China Rules: Autocracy for sale

About this episode

The episode explores how China exports its model of smart authoritarianism and its implications for global politics.

In our new series—China Rules—we look at how China is a global exporter, not just of goods, but also of standards, ideas, technologies and mechanisms of control. We’re starting with politics, and whether China is exporting its brand of “smart authoritarianism”. China’s heady mix of extractive political institutions and pro-growth economic policies makes for an attractive recipe to would-be imitators, just as China borrowed these ideas from South Korea and Singapore. Coupled with its edge in AI, digital surveillance and emerging technologies, China has moved from a passive exemplar to marketing—and profiting from—its blueprint for staying in power. Louisa and Graeme are joined by Jennifer Lind from Dartmouth College, the author of Autocracy 2.0: How China’s Rise Re-Invented Tyranny , and Bethany Allen from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute and author of Beijing Rules: China's Quest for Global Influence . Image: China’s Police Liaison Team demonstrates martial arts during a community engagement event in Honiara, Solomon Islands. RFA/AFP/Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF), June 2025 Transcripts available at…

People in this episode

Hosts: Louisa Lim, Graeme Smith

Guests: Jennifer Lind, Bethany Allen

Topics covered

• China
• autocracy
• smart authoritarianism
• politics
• global influence
• digital surveillance

Keywords

• China
• authoritarianism
• political institutions
• economic policies
• AI
• digital surveillance
• global standards

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Dartmouth College, Australian Strategic Policy Institute

Books & works: Autocracy 2.0: How China’s Rise Re-Invented Tyranny, Beijing Rules: China's Quest for Global Influence

Places: Honiara, Solomon Islands

More episodes of The Little Red Podcast

• Lightning Strikes: China’s Robot Revolution · May 6, 2026 · 51 min
• Little Red Podcast x Face Off · March 31, 2026 · 34 min
• State Capture or Mind Capture? China's Spy Strategy on 3 Continents · March 5, 2026 · 56 min
• Bad Apple? How the World’s Greatest Company Changed Chinese Tech · January 7, 2026 · 49 min
• Education Nation: China’s Exam Fetish · December 8, 2025 · 48 min
• The Lead Goose: China’s AI Embrace · November 4, 2025 · 53 min