In 'Kicking Away the Ladder', Ha-Joon Chang challenges conventional wisdom by highlighting that developed countries used protectionist and interventionist policies during their development, which they now deny to developing nations. The book argues that these policies were crucial for economic growth and that developed countries are 'kicking away the ladder' by advising developing countries to adopt different policies. Chang's work provides a historical perspective on development strategies and critiques modern economic orthodoxy.
Stephen Platt's "Autumn in the Heavenly Kingdom" offers a captivating narrative of the Taiping Rebellion, a significant 19th-century upheaval in China. Platt masterfully weaves together the political, social, and religious dimensions of the rebellion, highlighting the charismatic leader Hong Xiuquan and his followers' revolutionary ideals. The book explores the rebellion's impact on China's social fabric and its global implications, demonstrating Platt's ability to connect local events to broader historical trends. Platt's writing style is both engaging and informative, making complex historical events accessible to a wide audience. The book stands as a testament to Platt's skill in presenting detailed historical analysis in a compelling and readable manner.
In this book, Stephen R. Platt explores the complex origins of the Opium War, detailing the early attempts by Western traders and missionaries to 'open' China. The narrative focuses on the period leading up to the war, highlighting the struggles of China's imperial rulers, the role of Confucian scholars, and the eventual descent into one of the most unjust wars in imperial history. The book features a cast of British, Chinese, and American characters and has significant implications for understanding current Sino-Western relations.
The Raider by Stephen R. Platt tells the story of Evans Carlson, a controversial Marine Corps officer who commanded America's first special forces during World War II. Carlson's life was marked by his involvement with Chinese communist forces and his role in introducing guerrilla tactics to the U.S. military. The book explores Carlson's exploits and the cultural misunderstandings that shaped U.S.-China relations.
In 'Bad Samaritans', Ha-Joon Chang challenges the conventional wisdom of free trade, arguing that it is not a universally beneficial policy. He contends that developed countries have historically used protectionism to advance their economies and now impose free trade on developing nations, hindering their growth. The book offers a historical perspective on how countries like the U.S. and Britain became rich through protectionist policies, and how these same policies are now denied to poorer nations.
This week on Sinica, I chat with Jostein Hauge, political economist and an Assistant Professor in Development Studies at the University of Cambridge, based at the Centre of Development Studies and the Department of Politics and International Studies, and author of the book The Future of the Factory: How Megatrends are Changing Industrialization.
3:09 – Self Introduction: Jostein Hauge
4:23 – Anti-China Sentiment in Western Discourse
7:40 – Misconceptions and Prevailing Narratives
10:08 – Technological Transfer and the Political Economy
12:18 – Historical Periods of Economic Rivalry
14:36 – Evolving Industrial Policy: From Japan’s MITI to China and the U.S. today
18:59 – China’s Contemporary Industrial Policy: Quality or Quantity?
21:13 – China as a Rising Power: Is History Repeating?
24:18 – The Sustainability of China’s Industrial Policy
26:43 – China, Overcapacity, and Global Imbalances
34:07 – Overcapacity: Economic Reality or Ideological Construct?
36:04 – China's domination in the renewable energy market
39:13 – China’s greenhouse gas emissions
43:17 – How China is reshaping the IP regime
48:14 – The U.S. national security stance and the trade war with China
55:10 – Europe’s approach to China
Paying it forward: Kyle Chan at High Capacity
Recommendations:
Jostein: The White Lotus (TV Series)
Kaiser: The Raider: The Untold Story of a Renegade Marine and the Birth of U.S. Special Forces in World War II by Stephen R. Platt
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Sinica Podcast 
