China and Big Tech: Xi’s blueprint for a digital dictatorship [ungated] – “By controlling a huge volume of data, Beijing is conducting a grand experiment in 21st century authoritarian governance.”
The Chinese control revolution: the Maoist echoes of Xi’s power play [ungated] – “The Chinese leader is extending the party’s dominance over civil society. The flurry of activity has many of the hallmarks of a new political era.”
- Translation: Everyone Can Sense That a Profound Transformation is Underway! – “In recent days, a number of major state and Party media outlets have simultaneously republished a relatively obscure essayist’s screed on sissy-boy celebrities, get-rich-quick capitalists, and lessons that the collapse of the Soviet Union might hold for China.”*
- Pro-China social media campaign hits new countries, blames U.S. for COVID – “A misinformation campaign on social media in support of Chinese government interests has expanded to new languages and platforms, and it even tried to get people to show up to protests in the United States, researchers said on Wednesday.”
‘Reversing Gears’: China Increasingly Rejects English, and the World [ungated] – “A movement against Western influence threatens to close off a nation that succeeded in part by welcoming new ideas.”
Xi’s Gamble [pdf] – “Xi has placed China on a risky trajectory, one that threatens the achievements of his predecessors.”
Xi Jinping’s crackdown on everything is remaking Chinese society [ungated] – “The far-reaching campaign affecting industry and individualism comes as the leader prepares for a contentious third term.”
Analysis: Unleashing reforms, Xi returns to China’s socialist roots – “Championing the common people gives him a moral high ground to consolidate his authority within the party and makes it hard for his political opponents to attack him. After all who can be against social equality?”