Why China Will Never Rule the World

After having lived in Taipei for ten years, Troy Parfitt sets out on an epic journey to test the theory that China is ascending toward a position of global hegemony. The result is a whirlwind tour of the Chinese world, one that enlightens, astonishes, and entertains. Parfitt shows us that he is the perfect China tour guide-the steward of an intimate knowledge of the nation's history, culture, and psyche yet not serving any interest other than an investigative one. Here is a unique and powerful book, one that will change the way people think about China and its "great rise." Why China Will Never Rule the World is a tour de force; vital for anyone wishing to understand what China is, what is has been, and what it is likely to become.

Parfitt, who has taught English in Taiwan for over a decade, uses his experience there to start several months of travel through the People's Republic of China in order to challenge the assumptions that China will determine the course of the global economy in the next century. The result is mostly travelogue told from an outsider's perspective, contextualized with overviews of major events in Chinese history. Parfitt argues that China will not rule the world, because as a nation it is more interested in the appearance of success than actual substance. He suggests that culturally, China has little to offer. More importantly, the majority of goods currently being created in China come from non-Chinese companies, again proving a lack of innovation. Parfitt makes a compelling case from the microcosmic level for why it will be difficult for China to become the primary hegemonic force of the 21st century. However, his book lacks the pre-cise facts and figures that he decries in other books promoting Chinese dominance. Parfitt is a persuasive writer and readers will leave his tale scratching their heads and perhaps deciding that they do not want to visit China at all. (June)