China in the World: Culture, Politics, and World Vision

Ban Wang's book "China in the World" explores how modern China has evolved from the late nineteenth century to the present, focusing on tensions and connections between national formation and international outlooks. It demonstrates how ancient visions of tianxia persist in modern China's worldviews, which value unity, equality, and reciprocity as key to overcoming interstate conflict, social fragmentation, and ethnic divides. Chinese worldviews stem from a desire for world unity and absorbing Western ideas of the Enlightenment, humanism, and socialism, rather than geopolitical dominance. Wang presents a narrative of China's pursuits of decolonization, national independence, national form, socialist internationalism, alternative development, and solidarity with Third World nations, aiming for a shared, integrated, and equal world.

Format: Hardback
Length: 232 pages
Publication date: 22 March 2022
Publisher: Duke University Press

In his book "In China in the World," Ban Wang delves into the intricate history of modern China, spanning from the late 19th century to the present. Through a comprehensive analysis, Wang explores the complex interplay between national formation and international outlooks, highlighting how ancient visions persist even as China has embraced and revised the Western nation-state model. The concept of "tianxia," meaning "all under heaven," has evolved into contemporary perspectives that emphasize unity, equality, and reciprocity as essential for resolving interstate conflicts, social fragmentation, and ethnic divides.

Rather than seeking geopolitical dominance, China's worldviews are rooted in a deep-seated desire for world unity, drawing inspiration from both the age-old pursuit of harmony and the Western ideals of the Enlightenment, humanism, and socialism. Wang examines a wide range of political writings, literature, and film to present a narrative of China's pursuit of decolonization, national independence, notions of national form, socialist internationalism, alternative development, and solidarity with Third World nations.

In contrast to national exceptionalism, Chinese worldviews aspire to a shared, integrated, and equal world. Wang's book offers valuable insights into the complex dynamics shaping China's global interactions and its pursuit of a harmonious and inclusive international order.

Weight: 454g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781478009801