Odd Lots

The Covid Protests in China and Why They Happened Now

Dec 1, 2022

In this engaging discussion, Victor Shih, a UC San Diego professor and expert on Chinese politics, unveils the recent wave of protests in China against Covid Zero policies. He explores the factors that ignited these unprecedented demonstrations, including economic strife and strict quarantine measures. Shih highlights the government's unusual tolerance for dissent and the historical context of public protests. Listeners gain insights into the potential for significant political changes and the deep-seated frustrations among China's younger generation.

42:45

Creator website

Episode guests

Victor C. Shih

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Episode notes

Intro

2min

Echoes of Dissent: Protests in Modern China

9min

Unpacking the Triggers Behind China's COVID Protests

3min

Navigating Protests and Policies in China

12min

Understanding the Dynamics of Recent Protests in China

6min

China's COVID Zero Policy: Critiques and Consequences

12min

Audience Engagement and Upcoming Content Insights

2min

China has seen a surge in protests in cities all around the country, targeted at the country's Covid Zero policies. But nearly three years into this pandemic, why did they happen now? How does recent economic weakness factor into the demonstrations? And why did the government allow them to go on in the first place? On this episode, we speak with Victor Shih, a professor at the School of Global Policy & Strategy at UC San Diego and author of the new book, Coalitions of the Weak: Elite Politics in China from Mao’s Stratagem to the Rise of Xi. Shih explains this perilous moment for China, as it navigates the pandemic, a real estate bust and other assorted economic stresses.

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