The New Silk Road: How a Rising Arab World is Turning Away from the West and Rediscovering China Review

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The New Silk Road: How a Rising Arab World is Turning Away from the West and Rediscovering China ReviewMy husband passed me this book after he read it in one sitting, and told me, "you must read this".
Since we're from Southeast Asia and based in the Middle East, it made sense, as the theme is about the Arab world's rediscovery of China. But I also came with low expectations because I expected another big picture book about China buying oil from the Gulf, the post 9/11 situation pushing the Arabs to Asia, or rising Sovereign Wealth Funds from the two regions managing the West's suspicions. I was pleasantly surprised to find that "The New Silk Road" took a radically different approach. There are some real-life stories here written by someone who gives us the 'worm's eye view' but can also give us the 'eagle-eye' assessment. The author, a westerner who speaks Mandarin and Arabic, is like a gum-shoe detective who explores linkages that Tom Friedman seems to have overlooked. He starts by focussing on the dots and then connecting them between China and the Arab world. These dots are the small and medium size traders in Yiwu in China's Eastern seaboard joined to the other smaller traders in old souks in Damascus, Syria like Souk Al Hamideyyeh. He has some wonderful anecdotes of how intrepid women traders from China even brave the forbidding Saudi market, which would put off many Western women. Being a woman, I found these stories heart-warming and encouraging, but was also fascinated by the history of it. These traders are re-establishing the old Silk Road that existed hundreds of years ago. Instead of the Land route they are flying, but the linkages are being re-made.
After this general introduction, he goes on to talk about Chinese petro-dollars and SWFs, which are pretty much well-covered. But its done with some real local insight. For example, I never knew about a Chinese language novel,"The Battle in Protecting Key Oil Routes" published soon after the Iraq war which talks about a naval battle between China and US over energy, which is located a 100 miles from Singapore.
The book then tackles the fascinating question of how the China growth model applies to the Arab world, specifically Syria. Here I wish there was some deeper discussion with the Arab policy people or elite on how they see this model, although the writer does quote a Syrian leader standing amazed at Shenzhen's development.
My favourite chapter is "Young Women and the Future of the Arab World" a trend that is often ignored, but which this book explors through the story of a women from Shenzhen, the "Female Heroes" of China. He then talks to a Syrian preacher cum dentist about the possibility of young Syrian women working in factories in Syria. These are areas or issues that I haven't seen discussed before and which breaks new grounds.
The rest of the book focusses on the media and PR war (which is interesting for me as well as a former PR pro and journalist) and because it looks at how Al Jazeera (which is based in Qatar, where I live) has been an influence on Chinese media.
A fascinating chapter for students of Arabic follows, and I was surprised to learn that you can get a Chinese translator for Arabic for just $30 a day! Imagine the potential for out-sourcing! There is an interesting discussion on the difficulties and values of studying Arabic, and I was intrigued to learn how the Chinese government encourages the minority Hui and even majority Han (but not the separatist Uighurs?) to study Arabic fusha for commercial reasons. There's an interesting contrast between Fusha and putonghua, which I don't think I've seen discussed elsewhere (and which prompted a long discussion with my husband, who's studied putonghua and fusha).
The last chapter I found a little disjointed after a great excursion in corners I'd never imagine, making linkages and connections which are often overlooked. But it makes an important point that the west should pay attention to how China and the Middle East are coming together as part of what Simpfendorfer calls " a new global re-balancing. "The New Silk Road: How a Rising Arab World is Turning Away from the West and Rediscovering China Overview

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