Talks from the Hoover Institution Fireside Chat With Stephen Kotkin & US House Select Committee on China
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Apr 21, 2025 
Stephen Kotkin, a Kleinheinz Senior Fellow and an expert on authoritarian regimes, joins U.S. Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, who focuses on the Chinese Communist Party. They delve into the geopolitical threats posed by China and discuss lessons from Leninist regimes, emphasizing the challenges of sharing power. Kotkin analyzes Xi Jinping's strategic risk-taking and its implications for Taiwan. They advocate for a unified bipartisan strategy to effectively counter China's ambitions and discuss the critical need to invest in America's youth for future success.
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Leninist Regime's Political Limits
- The Chinese Communist Party is a Leninist regime that requires monopoly control to survive politically.
- Any political opening risks the regime's collapse, so they maintain strict control and selectively liberalize economically.
China's Dual Goals and US Challenge
- China's goals are survival of the Communist Party and restoring China's global status.
- The regime faces an existential challenge from the US as a freer, thriving alternative system.
Leninist vs Marxist-Leninist Regimes
- Kotkin distinguishes Leninist systems from Marxist-Leninist ideology to clarify China's system.
- Regardless of beliefs, the regime's Leninist monopoly structure remains intact and central to its governance.