The Xi Era: China's Transformation and the West’s Blind Spots
From Threatscape - Mapping global risks in a changing world by migsinstitute
November 3, 2025 · 1h 2m · Episode 139
About this episode
Dr. Alicia Hennig discusses China's political transformation under Xi Jinping and the implications for the West.
In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Alicia Hennig, interim professor of business ethics at the Technical University of Dresden in Germany, who brings extensive professional experience in China from both business and academia. Dr. Hennig guides us through understanding China's political system, exploring the role of the Chinese Communist Party in daily life and the philosophical foundations that shape Chinese political thought—and how these differ fundamentally from Western traditions. She discusses Xi Jinping’s transformation of China, including the expansion of surveillance systems and what this means for ordinary citizens. Dr. Hennig also addresses common Western blind spots, notably how Beijing views itself on the world stage following its "century of humiliation." We explore the top concerns of the CCP leadership, how China perceives America and the West, and the fundamental differences between Chinese and Russian authoritarian visions for the 21st century. Finally, Dr. Hennig discusses the "no-limits partnership" between China and Russia amid the Ukraine war and offers insights into what Canadians should be watching regarding China in the months ahead.
People in this episode
Guest: Dr Alicia Hennig
Topics covered
- China
- political system
- Chinese Communist Party
- surveillance
- Western blind spots
- international relations
- authoritarianism
Keywords
- Xi Jinping
- surveillance systems
- century of humiliation
- CCP leadership
- China-Russia partnership
- Ukraine war
Mentioned in this episode
Places: China, Germany, Beijing, America, West, Russia, Ukraine
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