Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book talks about the United States of America (USA), European Union (EU) and Japan the 'core' players that lead the contemporary world, China, India and Russia are designated as 'regional powers' which have emerged as challengers to the core countries or the existing world order. The three countries have emerged as major regional powers. Historically, these regional powers have formed empires and civilizations in Eurasia. This is the reason that we focus on them and why we believe that we are able to understand the contemporary world and various international issues more deeply by doing so. This book discusses four parts: economic development; political systems and diplomacy; history; and culture and society. It concludes that China has been able to maintain a steady conservative approach to political reforms characterized by slow-paced liberalization, while aiming at economic development as the primary goal.