Ian Buruma approaches China through the stories of its dissidents: ordinary, brave people who oppose a regime that uses repression in the name of social order. What does dissidence mean in an authoritarian society? And what chance do they have of succeeding in the face of the largest remaining dictatorship on earth?

'Ian Buruma is a man to read with interest, profit and care... He suceeds triumphantly in demonstrating that "the Chinese... are not utterly unlike us, whoever we may be, and that freedom from torture, persecution, and spiritual and intellectual coercion is a common desire among all humna beings and not merely a Western notion".' Chris Patten, The TimesIn Bad Elements, Ian Buruma goes behind conventional news-stories of economic growth, megacities and the Olympic Games, to see today's China through the stories of its dissidents: ordinary, brave people who oppose a regime that uses repression in the name of social order. He travels through the US, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong and the People's Republic, to tell the stories of the rebels who dare to stand up to their rulers. From the exiles of Tiananmen to the hidden Christians of rural China, he brings alive the human dimension to their struggles and reveals the world's most secretive superpower through the eyes of its dissidents.Panoramic and intimate, disturbing and inspiring, Bad Elements is a profound meditation on the themes of national identity and political struggle. It is a relevant and timely account of China at street level.'The tales of courage, sacrifice and integrity in Buruma's book are inspiring. He has done an excellent job of tracking down former Chinese dissidents, not only those from Tiananmen Square but other rebels who have suffered persecution in Taiwan and Singapore.' Nick Rufford, Sunday Times'China is on the move, Ian Buruma is a leading writer on Asia, and his is an important book... A pungent book about the lack of democracy in Asia.' George Walden, Sunday Telegraph 'A judicious, sparklingly readable book.' Terry Eagleton, Irish Times

Ian Buruma approaches China through the stories of its dissidents: ordinary, brave people who oppose a regime that uses repression in the name of social order. What does dissidence mean in an authoritarian society? And what chance do they have of succeeding in the face of the largest remaining dictatorship on earth?