“These deeply informed books challenge the view that China’s growing economic influence around the world will inevitably lead to Chinese political and military domination. Markey demonstrates that in Iran, Kazakhstan, and Pakistan, China seeks energy resources, more secure transport routes, and deference to its repression of the Uyghurs. But Beijing shows little interest in intervening in other countries’ domestic problems or in solving its partner states’ conflicts with their neighbors. To be sure, the Chinese presence reduces U.S. influence and buttresses authoritarian regimes with diplomatic support and new surveillance technology. But the partner governments themselves—and neighboring regional powers, such as India, Russia, and Saudi Arabia—are keen to set limits on Chinese influence. So China’s rising presence in continental Eurasia is unlikely to lead to anything resembling hegemony.” — Andrew J. Nathan, Foreign Affairs, Nov/Dec 2021.

“China’s Western Horizon: Beijing and the New Geopolitics of Eurasia makes important contributions to our understanding of the processes and outcomes of China’s unprecedented and growing involvement in countries far beyond its western borders…. effectively captures the domestic dynamics in Kazakhstan, Pakistan, and Iran…. deftly maps the geopolitical landscape in the three regions showing local competitors within each region as well as external great-power rivals…. Markey’s nuanced discussion of the soft competition between Beijing and Moscow is fascinating and on point…. should be required reading for anyone grappling with the enormity of America’s China challenge—whether they sit in Carlisle Barracks, Camp Smith, MacDill Air Force Base, the Pentagon, or elsewhere.” — Andrew Scobell, US Army War College Quarterly, Parameters, Summer 2021.

“The massive amount of information contained in a rather short book (189 pages of body text and 105 pages of notes) as well as the broad geographical area of focus makes the book a must read for foreign service personnel and scholars working on international relations from the US.” — Davide Giacomo Zoppolato, Eurasian Geography and Economics, April 2021.

“a valuable book on an important topic,” — Gaziza Shakhanova, The Oxus Society, April 27, 2021.

Named to Encyclopedia Geopolitica’s “2021 Geopolitical Reading List,” December 3, 2020.

“Drawing on first-hand accounts and historical examples, this illuminating book offers a neat overview of the key players in the region, deepening readers’ understanding of Great Powers and regional rivalry on the Eurasian chessboard.” — Behzad Abdollahpour, “China’s western horizon: Beijing and the new geopolitics of Eurasia,” International Affairs, Volume 96, Issue 6, 1 November 2020, pp. 1684–1685, https://doi.org/10.1093/ia/iiaa179.

“Markey’s impressive and well-researched book is a must-read for anyone trying to decipher China’s uneasy path as it moves beyond its region into the contested waters of the Middle East and South Asia. If China is to be the West’s new adversary, then both its power and its vulnerabilities should be better understood. As such, this book is a welcome addition to the emerging literature on China’s foreign policy under Xi Jinping.” — Ray Takeyh, “Middle East,” Survival, 62:5, (2020) 203-209.

“Academicians, scholars, and practitioners are primarily cogitating on this question: how should the U.S. fend-off China, safeguard its vital interests, and reestablish its global leadership? Daniel S. Markey, a Senior Research Professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), answers this and other all-important questions, in his book “China’s Western Horizon.” — Syed Ali Zia Jaffery, Pakistan Politico, September 28, 2020.

“Daniel Markey’s China’s Western Horizon: Beijing and the New Geopolitics of Eurasia offers an important, original, and timely analysis of one of our time’s most significant geopolitical transitions, as the People’s Republic of China (PRC) evolves from an East Asian power to a global power. It is the type of comprehensive book that many would shy away from given its vast territorial coverage, and Markey should be commended for his ambitious undertaking. The result is an informed and engaging work that analyzes China’s foreign policy as well as those of several states across South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East.” — Jonathan Fulton, “Parallax Visions of the Belt and Road Initiative,” Asia Policy, July 2020.

“Overall, this is a book that will benefit analysts and policymakers—in the United States and beyond—interested in China’s growing footprint not just in Eurasia but across the world.” — Tanvi Madan, “China Goes West, to Mixed Reviews,” Asia Policy, July 2020.

“The contribution of China’s Western Horizon to the study of China’s outward reach is significant for the agency it recognizes in local actors shaping BRI’s scope, for the focus it brings to Beijing’s continental aims, and for the common tensions it draws together across a broad region.” — Elizabeth Threlkeld, “China’s Eurasian Ambitions: Ground Realities of Great-Power Competition,” Asia Policy, July 2020.

“China’s Western Horizon: Beijing and the New Geopolitics of Eurasia… distinguishes itself by spotlighting how China’s new economic, security, and legal instruments interact with local conditions across the Eurasian political space. Through a well-researched and informed analysis of recent Chinese engagement in South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East, Markey reveals how governments and political actors use such engagement to promote their own interests and agendas (i.e., “local rules”), often with messy and unintended consequences for China.” — Alexander Cooley, “Local Rules on China’s New Eurasian Horizon,” Asia Policy, July 2020.

“Daniel Markey’s China’s Western Horizon: Beijing and the New Geopolitics of Eurasia is an excellent and extremely timely study of China’s growing engagement in South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East.” — Nargis Kassenova, “China’s Expansion to Eurasia as a “Fate-Changer”: For Better or Worse?” Asia Policy, July 2020.

“Whatever strategy Washington adopts, the starting point needs to be a “better understanding [of] the specific interests and motivations of Eurasian leaders,” whose hearts and minds are the ostensible subjects of the U.S.-China competition for geopolitical influence. Markey’s book is an original and important contribution to that understanding, and a call to action.” — Paul Heer,  “Are Chinese and American Interests Mutually Exclusive in Eurasia?” Orbis, July 2, 2020.

“…a fascinating and in depth study…. The section of the book dealing with strategic options for the United States in continental Eurasia should be required reading for anyone interested in US-China relations. It’s a succinct and insightful summation of options…. This is an outstanding book; I recommend it highly.” — Amb. Joseph DeTrani, “China’s New Western Horizon,” The Cipher Brief, June 23, 2020.

“Markey’s principal contribution to the dialogue on China’s growing influence is his emphasis on the often-overlooked role that China’s immediate neighbors have in shaping Beijing’s actions and ambitions.” — Emily Jin, “Local Interests, Chinese Ambitions, and an Intelligent American Response,” SAIS Review of International Affairs, Winter-Spring 2020.

“a measured, thoughtful analysis of the nature and limitations of China’s influence in Eurasia.” — Sulmaan Wasif Khan, “How to Think About China,” The American Interest, March 25, 2020.

“Markey’s lucid recommendations for future U.S. strategy in China should appeal not only to academics and policymakers, but also to lay people hoping to understand one of the world’s most powerful economies.” — Douglas Corzine, “Daniel S. Markey *00 Analyzes Chinese Foreign Policy and Its Growing Sphere of Influence,” Princeton Alumni Weekly, April 22, 2020.

Shortlisted on “Essential New Reading on China,” by Alec Ash in The Wire China, April 12, 2020.

Named among the “Top 10 Historical Reads” on Peter Frankopan’s list for Ultimate Library.

Named to the Foreign Policy Institute’s “Social Distancing Reading List” by Afshin Molavi.