As soon as I finished Henry Kissinger's magisterial work On China I immediately set about searching for an alternative voice to provide a complementary perspective to Kissinger's view. I discovered that there is now a small industry in writing commentaries on China but as in many fast-growing industries quality is often the first casualty of a hurried rush to market.
Browsing through the various, often over-boosted books on China Jonathan Fenby's caught my eye for the simple reason that Fenby had had the benefit of working as editor of the South China Morning Post for five years (1995-2000) at a particularly significant time in China's growing rapprochement with the West and therefore had direct day-to-day experience of life and politics in China.
I found Fenby's style lucid and accessible, his themes well developed and solidly grounded in his direct dealings with China and her people. He explains clearly the main areas of difficulty that China is facing as it develops its economy and civil society and increases its interaction with the West.
As its title suggest Fenby's book is primarily concerned with the question of whether China will come to dominate the 21st century? In his account of their history and the Government's vision for the country Fenby mirrors Kissinger's view of how China sees itself and where it would like to go. Where Fenby diverges from Kissinger is in how successful he thinks China will be in surmounting the challenges it must overcome to achieve this vision. Kissinger believes that Chinese determination, tenacity, skill and entrepreneurship would find a way to overcome the difficulties. Fenby makes a compelling case that unless major changes are made in the way the country is run then ultimately the fundamental paradox of economic but not political freedom at the heart of the way the Communist Party governs the country will limit the success of the Chinese people in achieving their aspirations. The interest and the relevance of this book lie in the reasons that Fenby lays out as to why he believes this to be the case.
This short, but detailed account of modern China deserves to be more widely known and read.
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There is a newer edition of this item:
Will China Dominate the 21st Century? (Global Futures)
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$60.42
(70)
Only 17 left in stock - order soon.
About the author
Top reviews from other countries
Amazon Customer
Well written and consice.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 13, 2018Michael beck
Reads kind of like a long Economist article (not that thats a bad thing)
Reviewed in Australia on May 1, 2020Save the Planet. Stop Climate Change!
concise but comprehensive
Reviewed in Germany on October 28, 2014
Ubik
Concise and interesting.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 17, 2014
