#466 – Jeffrey Wasserstrom: China, Xi Jinping, Trade War, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Mao

2396 snips

Apr 24, 2025

Jeffrey Wasserstrom, an expert on modern Chinese history, discusses pivotal moments in China's past and present. He dives into the contrasting leadership styles of Xi Jinping and Mao Zedong, revealing their similarities and differing philosophies on governance. The conversation covers the Tiananmen Square protests, shedding light on the enduring legacy of the movement and 'Tank Man.' Wasserstrom also analyzes the complexities of censorship in China and the impact of nationalism on U.S.-China relations, especially regarding Taiwan and Hong Kong's tensions.

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INSIGHT

Mao Vs. Xi Jinping Leadership

Mao Zedong reveled in chaos and disorder as a way to improve society. Xi Jinping, in contrast, values order and stability highly in governance.

INSIGHT

Confucian Hierarchy Explained

Confucius valued stable hierarchical relationships with mutual obligations. This conservative worldview contrasts deeply with Communist ideas of class struggle and progress.

INSIGHT

Meritocracy’s Limits in China

China's meritocratic system stresses education but is limited by access to resources like quality tutors. Nepotism often undermines fairness and sparks public outrage.

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Among the Braves

Hope, Struggle, and Exile in the Battle for Hong Kong and the Future of Global Democracy

Shibani Mahtani

Timothy McLaughlin

Among the Braves tells the story of Hong Kong's past and its people's sacrifices for global democracy. The book explores the city's history as a haven for refugees and dissidents, culminating in the 2019 mass protests. Through personal narratives and meticulous research, it captures the struggle for freedom and democratic values in Hong Kong.

Oxford History of Modern China

Jeffrey Wasserstrom

This book provides a detailed exploration of China's transformation from the late imperial era through the tumultuous 19th and 20th centuries, including the rise of the Chinese Communist Party and China's emergence as a global power. It covers significant events like the Opium Wars, the Taiping Rebellion, and the Tiananmen Square protests.

Waiting to Be Arrested at Night

Joshua Freeman

Tahir Hamut Izgil

This memoir chronicles Tahir Hamut Izgil's experiences witnessing China's intensified crackdown on Uyghurs from the early 2010s until his 2017 escape. It documents the disappearance of intellectuals, the destruction of Uyghur cultural life, and the author's own imprisonment. The work combines personal narrative with observations about Uyghur poetry's role in preserving identity under repression, while maintaining a measured tone that emphasizes resilience over victimhood.

The monkey king

Wu Cheng'en

The Monkey King, also known as Sun Wukong, is a powerful and mischievous figure who joins the monk Tang Sanzang on a perilous journey to retrieve sacred Buddhist scriptures. Alongside other companions like Pigsy and Sandy, they face numerous challenges and adversaries in their quest for enlightenment. The novel is a blend of adventure, allegory, and social commentary, reflecting themes of human nature and the struggle between good and evil.

Vigil

Jeffrey Wasserstrom

Vigil: Hong Kong on the Brink provides a comprehensive overview of Hong Kong's political landscape, from its post-war boom to the recent protests. The book delves into the context leading to the Umbrella Movement and the 2019 protests, offering insights into the city's unique political system and key figures involved. Wasserstrom's narrative brings readers to the forefront of the battle for democracy in Hong Kong.

The Milk Tea Alliance

Jeffrey Wasserstrom

While Jeffrey Wasserstrom is a noted scholar on modern Chinese history and protest movements (including Hong Kong activism as seen in his 2020 book 'Vigil: Hong Kong on the Brink'), there is no publicly available information about a book titled 'The Milk Tea Alliance' authored by him. The Milk Tea Alliance refers to a pan-Asian pro-democracy movement, but this title does not appear in Wasserstrom's published works or academic profiles.

No Straight Road Takes You There

Rebecca Solnit

Jeremy Barmay's book on China

Jeremy Barmay

William Shakespeare

Victor Hugo

Isabel Hilton's book on Tibet

Isabel Hilton

Censored

How European 'Hate Speech' Laws Are Threatening Freedom of Speech

Paul Coleman

Censored by Paul Coleman explores the rise of 'hate speech' laws across Europe and their profound impact on freedom of speech. The book documents over 50 cases where these laws have been used to restrict speech, often leading to arrests and fines. Coleman argues that these laws are increasingly used to silence dissent and limit public debate on contentious issues.

Let Only Red Flowers Bloom

Emily Feng

Ernest Hemingway's Works

Ernest Hemingway

Christ in the 21st Century

Everett Cousins

Mark Twain's Works

Mark Twain

The Origins of Totalitarianism

Hannah Arendt

In this seminal work, Hannah Arendt explores the historical and philosophical roots of totalitarianism. The book is structured into three essays: 'Antisemitism', 'Imperialism', and 'Totalitarianism'. Arendt examines the rise of anti-Semitism in 19th-century Europe, the role of European colonial imperialism, and the emergence of totalitarian movements in Nazi Germany and Stalinist Russia. She argues that totalitarianism is a novel form of government that differs from other forms of political oppression by its use of terror to subjugate mass populations and its aim for global domination. The book also delves into the mechanics of totalitarian movements, including the transformation of classes into masses, the role of propaganda, and the use of terror to maintain control[2][4][5].

Les misérables

Victor Hugo

Les Misérables is a profound novel that delves into the lives of several characters, particularly Jean Valjean, an ex-convict who seeks redemption after being treated with kindness by a bishop. The novel critiques the social injustices of 19th-century France, including poverty, extreme social inequality, and a harsh prison system. It weaves historical events, such as the June Rebellion of 1832, into the narrative and emphasizes the importance of love, compassion, and the inherent dignity of all people.

The Handmaid's Tale

Margaret Atwood

The novel is set in a near-future New England in the Republic of Gilead, a patriarchal, totalitarian state that has overthrown the United States government. Offred, the narrator, is one of the 'Handmaids', women who are forcibly assigned to produce children for the ruling class, known as 'Commanders'. The story explores themes of powerless women, loss of female agency and individuality, and the suppression of women's reproductive rights. Offred's life is marked by her restrictive routine, her memories of her past life, and her interactions with the Commander, his wife Serena Joy, and other Handmaids, including her friend Ofglen who is part of an underground resistance movement. The novel is a scathing satire, an ominous warning, and a tour de force of narrative suspense[3][4][5].

Neuromancer

William Gibson

Published in 1984, 'Neuromancer' is a seminal work in the cyberpunk genre. The novel revolves around Case, a skilled hacker who was once the best in his field but was crippled by his former employer after he tried to steal from them. Case is recruited by a mysterious employer named Armitage for a high-stakes mission that involves hacking into the highly secure systems of the Tessier-Ashpool family. Joined by a diverse group of allies, including the cyborg Molly and the performance artist Peter Riviera, Case must navigate the complexities of cyberspace and the real world to merge two powerful artificial intelligences, Wintermute and Neuromancer. The book explores themes of technology, identity, and the blurring of lines between the physical and virtual worlds[1][2][5].

1984

None

George Orwell

Published in 1949, '1984' is a cautionary tale by George Orwell that explores the dangers of totalitarianism. The novel is set in a dystopian future where the world is divided into three super-states, with the protagonist Winston Smith living in Oceania, ruled by the mysterious and omnipotent leader Big Brother. Winston works at the Ministry of Truth, where he rewrites historical records to conform to the Party's ever-changing narrative. He begins an illicit love affair with Julia and starts to rebel against the Party, but they are eventually caught and subjected to brutal torture and indoctrination. The novel highlights themes of government surveillance, manipulation of language and history, and the suppression of individual freedom and independent thought.

Animal Farm

George Orwell

Published in 1945, 'Animal Farm' is a novella that allegorically represents the Russian Revolution and the subsequent rise of Stalinism. The story begins with Old Major, a boar, inspiring the animals of Manor Farm to rebel against their human oppressor, Mr. Jones. After the rebellion, the animals rename the farm 'Animal Farm' and establish a utopian society based on the principles of equality and solidarity, known as Animalism. However, as time passes, the pigs, led by Napoleon and Snowball, consolidate power and gradually corrupt the original ideals, leading to a dystopian regime that mirrors the oppressive human rule they initially rebelled against. The novel critiques totalitarianism and the corrupting nature of power, reflecting Orwell's experiences and views on the Soviet Union under Stalin's rule.

Yevgeny Zamyatin

Written in 1920-21, 'We' by Yevgeny Zamyatin is a seminal work of dystopian fiction. The novel is set in the twenty-sixth century in a society known as OneState, where citizens are reduced to mere numbers and live in a glass-walled city under the control of the 'Benefactor'. The story follows D-503, a mathematician and spacecraft engineer, whose life is devoid of passion and creativity until he begins to realize his individuality. The novel explores themes of individuality versus collective identity, the impact of technology on society, and the struggle for freedom in a highly controlled environment.

Brave New World

Aldous Huxley

Written in 1931 and published in 1932, 'Brave New World' is a dystopian novel set in a futuristic World State where humans are bred in vitro and predestined into a rigid social hierarchy. The novel explores themes of technological advancement, social conditioning, and the loss of individuality and freedom. The story revolves around characters such as Bernard Marx, an Alpha who questions the society, Mustapha Mond, the World Controller, and John, a 'Savage' from a reservation who introduces elements of emotion and individuality into the highly controlled World State. The novel critiques the optimism of technological progress and its potential to create a society that values stability and happiness over humanity and freedom[2][4][5].