SDCHM Presents Talk and Book Signing by Dr. Paul Tai

Talk and Book Signing by Dr. Paul Tai, author of How Chiang Kai-shek and Mao Zedong Ruled China at the San Diego Chinese Historical Museum, Chuang Archive & Learning Center, 541 B Second Ave, San Diego, CA 92101 on Saturday, November 7, 2015 at 1:30-3:30 pm. 

About the Talk

In China’s recent history, there have been two major leaders: Chiang Kai-shek and Mao Zedong. How did these two men rule over a country with a population accounting for nearly a quarter of mankind for nearly fifty years? To answer this question, Dr. Tai examines their use of three instruments of governance: the use of the gun, the use of the pen, and a host of measures of power play. These two men were enemies throughout their lives, and yet they shared a common purpose: to lead China to become a strong and powerful country; at the same time, however, both men brought about disaster to many.

How Chang Kai-sheck and Mao Zedong Ruled China is a review of Dr. Tai’s findings regarding China’s last century of history and these two larger-than-life figures. His book published by China Times Publishing Co. in Chinese《枪杆，笔杆和权术：蒋介石和毛泽东的治国之道》examines Chiang Kai-shek and Mao Zedong’s legacy, their contributions and failings. The author’s talk will be a billingual (English-Chinese) presentation followed by a book signing.

About the Author

Dr. Paul Tai (Tai Hung-chao) received his B.A. from the National Taiwan University in 1954, M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Illinois in 1958 and 1961 respectively. He is the former Political Science Department Chairman at the University of Detroit-Mercy and has served as a faculty research associate at Harvard University’s Center of International Affairs and Stanford University’s Hoover Institute.

A renowned scholar, Dr. Tai produced over seventy-five articles in professional journals and six books, including Land Reform and Politics: A Comparative Analysis (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1974), Politics of Post-Land Reform Countries (Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government Monograph, 1984), International Political Economy (Taipei: San Min Book Company, 1995), and United States, China, and Taiwan: Bridges for a New Millennium (Carbondale: Southern Illinois University, 1999). He also translated into English The Private Life of Chairman Mao, by Li Zhisui (New York: Random House, 1994). In his professional activities, he was president of the American Society of China Scholars and editor-in-chief of American Journal of Chinese Studies (1966-98).

For additional information about the talk and book signing please contact the San Diego Chinese Historical Museum, Alex Stewart, TEL: 1 (619) 338-9888 or info@sdchm.org