Dragon's Head: New China's Aspirations and Identity

Is China really "close" as claimed in the title of a vintage arthouse movie? Jensen replies in his Dragon's Head, "No". It truly is a great distance away. Most importantly, it is unique. Because there are ten, one hundred, and thousand Chinas, the author, a sinologist who spent six years living in China, continues. When you explore them, it's like traveling through time, passing between isolated pre-industrial villages and cutting-edge smart cities where, while you're stuck at a stoplight on a moped, a drone might occasionally advise you to wear a helmet to avoid paying a large fine.

Thanks to his work, Jensen was able to closely investigate the contradictions of this country and above all to see what has been defined as "the era of ambition" take shape and mature. Traveled by an unstoppable flow of energy, momentum and progress objectives, the Celestial Empire has in fact been able to transform itself and make the most of the advantages of globalization, in a dizzying ascent that has subverted geopolitical paradigms like never before.

From the "New Mao" Xi Jinping to the challenge with the United States for global governance, from the Chinese Dream to the New Silk Road project, from the incredible technological innovations to the Hong Kong protests, the author takes us on an exciting journey through the today's China, clarifying stereotypes and reality, helping us to understand the present and the future of a country that is increasingly decisive on the global stage. In the new world order, for the first time we Westerners "have to deal with a different culture without our presupposing that we are better or superior to count or serve anything. A completely new scenario that requires listening, study, mutual understanding. It is a great challenge, the challenge of our time".