The Rachman Review What drives China’s strongman?
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Jun 5, 2025 
Historian Rana Mitter, an expert in contemporary Chinese politics at Harvard Kennedy School, joins Gideon Rachman to delve into Xi Jinping's rise to power. They discuss Xi's evolution from a party bureaucrat to a strongman leader, showcasing his consolidation of authority and the creation of a personality cult. The conversation also examines Xi's unique relationship with Vladimir Putin amid geopolitical tensions, alongside the implications of China's growing global influence and recent political purges within the Communist Party.
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Xi's Centralized Strongman Leadership
- Xi Jinping consolidated power by controlling party, state, and military leadership roles.
- Unlike predecessors, he eliminated factionalism to centralize authority under his rule.
Xi's Ideology and Term Limits
- Xi introduced 'Xi Jinping Thought' into the party's official ideology, emphasizing his unique policy framework.
- He abolished presidential term limits to maintain extended leadership control.
Formative Exile and Policy Vision
- Xi's experience of exile during the Cultural Revolution shaped his desire for order and centralized control.
- He promotes common prosperity to address inequality and align society with socialist ideals.