Conversations with Deng Xiaoping
Deng Xiaoping was one of the most consequential Chinese and world leaders of the 20th century. A Chinese revolutionary, Deng held high-ranking positions within the Chinese Communist Party during the Mao Zedong era (1949-1976) but was purged and removed from power on two separate occasions. After the death of Mao in the late 1970s, Deng rose to preeminence within the CCP and presided over China during a period of rapid political and economic change. Although Deng’s name is positively associated with the policy of opening and reform and China’s fast-paced economic growth, Deng's legacy is complicated by his responsibility for the tragic, deadly crackdown at Tiananmen Square in June 1989.
This collection brings together conversations held between Deng Xiaoping and foreign leaders from both within and outside of the communist bloc in order to offer insights into Deng's evolving influence over China's domestic developments, economic policy, and foreign relations from the 1950s through 1980s.
