China as a Rising World Power and its Response to 'Globalization'

Abstract

The People's Republic of China is the first developing state to become a world power. Within a relatively short time frame, China has had to carve out a new role for itself and to define its responsibilities as an influential state both at the regional and international levels. Within this time frame, however, China has also had to cope with the liabilities and opportunities of 'globalization'. In meeting this challenge, the Chinese have demonstrated a new penchant for multilateralism even as they have adapted to the realities of the balance of power. This contribution discusses the Chinese policy adaptation to new-found power within the context of globalization. This study also introduces this special volume's related range of scholarly opinion on this central theme on the part of a number of very well-known China experts who are engaged in related research in the different disciplines of social science.