Marta Dassù - The Reform Decade in China: From Hope to Dismay

This book began with a discussion between Marta Dassu and Tony Saich, in Rome, over the possibility of producing the first book for the Italian public analysing the ten years of reform in the PRC. Realising that such a project did not exist in the English language, it was decided to publish the book simultaneously in both languages. That was the easy part. Next came the trials and tribulations of finding contributors who could bring the idea to fruition. We were particularly interested in putting together an international set of authors who would analyse the events of the last ten years in terms of the effects on her or his fields of expertise. We were very lucky that such a distinguished set of scholars agreed to participate in the project.

In addition, a number of individuals and organisations provided the necessary support to ensure that the project promoted by the Centre for International Politics (CeSPI), Rome, did not go off the rails.

Firstly, we would like to thank the University of Bologna, and in particular Professor Gianni Sofri, and the Feltrinelli Foundation, and in particular Francesca Gori, who co-sponsored with CeSPI a meeting entitled China Since Mao: From Reform to Tiananmen held in Bologna in November 1989 at which the first drafts of the chapters were presented. Secondly, The Royal Institute of International Affairs, London, co-sponsored a second meeting in February 1990 at which some of the authors were able to discuss the chapters between themselves and a number of British China specialists. The organisation of these two meetings would not have been possible without the help of Vittoria Antonelli (CeSPI), Luisa Pece (Bologna), Marisa Di Gioia (Feltrinelli Foundation), and Gabrielle Galligan (RIIA).

However, the project still needed a publisher and here we were particularly lucky to be helped by Kegan Paul International. In particular, we would like to thank Kaori OConnor and Peter Hopkins for their enthusiasm and help in guiding us through the publication process. Last but not least, we should thank the staff of CeSPI, and particularly Vittoria Antonelli. If not for their help, we would still be sticking pieces of paper together and trying to type chapters onto disks. Marta Dassu,