China

China has become a global leader in the 21st century, relying on its military, economy, and diplomacy to project influence and become a superpower. With a billion and a half people, China's population is the largest in the world today and one of the most advanced, enjoying the fruits of a technology industry that has grown to become second to none. But progress has not been universal, as many ethnic groups throughout China suffer repression, and the Communist Party maintains its iron grip on authority and information. At a time when the economy is booming and prosperity is growing, China has nevertheless come under scrutiny for its appalling human rights record and its persistent bullying of neighbors. The question of whether China will surpass the United States to become the world's greatest power appears open, as does the question of whether the Communist Party will maintain its grip on power. For most Chinese, however, global dominance and politics are secondary to the stresses of modern life. A wildly imbalanced sex ratio leads to a deficit of women; the One-Child Policy drastically changes traditional family dynamics; and poverty remains endemic throughout a rural population that more closely resembles the developing world than it does the modern. This book will help you explore the fascinating paradoxes, accomplishments, and problematic aspects of contemporary China.