Happy Lunar New Year from the USC US-China Institute!
Meet the Author: James Mann, The China Fantasy
In The China Fantasy: How Our Leaders Explain Away Chinese Repression, author James Mann examines the evolution of American policy toward China and asks, "What are our ideas and hidden assumptions about China?"
![](https://china.usc.edu/sites/default/files/styles/event_node_featured/public/events/featured-image/mann_0.jpg?itok=isEdr2Ir)
In this follow-up to his best-selling book The Rise of the Vulcans, Mann explores two scenarios popular among the policy elite. First, the "Soothing Scenario" contends that the spread of capitalism will gradually bring about a development of democratic institutions, free elections, an independent judiciary, and a progressive human rights policy.
Second, in the "Upheaval Scenario," the contradictions in Chinese society between rich and poor, cities and the countryside, and between economic openness and political rigidity will eventually lead to revolution, chaos, or collapse.
Against this backdrop, Mann offers a third scenario: What will happen if Chinese capitalism continues to evolve and expand but the government fails to liberalize? What would it mean for the U.S. and the world if, two or three decades from now, a much richer and more powerful China remains every bit as authoritarian a state as it is today?
James Mann is Author in Residence at the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at
for the Los Angeles Times.
Featured Articles
We note the passing of many prominent individuals who played some role in U.S.-China affairs, whether in politics, economics or in helping people in one place understand the other.
Events
Ying Zhu looks at new developments for Chinese and global streaming services.
David Zweig examines China's talent recruitment efforts, particularly towards those scientists and engineers who left China for further study. U.S. universities, labs and companies have long brought in talent from China. Are such people still welcome?