Over the years, the US-based magazine The National Interest has published numerous essays and articles dealing with governments and their leaders and political issues around the world. The Soviet Union during the Cold War occupied an important place in the magazine at the time when the world was politically bi-polar. Japan and its economic success and decline also have been featured prominently.

China also has occupied an important place in the magazine as prominent authors have written about that country's emergence as an economic and military power following decades of internal turmoil. Edited by Owen Harries, this book assembles 28 essays written by China experts and former US government officials like Zbigniew Brzezinski and the current US deputy defense secretary Paul Wolfowitz. Most of the authors are scholars who have devoted a lifetime to the study of China and its leaders. Some essays were published as far back as 1995, but remain relevant, helping readers to gain insight.

Brzezinski, a national security adviser to former President Jimmy Carter, contributed to the White House's decision to switch diplomatic relations from Taipei to Beijing. But he maintains an impartial stance.

"For America, Taiwan is a problem; China is the challenge," he writes.

"Admittedly, how the Taiwan issue is handled will influence - and in some circumstances could even determine - the evolution of US-China relations. But, except for its impact on those relations, the status of Taiwan itself is not a central international concern." Brzezinski says Taiwan has prospered economically and flowered politically, and it has become a respected and active participant in some international organizations.

Democracy is an essential condition for improving ties across the Taiwan Strait, he says, pointing out that if China fails to reform its social and political system in a democratic way, it will not be able to attract support from the world. Brzezinski says it is in the national interest of the US to prevent conflict in the Taiwan Strait. He says that if China becomes a democracy, it should enlarge its political structure to become "one China, several systems." But whether or not China ever will become a democracy remains a big question.

After the event of September 11, 2001 in the US, relations between Washington and Beijing have changed as the former sought support for its global anti-terrorist campaign. Beijing has cooperated in ways not seen in the past. David M. Lampton says the post September 11 period has transformed ties between the two capitals into a "new framework for limited security cooperation" while other areas outside of security have remained unaffected. He says if threats to both nations were to increase, there would be further security cooperation.

Authors also analyze issues of Chinese culture and society, military and history. Nathan Glazer examines so-called "Asian values", as they have been considered as factors contributing to the remarkable economic development in some countries known as Asian tigers. But Glazer asks whether those values can withstand the effects of globalization.

John Fitzgerald examines China's quest for dignity with examples of writings by Chinese authors who reflect on the search for dignity while berating the communist authorities for violating human rights. Fitzgerald uses the book The Private Life of Chairman Mao, written by Mao Tsetung's private doctor, Li Zhisui, to explore the important events in China that allowed its leaders to claim their rightful place in the world after years of humiliation. He says, however, that Chinese authors express disillusion and deep disappointment that Chinese leaders have not been able to restore a real sense of pride to the Chinese people because they fail to carry out programs that would transform their lives for the better. Most authors, including Li Zhisui, express disappointment as the Chinese people suffer continued humiliation under Mao's policies. Li Zhisui's biography on Mao is quoted frequently by Ross Terrill to explain some of his political mistakes during his long reign over the country.