- Hardcover: 176 pages
- Publisher: PublicAffairs,U.S. (2 Oct 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1586484842
- ISBN-13: 978-1586484842
- Product Dimensions: 21.5 x 15.4 x 1.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,408,685 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
What Does China Think?
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More About the Author
Product Description
Review
"Tucson Citizen," August 21, 2008
"[Leonard's] excellent new book is essential reading for anyone interested in the changing global landscape of the next century."
"[Leonard's] excellent new book is essential reading for anyone interested in the changing global landscape of the next century."
Review
'Leonard fills (a) gap (by) survey(ing) the fierce arguments about human rights, development and China's place in the world.'
--This text refers to the Paperback edition.
--This text refers to the Paperback edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I found this book in many ways an eye opener. China is portrayed as a bit of a dark horse, acheiving wealth and power as the result of very carefully thought out rationale. The methods China has used to achieve success is possibly the most interesting aspect of this book, which is an examination of Chinese politics and the global consequences.
I applaude the authors balanced arguements, despite his self confessed opinion that Europe will prevail enventually (see his previous book.)I found it a disturbing read, (as a non religious person), to observe the achievements of a non religous state putting human rights and
the environment as an after thought. The European concept of interdependance to regulate selfish interest would appear to be a morally
superior secular arrangement.
The author makes the valid point that a sudden change to democracy would create many problems itself, it is interesting to entertain the idea that autocracy can compete. However, this is unlikely to endear the reader to such a prospect.
The thing that prevented this book from getting five stars was the neglect of the issue of population. After the boom came the single child policy, what does China think about pensions? (Not mentioned) This book, however, remains a sound, if brief introduction to a completely different way of working a society.
I applaude the authors balanced arguements, despite his self confessed opinion that Europe will prevail enventually (see his previous book.)I found it a disturbing read, (as a non religious person), to observe the achievements of a non religous state putting human rights and
the environment as an after thought. The European concept of interdependance to regulate selfish interest would appear to be a morally
superior secular arrangement.
The author makes the valid point that a sudden change to democracy would create many problems itself, it is interesting to entertain the idea that autocracy can compete. However, this is unlikely to endear the reader to such a prospect.
The thing that prevented this book from getting five stars was the neglect of the issue of population. After the boom came the single child policy, what does China think about pensions? (Not mentioned) This book, however, remains a sound, if brief introduction to a completely different way of working a society.
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
"Since the time when French and British missionaries first travelled to the East, the West has focused on what it wanted from China - and how to convert the Chinese to a Western way of life. People wrongly assumed that as China grew richer, it would also become more like us."
If you want to know what future the Chinese are dreaming of for their country, or the world it is shaping, read this very concise and enjoyable book.
Argueably the most accessible and current work on where China is heading - which is principally dependent upon what China thinks rather than what the West thinks.
First-class book; highly recommended.
To understand China through the lens of business, I also recommend The China Executive.
If you want to know what future the Chinese are dreaming of for their country, or the world it is shaping, read this very concise and enjoyable book.
Argueably the most accessible and current work on where China is heading - which is principally dependent upon what China thinks rather than what the West thinks.
First-class book; highly recommended.
To understand China through the lens of business, I also recommend The China Executive.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book examines China at the cross roads. As China grows in strength, and looks set to be a dominant player in this century, the author looks at several aspects of Chinese political life. This encompasses everything from China's dizzying rates of economic growth, to its relations with the rest of the world.
China's rates of growth are dizzying, but there are two problems. Firstly, this growth is destroying the environment as factories and power plants belch out fossil fuels. Secondly, this growth is only possible because China's autocratic regime has such total power over all aspects of the economy to drive this growth. Chinese thinkers are debating - should they allow more political freedoms first even if this costs them some economic growth, or retain their autocracy until they achieve their wealth goals, and then relax the regimes controls. For the time being, the latter is prevailing. This is largely because of the Soviet example. China believes that the Soviet/Russian collapse was due to them opening up political freedoms too early, and thus is not going to make the same mistake.
Concerning the problem of pollution, Chinese cities are increasingly filthy. Not helping the situation is China's need for a constant supply of oil, coal and other fossil fuels, which, with China's massive and growing energy needs, threatens to simply make the situation worse. Whilst relatively low down their list of priorities, Chinese leaders are slowly realising the need to clean up the air. They are also aware that loose environmental standards could impact on their trade with nations concerned about toxic materials in their exports.
This book, like most of Leonard's work, is a pleasant, easy read and not overly academic. Therefore, it will be enjoyed even by people who are only casually interested in politics. For those who study politics in detail, it is an excellent introduction to Chinese thought processes.
China's rates of growth are dizzying, but there are two problems. Firstly, this growth is destroying the environment as factories and power plants belch out fossil fuels. Secondly, this growth is only possible because China's autocratic regime has such total power over all aspects of the economy to drive this growth. Chinese thinkers are debating - should they allow more political freedoms first even if this costs them some economic growth, or retain their autocracy until they achieve their wealth goals, and then relax the regimes controls. For the time being, the latter is prevailing. This is largely because of the Soviet example. China believes that the Soviet/Russian collapse was due to them opening up political freedoms too early, and thus is not going to make the same mistake.
Concerning the problem of pollution, Chinese cities are increasingly filthy. Not helping the situation is China's need for a constant supply of oil, coal and other fossil fuels, which, with China's massive and growing energy needs, threatens to simply make the situation worse. Whilst relatively low down their list of priorities, Chinese leaders are slowly realising the need to clean up the air. They are also aware that loose environmental standards could impact on their trade with nations concerned about toxic materials in their exports.
This book, like most of Leonard's work, is a pleasant, easy read and not overly academic. Therefore, it will be enjoyed even by people who are only casually interested in politics. For those who study politics in detail, it is an excellent introduction to Chinese thought processes.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A realistic and decidedly non-naive analysis of China
What does China Think?
While the literary landscape is awash with political analysis on China, this short and highly readable volume addresses the fundamental aspects of... Read more
While the literary landscape is awash with political analysis on China, this short and highly readable volume addresses the fundamental aspects of... Read more
Published 12 months ago by A. J. Smith
Authoratative first hand account
Cheap goods made in China at slave labour rates, huge environmentally catastrophic industrial projects, persecution of Tibetan monks - the common impression of China? Read more
Published 17 months ago by M. Hillmann
Good food for thought
I was first switched on to Leonard's writing by former colleague who recommended Why Europe Will Run The 21st Century.
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Published on 31 Dec 2008 by Mr. G. Carroll
Ideas from China's leading political theorists
To get a perspective on what some Chinese political theorists are thinking, consider this. While Westerners "anguish" about how to manage China's rise, Chinese think-tankers... Read more
Published on 30 April 2008 by Dennis Littrell
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