Does China Matter?

Gerald Segal's last published paper 'Does China Matter?' made a considerable splash, and had he lived, it is certain that he would have followed it up with a book. This new volume honours his memory and takes forward his project, bringing together ten leading writers on China to reassess his argument. This book opens with an detailed assessment of Dr Segal's contribution, and a reprint of the article. The rest of the chapters address the question of 'does China matter?' by focusing separately on both the global and Asian dimensions of China's presence, and on the military, political, economic and cultural aspects of its capabilities and activities. They provide an extension and critique of Segal's work in the context of an authoritative up-to-date and forward looking evaluation of China's prospects. Segal's question remains central to world politics. This essential book sets out a detailed case for exactly how, why and to whom China matters.

Beyond its central premise, the book can be read through the connected lenses of Fiction, Nonfiction. Those themes offer useful points of attention as the characters, ideas, or world develop, especially where the book complicates the expectations of its primary category.