David Ownby of ReadingtheChinaDream.com on the intellectual mood in China

In this episode of the Sinica Podcast, David Ownby shares insights from his website, ReadingTheChinaDream.com, which translates the works of prominent Chinese intellectuals. Recently back from a trip to China, Ownby spoke with many thinkers who expressed a deep sense of disillusionment following the abrupt end of the Zero-COVID policy. This feeling of discontent goes beyond specific policies; it has eroded trust in the government and diminished intellectual engagement. While some older intellectuals are shifting their focus to other interests, younger generations are facing a potential crisis marked by unemployment and disillusionment. The discussion wraps up by examining the evolving intellectual landscape in China and the pressing question for its intelligentsia: how should China navigate its role in the global community after its economic rise?