China’s rise is often framed as a geopolitical contest, but Kaiser Y Kuo, host of the Sinica Podcast, pushes us to confront something deeper: what if China’s transformation exposes the West’s blind spots about modernity, power, and progress itself? Jacob and Kaiser wrestle with uncomfortable parallels between America’s Gilded Age and China’s present, the myths we cling to about innovation and identity, and the way global narratives harden into self-soothing fictions. It’s a challenge to rethink both China - and ourselves.
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Referenced in the Show:
Kaiser's "Great Reckoning" Article - https://www.theideasletter.org/essay/the-great-reckoning/
Sinica Podcast - https://www.sinicapodcast.com/podcast
The China Project - https://thechinaproject.com/series/sinica/
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Timestamps:
(00:00) - Introduction
(01:31) - Starting the Conversation with Kaiser Kuo
(02:44) - Discussing 'The Great Reckoning' Essay
(04:27) - China's Learning from the West
(06:43) - Comparing Historical Growth: US and China
(09:46) - Role of the State in China's Growth
(12:01) - Innovation and Perceptions of China
(20:09) - Environmental Consciousness in China
(22:59) - China's Global Ambitions and Comparisons to the US
(28:17) - The Current US-China Relationship
(31:58) - Shifting American Perceptions of China
(32:33) - Chinese Public Opinion on the U.S.
(34:00) - G2 vs. Multipolar World
(36:16) - Marxism in Modern China
(40:56) - China's Economic Strategies
(45:14) - Xi Jinping's Centralized Power
(01:01:36) - China's Cultural Influence
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Jacob Shapiro Site: jacobshapiro.com
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The Jacob Shapiro Show is produced and edited by Audiographies LLC. More information at audiographies.com
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Jacob Shapiro is a speaker, consultant, author, and researcher covering global politics and affairs, economics, markets, technology, history, and culture. He speaks to audiences of all sizes around the world, helps global multinationals make strategic decisions about political risks and opportunities, and works directly with investors to grow and protect their assets in today’s volatile global environment. His insights help audiences across industries like finance, agriculture, and energy make sense of the world.
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