The China-native generation
About this episode
The episode explores the perspectives of younger generations in Africa and the Middle East towards China, Europe, and the US, discussing the emergence of a new 'China-native generation'.
This week, Mark Leonard is joined by Loubna El Amine , lecturer in political theory at King’s College London and affiliate of the Lau China Institute, and Cobus van Staden , head of research at the China-Global South Project. They draw on insights from Africa and the Middle East to examine how younger generations in these regions view China, Europe and the US, and together they discuss the new “China-native generation”. Cobus explains why many young Africans increasingly associate China with modernity, technological progress and economic opportunity, while Loubna posits that, in the Middle East, China is often viewed less as an aspirational model. Instead, China has become more of a counterweight to US influence—it is a relatively neutral actor and potential balancing force in the Middle East’s changing geopolitical landscape. Together, Mark, Cobus and Loubna explore whether a new post-Western, rather than anti-Western, generation is emerging. They discuss the political consequences of China’s growing presence, the legacy of colonialism and the challenges of building intellectual and economic connections beyond traditional Western frameworks. How is China changing ideas of…
More episodes of Mark Leonard's World in 30 Minutes
- Emergency Room: The AfD’s victory in Saxony-Anhalt
- Maximum pressure on Iran, round two
- Can a Ceasefire Survive Israel’s Election?
- Germany’s second China shock
- Political crisis in Germany
- Latin America’s new imaginaries
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Mark Leonard's World in 30 Minutes podcast page.