Korbel Faculty Earns Spot on Foreign Affairs Best Books of 2024 List

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Dr. Suisheng Zhao, Professor and Director of the Center for China-U.S. Cooperation (CCUSC) at the Josef Korbel School, continues to receive widespread recognition for his book, The Dragon Roars Back: Transformational Leaders and Dynamics of Chinese Foreign Policy (Stanford University Press).

Foreign Affairs magazine has named Zhao’s work among its Best Books of 2024, further solidifying its contribution to the field of international relations.

The book has also garnered high praise from leading scholars and journals:

Andrew J. Nathan, writing in Foreign Affairs (Jan/Feb 2024), called it “a robust and empirically rich rebuttal of the realist theory that China’s foreign policy is the straightforward product of its geostrategic position and the broader balance of power.”
Andrew Scobell in Political Science Quarterly (April 2024) described it as “the most important book on Chinese foreign policy in more than a decade,” applauding its “broad scope, sophistication, and clarity of vision.”
Mandira Bagwandeen, in the South African Journal of International Affairs, highlighted its “rich comparative analysis, historical depth, and engaging writing,” calling it a valuable resource for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of the PRC.
David M. Lampton of China Journal noted Zhao’s “superb account” of how Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping, and Xi Jinping executed radically different foreign policy eras, recommending the book for both scholars and general readers.