The history of world politics is often told as a story of the rises and declines of
different nations and regions, and the rise of China is arguably a defining event
in the international relations of our time. China’s power is growing, while voices
proclaiming an erosion of the era of Pax Americana are increasingly heard. At
this moment the question of how other countries react to this historical change
is as relevant as ever, and, indeed, is at the center of intensive debates in present
international relations scholarship.