China and Russia: Four Centuries of Conflict and Concord

Russia and China, the world's largest and most populous countries respectively, have maintained a delicate relationship for four centuries. In addition to a common border of four thousand kilometers, they have from time to time shared a common vision of political and economic affairs. In essence, however, they are two profoundly different political and cultural entities, whose sporadic alliances have proven difficult and sometimes even volatile.Philip Snow provides a thorough account of the relationship between these two global giants. Looking at politics, religion, economy and culture, Snow reveals the deep roots of the two countries' alliance. We see shifts in the balance of power, from the wealth and power of China in the early Qing Dynasty to the rise of tsarism and the Soviets, and periods of intense conflict followed by harmony. It also examines the experiences and opinions of the general public, which often differed significantly from those of their governments, and questions the sustainability of the current friendly relationship betweenof the two countries.