Trouble in the Middle: American-Chinese Business Relations, Culture, Conflict, and Ethics

Trouble in the Middle is a qualitative study of ethical and cultural issues in American-Chinese business relations. Based on interviews with American and Chinese executives in the United States and China and visits to American and Chinese operations in China, the research focuses on challenges to doing business in China. Specifically the book

- identifies, describes, and explains the extent and depth of corruption in China
- examines and explains differences in American and Chinese business cultures and the miscommunications, misunderstandings, and conflicts that arise
- describes and analyzes the role of the Chinese middleman in business relations, especially his role in bribe payments
- develops a concept of the "cultural middle" to assist business executives in negotiating cultural differences

The book includes examinations of Chinese cultural history and the history of American-Chinese relations in China, the type of economic and social system emerging in China, the role of the Chinese government in business, challenges to intellectual property rights, the Shanghai business environment, and much more.