Two Years after the death of Mao Zedong in 1976, it became apparent to many of China's leaders that Economic reform was necessary. By 1978 " Chinese leaders were searching for a solution to serious economic problems produced by Hua Guofeng, the man who had succeeded Mao Zedong as CCP leader after Mao's death" (Shirk 35). As Susan L. Shirk describes the situation in The Political Logic of Economic Reform in China, restoring the CCP's prestige required improving economic …showed first 75 words of 1057 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1057 total…on becoming a founding member of the World Trade Organization" (Gargan 14). Will China succeed in taking its place among the nations of the world market? Will the CCP succeed in retaining its political power given the drastic changes in the societal makeup of China that are occurring due to the changing economic realities? Paradoxically, by weakening itself politically, the party may demonstrate its true moral force by liberating, politically and economically, one billion Chinese citizens