<P>With new leadership and an increasingly interconnected, socially concerned population, the People's Republic of China has reached a critical stage in its economic and political development. Over the past three decades,while China was making great strides in economic reform, political reform came much more slowly. The study of political science in China, however, has blossomed in recent years, producing vigorous research and thoughtful discourse on the nation's political future.</P><P> <I>China's Political Development</I> combines twelve analytical chapters on politics and institutions, written by prominent Chinese political scientists, with extensive commentary by prominent American colleagues. Shedding light through these contrasting perspectives, this volume presents a uniquely insightful look at the world's most populous nation, from within and without.</P>