The Jacob Shapiro Podcast "What the West Should Learn from China"
5 snips
Nov 20, 2025 
Join Kaiser Kuo, a commentator on Chinese affairs and host of the Sinica Podcast, as he dives into pivotal discussions about China's rise and its lessons for the West. He explores the intriguing parallels between America's Gilded Age and China's current trajectory. They analyze the unique role of the state in China's growth, challenge stereotypes about innovation, and debate whether China aims for global hegemony. Kuo also sheds light on China's environmental strategies and public perceptions of the U.S., making the conversation a thought-provoking reflection on progress and modernity.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Deliberate Learning From Western Institutions
- China deliberately learned Western institutions and processes since reform and opening, making many urban systems familiar to Western visitors.
- Kaiser Kuo argues this is deliberate state-driven adaptation rather than organic imitation.
State-Led Modernization Contrast
- China's growth resembles the US Gilded Age in dynamism but differs in the state's central role.
- Kuo says Chinese development succeeded because the state directed investment and regulation, not merely entrepreneurial energy.
Bias Explains Doubts About Chinese Innovation
- Western assumptions about China's inability to innovate were inconsistent and racialized.
- Kuo highlights double standards comparing expectations for China versus other developing countries.
