Hidden Forces China's Quest to Engineer the Future | Dan Wang
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Oct 13, 2025 
Dan Wang, a writer and analyst focused on technology and US–China relations, delves into his book, Breakneck, discussing the stark contrasts between China's engineering-driven governance and America's litigation-focused culture. He explains how this shift has stifled innovation in the US while China's mega-projects flourish. Wang also highlights the unintended human costs of China's one-child and zero-COVID policies and explores the complex dynamics between these superpowers, emphasizing a need for the US to reclaim its 'can-do' spirit.
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Engineering State vs Lawyerly Society
- Dan Wang frames China as an "engineering state" and the U.S. as a "lawyerly society" to compare state capacity and propensity to build.
- This framing shifts focus from ideology to who builds and who obstructs, explaining divergent national priorities.
Elite Backgrounds Shape National Choices
- Wang observed elite backgrounds shape policy: China staffs leaders with engineers and project managers while the U.S. is dominated by lawyers and regulators.
- That difference explains why China prioritizes large public works and America prioritizes legal constraints and protection.
America's Lost Engineering Phase
- The U.S. was once engineering-oriented, building canals, railways, dams, highways, and space projects between the 19th and mid-20th century.
- Over time lawyers shifted from dealmaking to litigious regulators, changing the nation's capacity to execute grand builds.
