ECONOMICS

摘要

In the late 18th century, political economist Adam Smith observed in The Wealth of Nations that Europe dominated more populous and wealthier lands such as China because of a "superiority of force" but that over time there would be parity. Arrighi (sociology, Johns Hopkins Univ.) uses Smith's theory as a jumping-off point to study how China has evolved into an economic power. He argues persuasively that China's development represents a serious threat to U.S. hegemony and explains how the country has achieved economic progress by leveraging its adaptable workforce in contrast to U.S. dependence on capital investment and military power. China does not need to defer to American wishes in return for military protection, he maintains; the U.S. failure to dominate Middle Eastern energy supplies has left the door open for continued Chinese economic and political expansion.