China after Mao

Abstract

COMMUNIST CHINA has entered a transitional period of great historic significance. The end of the long period of Mao Tse-tung's personal leadership of the Chinese revolution is in sight, and the struggle for succession has begun. Even more important, the entire take-over generation of Chinese revolutionary leaders will soon pass from the scene. These men, who have clung to power and aged in office ever since 1949, realize that before long they will be succeeded by new men, whom Mao has called the "heirs of the revolution," with consequences for the regime that cannot be clearly foreseen but will obviously be profound.