Decoding Geopolitics Podcast with Dominik Presl #86 Dan Wang: Will China Rule the 21st Century?
Oct 4, 2025
In a captivating discussion, Dan Wang, a Fellow at the Hoover Institution and author of *Breakneck*, dives into the US-China competition. He highlights China's ambitious 2049 goals, showcasing its engineering-led governance. Wang explains how this approach influences social policies and technological advancements. He contrasts China's unique blend of authoritarianism and market-driven success with the Soviet Union's challenges, providing a nuanced view of its future while addressing significant economic and political risks.
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Engineers Run The State
- China’s leadership cohort since the 1980s has been heavily trained in engineering, shaping policy and priorities.
- That engineering background drives large-scale physical and social projects treated like technical problems.
From Workshop To Tech Ladder
- China climbed a technology ladder by manufacturing simple goods, learning from foreign firms, and upgrading capabilities rapidly.
- The state sometimes helps, sometimes hinders, but leadership intent on technology matters deeply.
All-In On Strategic Industries
- China targeted many future industries simultaneously instead of picking a single winner, then persisted with heavy investment and risk tolerance.
- Authorities tolerated frauds, followed up with enforcement, and kept pushing the agenda rather than abandoning sectors.
