is the author of Chinese American Literature since the 1850s (Illinois), co-editor of The Expanding Roles of Chinese Americans in U.S.-China Relations (Routledge), the principal translator of The China Path to Economic Transition and Development (Springer), and a contributor to New Americans: Immigration to the United States since the 1960s (Harvard), Chinese American Transnationalism (Temple), Diaspora Philanthropy and Equitable Development: Perspectives on China and India (Harvard), and American Babel: Essays on Language, Immigration and Translation (Harvard) as well as many other books and journals such as American Quarterly and Atlantic Monthly.