What Is China?

“This erudite polemic targets the aggressive nationalism that is widespread in China today.”—Andrew J. Nathan, Foreign Affairs

“There is much to be learned from this critically engaged, liberal-minded, historically informed questioning from within China of Chinese national identity… Most importantly, What Is China? provides English-language readers with access to a thoughtful attempt to answer that question by a respected and influential Chinese scholar.”—Richard Belsky, Pacific Affairs

“This book is remarkable. It helps us see how the Chinese see themselves, addressing issues such as China’s borders, its relations with its neighbors, and the notion that China and the West are on a collision course. Ge is not defending or attacking anything, but wants to talk to us about where China is with respect to the world, by thinking historically, by relativizing where we all find ourselves now. Sabre-rattlers on all sides, beware.”—Timothy Brook, University of British Columbia

“Non-Chinese speakers have far too little access to the opinions of Chinese intellectuals today. This book gives an excellent overview of the main issues that lie behind the conundrum of a modern Chinese identity. Ge’s voice is one that most definitely needs to be heard by everyone in the West who ‘worries about China.’”—Mark C. Elliott, Harvard University