China’s Global Impact and Future

The Implications of China’s Increased Involvement in Africa By Robert O’Brien
Twenty years ago, the People’s Republic of China was East Asia’s largest oil exporter. Today, it is the world’s second largest importer. Driven by its need for energy, China’s increased economic engagement with Africa has led to significant evolution in bilateral political, foreign aid, and cultural exchanges. O’Brien seeks to examine the dynamics of the rapidly developing Sino-African relationship, reviewing the history of their interactions before analyzing each of the aforementioned facets of the connection and considering international criticism of Chinese involvement with the continent. Ultimately, it will fully explicate the benefits of the relationship for the Chinese as well as consider the implications of China’s increased engagements with Africa on the continent’s indigenous populace.

The Rising Dragon in Africa: Threat or Opportunity? By Adam Farrar
With China’s strength growing by the day, the threat it poses to American interests and influence abroad is perceived to be increasing rapidly. Arenas that at one point lacked competition are now found to be highly contested with the US, the EU and China all competing for the same political influence and access. With China’s eyes set on expanding its sphere of influence and securing much needed natural resources, Africa has emerged as a primary battleground. Offering aid with no political demands, the Chinese have forged strong bonds with many influential African states, bonds that are increasingly perceived as a threat to US and African interests. With the Chinese locking up markets and resources throughout the continent, the West, in particular the United States, is faced with a situation that could drastically hurt their interests and consequently, leverage in the region.

What If All Chinese Citizens Want Cars? By Sophie Stern
A German non-profit association, DroppingKnowledge.org, is a website that is frequented by philosophical junkies. A recent question posted by Andrew, a German in his early twenties, was: "What if all Chinese people want a car"? Steve Earle, a U.S. citizen, eloquently responded with the American view: "Then we're [expletive]". Realistically all Chinese citizens have the right to own a car; philosophically, however, this question brings attention to the increasing global concern about China’s development and priorities. In this article Stern address the rapid urbanization of China, America’s fear of China, and the bilateral trade deficit between China and the United States.

China's Greatest Weapon and How to Destroy It By Alex Holt
In the famous suspense comedy Dr. Strangelove, Stanley Kubrick imagines the Russians possess a "doomsday device"- something that would spread nuclear Holocaust all over, killing the Russians, the Americans, and everyone else on the planet. The purpose of the device was that to serve as the ultimate deterrent, making it the ultimate bargaining chip, so that nobody would ever attack the Russians if a doomsday device would be automatically activated. The doomsday device did not really exist when Kubrick wrote the film, but Holt argues that it now does, sort of.

Against All Odds: The Long March Towards Chinese Democracy By Elliot Gillerman
Will China, currently the world's largest and oldest Communist state, eventually transform these archaic institutions into democratic ones, or will China continue to successfully hold back the tide of democracy? Given the degree of success born by certain attempts at democracy in recent years, many analysts are hesitant to appear too optimistic about the prospects for Chinese democracy. Regardless of the history lessons that come from the neo-conservatives' experiment with democracy under President Bush, however, China's rise has been essentially one-legged in nature. This article examines the inextricable link between economic development and democratization as seen in Singapore, Taiwan and South Korea.

Paper or Plastic? By Greg Rosen
When one thinks of China, one may conjure up the image of millions of Chinese laborers, automatons waiting to stamp “made in China” on a consumer item. This superficial spectacle seems to always make a news headline, whether in relation to tainted dog food or toxic toothpastes. China seems utterly without standards in an economy of mainly production. But few in average America, if any, concern themselves with the actual Chinese market, the expanding domain of Chinese consumers in a country that comprises over one sixth of the world’s entire population. With a population of 1.2 billion and a GDP over 1.5 trillion, China undoubtedly is an economic hegemon and an attractive market. The real question, Rosen asks, is a market for what?

India and China: Conflict or Cooperation in the 21st Century By Aakif Merchant
India-China relations have undergone dramatic changes over the past five decades, ranging from benign warmth in the 1950’s, to a deep hostility and mistrust in the 1960’s and 1970’s, to a rapprochement in the 1980’s facilitated by Rajiv Gandhi’s visit to Beijing in 1988, and a readjustment since the demise of the Soviet Union. As we head into a new century, India and China continue a long and tangled relationship. With rapid globalization and increased growth rates and prosperity in both countries, leaders on both sided have realized the importance of economic cooperation between China and India. Economic cooperation is a major driver influencing the bilateral relationship between the two countries. A byproduct of the economic engagement between the two countries has resulted in cooperation on the political, military and cultural front. However, without enhanced political ties between Beijing and New Delhi, economic cooperation cannot take off.