Overview

In the twenty-first century, students of Cold War history are fortunate to have the fruits of several major works on the Sino-Soviet split by European and American scholars. What is lacking in English literature, however, is a book based on international documentation, especially Chinese archival documents that tell the story from the Chinese perspective. Based on archival materials from several countries—particularly China—and more than twenty years of research on the subject, two prominent Chinese historians, Danhui Li and Yafeng Xia, offer a comprehensive look at the Sino–Soviet split from 1959, when visible cracks appeared in the Sino-Soviet alliance, to 1973, when China’s foreign policy changed from an “alliance with the Soviet Union to oppose the United States” to “aligning with the United States to oppose the Soviet Union.” Mao and the Sino-Soviet Split, 1959–1973: A New History is a reevaluation of the history of the Sino-Soviet split and offers the first comprehensive account of it from a Chinese perspective. This book, together with its prequel Mao and the Sino–Soviet Partnership, 1945–1959: A New History, is important because any changes in Sino-Soviet relations at the time affected, and to a great extent determined, the fate of the socialist bloc. More importantly, it directly impacted and transformed the international political situation during the Cold War. These two books promise to be a reevaluation of the history of the Sino-Soviet alliance from its birth to its demise. These fascinating books will be a crucial resource for all those interested in the topic and will stand as the definitive work on the Sino-Soviet alliance for years to come.

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9781498511667

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Reviews

Danhui Li and Yafeng Xia effectively use numerous materials in several languages, including from provincial archives in China, to place the Sino-Soviet relationship at the center of key moments in PRC history, including the turn toward the United States. This is like reading MacFarquhar with archives. -- Austin Jersild, Old Dominion University

Danhui Li and Yafeng Xia effectively use numerous materials in several languages, including from provincial archives in China, to place the Sino-Soviet relationship at the center of key moments in PRC history, including the turn toward the United States. This is like reading MacFarquhar with archives. -- Austin Jersild, Old Dominion University An essential resource for all scholars of the Cold War and of the demise of the Sino-Soviet Friendship, this new book seeks to upend the prevailing scholarly explanations of the famous Sino-Soviet Split. Armed with new Russian and Chinese data, Danhui Li and Yafeng Xia offer a more nuanced explanation of important Sino-Soviet events and, in so doing, argue that China's relationship with the Soviet Union was crucially important to the development of Mao's Cultural Revolution. -- Deborah Kaple, Princeton University Authored by two leading historians of China's foreign relations, this meticulously researched work of scholarship brings new depth to our understanding of the underlying causes of the Sino-Soviet split. Danhui Li and Yafeng Xia tell a gripping story, peppered with fascinating details from new archival revelations. This study is a must-read for scholars and students of Cold War history. -- Sergey Radchenko, Cardiff University No bilateral relationship was more consequential in Cold War history than the conflict-ridden Sino-Soviet alliance. This carefully researched and insightfully argued book by two of the world's most accomplished experts on the subject is a must read for anyone interested in diplomatic history, international security, or the international relations of East Asia. -- Thomas Christensen, Columbia University

Author Information

Danhui Li is professor of history at East China Normal University. Yafeng Xia is professor of history at Long Island University.

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