Salvatore Babones (@sbabones) is an American sociologist at the University of Sydney. His research takes a long-term approach to interpreting the structure of the global economy, with a particular focus on China. He can be reached at: s@salvatorebabones.com.
Globalism lives: China won’t overtake America any time soon
Originally published at: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/united-states/2017-0 ...Forget the so-called “Thucydides Trap.” China is not going to overtake the United States in this century. It may, however, overtake Europe. READ MORE
China’s new-found love for Confucius
Originally published at: http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2017/03/china-love- ...Confucius is synonymous with Brand China, but can the Chinese government live up to the wisdom of Confucius? READ MORE
China can’t afford to keep challenging America on military spending
Originally published at: http://nationalinterest.org/feature/china-cant-afford-keep-c ...China plans a 7 percent boost to military spending in 2017. Even that may be more than it can afford. READ MORE
Can China afford to challenge the United States?
Originally published at: http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2017/03/china-affor ...With a rapidly ageing population, catastrophic air pollution, and declining state industries, China’s leaders have enough on their agenda already. War with the US, even if it’s only a spending war, is surely the last thing they need. READ MORE
Red alert for China’s pollution protesters
Originally published at: http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2017/02/red-alert-c ...China wants people to care for the environment, one person at a time. READ MORE
Trump was right to reject Australia’s ‘dumb’ refugee deal
Originally published at: http://nationalinterest.org/feature/trump-was-right-reject-a ...As Trump showed throughout the 2016 presidential campaign season, he is not afraid to let things crash and burn. The Australia refugee deal may become the latest casualty of Trump’s thin skin. READ MORE
Trump wants a weaker dollar. China wants a stronger yuan. Will they make a deal? READ MORE
The “central state” and the almighty Dollar
Originally published at: http://nationalinterest.org/feature/the-central-state-the-al ...Today the United States is truly the central state (zhongguo) of the global system. China has a name for that too: tianxia (“all under heaven”). The US dollar is not merely the currency of the central state. It is the currency of the American tianxia. READ MORE
