This new edition revises and up-dates the first. It contains a completely new section on international economic factors in the political economy chapters, as well as material on the World Trade Organization, globalization, foreign investment and much more. Addressing new policy problems such as the spread of AIDS in China, and analyzing Hong Kong, Macau's return and China's relationship with Taiwan, the book also covers the Chinese diaspora. Marc Blecher provides arguments and analyzes informed by social science theory and a comparative perspective, striving to inform and challenge newcomers as well as those with some working knowledge of China.