167. Frank Tsai: Careful When Opening

Frank Tsai is the largest organizer of public lectures in Shanghai.  He is the founder of China Crossroads, hosting public talks on "China and the World" where he invites senior figures in academia, politics, business and foreign affairs.  He formerly worked at The Economist, and Control Risks, the top global risk consultancy.  He is an American with a background teaching geopolitical risk analysis and international media.  Today we talk passionately about a wide range of topics, including societal biases towards extroverts, the evolving socio-political landscape in China, and U.S. President Donald Trump.  We talk about cycles of tightening and opening in national policies and society, the low bar for some China “experts”, and why media and public figures speak in hyperbole.  We explore the framework of U.S. and China relations, exit plans, and global stability.  Frank also reflects on America under Trump, the loss of civic education and the weakening global perception of American democracy.  The conversation wraps up with a critique of the “melting pot” ideal, exploring the tension between individualism and unity in both China and America.

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