China Is Not What the US Thinks It Is | Chandran Nair | Conversation Changers

Are Western narratives about China keeping us from understanding the world as it really is? Our Founder & CEO, Chandran Nair, was recently featured on the ‪@SalzburgGlobal‬ podcast 'Conversation Changers', where he joined Eric Olander for a discussion on China’s rise and shifting global power dynamics. Drawing from his book, 'Understanding China: Governance, Socio-Economics, Global Influence', he challenges dominant Western narratives that frame China through narrow geopolitical lenses, arguing that they can obscure its broader civilisational context and development trajectory. He reflects on how these perceptions are shaped by anxieties around shifting global influence and why they are being challenged in a multipolar world. The conversation also explores China’s governance model, including meritocracy, state capacity, and communitarian ethos, alongside its complexities and internal tensions. The discussion further highlights the need to rethink how global systems are understood, particularly as questions of inequality, legitimacy, and influence become more pronounced. Watch the full video:    • Conversation Changers: Challenging Western...   Subscribe for more conversations on Asia and global futures: ‪@GlobalInstituteForTomorrow‬ Visit our website for more information: https://global-inst.com/