A comparative study of the political economy of the transition from communism in East and Southeast Asian countries (China, North Korea, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia), addressing the key theoretical questions generated from the debate between shock-therapists and gradualists. While accurately defining the pre-reform model, this book explores the causal variables that have contributed to reform efforts within Asia, examining the significance of the sequencing of political and economic transition and the interplay between politics and the economy in determining variations in transition outcomes.

Comparing the 'real world' experiences of transition nations in communist Asia with Eastern Europe, prominent questions are brought to the fore; will market capitalism or market socialism prevail after the grand failure of communism? This book makes an important contribution to the political economy theory of comparative communist and post-communist studies and provides detailed analytical insights that will prove influential in future theoretical work.

Contents: Introduction: patterns and explanations; Historical background and pre-transition models; Explaining Asian transition from communism; Strategic choices and sequencing of reform; The nature of Asian transition from communism; Redesigning market socialism: a future for socialism; Selected bibliography; Index.

About the Author: Dr Sujian Guo is an Associate Professor in Political Science at San Francisco State University, USA, and the Editor of a refereed academic journal - Journal of Chinese Political Science. His research interests have focused on communist and post-communist studies, democratic transition, Chinese politics, and political economy of East and Southeast Asia. He has published more than 24 articles both in English and Chinese journals.

Reviews: 'Asia's formerly planned economies in China, Vietnam, N. Korea, Laos and Cambodia have mostly muddled through 'feeling the stones while crossing the river' toward hoped-for market efficiency…Guo provides a detailed, neatly structured survey of conservative and reform fractions in each of these five countries. He shows that the reformers generally prevail over their domestic rivals only by starting with sectors such as rural industry, whose initial change affects few state-level politicians…Everyone who is interested in Asia's de-communizing states absolutely must read this book.' Professor Lynn T. White III, Princeton University, USA

'Professor Sujian Guo has written a clear, detailed, and convincing study of the processes of reform in Asian communist countries. This is a remarkable accomplishment. China, North Korea, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia are independent and diverse in their politics, and they are also opaque in their decision-making processes. The Political Economy of Asian Transition from Communism is the best comparative analysis of the politics of economic reform in these states, and it makes a major contribution to the general understanding of the modalities and prospects of socialist market economies.' Professor Brantly Womack, University of Virginia, USA

'…Guo should be congratulated for having made a distinct contribution to the debate on the future of market socialism.' The China Journal

'This book…is worthy of careful study by anyone interested in economic reform and the transition from state socialism to more market-oriented economies…Guo's work has gone a long way in contributing to the conversation on the economic and political reform. As such, this theoretically rigorous and innovative volume deserves a wide audience…Guo's findings will be quoted, cited and debated for many years to come.' Journal of Chinese Political Science

'This book is well organized and is essential reading for those engaged in devising new policy frameworks for the transitional economies of the world. The author has made a tremendous attempt to present the whole story of transition in a lucid manner and deserves much credit.'
Development Policy Review

Extracts from this title are available to view:

Full contents list

Introduction

Index