Fragile rise

"In Fragile rise, Xu Qiyu offers a Chinese perspective on the course of German grand strategy in the decades before World War I. He traces the evolution of Germany's strategic choices from the era of Bismarck to the July Crisis. Fragile Rise shows how Germany's diplomatic blunders turned Germany's growing power into a liability instead of an asset. Bismarck's successors provoked tension and conflict with the other European great powers. Germany's attempts to build a powerful navy alienated Britain. Fearing an assertive Germany, France and Russia formed an alliance, leaving the declining Austro-Hungarian Empire as Germany's only major ally. Xu's account demonstrates that better strategy and statesmanship could have made a difference--for Germany and Europe. His analysis leads to important lessons for the leaders of China and other countries. A careful reading of Fragile Rise reminds us that the emergence of a new great power creates risks that can only be managed by adroit diplomats, including the leaders of the emerging power. In the twenty-first century, another great war may not be inevitable. Heeding the lessons of Fragile Rise could make it even less likely"--Provided by publisher.