Capturing the overall development of the Chinese economy, this comprehensive book offers an introduction to one of the most astonishing economic growth stories of the last three decades. The authors identify the key stages and unique features of China’s development, exploring its geopolitical impact on the world economy, and in particular, on the European Union. Analysing factors such as education, urbanisation and innovation, this book highlights the reasons behind China’s success in the international market, and places a special focus on the country’s energy policy. By providing insights into such an important case of expansion and growth in international business, this innovative book will be of interest to those researching Asian business, internationalisation and the Chinese economy.

The law of international trade raises questions of great intellectual depth. In Principles of Law Relating to International Trade, the author draws from his practical and teaching experience to give a comprehensive introduction to the key areas of law that apply in international business. For the benefit of readers unfamiliar with the English legal system and the many associated branches of English civil law, the book includes a brief introduction to, among other topics, constitutional, criminal, and employment law. The branches of law directly related to international trade, such as contract, insurance, competition, carriage of goods, and sale of goods, are concisely covered in the main text. Case studies and examples are used to clarify the issues for the non-specialist, making international trade law accessible to those taking professional examinations in this field, as well as business executives. The extensive use of footnotes and inclusion of case commentaries bring into clearer focus the many facets of this complicated subject and would be of benefit to the international trade law specialist.

Australia's economy has long been typified by neo-liberal governance, foreign investment dependence, exports dominated by grains, resources and energy, and an industrial structure in which foreign multinational enterprises play the leading role. These factors have not always contributed to stable growth and a strong manufacturing sector. Further, they have not always led to the best outcomes for Australia in its integration into the regional and global patterns. These themes form the focus of this book, which presents an analysis of Australia's economic orthodoxy and its effects. (Series: Global Cultural and Economic Research - Vol. 10)

The practice of trading across international borders has undergone a series of changes with great consequences for the world trading community, the result of new trade agreements, a number of financial crises, the emergence of the World Trade Organization, and countless other less obvious developments. In International Trade in East Asia, a group of esteemed contributors provides a summary of empirical factors of international trade specifically as they pertain to East Asian countries such as China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. Comprised of twelve fascinating studies, International Trade in East Asia highlights many of the trading practices between countries within the region as well as outside of it. The contributors bring into focus some of the region's endemic and external barriers to international trade and discuss strategies for improving productivity and fostering trade relationships. Studies on some of the factors that drive exports, the influence of research and development, the effects of foreign investment, and the ramifications of different types of protectionism will particularly resonate with the financial and economic communities who are trying to keep pace with this dramatically altered landscape.

DFID is right to focus more resources on fragile states if global poverty reduction goals are to be met. However, this report highlights a number of concerns about DFID's capacity to meet this and other new policy directions set out in the 2009 White Paper (Cm. 7656, ISBN 9780101765626), based on analysis of the Department's performance in 2008-09 (the Department's annual report 2008-09 published as HC 867-I,II, ISBN 9780102962154). Climate change, another key White Paper focus area, threatens progress on poverty reduction and will hit the poorest people first and hardest. The outcome of the Copenhagen Conference in December 2009 was disappointing and real progress needs to be made before the next conference at the end of this year. The White Paper also indicates that DFID will channel more funding through multilateral organisations including the EU, the UN and the World Bank. This offers the prospect of more coordinated delivery of aid, but only if these bodies increase their effectiveness and their poverty focus. The report also argues for speedier reform of the governance of the international financial institutions. The recession has had a significant impact on developing countries. It is estimated that an additional 90 million people will be affected by poverty as a combined result of the global food, financial and fuel crises over the last few years. Donors, including the UK, have responded and have sought to identify specific needs in developing countries, though many donors are failing to meet the aid commitments they have already made.

At a time when diplomatic practices and the demands imposed on diplomats are changing quite radically, and many foreign ministries feel they are being left behind, there is a need to understand the various forces that are affecting the profession. Diplomacy remains a salient activity in today's world in which the basic authoritative actor is still the state. At the same time, in some respects the practice of diplomacy is undergoing significant, even radical, changes to the context, tools, actors and domain of the trade. These changes spring from the changing nature of the state, the changing nature of the world order, and the interplay between them. One way of describing this is to say that we are seeing increased interaction between two forms of diplomacy, 'club diplomacy' and 'network diplomacy'. The former is based on a small number of players, a highly hierarchical structure, based largely on written communication and on low transparency; the latter is based on a much larger number of players (particularly of civil society), a flatter structure, a more significant oral component, and greater transparency. The Oxford Handbook of Modern Diplomacy is an authoritative reference tool for those studying and practicing modern diplomacy. It provides an up-to-date compendium of the latest developments in the field. Written by practitioners and scholars, the Handbook describes the elements of constancy and continuity and the changes that are affecting diplomacy. The Handbook goes further and gives insight to where the profession is headed in the future. Co-edited by three distinguished academics and former practitioners, the Handbook provides comprehensive analysis and description of the state of diplomacy in the 21st Century and is an essential resource for diplomats, practitioners and academics.