The old order: Nature of Chinese society ; Confucian pattern ; Alien rule and dynastic cycles ; Political tradition ; The revolutionary process: Western invasion ; Rebellion and restoration ; Reform and revolution ; Rise of the Kuomintang ; Nanking government ; Rise of the communist party -- The United States and the People's Republic: Our inherited China policy ; United States policy and the nationalist defeat ; The People's Republic: establishing the new order ; Struggle for socialist transformation ; Second revolution ; Perspectives: China and ourselves