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China as a Sea Power 1127–1368: A Preliminary Survey of the Maritime Expansion and Naval Exploits of the Chinese People during the Southern Song and Yuan Periods

a considered, civil and yet powerful form of Chinese nationalism is a prerequisite for China preserving its national autonomy and continuing its economic ascension. The aim of this anthology is as ambitious as it is important: The liveliness and complexity of Chinese academic debates is difficult to clearly convey in one volume and is too often overlooked by scholars outside China. Although this anthology will help to dispel common myths about China’s scholarly culture (e.g. a vibrant contest of ideas is impossible in a one-party state), it offers a disjointed and confusing collection of contributions rather than a cohesive narrative of claims and counter-claims. Individually, each essay provides valuable insights into Chinese perceptions of globalisation and how China will likely respond to the deepening worldwide web of economic, political and cultural linkages. However, few clues are offered as to where each scholar is situated in the Chinese intellectual landscape and which schools of thought they advocate or oppose. For international audiences new to Chinese academic debates, annotations and introductory passages accompanying each essay would have been a welcome addition. Despite the rich range of issues analysed, the anthology also sadly fails to capitalise on the points of disagreement and divergence between the contributors. From ambiguous defences of domestic democratic reforms to bold claims about the strength and effectiveness of the Chinese Communist Party’s policymaking powers, a wide range of often conflicting positions is canvassed. Yet this anthology does not take advantage of this fruitful opportunity to have these academics engage with each other’s arguments. Each essay is instead presented as a discrete entity, with the reader left to imagine how each scholar would engage with and critique the work of the other featured authors. Notwithstanding its limitations, this anthology is a useful tool for coming to grips with China’s contested and crucially important relationship with globalisation. As the impact of China’s rise is felt with increasing force across the globe in economic, political and cultural fields, the series in which this anthology is a volume (Issues in Contemporary Chinese Thought and Culture) will be essential reading for those seeking to understand the internal thinking of a nation that will be one of the driving forces of twenty-first century globalisation.