The Political Thought of Xi Jinping

A brilliant primer into one of the world’s most important but underdiscussed figures. * Aaron Bastani, Novara Media *An informative overview of the evolution and maturation of Xi Thought. * Elizabeth J. Perry, Perspectives on Politics *[A] clearly written, crisply executed study of the latest official ideology in China… an excellent study. It sets out accessibly, clearly, and authoritatively an answer to the question of what at least the top-most leaders and the leader right at the heart of this group, Xi Jinping, want the world to think they believe. * Kerry Brown, Asia Policy *This is the first book-length study that not only offers a clear, systematic, and comprehensive reading of Xi Jinping’s political thought, but further links it to the key policy initiatives that have shaped his tenure. Tsang and Cheung offer an impressively clear and comprehensive map of contemporary Chinese politics and is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand what China’s most powerful leader since Mao Zedong actually thinks, and why. * Patricia M. Thornton, University of Oxford China Centre *While many authors attempt to explain the nature of Xi Jinping’s ideas and power, few if any do so better than Tsang and Cheung. By looking carefully at his actual words and policies through a careful reading of numerous Chinese-language sources, they provide an indispensable guide to understanding how Xi’s thought is transforming rule in China. * Michael Auslin, Stanford University *A vivid and persuasive close reading of the words of CCP leader Xi Jinping which brilliantly clarifies Xi’s ambitions for himself and the PRC. A marvelous analysis. * Edward Friedman, University of Wisconsin *This book is not a simple introduction to Xi Jinping’s political thought, it brings to life of Xi’s vision and ambition for China’s totalitarian system and big power aspiration. A must-read for anyone who wants to understand China’s totalitarian turn internally and increasingly assertive international behavior in Xi Jinping’s new era. * Suisheng Zhao, Editor of Journal of Contemporary China *Tsang and Cheung make a very timely and valuable contribution to the study of contemporary China, with a solid and comprehensive analysis of ‘Xi Jinping Thought’ and also a masterful demonstration of how to read and translate Beijing’s dogmata. * Fei-Ling Wang, Author The China Order, The China Record, and the forthcoming The China Race: Global Competition for Alternative World Orders *Tsang and Cheung have delivered this year’s must-read China book. In clear and concise prose, they demystify ‘Xi Jinping thought’ -providing a road map for understanding Xi’s thinking, how that thinking becomes policy, and why some Xi-directed policies succeed while others fall short. A fascinating account of one of the most important and least well-understood aspects of China today. * Elizabeth C. Economy, Council on Foreign Relations *[The Political Thought of Xi Jinping] will appeal to readers interested in current-day China, especially Chinese political philosophy. * Mark Jones, Library Journal *An eye-opening new book on what [Xi Jinping] really wants and how he intends to get it. * Michael Day, The inews *This book is the most surefooted guide you will find to the mind-numbing and at times faintly comical language in which the CCP clothes its ideology and actions….For as long as Xi is in power this book will be essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the aims of the CCP. * Charles Parton, The Spectator *Writ[ten] with great authority … an important analysis. * Yuan Yi Zu, The Times *Insightful. * Chris Patten, Project Syndicate *A probing new book … it dissects what must have a claim to be the most important yet least understood political philosophy of our age … patient scholarship is deployed to slash through a jungle of jargon and impenetrable doublespeak until shafts of light shine through. * James Kynge, Financial Times *A piercing -and concerning -analysis of the PRC’s trajectory and its implications for the rest of the world. It should be required reading for anyone with an interest in contemporary China. * Martin Laflamme, Los Angeles Review of Books *Concise and important. * Walter Russell Mead, Wall Street Journal *In this groundbreaking and cogent book, Tsang and Cheung (both, Univ. of London) explain what the political thought of Xi Jinping is and what its future might be in Chinese politics … An excellent analysis of Xi’s thinking, the China Dream, and the implications for China and the world. * Z. Zhu, Choice *Tsang and Cheung have given all China-watchers a mass of valuable evidence. * Henry Hilton, Japan Today *It ought to be required reading for anyone responsible for analysing and reporting on China and high priority reading for anyone seeking to develop or maintain a responsible and informed opinion about where China is heading and what Xi’s vision is for China and the world. * Paul Monk, The Australian *Essential reading for anyone wishing to understand the underpinnings of Xi’s actions, or to make an informed guess at his next moves. * Robert Wihtol, The Strategist *In this groundbreaking and cogent book, Tsang and Cheung (both, Univ. of London) explain what the political thought of Xi Jinping is and what its future might be in Chinese politics… It has effectively put Xi, the Party, and the country in three concentric circles, with Xi at the core, making them one and the same. An excellent analysis of Xi’s thinking, the China Dream, and the implications for China and the world. Highly recommended. * Choice *This is a book of intense academic rigour, drawing on a vast array of original language sources, and gives compelling insights into how the CCP has changed under Xi and where this may lead…it should be required reading for those on HMG’s post-beginner China capability courses and for those who undertake China’s role in wargames. * Dr James Bosbotinis, The Naval Review *Steve Tsang and Olivia Cheung analyze available speeches and contributions by Xi Jinping for their measurement of the political thought of the Chinese President and General Secretary of the Communist Party of China: Thus, in addition to the Chinese social contract, the cult of personality and the development of a party-centered nationalism by Xi, the presented study also deals with economic errors of Xi’s thinking, which is based on Confucianism, Maoism and Leninism. Rainer Lisowski reviewed the book for us. * Prof. Dr. Rainer Lisowski, PW-Portal *An extremely interesting piece of work. * John Anderson, Former Deputy Prime Minister of Australia *[Tsang and Cheung] succeed in their concise distillation of Xi’s major political and policy priorities, including both his aspirations and his paranoia. * Jude Blanchette, The Wire China *

Steve Tsang is Director of the China Institute at SOAS University of London. He is also a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences and an Emeritus Fellow of St Antony’s College at Oxford. He previously served as the Head of the School of Contemporary Chinese Studies and as Director of the China Policy Institute at the University of Nottingham. Before that he spent 29 years at Oxford University, where he earned his D.Phil. and worked as aProfessorial Fellow, Dean, and Director of the Asian Studies Centre at St Antony’s College. He has a broad area of research interest and has published extensively, including five single authored and thirteen collaborative books.

Olivia Cheung is Research Fellow of the China Institute at SOAS University of London. She was educated at Oxford where she was a Swire Scholar and a Rhodes Scholar. She previously taught at the University of Warwick, where she was Course Director for the MA in International Politics and East Asia. She is the author of Factional-ideological Conflicts in Chinese Politics: To the Left or to the Right? (2023).