Includes bibliographical references (p. [507]-514).

“When China awakens, the world will tremble.” The famous adage attributed to Napoleon has, in more than thirty years, become reality. Since the death of Mao, the Middle Kingdom has initiated a spectacular economic revolution which has raised it to the rank of second world power. But his hybrid regime with a liberal market economy held in a communist shell will have, to persist, to undertake very dreaded political reforms. Will he do it? From the advent of Deng Xiaoping to that of the new strongman Xi Jinping, Caroline Puel deciphers this paradox and recounts year after year the irresistible rise of the new giant.