Will China Dominate the 21st Century?

Will China rule the twenty-first century? Is a book by Jonathan Fenby that neatly deconstructs modern Chinese history by promoting a theory in which he predicts China will outpace the US and become the world superpower if it continues on its current trajectory of the last three decades? However, he goes on to debunk this theory by highlighting the numerous domestic and international barriers that will prevent her from becoming a superpower.  According to Fenby, China will not dominate the 21st century because of issues such as difficulties in changing the economy to consumerism from export dependence, the real irony of a communist state - ready to clamp down any challenges to its rule - governing a free market capitalist system. Although the book does not provide any new insights, Fenby is very persuasive on these points where he successively convinces the readers of the server challenges facing China from claiming the number one position.
The same question has attracted the attention of proponent scholars who thinks the Chinese will dominate the 21st century. One such writer is Martin Jacques, the author of When China Rules the World: The End of the Western World and the Birth of a New Global Order. He argues that China's rise to power will be as a result of challenges in Europe such as the threat of radicalized Muslims, intra-continental conflicts, and individualism including others (Jacques 40). Another scholar is Liu Mingfu who discussed the same question in his book The China Dream: Great Power Thinking and Strategic Posture in the Post-American Era. According to Mingfu, China's century-long dream has been global dominance to reclaim its "destiny" and restore its "national glory." Mingfu talks more about the restoration of the Chinese glory by reviving its "warrior culture" which he supports with a claim that the Chinese "are not afraid of war" historically backed up by its "offensive warfare."
In my view, Mingfu seems to be more persuasive of China dominating the 21st century because she is already dominating Asia and is fast extending her dominance globally. Also going by the power of what strong nationalistic feeling can achieve, the Chinese determination to regain its "lost national glory" might just drive her to become the world superpower which is she is already doing.















Works Cited
Fenby, Jonathan. Will China Dominate the 21st Century? Cambridge: Polity Press, 2014.
Jacques, Martin. When China Rules the World: The End of the Western World and the Birth of a New Global Order. 2nd ed. New York, NY, United States: Penguin (Non-Classics), 2010. Print.
Mingfu, Liu. The China Dream: Great Power Thinking and Strategic Posture in the Post- American Era. United States: CN TImes, 2015. Print.