Bethany Allen is the China reporter at Axios and the author of Beijing Rules: How China Weaponized Its Economy to Confront the World. Access Bonus Episodes on Patreon Make a one-time Donation to Democracy Paradox. In the past 26 years, to this day, there has not been one major Hollywood production that has gone against... Continue Reading →
by Christopher Walker The "China Challenge" As China’s ruling Communist Party prepares to start its five-yearly congress beginning on October 16 - and with Xi Jinping set to complete his elevation to uncontested paramount leader - it is a fitting moment to consider the ways China’s global influence has evolved over Xi’s rule. It is also... Continue Reading →
Sarah Cook is the Research Director for China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan at Freedom House. She also directs their China Media Bulletin and authored the executive summary of this latest report, "Beijing's Global Media Influence 2022: Authoritarian Expansion and the Power of Democratic Resilience." Become a Patron! Preorder the new book Trafficking Data: How... Continue Reading →
Become a Patron! Order Dan Slater and Joseph Wong's From Development to Democracy: The Transformations of Modern Asia. Available for sale this week. Make a one-time Donation to Democracy Paradox. How Sharp is Chinese Sharp Power? The latest report from Freedom House exposes efforts from China to shape international media narratives through political and economic clout.... Continue Reading →
Become a Patron! Sharp Power vs Soft Power For decades American culture was omnipresent around the globe. Americans exported their values and ideas through music, movies, and other forms of popular culture. Joseph Nye described this phenomenon as soft power. He believed the appeal of American ideas translated through its culture gave the United States... Continue Reading →
An Introduction to Russia Over the next two weeks the Democracy Paradox will explore the politics of Russia. A lot of conversations focus on Russia’s foreign policy. But like most countries, Russia’s domestic politics influences its relations with the world. As Kathryn Stoner succinctly puts it, “The regime still fears the potential instability that comes... Continue Reading →
