Recent rising tensions between China and the West largely stem from a basic misunderstanding of China's approach to governance, argues Dr David Daokui Li, who has served as an advisor to senior Chinese Communist Party leaders as well as major multinational corporations and international economic institutions. In this urgently needed and fascinating book, Li uses personal stories and firsthand accounts to help Western readers gain a better understanding of the Chinese perspective. Li shows how China's approach to internal governance-often confusing to outsiders-is built on a historical and sociocultural bedrock thousands of years in the making. In demystifying contemporary Chinese society, Li helps readers reconceptualise contemporary China and the implications of its growth. He asserts that China's rise will be beneficial for the global order, holding out the hope that with shared understanding and mutual learning the Chinese and western systems will eventually find a way to peacefully co-exist.