In this book, Out of Mao’s Shadow, Washington Post journalist Philip Pan tells eleven stories of extraordinary individuals in current-day China, based on detailed interviews conducted between 2000 and 2008, as well as related documents. The main axis of the collection of stories is around the battle between the elites who want to hold on to their power within the authoritarian system at all costs, and the disparate, brave group of lawyers, journalists, entrepreneurs, doctors, in whom the flames of justice and dignity still burn strongly, and who are able to bring about concessions from the government, even if at personal sacrifice. One set of stories, looks at the attempts of some individuals to confront China’s painful recent past; another focuses on the Communist Party’s attempts to adapt and survive after the death of Mao. The final group of stories end with a certain optimism - the courage of individuals to take a stand even against great odds and against the personal danger and restrictions they face. Many of those who suffered in their efforts to expose the corruption and injustice of the Communist Party were those who at the beginning of its rule were fervent adherents and defenders of it but when provoked, refused to stay passive. In the chapter called ‘Arise, Slaves, Arise!’, Pan gives a close account of workers in Liaoyang - part of Chinas ‘rust belt’ which used to produce most of the steel and iron - who demonstrated against massive layoffs and years without salary, but even more, against the corruption of the local legislature. The final outcome is a mixture of success and failure, as the organizing workers were jailed, though some concessions were extracted from the government, like payments to the workers and increased benefits to laid-off workers nationally. 

This book goes a long way towards giving the Western reader a much clearer picture of the ‘space’ - in journalism, art (film), direct actions among other ways - that does exist in China for individuals and like-minded groups. It sometimes comes only through personal risk-taking, and often after years of suffering. It ends on a hopeful note. The Party’s blatant violation of its socialist ideals have not erased the sense of justice and dignity of its people.

List Price: US$28; may be purchased online via links at http://www.outofmaosshadow.com/buy/