Since China adopted its ?reform and opening up= policy in 1978, the country has undergone impressive progress. It has advanced from being a developing country to become the second largest economy in the world and has considerably raised the average standard of living of its population. Nicola Spakowski shows how Mao Zedong=s successors have succeeded in leading the country out of isolation, initiating reforms and constantly adapting the political and economic system to new challenges. She describes the special characteristics of Chinese politics, economy and society and explains the problems and conflicts that accompany the fundamental transformation that the country has gone through.