China's Publishing Industry

China's Publishing Industry: From Mao to the Market takes a long view in understanding the profound changes to China's publishing industry, covering a period from the 'socialist transformation' under Mao to the more recent reforms, such as the conglomeration and corporatization of the industry. The book investigates the impact of the changing social, economic. and ideological environment on the structure and operation of the publishing industry, and explores how the burgeoning digital publishing business is shaped by the broader social context. It reveals that the process of commercialization in China's publishing industry has been marked by persistent tensions and contradictions, using case studies to demonstrate how these tensions have impacted everyday practices. Provides contemporary information on China's publishing industryPresents a clear overview of trends and explains the fundamental dynamics behind themGives an analytic account, demonstrating the interaction between the broader social context and the publishing industryExplains the legacies of the old system, the predicaments inherent in the current industry, and the limits of ongoing reformsUses detailed case studies to illustrate how a typical state publishing group operates and copes with the demands from the party, pressure from the market, and the challenge posed by digital technology