Volume 15 of The Cambridge History of China is the second of two volumes dealing with the People's Republic of China since its birth in 1949. The harbingers of the Cultural Revolution were analyzed in Volume 14 and Volume 15 traces a course of events still only partially understood by most Chinese. It begins by analysing the development of Mao's thought since the Communist seizure of power, and, in doing so, attempts to understand why he launched the movement. The contributors grapple with the conflict of evidence between what was said favourably about the Cultural Revolution at the time and the often diametrically opposed retrospective accounts. Volume 15, together with Volume 14, provides the most comprehensive and clearest account of how revolutionary China has developed in response to the upheavals initiated by Mao and Teng Hsiao-p'ing.

 Volume 15 considers the developments in Mao's thoughts and how they related to China's government in this account of a turbulent period in Chinese history.

1. Mao Tse-tung's thought from 1949 to 1976 Stuart R. Schram; Part I. The Cultural Revolution: China in Turmoil, 1966?9: 2. The Chinese state in crisis Harry Harding; 3. China confronts the Soviet Union: warfare and diplomacy on China's inner Asian Frontiers Thomas Robinson; Part II. The Cultural Revolution: The Struggle for the Succession, 1969?82: 4. The succession to Mao and the end of Maoism Roderick MacFarquhar; 5. The opening to America Jonathan D. Pollack; Part III. The Cultural Revolution and its Aftermath: 6. China's economic policy and performance Dwight H. Perkins; 7. Education Suzanne Pepper; 8. Literature and the arts Douwe Fokkema; Part IV. Life and Letters under Communism: 9. The countryside under Communism Richard Madsen; 10. Urban life in the People's Republic Martin King Whyte; 11. Literature under Communism Cyril Birch; Part V. The Separated Province: 12. Twaiwan under Nationalist rule, 1949?82 Ralph Clough; Epilogue: the onus of unity Roderick MacFarquhar.