China's digital nightmare

How China's authoritarian rulers exploit digital technology to consolidate their power

Xi Jinping.
(Image credit: Illustrated | REUTERS/Tyrone Siu)

It seems like just yesterday that China — best understood in its own eyes as the center of the universe — was a magnet for embarrassing Sino-envy from Western analysts gushing over its efficiency, its environmentalism, and its dedication to global markets. But reality is setting in, shattering one of the West's most dangerous illusions: that China was anywhere close to adopting the Western norms and values that "count."

In fact, we should all be afraid of China — very afraid.

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James Poulos

James Poulos is a contributing editor at National Affairs and the author of The Art of Being Free, out January 17 from St. Martin's Press. He has written on freedom and the politics of the future for publications ranging from The Federalist to Foreign Policy and from Good to Vice. He fronts the band Night Years in Los Angeles, where he lives with his son.