"Halper cogently rejects the 'conventional wisdom' that suggests America's relationship with China is 'on track' in this lucid, probing text. Moving beyond approaches to China that focus on its burgeoning economic dominance, the book — in the vein of Martin Jacques's recent When China Rules the World — underscores the political and cultural challenge that a rising China presents. Halper (coauthor of America Alone), a fellow at the University of Cambridge, contends that there is little possibility of a genuine partnership between China and the U.S.; continued growth will not lead China's political system to become any more free or open, and its brand of authoritarian capitalism will compete with the West's democratic ideal as a possible model for the developing world. Though his position may seem pessimistic, the author does believe that China's concern with its prestige in the world gives the United States leverage in its attempt to shape the geopolitics, and he concludes this sobering, excellently argued book with a series of concrete policy recommendations to that end." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Publisher Comments:

Beijing presents a clear and gathering threat to Washington--but not for the reasons you think. China's challenge to the West stems from its transformative brand of capitalism and an entirely different conception of the international community.

Taking us on a whirlwind tour of China in the world--from dictators in Africa to oligarchs in Southeast Asia to South American strongmen--Halper demonstrates that China's illiberal vision is rapidly replacing that of the so-called Washington Consensus. Instead of promoting democracy through economic aid, as does the West, China offers no-strings-attached gifts and loans, a policy designed to build a new Beijing Consensus.

The autonomy China offers, together with the appeal of its illiberal capitalism, have become the dual engines for the diffusion of power away from the West. The Beijing Consensus is the one book to read to understand this new Great Game in all its complexity.