The Rise of the Great Powers (2006)

The Rise of the Great Powers is a 12-part Chinese documentary television series produced by CCTV. It was first broadcast on CCTV-2 from 13 to 24 November 2006. It discusses the rise of nine great powers: Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, Russia, and the United States.

The documentary “endorses the idea that China should study the experiences of nations and empires it once condemned as aggressors bent on exploitation” and analyses the reasons why the nine nations rose to become great powers, from the Portuguese Empire to American hegemony. The series was produced by an “elite team of Chinese historians” who also briefed the Politburo on the subject.” In the West the airing of Rise of the Great Powers has been seen as a sign that China is becoming increasingly open to discussing its growing international power and influence—referred to by the Chinese government as “China’s peaceful rise.”