In a wide-ranging conversation, Susan Shirk and Geremie Barmé discuss cultural and political life in China during the Xi Jinping era. Barmé, who coined the term “Chairman of Everything,” compares Xi’s style and ambition with the cult of Mao and dynastic rulers from China’s long history. They also traced the usage of classical Chinese in the formation and articulation of policy agendas such as the “the China Dream” 中国梦 and the “Community of Common Destiny.” 人类命运共同体, and the continuity of literary Chinese education and culture through the periods of revolution and reform.
Geremie Barmé is an esteemed historian, journalist, translator and film-maker. He spoke at UC San Diego in January on resistance movements in two Chinese cities - the case of Tsinghua Prof. Xu Zhangrun’s 許章潤 dissent, and the protests in Hong Kong. Prof. Barmé is the editor of China Heritage, a journal devoted to Chinese history, literature, and thought. Previously, he founded The Australian Centre on China in the World at The Australian National University. Prof. Barmé’s prolific writings provide a rich lens into China for English language audiences. His work can be found at chinaheritage.net and his full presentation is available on video at china.ucsd.edu
Prof. Susan Shirk, chair of the 21st Century China Center at UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy, is the former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State (1997-2000), and founded and continues to lead the Northeast Asia Cooperation Dialogue. She’s working on a new book about the Xi Jinping era and is the co-chair of the Taskforce on U.S.-China Policy.
Editor: Samuel Tsoi
Music: Shanghai Restoration Project