Excellent review. I liked the question you posed in the first paragraph. I believe that the answer is that, given the background, makeup and experience of Xi, an alternative trajectory for China under his leadership would have been extremely unlikely. But the question remains, if another leader had been chosen, could the Party have distanced itself from Marxism-Leninism and set China on a different trajectory? We will never know, but I think that it might have, although the chances of that were limited by the events of 1989.
Rudd's analysis of Xi as a Marxist Leninist Nationalist is important. It should be complemented by further exploration of how much of Xi's thinking and decisions are firmly in the tradition of traditional Chinese autocratic political leadership.
Some salient points have been excluded, such as China's involvement in the UN as discussed by a number of Ambassadors interviewed by Rudd. Also, Xi's belief that his philosophy is "scientific, objective, and true" for all time and all people. When such beliefs and actions come from the US, we recoil in horror. Rudd is exceptionally knowledgeable about China and this work, as the reviewer says, needs to be read carefully, not glossing over uncomfortable parts.
Loved your review - I listened to Rudd being interviewed (probably by Hoover Institute folks) about the book about 6 weeks ago - that video is also great. Also appreciate these book reviews.
Wow! American Spring is a conspiracy theory among conspiracy theories! The current world is a tripod: Xi, Putin, and some anonymous hegemonic “Puppet Masters” who have dominated the West from time immemorial and are using every deceitful trick in the book to convince the people of the West that they are free and living in the best of all possible worlds, all in order to maintain the Puppet Master’s power and dominance.
Excellent review. I liked the question you posed in the first paragraph. I believe that the answer is that, given the background, makeup and experience of Xi, an alternative trajectory for China under his leadership would have been extremely unlikely. But the question remains, if another leader had been chosen, could the Party have distanced itself from Marxism-Leninism and set China on a different trajectory? We will never know, but I think that it might have, although the chances of that were limited by the events of 1989.
Rudd's analysis of Xi as a Marxist Leninist Nationalist is important. It should be complemented by further exploration of how much of Xi's thinking and decisions are firmly in the tradition of traditional Chinese autocratic political leadership.
Your review beautifully summarised the author’s observations and analysis. Thank you
Some salient points have been excluded, such as China's involvement in the UN as discussed by a number of Ambassadors interviewed by Rudd. Also, Xi's belief that his philosophy is "scientific, objective, and true" for all time and all people. When such beliefs and actions come from the US, we recoil in horror. Rudd is exceptionally knowledgeable about China and this work, as the reviewer says, needs to be read carefully, not glossing over uncomfortable parts.
I'm loving this book
Excellent review
Loved your review - I listened to Rudd being interviewed (probably by Hoover Institute folks) about the book about 6 weeks ago - that video is also great. Also appreciate these book reviews.
Thank you!
Great review! 👍
Thank you!
Wow! American Spring is a conspiracy theory among conspiracy theories! The current world is a tripod: Xi, Putin, and some anonymous hegemonic “Puppet Masters” who have dominated the West from time immemorial and are using every deceitful trick in the book to convince the people of the West that they are free and living in the best of all possible worlds, all in order to maintain the Puppet Master’s power and dominance.
QED