Cold Eye to the Ocean (Volume 1 and 2) / Chronicle of a Hundred Years: Revelations of a Century

Author: Zhi Zhongyun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-04-01
Features: This is a work of civilization history that explores "the relationship between heaven and man and the changes across time and space," spanning 100 years. It begins with the issues left by the 19th century for human society and narrates the different development paths of the United States, Europe, and Russia over a century. At the same time, it is also a work on international relations theory, discussing the main characteristics of the "new era" since the end of World War II, as well as the two major schools of Western international relations theory in the 20th century—idealism and realism—and their key theories. The author does not confine himself to a simple narration of historical events, social thought, and international relations theory. Instead, he stands atop these fragments, "seeking the cause from the effect, hoping to find some patterns in the established facts of social development, without aiming for comprehensiveness." A glance at the dazzling 20th century inevitably sparks some reflections—Why did the United States prosper? Why did the Soviet Union decline? As the birthplace of modern Western civilization, where is Europe heading? Why did 20th-century capitalism not decay and decline as predicted by Lenin in Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism, but instead continue to develop? Why did the "socialist country" after 70 years of existence suddenly change its course, and why did Russia fail to emerge from its crisis eight years later? Since "globalization," traditional workers have not seen signs of unity, while capitalists have united in various forms. Why is this? The answers are highly complex because these issues are deeply interconnected and have multiple perspectives for exploration. In this book, the authors strive to delve into the core of the problems by peeling away the outer layers of technology, economy, policy, and institutions. They also attempt to reveal that China's future trajectory will inevitably exert a profound influence on the world situation. The most compelling aspect of this book lies in the author's use of the dual driving forces of social development as its theoretical framework to explore the development paths represented by the Soviet Union and the United States and the reasons for their rise and fall. It summarizes the successes and failures of human civilization in the 20th century. The author believes that when looking at the social changes of the 20th century, there are ultimately two driving forces: the pursuit of development and the pursuit of equality. "The former has led to leaps in productivity and living standards, while the latter has driven reforms and revolutions."