Eric Setzekorn Knihy

Exploring a unique period in China's military history, this book examines the brief emergence of a professional, apolitical officer corps in the mid-twentieth century. It delves into the factors that contributed to its formation, the reasons for its eventual decline, and the implications of this transformation for China's domestic and international relations. The narrative highlights the distinct nature of China's military, which operates under the authority of the Chinese Communist Party rather than as a national force.

For a brief period in the mid-twentieth century, China had the makings of a professional, apolitical military force. The Rise and Fall of an Officer Corps tells the story of that moment in the military history of modern China - how it came to be, why it ultimately failed, and what it meant for China at home and abroad.