The Revolutionary Research

The Revolutionary Research

Leadership and Development: The Role of Deng Xiaoping's Strategic Rationality in the Development of Post-Revolutionary China

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Siroos Bonyadi 1
Fariborz Arghavani Pirsalami 2
1 PhD student in Political Science, Faculty of Law and Political Science, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
2 Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, Faculty of Law and Political Science, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
10.22034/fademo.2025.536834.1133
Abstract
The events of revolutions in different geographical contexts, although they initially showed similar results, such as the spirit of change and excitement, have subsequently determined different paths, and this has been mainly due to the type of leadership in the post-revolutionary era. The fact that Deng Xiaoping's leadership in China, unlike Mao, resulted in growth and development that was called the miracle of the century; an event that was so rapid is more than anything else an indication of a leader's understanding of the requirements of continuing the revolution with achievement-making; a role that has, of course, been neglected and ignored, because from whatever angle this development is considered, Deng's leadership and the role of his strategic rationality in the development of China today are undeniable. In this regard, the central question of this article is: What role has Deng's strategic rationality played in China's development today, and what indicators and components does this strategic rationality comprise? The findings of this study, using the method of historical content analysis related to Deng's political literature and his politics in Chinese history, show that the development experience of post-revolutionary China was indebted to Deng's leadership, which paved the way for development thanks to strategic rationality; a strategic rationality that included indicators such as political tragic thinking, the policy of maintaining the status quo, prioritizing issues, reality as a guiding light for policy, pragmatism, and the creation of self-correcting mechanisms.
Keywords
Leadership
strategic rationality
development
China
Deng Xiaoping
Subjects
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The Revolutionary Research
Volume 3, Issue 6 - Serial Number 6
December 2025
Pages 27-49

  • Receive Date 24 July 2025
  • Revise Date 14 September 2025
  • Accept Date 27 September 2025