Deng Xiaoping: From revolutionary to statesman. An overview of his career and his development as a leader with emphasis on the years 1952--1976.

摘要

This study examines the career of Deng Xiaoping. Analyzing Deng's evolution from young revolutionary to leader of China, it reveals how a utilitarian rather than doctrinaire outlook determined the policies that Deng would support and thus, the relationships that he would maintain.;For example, Deng's essential pragmatism resulted in his support of and eventual political estrangement from Mao Zedong. Deng was convinced of the superiority of Mao's revolutionary tactics, but, following the disastrous Great Leap Forward, abandoned Mao's economic policies as impractical and counterproductive. Other writers have explained the split between Deng and Mao in terms of a change in the former's approach to problems. But, of the two men, it was more Mao who changed in the years following the Communist victory, shifting to a wholly ideological approach to solving China's problems.;As this study will reveal, Deng's commitment to what he believed were more practical tactics compelled him to sacrifice his alliance with Mao. Consequently, he would suffer removal from office two times. However, he would overcome these political setbacks and, following Mao's death, succeed in implementing policies that have reportedly stimulated tremendous economic growth. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)