China's Rise in Historical Perspective

China, with its geographical, historical, cultural, and political distance from the West, long has been a black box upon which we readily paste labels—communist, non-Western, developing country—but whose internal logic remains a mystery to us. Arguing that it would be a major step forward in our genuine knowledge of China if we understood its internal dynamic, this innovative book considers China from a historical perspective to chart its current dynamic and future direction. Renowned historians, economists, and political scientists explore the internal dynamic of China's rise since traditional times through the key themes of China's identity, security, economy, environment, energy, and politics. Each themed section pairs a historian with a social scientist to give an overall view of where China is coming from and where it is heading. One of the PRC's best-known experts on international relations provides a concluding reflection on the political psychology of China's view of itself in the world. Although a China-centered perspective does not yield clear, absolute truths about China's rise, focusing on change in the PRC from pre-modern times to the present allows us to distinguish between China's own dynamic and its relative change of position vis-à-vis other actors, including ourselves. Written in clear and accessible style, this nuanced book will be essential reading for all readers interested in China past and present and its growing global role.   Contributions by: Lowell Dittmer, Erica S. Downs, Mark Elvin, Joseph W. Esherick, Joseph Fewsmith, Barry Naughton, Dwight H. Perkins, Qin Yaqing, Evelyn S. Rawski, R. Keith Schoppa, Michael D. Swaine, and Brantly Womack.

Table of Contents:
Introduction Brantly Womack Part I: China and the World Order: Dilemmas of Identity Chapter 1: China and the World: From Tribute to Treaties to Popular Nationalism Joseph W. Esherick Chapter 2: On China's Rise Lowell Dittmer Part II: Challenges of Strategy and Security Chapter 3: Chinese Strategy and Security Issues in Historical Perspective Evelyn S. Rawski Chapter 4: China's Strategy and Security in the Post–Cold War Era Michael D. Swaine Part III: China's Economic Trajectory Chapter 5: China's Prereform Economy in World Perspective Dwight H. Perkins Chapter 6: The Dynamics of China's Reform-Era Economy Barry Naughton Part IV: China's Ecological and Resource Interaction Chapter 7: The Environmental Impasse in Late Imperial China Mark Elvin Chapter 8: China's Energy Rise Erica S. Downs Part V: Political Creativity and Political Development Chapter 9: The Political Creativity of Late Imperial China R. Keith Schoppa Chapter 10: Political Creativity and Political Reform in China? Joseph Fewsmith Part VI: Concluding Reflections Chapter 11: Struggle for Identity: A Political Psychology of China's Rise Qin Yaqing

About the Author :
Brantly Womack is Cumming Memorial Professor of Foreign Affairs at the University of Virginia.

Review :
A major step forward in the accurate understanding of China in the attempt to understand its internal dynamic. . . . This book will inform both the average reader and the academic about the rise of China, and above all, its identity reconstruction. Stimulating and elegant. This unique book purposefully blends insightful historical analyses and strong present-day commentaries, placing core elements of the phenomenon of contemporary China into very meaningful contexts. This welcome and long-overdue approach will assist a broad readership that seeks to understand both where China has been and where it is going. China and the United States are bound to have issues and confrontation. We will also have synergies, collaboration, and cooperation. In China’s Rise, Brantly Womack has compiled the most useful set of perspectives in the last decade on how to think about China. The contributors to this book are not only among the best observers and analysts of China’s actions but also some of the best writers in the field. They have given us a guide to understanding that is not only immensely interesting to a broad group of readers trying to understand modern China but also eminently useful to those who deal in the U.S.-China relationship in any serious way.