At a time when India–China relations are seeing renewed focus amid continued uncertainty, Robert Lawrence Kuhn, a long-time China watcher, comes up with a book that he hopes will help Indians gain a better understanding of China in general and the leadership of Xi Jinping in particular. Kuhn has been prolific in his analysis of China. He has published dozens of books and made several documentaries on China, and was also awarded the China Reform Friendship Medal in 2018. Given his decades of experience studying China, Xi Jinping’s New Era China: The Inside Story comes at a momentous time, as we witness China taking on a larger role in world politics and global governance. Trade wars, non-tariff barriers, critical minerals, supply chain issues, all ultimately tied to China, dominate global headlines. Much of the book is a collection of articles and op-eds Kuhn wrote from time to time, elucidating the aforementioned issues and the many shifts and transformations in China.
At the very outset, Kuhn lists all the accusations levelled against China and clarifies that he will neither affirm nor defend China against them. Through this book, he wants to focus on what China is doing right and not let its wrongs obfuscate our understanding of China and the consequent policy-making. Pursuant to this, the first few chapters are dedicated to the role and evolution of Xi Jinping Thought and its impact on the overall leadership of the Communist Party of China over the decade that he has been president. Further, the book explores the socio-economic transformation of China, covering a period from reform and opening up to more recent developments such as the Belt and Road Initiative. Kuhn’s meticulous analysis of China’s political system, backed with extensive data and first-hand experience, makes for a comprehensive read. This book comes on the heels of his other works, such as How China’s Leaders Think and The Life and Legacy of Jiang Zemin, both of which focus exclusively on the thought vocabulary of successive leaderships and the ways in which it shapes the present and future of China. The extensive contextualising undertaken by Kuhn to situate concepts such as “national rejuvenation” and “common prosperity” within the history and politics of China makes for a compelling read.
Kuhn’s decades of experience in China and his proximity to the Chinese leadership provide invaluable access to the forces shaping modern China. However, the same proximity becomes a cause for concern for readers who wish to develop a critical understanding of China. The book does not claim to have the final word on Xi Jinping or the Chinese leadership; rather, Kuhn tries to provide his interpretation of their worldview. For readers in India, who view China as a competitor, threat, or rival whose growth merits applause, this book provides insights into both the governance model that China has developed and the limitations of such a model. Nonetheless, the book is an indispensable contribution to understanding the obscure workings of Chinese leadership.
