China today is never out of the news: from international finance to human rights controversies global coverage of its rising international presence and the Chinese 'economic miracle.' It seems to be a country of contradictions: a peasant society with some of the world's most futuristic cities heir to an ancient civilization that is still trying to find a modern identity.<br><br><br><br>This <I>Very Short Introduction</I> offers the listener an entry to understanding the world's most populous nation giving an integrated picture of modern Chinese society culture economy politics and art. In this new edition Rana Mitter addresses China's current global position accounting for the country's growth in global significance over the past decade.