Sinica Podcast Releases Transcript of Dan Wang Interview on "Breakneck: China's Quest to Engineer the Future"

Kaiser Kuo, host of the @SinicaPodcast, announced today the release of the transcript from his interview with author Dan Wang, discussing Wang's new book, Breakneck: China's Quest to Engineer the Future. The interview delves into the central themes of Wang's work, which posits China as an "engineering state" in contrast to the United States' "lawyerly society."

The book, Breakneck, explores China's rapid development through its focus on large-scale infrastructure projects and a technocratic approach to problem-solving. Dan Wang, a research fellow at the Hoover History Lab at Stanford University, argues that China's success stems from its investment in "deep infrastructure," including robust electricity grids, digital networks, and a vast industrial workforce possessing critical "process knowledge." This enables swift execution and scaling of new technologies and industries.

Wang's analysis also addresses the societal costs of this engineering mindset, including political repression and issues seen during the one-child policy and zero-COVID measures. He suggests that while China benefits from its ability to build, it could gain from valuing individual liberties more. Conversely, he implies the U.S. could benefit from embracing an engineering approach to overcome its own stagnation.

The interview, now available in transcript form, provides a deeper dive into these comparative insights. Kaiser Kuo's Sinica Podcast is known for its in-depth discussions on current affairs in China, featuring journalists, academics, and policymakers. The release of this transcript offers an accessible format for those interested in the nuanced arguments presented by Wang regarding China's unique developmental path and its implications for global dynamics.

Dan Wang was previously a fellow at the Yale Law School's Paul Tsai China Center and a technology analyst at Gavekal Dragonomics. His book has been longlisted for the Financial Times and Schroders Business Book of the Year Award, highlighting its significance in contemporary discussions about China's economic and technological trajectory. The discussion on the Sinica Podcast aims to shed more light on these critical geopolitical and societal themes.