China at the beginning of the 21st century intrigues many researchers around the world. No different was the enthusiasm widely shared among the participants of the students' conference China at the beginning of the 21st century organized by the Institute of Middle and Far East Studies of Jagiellonian University in Krakow in April 2010. Research enthusiasm and inquisitive attitude of presenters and discussants observed during the conference inspired to go beyond the university walls and put this publication together. The problems discussed within this volume provide the readers with a background of most vital issues in modern China. They are related to the challenges of the Chinese society and state's international skirmishes. Each article is separately concluded by the author's findings, which is highly admirable, since the authors are young, but promising adepts in the field. At the same time, being open for criticism, the authors invite us to take a long hard look at China's modern challenges.

"In the 1980s and 1990s, China went through an intensive process of liberalization of social and cultural life, as well as economic reforms. As a result, China strengthened its position of the leading player of the globalized world, being quickly westernized at the same time. On the other hand, China is also one of the oldest civilizational centres, with a different and rich musical, theatrical, literary, philosophical, historical, and scientific tradition. That is why it is natural that various aspects concerning the present and the history of China arouse the interest of scientists that represent various areas of science. (…) The collective work China at the Beginning of the 21st Century edited by Łukasz Gacek, PhD, and Ewa Trojnar, PhD, is a sign of this natural curiosity. (…) All texts run in this book are on a proper factual and scientific level. The entirety describes and explains the reader the chosen, interesting areas of the Chinese reality at the beginning of the 21st century concerning cultural studies, international relations, as well as military and energy safety."

Hubert Królikowski