China Modernizes: Threat to the West or Model for the Rest?

Two sharply contrasting views of China exist today; one of a rising superpower, and the other of an anachronistic, authoritarian regime.  So which is the real China? Randall Peerenboom offers a controversial, first-hand account of modern China focusing on its economic, political and legal attributes within the context of the developing world.  ‘Peerenboom’s appraisal deserves to be heard: it will help the general public who are interested in China and encourage policymakers to reassess their views.’ ‘Peerenboom’s book deserves a wide readership because it is perhaps one of the clearest statements in favor 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 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.’