Author: Angang Hu
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 9811077363
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 142
Book Description
This book is devoted to the analysis of the Six Development Concepts of China titled “Xi Jinping's New Development Philosophy”, namely Innovative Development, Coordinated Development, Green Development, Open Development, Sharing Development, and Security Development. The book pursues three major objectives: firstly, to accurately portray the theoretical sources, practical innovation and major contents of these development ideas; secondly, to analyze what are the major relationships among these development ideas and their main common point is “people centered”, which is the largest theoretical innovation of this book. Thirdly, through analyzing China’s development idea, this book provides development paths, strategy, theories, and practical experiences for other developing countries.
Xi Jinping's New Development Philosophy
Author: Angang Hu
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 9811077363
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 142
Book Description
This book is devoted to the analysis of the Six Development Concepts of China titled “Xi Jinping's New Development Philosophy”, namely Innovative Development, Coordinated Development, Green Development, Open Development, Sharing Development, and Security Development. The book pursues three major objectives: firstly, to accurately portray the theoretical sources, practical innovation and major contents of these development ideas; secondly, to analyze what are the major relationships among these development ideas and their main common point is “people centered”, which is the largest theoretical innovation of this book. Thirdly, through analyzing China’s development idea, this book provides development paths, strategy, theories, and practical experiences for other developing countries.
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 9811077363
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 142
Book Description
This book is devoted to the analysis of the Six Development Concepts of China titled “Xi Jinping's New Development Philosophy”, namely Innovative Development, Coordinated Development, Green Development, Open Development, Sharing Development, and Security Development. The book pursues three major objectives: firstly, to accurately portray the theoretical sources, practical innovation and major contents of these development ideas; secondly, to analyze what are the major relationships among these development ideas and their main common point is “people centered”, which is the largest theoretical innovation of this book. Thirdly, through analyzing China’s development idea, this book provides development paths, strategy, theories, and practical experiences for other developing countries.
The Third Revolution
Author: Elizabeth Economy
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0190866071
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 361
Book Description
In The Third Revolution, Elizabeth Economy, one of America's leading China scholars, provides an authoritative overview of contemporary China that makes sense of all of the seeming inconsistencies and ambiguities in its policies and actions.
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0190866071
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 361
Book Description
In The Third Revolution, Elizabeth Economy, one of America's leading China scholars, provides an authoritative overview of contemporary China that makes sense of all of the seeming inconsistencies and ambiguities in its policies and actions.
Xi Jinping's New Model of Development for China in the 21st Century Deconstructed
Author: Daurius Figueira
Publisher: AHTLE FIGUEIRA
ISBN: 9769740403
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 298
Book Description
This work is a deconstruction of Xi Jinping's discourse of the new development model for China in the new era/ new normal of the post 2008 21st century going forward. This new development model, made necessary by the post 2008 condition of the Chinese economy; its evolutionary path coupled to an increasingly hostile geopolitical environment arising from North Atlantic attempts to stymie China's path to modernisation. Xi Jinping's development model is hinged on three signposts which will indicate the success or failure of the development model: attaining moderate prosperity for all in all respects by 2020, attaining the Chinese Dream of complete modernisation by 2049 and common prosperity for all by 2049. This development model puts in place the philosophy and methodology to create a modernised China which presents an alternate model of development to that of the hegemonic white world order of neo-liberal imperialist power for the first time in the history of the world since 1492. A beacon of hope to the Global South!
Publisher: AHTLE FIGUEIRA
ISBN: 9769740403
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 298
Book Description
This work is a deconstruction of Xi Jinping's discourse of the new development model for China in the new era/ new normal of the post 2008 21st century going forward. This new development model, made necessary by the post 2008 condition of the Chinese economy; its evolutionary path coupled to an increasingly hostile geopolitical environment arising from North Atlantic attempts to stymie China's path to modernisation. Xi Jinping's development model is hinged on three signposts which will indicate the success or failure of the development model: attaining moderate prosperity for all in all respects by 2020, attaining the Chinese Dream of complete modernisation by 2049 and common prosperity for all by 2049. This development model puts in place the philosophy and methodology to create a modernised China which presents an alternate model of development to that of the hegemonic white world order of neo-liberal imperialist power for the first time in the history of the world since 1492. A beacon of hope to the Global South!
2050 China
Author: Angang Hu
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 9811598339
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 108
Book Description
This book is open access under a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license. This book is arranged and developed around the theme of “2050 China,” it analyzes the factors and advantages of the Chinese road to socialist modernization, explores and summarizes the development goal and the basic logic of the socialist modernization of China, and further shows the general basis of the primary stage of socialism. According to the report delivered at the 19th Party Congress, and according to the “two-stage” strategic plan, this book looks ahead in detail to the overarching objective and sub-objectives of essentially achieving socialist modernization by 2035, discusses the building of a great modern socialist country in all respects from the perspective of the Party’s six-sphere integrated plan of economic, political, cultural, social, ecological civilization, and national defense construction, and provides policy proposals. This book also analyzes the influence and the effect of the socialist modernization with Chinese characteristics on the world and it further presents the third centenary goal. In conclusion, this book is an elaboration of the work of the Institute for Contemporary China Studies, Tsinghua University. It reflects the intellectual innovation in the authors’ research on contemporary China, as well as the authors’ foresight and predictions about China’s future development.
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 9811598339
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 108
Book Description
This book is open access under a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license. This book is arranged and developed around the theme of “2050 China,” it analyzes the factors and advantages of the Chinese road to socialist modernization, explores and summarizes the development goal and the basic logic of the socialist modernization of China, and further shows the general basis of the primary stage of socialism. According to the report delivered at the 19th Party Congress, and according to the “two-stage” strategic plan, this book looks ahead in detail to the overarching objective and sub-objectives of essentially achieving socialist modernization by 2035, discusses the building of a great modern socialist country in all respects from the perspective of the Party’s six-sphere integrated plan of economic, political, cultural, social, ecological civilization, and national defense construction, and provides policy proposals. This book also analyzes the influence and the effect of the socialist modernization with Chinese characteristics on the world and it further presents the third centenary goal. In conclusion, this book is an elaboration of the work of the Institute for Contemporary China Studies, Tsinghua University. It reflects the intellectual innovation in the authors’ research on contemporary China, as well as the authors’ foresight and predictions about China’s future development.
China Goes Green
Author: Yifei Li
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1509543139
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 159
Book Description
What does it mean for the future of the planet when one of the world’s most durable authoritarian governance systems pursues “ecological civilization”? Despite its staggering pollution and colossal appetite for resources, China exemplifies a model of state-led environmentalism which concentrates decisive political, economic, and epistemic power under centralized leadership. On the face of it, China seems to embody hope for a radical new approach to environmental governance. In this thought-provoking book, Yifei Li and Judith Shapiro probe the concrete mechanisms of China’s coercive environmentalism to show how ‘going green’ helps the state to further other agendas such as citizen surveillance and geopolitical influence. Through top-down initiatives, regulations, and campaigns to mitigate pollution and environmental degradation, the Chinese authorities also promote control over the behavior of individuals and enterprises, pacification of borderlands, and expansion of Chinese power and influence along the Belt and Road and even into the global commons. Given the limited time that remains to mitigate climate change and protect millions of species from extinction, we need to consider whether a green authoritarianism can show us the way. This book explores both its promises and risks.
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1509543139
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 159
Book Description
What does it mean for the future of the planet when one of the world’s most durable authoritarian governance systems pursues “ecological civilization”? Despite its staggering pollution and colossal appetite for resources, China exemplifies a model of state-led environmentalism which concentrates decisive political, economic, and epistemic power under centralized leadership. On the face of it, China seems to embody hope for a radical new approach to environmental governance. In this thought-provoking book, Yifei Li and Judith Shapiro probe the concrete mechanisms of China’s coercive environmentalism to show how ‘going green’ helps the state to further other agendas such as citizen surveillance and geopolitical influence. Through top-down initiatives, regulations, and campaigns to mitigate pollution and environmental degradation, the Chinese authorities also promote control over the behavior of individuals and enterprises, pacification of borderlands, and expansion of Chinese power and influence along the Belt and Road and even into the global commons. Given the limited time that remains to mitigate climate change and protect millions of species from extinction, we need to consider whether a green authoritarianism can show us the way. This book explores both its promises and risks.
Xi Jinping
Author: Fenzhi Zhang
Publisher: Cn Times Books Incorporated
ISBN: 9781627741200
Category : China
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
The most important private activity for Xi Jinping, Secretary General of the Chinese Communist Party, is reading. To him literature is vital for an individual's growth, particularly works of traditional Chinese culture and the philosophy of Confucius, with its focus on society, self-education, and governance. Having used the knowledge gained from his reading to achieve leadership of China, he encourages everyone around him to love and read good books. Xi believes that reading and learning are not only necessary requirements for good leadership, but for a healthy society generally. Accordingly, he has made reading the classics of Confucius and other thinkers a requirement for Party Leaders. In this collection respected journalist Zhang Fenzhi brings together Xi's speeches, presentations, and writings about the importance of classical Chinese thought and the importance of literature and reading. In China, Xi explains, a major part of the cultural heritage is a "fine tradition of books consisting of ancient and modern masterpieces that are a reflection and expression of the fundamentals of human survival and development. This literary heritage," he explains, "penetrates the wisdom of history. Its ideological value spans time and space being constantly refreshed, and in doing so has become all of mankind's spiritual wealth. The best example of this is that we have a history of 5,000 years of Chinese civilization and the works that have come out of it contain a wealth of ideas about how to live the best life as well as the major principles of governance." Readers will find this book is divided between general themes (National Governance, Self-Cultivation, Foreign Affairs, etc.) and with a classic quotation on the theme, Xi's use of the quote, an explanation of his meaning in its use, as well as the work from which the original quote came, the original text, and a short biography of the author. Finally, Zhang provides an analysis of the use of the quote in the context of its historical meaning providing an explanation of Xi's use and meaning. Authors quoted range from Confucius to Mencius to Mao.
Publisher: Cn Times Books Incorporated
ISBN: 9781627741200
Category : China
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
The most important private activity for Xi Jinping, Secretary General of the Chinese Communist Party, is reading. To him literature is vital for an individual's growth, particularly works of traditional Chinese culture and the philosophy of Confucius, with its focus on society, self-education, and governance. Having used the knowledge gained from his reading to achieve leadership of China, he encourages everyone around him to love and read good books. Xi believes that reading and learning are not only necessary requirements for good leadership, but for a healthy society generally. Accordingly, he has made reading the classics of Confucius and other thinkers a requirement for Party Leaders. In this collection respected journalist Zhang Fenzhi brings together Xi's speeches, presentations, and writings about the importance of classical Chinese thought and the importance of literature and reading. In China, Xi explains, a major part of the cultural heritage is a "fine tradition of books consisting of ancient and modern masterpieces that are a reflection and expression of the fundamentals of human survival and development. This literary heritage," he explains, "penetrates the wisdom of history. Its ideological value spans time and space being constantly refreshed, and in doing so has become all of mankind's spiritual wealth. The best example of this is that we have a history of 5,000 years of Chinese civilization and the works that have come out of it contain a wealth of ideas about how to live the best life as well as the major principles of governance." Readers will find this book is divided between general themes (National Governance, Self-Cultivation, Foreign Affairs, etc.) and with a classic quotation on the theme, Xi's use of the quote, an explanation of his meaning in its use, as well as the work from which the original quote came, the original text, and a short biography of the author. Finally, Zhang provides an analysis of the use of the quote in the context of its historical meaning providing an explanation of Xi's use and meaning. Authors quoted range from Confucius to Mencius to Mao.
Red Flags
Author: George Magnus
Publisher: Yale University Press
ISBN: 0300240953
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 247
Book Description
A trusted economic commentator provides a penetrating account of the threats to China's continued economic riseUnder President Xi Jinping, China has become a large and confident power both at home and abroad, but the country also faces serious challenges. In this critical take on China’s future, economist George Magnus explores four key traps that China must confront and overcome in order to thrive: debt, middle income, the Renminbi, and an aging population. Looking at the political direction President Xi Jinping is taking, Magnus argues that Xi’s authoritarian and repressive philosophy is ultimately not compatible with the country’s economic aspirations.Thorough and well researched, the book also investigates the potential for conflicts over trade, China’s evolving relationship with Trump, and the country’s attempt to win influence and control in Eurasia through the Belt and Road initiative.
Publisher: Yale University Press
ISBN: 0300240953
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 247
Book Description
A trusted economic commentator provides a penetrating account of the threats to China's continued economic riseUnder President Xi Jinping, China has become a large and confident power both at home and abroad, but the country also faces serious challenges. In this critical take on China’s future, economist George Magnus explores four key traps that China must confront and overcome in order to thrive: debt, middle income, the Renminbi, and an aging population. Looking at the political direction President Xi Jinping is taking, Magnus argues that Xi’s authoritarian and repressive philosophy is ultimately not compatible with the country’s economic aspirations.Thorough and well researched, the book also investigates the potential for conflicts over trade, China’s evolving relationship with Trump, and the country’s attempt to win influence and control in Eurasia through the Belt and Road initiative.
The Xi Jinping Era
Author: James C. Hsiung
Publisher: Cn Times Books Incorporated
ISBN: 9781627741194
Category : China
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
China's development has entered a new phase since the era of Mao and Deng Xiaoping. Its GDP has grown to more than 10 trillion US dollars, twice that of Japan's and close to that of the United States; and Chinese diplomacy has taken on a more active profile as the nation moves towards superpower status on the world stage. At the same time, all of this has resulted in serious ecological problems, and as the economy develops social contradictions are growing more prominent within the country. Xi Jinping, who became General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party in 2012, has developed a new philosophy of governance to confront these challenges. The result is a 30-year plan that is the roadmap to The China Dream, which has led to various programs such as the ongoing campaigns to address and eliminate corruption within the CCP and reform of the Military; Market reforms and the "Belt and Road Initiatives" meant to improve domestic infrastructure and broaden Chinese economic influence on the world stage; and the evolution of a new approach to foreign relations. In addition to an analysis by leading Chinese thinkers of the elements of this plan and its implementation, an overview of Xi's early career and the first two years of his leadership provide readers a look at his thinking and how it has developed and provides a preview of what we might expect from China in the Xi Jinping Era.
Publisher: Cn Times Books Incorporated
ISBN: 9781627741194
Category : China
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
China's development has entered a new phase since the era of Mao and Deng Xiaoping. Its GDP has grown to more than 10 trillion US dollars, twice that of Japan's and close to that of the United States; and Chinese diplomacy has taken on a more active profile as the nation moves towards superpower status on the world stage. At the same time, all of this has resulted in serious ecological problems, and as the economy develops social contradictions are growing more prominent within the country. Xi Jinping, who became General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party in 2012, has developed a new philosophy of governance to confront these challenges. The result is a 30-year plan that is the roadmap to The China Dream, which has led to various programs such as the ongoing campaigns to address and eliminate corruption within the CCP and reform of the Military; Market reforms and the "Belt and Road Initiatives" meant to improve domestic infrastructure and broaden Chinese economic influence on the world stage; and the evolution of a new approach to foreign relations. In addition to an analysis by leading Chinese thinkers of the elements of this plan and its implementation, an overview of Xi's early career and the first two years of his leadership provide readers a look at his thinking and how it has developed and provides a preview of what we might expect from China in the Xi Jinping Era.
Blackshirts and Reds
Author: Michael Parenti
Publisher: City Lights Books
ISBN: 0872868192
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 188
Book Description
A bold and entertaining exploration of the epic struggles of yesterday and today. Blackshirts & Reds explores some of the big issues of our time: fascism, capitalism, communism, revolution, democracy, and ecology. These terms are often bandied about, but seldom explored in the original and exciting way that has become Michael Parenti's trademark. Parenti shows how "rational fascism" renders service to capitalism, how corporate power undermines democracy, and how revolutions are a mass empowerment against the forces of exploitative privilege. He also maps out the external and internal forces that destroyed communism, and the disastrous impact of the "free-market" victory on eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. He affirms the relevance of taboo ideologies like Marxism, demonstrating the importance of class analysis in understanding political realities and dealing with the ongoing collision between ecology and global corporatism. Written with lucid and compelling style, this book goes beyond truncated modes of thought, inviting us to entertain iconoclastic views, and to ask why things are as they are. "A penetrating and persuasive writer with an astonishing array of documentation to implement his attacks." —The Catholic Journalist "By portraying the struggle between fascism and Communism in this century as a single conflict, and not a series of discrete encounters, between the insatiable need for new capital on the one hand and the survival of a system under siege on the other, Parenti defines fascism as the weapon of capitalism, not simply an extreme form of it. Fascism is not an aberration, he points out, but a 'rational' and integral component of the system."—Stan Goff, author of Full Spectrum Disorder: The Military in the New American Century Michael Parenti, PhD Yale, is an internationally known author and lecturer. He is one of the nation's leading progressive political analysts. Author of over 275 published articles and twenty books, his writings are published in popular periodicals, scholarly journals, and his op-ed pieces have been in leading newspapers such as The New York Times and The Los Angeles Times. His informative and entertaining books and talks have reached a wide range of audiences in North America and abroad.
Publisher: City Lights Books
ISBN: 0872868192
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 188
Book Description
A bold and entertaining exploration of the epic struggles of yesterday and today. Blackshirts & Reds explores some of the big issues of our time: fascism, capitalism, communism, revolution, democracy, and ecology. These terms are often bandied about, but seldom explored in the original and exciting way that has become Michael Parenti's trademark. Parenti shows how "rational fascism" renders service to capitalism, how corporate power undermines democracy, and how revolutions are a mass empowerment against the forces of exploitative privilege. He also maps out the external and internal forces that destroyed communism, and the disastrous impact of the "free-market" victory on eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. He affirms the relevance of taboo ideologies like Marxism, demonstrating the importance of class analysis in understanding political realities and dealing with the ongoing collision between ecology and global corporatism. Written with lucid and compelling style, this book goes beyond truncated modes of thought, inviting us to entertain iconoclastic views, and to ask why things are as they are. "A penetrating and persuasive writer with an astonishing array of documentation to implement his attacks." —The Catholic Journalist "By portraying the struggle between fascism and Communism in this century as a single conflict, and not a series of discrete encounters, between the insatiable need for new capital on the one hand and the survival of a system under siege on the other, Parenti defines fascism as the weapon of capitalism, not simply an extreme form of it. Fascism is not an aberration, he points out, but a 'rational' and integral component of the system."—Stan Goff, author of Full Spectrum Disorder: The Military in the New American Century Michael Parenti, PhD Yale, is an internationally known author and lecturer. He is one of the nation's leading progressive political analysts. Author of over 275 published articles and twenty books, his writings are published in popular periodicals, scholarly journals, and his op-ed pieces have been in leading newspapers such as The New York Times and The Los Angeles Times. His informative and entertaining books and talks have reached a wide range of audiences in North America and abroad.
Inside Out India and China
Author: William Antholis
Publisher: Brookings Institution Press
ISBN: 0815725108
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 249
Book Description
For the last decade, China and India have grown at an amazing rate—particularly considering the greatest downturn in the U.S. and Europe since the Great Depression. As a result, both countries are forecast to have larger economies than the U.S. or EU in the years ahead. Still, in the last year, signs of a slowdown have hit these two giants. Which way will these giants go? And how will that affect the global economy? Any Western corporation, investor, or entrepreneur serious about competing internationally must understand what makes them tick. Unfortunately, many in the West still look at the two Asian giants as monoliths, closely controlled mainly by their national governments. Inside Out, India and China makes clear how and why this notion is outdated. William Antholis—a former White House and State Department official, and the managing director at Brookings—spent five months in India and China, travelling to over 20 states and provinces in both countries. He explored the enormously diversity in business, governance, and culture of these nations, temporarily relocating his entire family to Asia. His travels, research, and interviews with key stakeholders make the unmistakable point that these nations are not the immobile, centrally directed economies and structures of the past. More and more, key policy decisions in India and China are formulated and implemented by local governments—states, provinces, and fast-growing cities. Both economies have promoted entrepreneurship, both by private sector and also local government officials. Some strategies work. Others are fatally flawed. Antholis’s detailed narratives of local innovation in governance and business—as well as local failures—prove the point that simply maintaining a presence in Beijing and New Delhi – or even Shanghai and Mumbai —is not enough to ensure success in China or India, just as one cannot expect to succeed in America simply by setting up in Washington or New York. Each nation is as large, vibrant, innovative, diverse, and increasingly decentralized as are the United States, Europe and all of Latin America … combined. China and India each have their own agricultural heartlands, high-tech corridors, resource-rich areas, and powerhouse manufacturing regions. They also have major economic, social, environmental challenges facing them. But few people outside these countries can name those places, or have a mental map of how the local parts of these countries are shaping their global futures. Organizations, businesses, and other governments that do not recognize and plan for this evolution may miss that the most important changes in these emerging giants are coming from the inside out. “This book is for people who wonder about the inside of China and India, and how different local perspectives inside those countries shape actions outside their borders. Though my family and I spent five months traveling in both countries to do research, this book is not a travelogue. Rather, it is an attempt to sketch how a few of China’s and India’s many component parts are being shaped by global forces—and in turn are shaping those forces—and what that means for Americans and Europeans conducting diplomacy and doing business there.”—from the Introduction
Publisher: Brookings Institution Press
ISBN: 0815725108
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 249
Book Description
For the last decade, China and India have grown at an amazing rate—particularly considering the greatest downturn in the U.S. and Europe since the Great Depression. As a result, both countries are forecast to have larger economies than the U.S. or EU in the years ahead. Still, in the last year, signs of a slowdown have hit these two giants. Which way will these giants go? And how will that affect the global economy? Any Western corporation, investor, or entrepreneur serious about competing internationally must understand what makes them tick. Unfortunately, many in the West still look at the two Asian giants as monoliths, closely controlled mainly by their national governments. Inside Out, India and China makes clear how and why this notion is outdated. William Antholis—a former White House and State Department official, and the managing director at Brookings—spent five months in India and China, travelling to over 20 states and provinces in both countries. He explored the enormously diversity in business, governance, and culture of these nations, temporarily relocating his entire family to Asia. His travels, research, and interviews with key stakeholders make the unmistakable point that these nations are not the immobile, centrally directed economies and structures of the past. More and more, key policy decisions in India and China are formulated and implemented by local governments—states, provinces, and fast-growing cities. Both economies have promoted entrepreneurship, both by private sector and also local government officials. Some strategies work. Others are fatally flawed. Antholis’s detailed narratives of local innovation in governance and business—as well as local failures—prove the point that simply maintaining a presence in Beijing and New Delhi – or even Shanghai and Mumbai —is not enough to ensure success in China or India, just as one cannot expect to succeed in America simply by setting up in Washington or New York. Each nation is as large, vibrant, innovative, diverse, and increasingly decentralized as are the United States, Europe and all of Latin America … combined. China and India each have their own agricultural heartlands, high-tech corridors, resource-rich areas, and powerhouse manufacturing regions. They also have major economic, social, environmental challenges facing them. But few people outside these countries can name those places, or have a mental map of how the local parts of these countries are shaping their global futures. Organizations, businesses, and other governments that do not recognize and plan for this evolution may miss that the most important changes in these emerging giants are coming from the inside out. “This book is for people who wonder about the inside of China and India, and how different local perspectives inside those countries shape actions outside their borders. Though my family and I spent five months traveling in both countries to do research, this book is not a travelogue. Rather, it is an attempt to sketch how a few of China’s and India’s many component parts are being shaped by global forces—and in turn are shaping those forces—and what that means for Americans and Europeans conducting diplomacy and doing business there.”—from the Introduction