China is known for the export of its products. But in the coming years, it could become even better known for the export of Chinese ideas.    

Under Xi Jinping, academics are tasked with developing distinctively ‘Chinese’ approaches to the questions of the age. Many thinkers in China argue the US-led global order is crumbling, with the world experiencing a period of prolonged instability as a result. They propose ways for Beijing to survive the turmoil and pursue its interests.  

On questions ranging from AI to the green transition to the international financial system, Chinese thinkers are writing a new playbook. Major debates are taking place about demography, feminism, and how to spread the word about China’s successes on the global stage.  

The new idea of China that is forming will intrigue readers curious about the country and its place in the world. They will want to understand more about it – be it simply to acknowledge the change, to compete, or to fight back decisively where Chinese ideas infringe on the rights and freedoms of others. 

In The Idea of China, ECFR’s Alicja Bachulska, Mark Leonard, and Janka Oertel delve into some of the main intellectual contributions shaping China under Xi. On the basis of more than 100 on- and off-the-record interviews with Chinese thinkers, this new book shines a light on important debates taking place within the country in an accessible way for Western readers. 

Download the full version of “The Idea of China” book in .epub format: