[Book Review] The China Wave Rise of a Civilizational State

Reviewed by: Fitri Aulia Ikhsani - Research and Development ISAFIS

China like you never seen before! That is the words that might come to your mind when you read the half part of The China Wave- Rise of Civilizational State's book.  A book by Zhang Weiwei , originally wrote in Chinese as it aims for Chinese readers in China and sold more than a half million copies in China then he publishes its English version. The book conveys the significant changes that happen in China for the last three decades. 

On the first chapter of the book, the author discuss about the GDP paradox that become the talk for the last decade in economic field and seemingly doubt China toward its own economic position in the world and its correlation with the GDP paradox. However, the second chapter try to explain the Chinese bizarre economic and its strategy to get where it's positioned today. Dubbed as the most progressive economic country in the world, China uses its ancient strategies such well known 1+1>2 strategy to move its economic condition. However the author noted that the talk about economic condition of one country should be accompanied by the condition of its societal condition which then discuss in third chapter of the book. It is about the new perspective on looking at China afresh in the rise of a civilizational state. 

The rise of the political stability affects the prosperity of its society and creates social changes with minimum clashes.  However, the prosperity of the society and stable condition of the people in China cannot help it to get away from the accusation of human right violation addressed by western countries. Despite of that, the development of Chinese models such popular East Asia development model becomes the main factor that give the contribution to its economic and affect the life of society and changes happen around them. Comparison between the Chinese models and the others models such as western model adopted by other country such as India also become the discussion on the last part of the book.

Despite of the fact that this book was first published in 2011, it can be perceived as one of a must read book to understand China especially regarding to the ambitious targets set by China in the 17th meeting of Chinese Communist Party. Recently on October 17th 2017, Chinese Communist Party just held the 17th event of every five year meeting in Beijing, China. In the meeting, China current president Xi Jinping as well as the leader of the communist party of China outlined his vision for the next five years of development in China. One of the targets is China will be a nation with leading, global influence by 2050. 

This target perceives as an ambitious target set by China, however, when the people read this book they might think that this target is possible for china. Through the comprehensive analysis of the Chinese progression in economic and social political, the author convinces the reader that indeed the rise of China as civilizational state is happening. These facts not only convey through analysis in china itself but also accompanied by numerous of details such GDP of the countries, charts of developments in China and comparisons to the other countries as well. Furthermore, the readers can also obtain a knowledge regarding to Chinese new political philosophy called socialism with Chinese characteristic. Overall, it is deemed that this book can help readers to understand China especially the current outlined set by Chinese government.

Regardless the practical nature of the book and its informative knowledge, which can help the reader to understand about the current China, there is a slight impression that the author (Zhang Weiwei) somewhat little bit exaggerated in assessing the China's greatness. This impression can be emerged when the author discuss about the violation of human right issue in China. 

The way the author discus about the issue, it seems that the author only try to adjust and get along with the reasons given by the Chinese government. Also, the analysis and discussion tend to be short and less deepen than other topics. In spite of that, it did not lessen the value of the book. The well written arguments and comprehensive analysis make the reader able to understand the complex economic issue easily. Furthermore, the flowing way of the author to convey the changes in china's situation especially in social changes, make the depiction of complex changes in china become light yet interesting to be observed. Thus, it make this book become the must read book to understand about China.