There and Back Again: Deng Xiaoping's Southern Tour and the Legacy of Reform and Opening in China

Barbarians at the Gate

In this episode, we welcome back a friend of the podcast, Jonathan Chatwin, to discuss his new book, The Southern Tour: Deng Xiaoping and the Fight for China's Future.

Since the Emperor Kangxi made his southern tour in 1684, many emperors and Chinese leaders have undertaken similar inspection tours, including Mao, Deng, and Xi Jinping. Deng’s southern tour took place in the backdrop of contentious debates about his radical restructuring of the economy in the Reform era. Jonathan describes how Deng used the tour to reinvigorate his market reforms amidst the turmoil after 1989 and the difficulties with squaring the tenets of socialism with the new agenda of wealth creation.

Our conversation also covers Deng’s legacy, Xi Jinping’s attempt to downplay Deng’s role in the historic reforms, and the obstacles of publishing a China book in the current Sino-skeptic environment.

Publisher’s link for The Southern Tour: Deng Xiaoping and the Fight for China's Future

Our previous episode with Dr. Chatwin discussed his book, Long Peace Street: A Walk in Modern China

Deng-zilla Poster! from Chineseposters.net