Don unveils book on Chinese Communist Party
Don unveils book on Chinese Communist Party
By: Femi Mustapha
A book titled “The Chinese Communist Party: From Imperialism Yoke to Revolutionary Transformation” written by Dr. Nuruddeen Abubakar, Head, Department of History, Kaduna State University (KASU), was unveiled in Kaduna on 21st September 2023.
In his welcome remarks, the stand-in chairman of the occasion, who also serves as the Dean of the Faculty of Arts at KASU, Prof. Audi Giwa, eulogized Dr. Abubakar for his contributions to academic development and problem-solving.
According to him, the timing of the book is apt, considering the international events and Nigeria’s quest to redesign its foreign policy.
Prof. Giwa commended the author for addressing the Chinese Communist Party in his book, noting that it serves as a reference point for academic and international relations due to the author’s academic stature.
He mentioned that Prof. Nuruddeen Abubakar, along with other renowned professors, has brought his intellectual strength to bear on issues related to the Chinese Communist Party.
In his remarks, the author of the book, Prof. Abubakar, disclosed that his interest in China dates back to his undergraduate course “History of China and South East Asia since 1840, Part 1,” undertaken at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) from 1977-1978. He emphasized the scarcity and high cost of books on other countries’ history.
He added that his fascination with China led him to write a graduate essay in 1981 titled “The Impact of Imperialism on Chinese Class Structure” during his studies for HIS 402, The Study of World.
Prof. Abubakar mentioned that the book, which he hopes to make easy to read, is primarily directed at students and is relevant to four history courses: “China in the 19th Century,” “China in the 20th Century,” “Capitalism, Communism, and Mixed Economy,” “War and Peace in the 20th Century,” and “History of International Relations since 1919.”
He emphasized that the book is also relevant to policymakers and the general public, especially amid concerns about alleged Chinese Imperialism.
“The book takes a simple, yet not simplistic, approach. It covers various aspects that have been the subject of extensive literature. While it is a summation and only touches on milestones, it maintains the fundamental qualities of an academic work.
“This approach requires a holistic understanding of the phenomena and a certain level of sophistication in delivery. It provides an adequate bibliography.
“The USA remains the largest and most developed economy with the most powerful military arsenal. The 18th Century belonged to Britain, the 19th Century to Western Europe, and the 20th Century to America. President Clinton once boasted that the USA split the stem and developed the internet.
“However, the world is now aware that the 21st Century belongs to China, particularly in South East Asia. This realization aligns with a statement by Prime Minister Tanaka of Japan, who foresaw China’s potential as a significant global factor.
“Development is not confined to a specific region. As undergraduate students, we often debated why England industrialized before China. Today, we see China building high-speed railways in Europe. There are countless lessons that Nigeria and Africa can learn from China and Southeast Asia,” he concluded.
