Overview

Two sharply contrasting views of China exist today. On the one hand a rising superpower predicted to have the largest economy in the world by mid century, on the other hand a brutal, anachronistic and authoritarian regime, a threat to geo-stability and to the economies of the industrial world. So which China is the real China? Randall Peerenboom addresses this question by exploring China's economy, political and legal system, and most controversially, its record on civil, political and personal rights in the context of the developing world. Avoiding polemic and relying on empirical evidence, he compares China's performance not with first world countries such as the US and UK but with other middle income countries and highlights the often hypocritical stance of an international community which demands standards from others that it does not match at home. He also critically evaluates the benefits of globalisation and democratisation and the normative values of the West set against Beijing's determination to retain its cultural and political integrity. This book seeks to bridge the gap in understanding about China and to create a firmer foundation for mutual trust, while recognising that there are inevitable risks in a shift in global power of this magnitude that will require hard headed pragmatism at times where interests collide.

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9780199226122

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Relies heavily on empirical studies to aid taking right decisions. These features make this book so special and worth reading. Aussen-Wirtschaft important and timely Japanese Journal of Political Seadership because it is perhaps one of the clearest statements in favour of the Chinese model to yet emerge. Its main contribution is to help the China field place the great debate about the Chinese model in the context of the global politics. In an era in which China has replaced the Soviet Union and Chile in the global search for alternative modernities to liberal democracy, the book will be useful not only in the undergraduate classroom but also in the foreign policy world. Perceptive. David Smith, Sunday Times (Culture) Randy Peerenboom has jumped with vigor and data into the ever deepening debate over how to view China. Going beyond the previous focus on the economic aspects of the East Asian Model, he shows that the EAM has served China well and suggests that other countries may also learn from China's experiences. Sure to set off debate, China Modernizes is a must read. Joseph Fewsmith, Professor of International Relations and Political Science, Boston University Peerenboom's measured response to its dynamic present, caution us against more panicky assessments The contribution to studies of law and development, globalization and modernization is essential reading for all those interested in understanding the nature and implications of China's model of development . No matter whether this message pleases readers, the case definitely needs to be heard.

Author Information

Randy Peerenboom is Director of the Oxford Foundation for Law, Justice and Society's China Rule of Law Programme, Associate Fellow of the Oxford University Centre for Socio-Legal Studies, and Professor of Law at La Trobe University in Melbourne. He obtained a B.A. in Philosophy, M.A. in Chinese Religion and Ph.D. in Philosophy before obtaining a J.D. from Columbia Law School. In addition to serving as an expert witness on PRC legal issues, he has been a consultant to the Ford Foundation and the Asian Development Bank on legal reforms and rule of law in China. He was previously a Professor of Law at UCLA Law School and practiced for several years with a major international law firm in Beijing.

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