The Good Fight Dan Wang on China and the United States
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Nov 27, 2025 
In this discussion, Dan Wang, a research fellow at Stanford’s Hoover Institution and author of 'Breakneck,' explores the intriguing contrast between the U.S. as a society of lawyers and China as a society of engineers. He delves into how this dichotomy shapes their relationship and contributes to the ongoing tech war. Dan also shares insights on China's manufacturing dominance, massive infrastructure projects, and the potential pitfalls facing Europe in the global marketplace. His advocacy for a shift in American legal culture is particularly thought-provoking.
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Lawyers Versus Engineers As National Styles
- The U.S. is a "lawyerly" society focused on legal process and obstruction.
- China is an "engineering" society that treats politics and economy as engineering problems to be built and executed.
Engineering Training Shapes Chinese Governance
- China's elites are disproportionately trained as engineers and treat governance as an engineering exercise.
- That orientation explains large-scale infrastructure, industrial policy, and social campaigns like one-child and zero COVID.
Cycling Through Guizhou's Surprising Infrastructure
- Dan Wang cycled through poor Guizhou and found infrastructure superior to most U.S. states.
- He lists airports, tall bridges and high-speed rail even in China's poorer provinces.
