Stalin, Mao, Communism, and their 21st-Century Aftermath in Russia and China

Book excerpt: This book describes salient and momentous events, as well as gruesome episodes, in the history of communism under Joseph Stalin in the Soviet Union and Mao Tse-tung in China, and narrates succinctly the historic major happenings that have taken place since that time up to the 21st century, such as hostilities, espionage, and actual confrontations—occurrences that have affected relations between those two nations vis-à-vis the West and the United States. The author corrects the historic record where it needs amending given new information that has come to light, and redresses political biases that have arisen and to which none of us are immune. This book serves as a sincere warning about the evils not only of the full-blown imposition of totalitarianism via revolution, but also of the implementation of socialism and authoritarianism via evolution, asserting that full economic and political freedom is always best.