Introduction
The Huffington Post and China Daily have first published most of these short essays, but by having them in one publication the reader realizes that they are mere variations on one central theme: the renaissance of the Chinese civilization.
The texts are presented in a reverse chronological order and they appear as they were published at the date indicated for each article. Except for Chinas Subtle Power, the notes coincide with the beginning of what we call the Xi Jinpings decade. Xi Jinping became the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China on November 15, 2012 and the President of the Peoples Republic of China on March 14, 2013.
China is above all a living civilization. Her gigantic and complex society, her political life, economic dynamics and foreign policy can not be separated from her exceptionally long history and her rich culture. Therefore, one should not be surprised to find in this collection a consideration on Alexis De Tocqueville In The Middle Country1 and remarks on tea, Chinese painting or even the Weiqi game.
Global China is not only one of the elements of multipolatity, but it is also a source of a multiconceptual world in which different forms of modernity have to coexist. It explains why reflections on international relations occupy a large part of Limited Views On The Chinese Renaissance.
As a French citizen deeply committed to the European integration project, I have paid special attention to the Sino-French relations and the Sino-European relations while I am aware that the Sino-American relations will largely define our century.
I hope that some of the ideas presented will stimulate more debates and reflections in order to better understand what could be one of the most significant stories of our time, the Chinese renaissance.
The patient observer of the Chinese world, who has learnt to be humble in front of the complexities of a mega-society, is both surprised and amused by those presenting definitive grand explanations on the Chinese realities.
The expression limited views does not only introduce to very short essays. Someone who would pretend to capture all the dimensions and implications of the Chinese renaissance should not be taken seriously.
We are convinced that while we are discussing the Chinese renaissance, this process is not only reshaping the world in which we live the much commented power shift but also the way we look at it the less debated but arguably more fundamental phenomenon of cognitive shift. In that sense, it is, in any case, much too early to form a complete picture and full understanding of an epoch-making transformation.
We hope, through other essays which have yet to come, to continue on the path of describing with always more nuance the Chinese renaissance, a long but exhilarating intellectual journey.