“Already 2008 has proved a tumultuous year in terms of global perceptions of China, and there are still 59 days to go until the Beijing Olympics. The tragedy of the Sichuan earthquake followed hard on the heels of the riots in Tibet and the demonstrations surrounding the Olympic torch relay.”

British academic, journalist, political commentator and writer

Martin Jacques is a British academic, journalist, political commentator and writer. He first came to prominence as editor of Marxism Today, which he led from 1977 to 1991, turning it into an influential place for debate on the British left. He later co-founded the think tank Demos in 1993 and wrote regularly as a columnist for major British newspapers, including The Times, The Sunday Times, The Independent, The Observer, The Guardian and the New Statesman. He is also known for his 2009 book When China Rules the World, which argues that China’s rise will reshape the global order and end Western dominance in international affairs.