Keeping Democracy at Bay

Suzanne Pepper is an American writer and long-time Hong Kong resident. She is the author, among other works, of Civil War in China: The Political Struggle, 1945–1949, Second Edition (Rowman & Littlefield). For regular updates on Hong Kong politics see the author's blog at http://chinaelectionsblog.net/hkfocus

• Chapter 1: Hong Kong, China, and the WestPart I: Colonial FoundationsChapter 2: The Original InheritanceChapter 3: Crown Colony Rule, 1841–1941Chapter 4: Chinese "Self-Government"Part II: Autocrats, Communists, and ReformersChapter 5: New Beginnings, Old SolutionsChapter 6: The Cold War Reaches Hong KongChapter 7: Showcase DemocracyChapter 8: A 1960s Rebellion and Its AftermathChapter 9: Progress without Political ReformChapter 10: Political Reform without IndependenceChapter 11: A Political Community in the MakingChapter 12: Better Late Than Never?Part III: Under Chinese RuleChapter 13: Crossing the 1997 DivideChapter 14: Reaffirmation and RetreatChapter 15: Conservative Counter-CurrentsChapter 16: Checkmate

This book is a commendable effort which not only offers insight into the critical issues surrounding Hong Kong's political history but also appeals to the imagination by allowing the reader to get as close as possible to voices of the past. As such, it would be a useful point of reference for scholars of Chinese history, politics, and international affairs.