On the hypothesis that their civil war periods were of critical importance in determining the character of the Soviet and the Chinese armies, the author sets out to make a comparative study of the two defense establishments and how they have been integrated into society. Also making use of such criteria as the level of military technology, the international political environment, political culture, and the degree of economic development of the two societies, the book successfully demonstrates that, despite early similarities, the roles of the two armies diverged in the years after their respective civil wars.