Restless Empire: China and the World Since 1750 - Softcover

Westad, Odd Arne

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1847921981 ISBN 13: 9781847921987

Publisher: Bodley Head, 2012

Synopsis

* Restless Empire examines the past 250 years of Chinese history - in particular China's foreign relations - to consider the issues and preoccupations that have haunted the Chinese agenda over the course of two and half centuries.

* Tracing the nation's history from the Qing Dynasty in the eighteenth century to the People's Republic in the twenty-first, Westad shows how China's world view has been determined by both its receptiveness and its resistance to outside influence.

* China's economic output has increased rapidly over the past thirty years, and most people believe that within two decades China will have overtaken the United States to become the world's largest economy. The Chinese Academy of Sciences proclaims that by that time the country will have eradicated poverty among its population of more than 1.5 billion and increased the average lifespan to 80 years, while establishing itself as the world's technological powerhouse. Meanwhile, some - especially its neighbours - fear that China will strengthen its military might in order to bend others to its will.

* Westad shows, however, that a new form of Chinese nationalism is rising. Many Chinese are angry about the past injustices they feel they have endured and afraid that the country is losing its identity and mission to commercialisation and foreign influences. Will China's attraction to world society dwindle, or will China continue to engage with other global powers? Will it attempt to recreate a Sino-centric international order in East Asia, or pursue a more harmonious diplomatic route? And can it overcome its lack of democracy and transparency, or are these qualities hard-wired into the Chinese system? Whatever the case, one thing is certain: we ignore Chinese history at our peril.

* Restless Empire is the book for anyone who wants to understand China's past, present, and future relations with the rest of the world.

About this title

Product Description:

Within two decades China is likely to have become the world's largest economy and its technological powerhouse. But how will this affect its foreign relations? Will the country strengthen its military might or pursue more diplomatic engagement with the rest of the world? To answer these questions the author considers the new form of Chinese nationalism and asks what we can learn about Chinese attitudes by looking back over the past 250 years of receptiveness and resistance to outside influence.

Review:

"Written by one of the most distinguished scholars on China, this book brings clarity and insight into complex historical issues." (Jung Chang)

"Thorough, fast-moving, and consistently clear. Restless Empire gives an excellent introduction to the vagaries of China’s foreign relations over the last 250 years." (Jonathan Spence, author of The Search for Modern China)

"An authoritative and lucid history of China’s foreign relations from the peak of the Qing dynasty in the eighteenth century to the present day. Anyone seeking to understand the role China may play in our future world should start with this book." (Stephen R. Platt, author of Autumn in the Heavenly Kingdom)

"An essential guide to modern China’s often violent encounter with the rest of the world." (Frank Dikotter, author of Mao’s Great Famine)

About this edition

• Publisher: Bodley Head
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 1847921981
• ISBN 13: 9781847921987
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 528