Is China Buying the World Book Review 
Book Review
“Is China Buying the World?” By Peter Nolan
Review written by Thomas E. Dixon
Queen Mary University of London
This book is based on a paper declared to the board of the US-China Business Council – 1/6/11
It goes without saying that China’s growing economy over the last thirty years has been one of the most prevailing and feared subjects among politicians, researchers and environmentalists globally. In a world where economic crises and political tensions continue to run a skewered line between a safe and uncertain environment, the debate on China’s perceived power makes Nolan’s short book a fitting one to review.
Nolan leaves nothing to question, showcasing his extensive knowledge by analysing the increased concentration in key sectors in the world economy over the past 30 years. Nolan critically discusses who “we” are and who “they” are (we referring to the high-income economies of the West and they referring to China) by weaving case studies about the beverage, automotive, banking and aeronautic industries into a well-constructed argument that ultimately shows how far China are from “buying the world”.
Nolan looks at merger and acquisitions (M & As) between China and the West, the over-exaggerated power of China’s foreign exchange reserves, the cultural divide between us and them, the social inequality of China’s population, the perceived threat of China’s increasing foreign direct investment (FDI) and their inability to integrate with the oligopolistic markets of the West. His web of analysis and debate is spread through two chapters outlining who “we” are and who “they” are before arriving at a conclusion to the overriding question.
The author hosts an arsenal of well-constructed points to expand his matrix of critical analysis. It is put clearly to the reader that if China were to buy the world, they would need to be involved in successful M & As with the West, engage in greater FDI into the West and a clear way of integrating well within the
“Is China Buying the World?” By Peter Nolan
Review written by Thomas E. Dixon
Queen Mary University of London
This book is based on a paper declared to the board of the US-China Business Council – 1/6/11
It goes without saying that China’s growing economy over the last thirty years has been one of the most prevailing and feared subjects among politicians, researchers and environmentalists globally. In a world where economic crises and political tensions continue to run a skewered line between a safe and uncertain environment, the debate on China’s perceived power makes Nolan’s short book a fitting one to review.
Nolan leaves nothing to question, showcasing his extensive knowledge by analysing the increased concentration in key sectors in the world economy over the past 30 years. Nolan critically discusses who “we” are and who “they” are (we referring to the high-income economies of the West and they referring to China) by weaving case studies about the beverage, automotive, banking and aeronautic industries into a well-constructed argument that ultimately shows how far China are from “buying the world”.
Nolan looks at merger and acquisitions (M & As) between China and the West, the over-exaggerated power of China’s foreign exchange reserves, the cultural divide between us and them, the social inequality of China’s population, the perceived threat of China’s increasing foreign direct investment (FDI) and their inability to integrate with the oligopolistic markets of the West. His web of analysis and debate is spread through two chapters outlining who “we” are and who “they” are before arriving at a conclusion to the overriding question.
The author hosts an arsenal of well-constructed points to expand his matrix of critical analysis. It is put clearly to the reader that if China were to buy the world, they would need to be involved in successful M & As with the West, engage in greater FDI into the West and a clear way of integrating well within the
Bibliography: Deng, K, May 2012 (LSE journals) Ikenberry, J 2008 (The Rise of China and the Future of the West) Islam, S 2013 (Europe’s World Reviews) Richards, E 2014 (Contracting from East to West: Bridging the cultural divide) Thoburn, J 2012 (Journal of the Asia Pacific Economy Vol. 17, No.3)