Introduction; Chapter One: A Disease of the Heart: The Rise to Power of the CCP; Chapter Two: Revolutionary Administrator: The Party in Power; Chapter Three: The Party in the Reform Era; Chapter Four: The Chinese Communist Party from 1992 to 2008; Chapter Five: The Challenges Facing China and What they mean for the CCP; Chapter Six: The Chinese Communist Party as it moves into the 21st Century; Conclusion: Gambling with the Devil: Why the Fate of the CCP Matters to Us All

'Not a line is wasted in this book. It is packed with details and sweeping explanations of historical periods and current circumstances. The book is a treasure trove for all those dealing with China. The insights Brown has accumulated during his long engagement with the country are invaluable and set the book aside from loudly advertised books on China—books that are also designed for the general reader but likely to showcase all that has gone wrong, pointing the finger at the bad guys in the Communist Party without attempting to understand policy decisions. The book should be on the shelves of all those who engage with China professionally, and of all who take a private interest in the country.' —Oliver Hensengerth, University of Southampton, in ‘International Affairs’

'Dr Kerry Brown does the business in a brisk, no-nonsense way. For those who want an easy, short and very readable guide to an organisation which has shaped China's present and could help mould the world's future, Brown's book can be warmly recommended.' —Chris Patten, ‘The Independent’