China's 'Peaceful Rise' in the 21st Century

China's rapid development has attracted worldwide attention in recent years. The implications of China's rise, from its expanding influence and military muscle to its growing demand for energy supplies, are heatedly debated in the international community. Jintao's officially proposed concept of 'peaceful development' has become the underlying principle behind Chinese foreign policy under the fourth generation leadership. However, is 'peaceful development' possible in the broad context of domestic and international development? This comprehensive and timely study examines the conditions and challenges of China's 'peaceful rise' and addresses the central question of whether it is possible for China to 'rise peacefully' in the 21st century, bearing in mind the implications for China and the rest of the world. It is ideal as a supplementary course book in foreign policy, Asian politics and development.

Dr Sujian Guo is Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at San Francisco State University, USA, and Editor of the Journal of Chinese Political Science. His research interests include Chinese/Asian politics, communist and post-communist studies, democratic transitions, and the political economy of East and Southeast Asia. He has published more than two dozens of articles both in English and Chinese. He is the author of The Political Economy of Asian Transition from Communism (2006) and Post-Mao China: from Totalitarianism to Authoritarianism? (2000).