When China Rules the World

I have just read When China Rules the World: The Rise of the Middle Kingdom and the End of the Western World by Martin Jacques (2009, Penguin, London). The book tackles issues concerned with China's pathway to development; will China adhere to a Western view of economic development or will it follow its own peculiar road map? Two reviews, one by Seth Faison of the Washington Post and another by Will Hutton of The Obseerver provide critical analyses and contrasting views concerning Jacques' claim that China will rule the world as it follows its unique non-Western model for development. However, while Jacques' schooling in marxism is not far below the surface of his text, I found the book to be refreshing, enjoyable and informative read although India's future role in his scenario is neglected - and what about Europe's influence?

While Jacques suggests that China's development will slice through the political, economic and cultural influences of the West, one assumes in this scenario that the ''West'' will simply fade away. But Western countries too have a hand in their own destinies. Will Hutton obesrves that ''China is simultaneously big but poor, powerful but weak'' and this assessment will change only when China's political platform changes. It is a good read- summed, up by Mary Dejevsky in the Independent who suggests that Jacques' thesis will ''provoke argument and is a tour de force across a host of disciplines''.