Yasheng Huang, an MIT professor and author, teams up with Kerry Brown, Director of the Lau China Institute, to dissect the recent protests shaking China. They discuss how dissatisfaction with strict COVID policies could shake Xi Jinping's stronghold and transform future governance. The conversation probes China's economic struggles and the global repercussions of its unrest. They also explore the intricate relationship between East and West, emphasizing the need for improved U.S.-China ties amidst rising tensions and the implications for Taiwan.
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Urumqi Fire Incident
Protests erupted in China after the 20th Party Congress, sparked by lockdowns and a fire in Urumqi.
The fire, exacerbated by lockdown conditions, tragically killed 10 people, fueling public anger.
insights INSIGHT
Nature of Protests
Unlike the Tiananmen Square protests, the current protests are driven by specific grievances, not a broad desire for political reform.
The protests are smaller in scale than 1989 and occur within a less liberal backdrop.
insights INSIGHT
CCP's Social Contract
The CCP's legitimacy has been tied to economic growth, which helped them overcome the Tiananmen crisis.
Xi Jinping revised this social contract, prioritizing loyalty over economic and social freedoms.
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Kerry Brown's book provides a nuanced and thorough explanation of Xi Jinping's leadership, focusing on his efforts to maintain stability in China while ensuring the Communist Party's control. The book explores Xi's vision for China's future and its implications for the global community, especially in light of recent events like unrest in Hong Kong and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Capitalism with Chinese characteristics
Yasheng Huang
This book presents a detailed account of China's economic transformation, highlighting the shift from a market-driven, rural-based entrepreneurial system in the 1980s to a state-led, urban-biased system in the 1990s. It argues that this change led to adverse welfare impacts, including income disparity and reduced personal income growth, despite rapid GDP growth. Huang emphasizes the need for political reforms to ensure sustainable development.
Given the disruptive events unfolding in China in recent weeks, what does the future holds for Xi Jinping and the country? Some say that this is a pivotal moment for Xi’s strongman rule, especially given that the Chinese economy is also suffering. And what do China’s political and economic challenges mean for the rest of the world? To answer these questions we’re joined by Yasheng Huang professor at MIT and author of Capitalism with Chinese characteristics and Kerry Brown, Director of the Lau China Institute at Kings College London and author of Xi: A study in power. Our host for this episode is Carl Miller.
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