With this book, Thomas Heberer has written the first in-depth analysis of ''entrepreneurs'' in China and Vietnam. Key question raised is the role played by entrepreneurs in the process of the recent astonishing political and economic change.Based on a survey among several hundreds of these entrepreneurs, the author convincingly argues that this strategic group has a strong desire for a true say in political decision making. As a body, a strategic group, they have indeed through various means come to exercise an important function in political development and change.It so becomes clear that over the past decades private entrepreneurs have grown into a primary leading, definitely distinct social group in terms of income and social status with considerable influence on all levels of society.