‘The Generalissimo’ describes how the Chinese lost China

“The Generalissimo,” Jay Taylor’s new book on Chiang Kai-Shek, may be perfectly timed for the current debate on the future of democracy in mainland China.

Taylor, who was a U.S. Foreign Service officer in Hong Kong during the Cultural Revolution, argues that, far from being incompetent, Chiang was a farsighted, disciplined and canny strategist who repeatedly predicted major geopolitical events and made the most of the weak hand he was usually dealt by allies and enemies. His five decades of participation, at the highest levels, in world-changing events may be unsurpassed in the 20th century. For all his flaws as a political leader, Chiang laid the foundation not only for Taiwan's prosperity, but also for its transformation into the only democracy in the Chinese-speaking world, and one of the few in Asia. …

On the mainland, Chiang is now widely regarded as a Chinese patriot who made valuable contributions to the modern nation. Moreover, although they may not care to admit it, the leaders in Beijing have looked to Taiwan as a model for what a prosperous and free Chinese society might be like. And as China sheds its Maoist legacy, rendering the Chairman's rule a three-decade aberration, even mainstream Chinese scholars are suggesting that the country might have been better off had Chiang triumphed in 1949.

Perfect for democracy. Contrary to claims by unelected Communist rulers, and self-serving betrayals by such celebrities as Jackie Chan, China has no more justification for dictatorship than any other nation. A century ago, history and geography books described at length how Sun Yat-sen had proven China’s culture was perfect for democracy. Mao didn’t change that. Mao proved it again.

Frank Warner

Comments

[jj mollo]

Just for contrast, there was an important book about Mao published in 2005. I put up a post about it at the time called Mao the Pitiless.

[Frank Warner]

I recall "Mao: The Unknown Story." After reading it, several China experts dramatically increased their estimates of the millions whom Mao murdered or allowed to die.

[Sophia]

I travel to China regularly, and not on the so-called tourist track, and deal with friends and relatives who range from peasant farmers with the latest in everything to state party secretaries who can't even pee without being paranoid. Theysay the same thing as you have just so elequently spoken. Thankyou for giving a voice!

[william krause]

Jay Taylor's engrossing account of the travails of Chiang Kai-shek, accompanied by his fascinating,beautiful and western educated wife, Madame Chiang Kai-shek, during their tribulations is a history buffs ultimate pleasure. It involves most of the major political players and many of the prominent military leaders of the twentieth century, and Taylor deftly sketches them all while he probes the enigma that is Chiang Kai-shek. With access to Chiang's, and other's personal journals, he fleshes out the convolutions of war and politics of that momentous era, and Taylor informs the reader with objectivity, keen insight, and worldly-wise humor. A mind boggling story masterfully told.