The Beijing Consensus

A leading foreign policy expert tells the story of how China's non-confrontational strategy is reshaping the rules of the new world order. In "The Beijing Consensus", Stefan Halper presents a coherent integration of both the economic and strategic sides of China-US relations. In its efforts to influence the rest of the world-to create a new liberal and democratic order - the United States has used its military and economic might to force developing countries to aim toward democratic reform and transparency. A fine strategy, when you're the only game in town. The Chinese, Halper argues, have chosen to confront the United States only indirectly. Instead of playing by America's rules, as did the Soviet Union, China has redefined the rules of the game. China doles out money to dictators - with no strings attached. They buy resources from Africa and South America - without forcing transparency or reform down oligarchs' throats. In doing so, it's presenting the world's despots with a viable alternative to the so-called Washington Consensus. China is showing the world how to have economic growth with an illiberal government.
At the same time, Halper argues, that its rapid economic growth has created massive fissures in Chinese society between the haves and the have-nots. In order to maintain political control, the Chinese Communist Party has to sustain double-digit economic growth, which means that it must exploit and co-opt the rest of the world's resources. Necessity lies at the heart of China's expansionist policies. Without them, the Communist Party risks its own demise. "The Beijing Consensus" will prove to be a vital book in understanding the increasingly complex relationship between the United States and China-and between China and the rest of the world.