China's Ascent

Assessments of China's importance on the world stage usually focus on a single dimension of China's increasing power, rather than on the multiple sources of China's rise, including its economic might and the continuing modernization of its military. This book offers multiple analytical perspectives—constructivist, liberal, neorealist—on the significance of the many dimensions of China's regional and global influence.Distinguished authors consider the likelihood of conflict and peaceful accommodation as China grows ever stronger. They look at the changing position of China "from the inside": How do Chinese policymakers evaluate the contemporary international order and what are the regional and global implications of that worldview? The authors also address the implications of China's increasing power for Chinese policymaking and for the foreign policies of Korea, Japan, and the United States.Contributors: Robert Art, Brandeis University; Avery Goldstein, University of Pennsylvania; G. John Ikenberry, Princeton University; Byung-Kook Kim, Korea University; Jonathan Kirshner, Cornell University; Jeffrey W. Legro, University of Virginia; Jack S. Levy, Rutgers University; Qin Yaqing, China Foreign Affairs University; Robert S. Ross, Boston College; Akio Takahara, University of Tokyo; Tang Shiping, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore; Wei Ling, China Foreign Affairs University; Zhu Feng, Peking University

A focused and cohesive book.... Careful consideration is given to a wide range of international relations theories as they apply to China's growing power in the 21st century. The theories are so well explored that the book goes beyond being a China study; it can be recommended... more broadly as a political and international relations theory book.... In addition to the US scholars, four contributing authors are Chinese, one is Korean, and one Japanese. Thus, a range of perspectives is provided. This reviewer has not seen a more sophisticated book on China's rise to power.

Robert S. Ross is Professor of Political Science at Boston College. He is the author of Negotiating Cooperation: The United States and China, 1969-1989, coauthor of Great Wall and Empty Fortress: China's Search for Security, and editor or coeditor of several other books. Zhu Feng is Professor in the School of International Studies at Peking University.