Following last year’s National Party Congress, President Xi Jinping is firmly established as the leader of the Chinese Communist Party. What challenges lie ahead for him, and what role will the media sector play in China’s ongoing political reforms?
As critical global industries pull out of China, Xi plans to revive the country’s slowing economy by mobilizing state-owned enterprises and fostering new markets for Chinese technology in Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Africa and Latin America. Meanwhile, he seeks to assert China’s territorial sovereignty through militarization and strategic partnerships with Russia. To accomplish these aims, he will need to project unwavering central political authority, legitimacy and national solidarity, even as he tries to revitalize the economic competitiveness and innovation that are the hallmark of China’s local planned economy and private entrepreneurship.
This panel discussion will focus on recent changes in the media, propaganda and virtual platforms that Xi will make use of in his attempt to balance state and popular authority, government planning and private innovation.
This event is sponsored by the Baker Institute China Studies Program. It is free and open to the public.
Agenda
5:30 pm — Reception
6:00 pm — Panel Discussion
Registration
This event is free, but registration is required. Register to attend in person or watch the livestream here.
Baker Institute events are powered by the generous contributions of our supporters. Learn how you can make a donation or become a member of the Baker Roundtable.
Participants
Panelists
Wenhong Chen, Ph.D.
Professor of Media Sociology; Founding Co-director, Center for Entertainment and Media Industries; and Distinguished Scholar, Robert Strauss Center for International Security and Law, The University of Texas at Austin
Aynne Kokas, Ph.D.
Nonresident Scholar, Baker Institute; Associate Professor of Media Studies, University of Virginia
Steven W. Lewis, Ph.D.
C.V. Starr Transnational China Fellow, Baker Institute
Brandon Zheng
Research Associate, China Studies Program, Baker Institute
