Empire of Illusion: Frank Dikötter on Why China Isn’t a Superpower | Uncommon Knowledge

In this episode of Uncommon Knowledge, Peter Robinson interviews Frank Dikötter, a historian specializing in China, about his book "China After Mao: The Rise of a Superpower." Dikötter argues that China's economic success is overstated and that the Communist Party maintains power through fear, paranoia, and control. He challenges the conventional wisdom that the CCP lifted millions out of poverty, asserting that the Chinese people liberated themselves when the government loosened its grip. Dikötter also discusses the Tiananmen Square protests, China's entry into the WTO, and the leadership of Xi Jinping, emphasizing the regime's deep-seated fear of internal dissent and external capitalist influences. He advocates for a policy of containment, suggesting that the United States should focus on its own strengths and allow China to confront its internal contradictions.