China's Global Reach: Markets, Multinationals, and Globalization (Revised and Updated Edition) [Paperback]

George Zhibin Gu (Author), Andre Gunder Frank (Afterword)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Five Stars." -- William Ratliff, Hoover Fellow at Stanford University

"It takes up history of globalization ... together with Afterword by Andre Gunder Frank ... fits our Learning History Project." -- Ronald Hilton, Hoover Fellow at Stanford University; President, World Association of International Studies

"Must read for all businessmen going to China." -- James Borton, China Venture News

"This book suggests that a new global power balance will emerge gradually and most likely indirectly." -- Contemporary History Association

"Very insightful... valuable information, analysis and argument of interest ... for readers of whatever kind ...should be on all bookshelves." -- Dr. Paul Close, Centre for the Study of Globalization and Regionalization, University of Warwick, UK

About the Author

George Zhibin Gu is a journalist/consultant based in Guangdong, China. A native of Xian, he obtained education at Nanjing University in China and Vanderbilt University and the University of Michigan in the United States. He holds two MS degrees and a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan.

For the past two decades, he has been an investment banker and business consultant with a focus on China. His work focuses on helping international businesses to invest in China and the Chinese companies to expand overseas. He has worked for Prudential Securities, Lazard, and State Street Bank, among others. He generally covers mergers and acquisitions, venture capital, business expansion and restructuring.

Also, he is a journalist on a changing China in relation to global development. His articles or columns have appeared in "Asia Times", "Beijing Review", "The Seoul Times", "Financial Sense", "Gurus Online", "Money Week", "Online Opinion", "Asia Venture Capital Journal", and "Sinomania", among others. He is the author of three additional books, "China Beyond Deng: Reforms in the PRC" (McFarland, 1991), "China and New World Order: How Entrepreneurship, Globalization, and Borderless Business Reshape China and World" (Fultus, September 2006), and "Made in China: Players and Challengers in the 21st Century" (Portuguese edition, Centro Atlantico, 2005). He is a member of "World Association of International Studies" hosted at Stanford University.

Product Details

• Paperback: 252 pages
• Publisher: Fultus Corporation; Rev Upd edition (July 13, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1596820934
• ISBN-13: 978-1596820937
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,572,327 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars must read, July 28, 2006

By 

emergingmarketresearchertraveler-expat - See all my reviews

This review is from: China's Global Reach: Markets, Multinationals, and Globalization (Revised and Updated Edition) (Paperback)

This book is for all readers. Not to mention other things, it contains several dozen case studies on global multinationals doing business in China, like Wal-Mart, P&G, Intel, HSBC, Bank of America, Ford, Siemens, BP, Unilever, Sony, GE, GM, Morgan Stanley, and Microsoft. (Amazingly, this revised and updated volume gives most current info on China -- even events happened in May 2006 are contained here.)

It also gives huge info on emerging Chinese multinationals. All the leading Chinese companies such as Haier, Huawei, TCL, Lenovo, China Telecom, Baosteel, China Oil, Sinopec, CNOOC, and Ping An are studied here. Furthermore, comparisons are made between the Chinese companies and their international counterparts. These discussions are straightforward, covering both strengths and weaknesses.

Its scope is rather wide: the author aims to identify key factors behind global development: causes, effects, and consequences. He offers vast info and analysis on a changing global production, investment and trade map, which involves all nations, rich or poor. Interesting comparative studies involve US, Canada, Europe, India, Japan and China. Above all, he pinpoints opportunities and challenges under globalization.

Also it is highly critical of the abusive Chinese bureaucratic power. Gu claims that China's fundamental weakness is with this overextended, self-appointed bureaucratic power. Vast info and facts are presented to support his statement.

He is a high-profile newspaper commentator/consultant that adds much color to his discussions. The book's key strengths come from the fact that the author has vast first-hand experiences, so that he gives countless insider's stories. Its style and presentation is very reader friendly and straightforward, but its analysis is overpowering.

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars powerful development lessons, August 3, 2006

By 

bizresearcherAsia/China - See all my reviews

This review is from: China's Global Reach: Markets, Multinationals, and Globalization (Revised and Updated Edition) (Paperback)

Author George Zhibin Gu is a high-profile Chinese journalist whose powerful newspaper pieces are widely read. This book is a must read. The reason for my recommendation is simple: This book summarises the key lessons from a fast-changing China under globalization and capitalism.

These lessons are powerful. First, an open society is a must in order to gain true development. Second, having foreign involvement is a key driving force for China's quick development in this era. Third, a truly meaningful development must depend on individual private initiatives other than government bureaucracy.

This book gives rather straightforward analysis on what is behind China's new development. It gives tremendous information on foreign multinationals and investors doing biz inside. Furthermore, it gives huge info on how this foreign involvement affects China's society, government and economy. In particular, it is extremely open about the ills of the Chinese bureaucracy. To overcome bureaucratic barriers, it emphasizes the need for greater private initiative as well as openness, among other things.

Also, the book talks about the ever-increasing influences of China's surge on global development. It gives very insightful analysis on a changing global production, investment, and trade map, as well as manufacturing and job transfers, among other issues.

The book also offers much practical advice on doing biz in China. Numerous case studies are presented, including both successes and failures.

10 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars revealing and decent, August 16, 2006

By 

doingbizinsideChina (Shanghai) - See all my reviews

This review is from: China's Global Reach: Markets, Multinationals, and Globalization (Revised and Updated Edition) (Paperback)

Author Gu is a brave fellow. He offers straightfoward info and analysis on what is really inside Chinese business and political world. He is highly critical of the Communist ills that continue to cause hellish problems for China and foreign operations inside. Other than this abusive bureaucratic power, Chinese people are very diligent and creative. But the key is to get rid of the overextended bureaucratic power, as so claims by Gu.

This book is a must read -- it is a rare book that reveals the inner workings of the Chinese bureaucratic system. This new edition is very nice, which is sharply revised and expanded. (Five stars for his new edition)