1Dime Radio How China Works (Ft. Jayne Hayward)
Mar 10, 2025
Jayne Hayward, a lecturer at the Lao China Institute, dives deep into the complexities of China's political economy. She sheds light on Deng Xiaoping's economic reforms and the shift from communes to a market economy. The conversation touches on the role of state planning and the evolving relationship between the Communist Party and capitalism. Hayward also discusses the ideological revival under Xi Jinping and the impacts of censorship on academia, revealing the nuanced dynamics shaping modern China.
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Tiananmen Driven By Economic Grievances Not Just Democracy
- Tiananmen is often framed as students wanting liberal democracy, but deeper grievances drove it.
- Economic insecurity, inflation, and visible corruption fuelled wide public anger.
How YouTube Drew An Academic Into Public Work
- Jane Hayward began making lecture videos during COVID lockdown and found a larger audience on YouTube.
- The algorithm amplified her China explainer videos beyond academic circles.
Household Responsibility Enabled Markets Without Land Sales
- Deng's reforms began by dismantling people's communes, introducing the household responsibility system while keeping collective land ownership.
- This created market incentives without fully privatizing land, limiting full proletarianization.
