Political Spectrum

Tech won the market. Now it wants the state?

A growing dissatisfaction among American tech elites with the current political system has driven some to seek a more direct role in reshaping US politics. Silicon Valley’s entry into the political arena may well spark a wave of disruption comparable to its impact on technology and business — but is that truly what humanity needs, asks Chinese academic Wang Yuanfeng.

Wang Yuanfeng

Elon Musk’s political misadventure ends in public ruin

Politics and business are bad bedfellows, says columnist Deng Yuwen, who discusses the factors — like personality and ideological clashes — that led to the Trump-Musk split, and tells us why he thinks Elon Musk is the biggest loser from the situation.

Deng Yuwen

Who robs the Americans? A Marxist critique of Trumpism

US President Donald Trump claims that he is fighting for and defending the working class, but in reality, Trump is one of their greatest enemies, says Malaysian academic Lee Pei May.

Lee Pei May

President Milei: Argentina is proof that collectivism does not work

In his recent speech at the World Economic Forum, Argentina's President Javier Milei pointed out that collectivist experiments are never the solution to the problems afflicting the citizens of the world, but are, on the contrary, the cause. Commentator Jin Jian Guo takes a closer look at Milei's criticisms and assertions.

Jin Jian Guo

Populism and anti-immigration fervour surges in the West

Taiwanese commentator Chen Kuohsiang notes that populist fervour and anti-immigration sentiments in the US and Europe embolden each other and form a vicious circle, dominating major political issues. This has led to the potential political comeback of former US President Donald Trump and the rise of opposition parties in Europe.

Chen Kuohsiang

Trump will be more dangerous than the Taiwan Strait in 2024?

Lianhe Zaobao associate editor Han Yong Hong notes that there is a real possibility of Donald Trump getting elected for a second time as US President. If Trump takes office and the US alliance system loosens, China will gain some diplomatic respite. But having engaged with the Trump administration before, China is unlikely to have high expectations for Trump's China policy.

Han Yong Hong

The US is more divided than ever

US academic Han Dongping believes that the US society is more divided than ever and this has led to a high risk of violent social conflicts. Extreme actions taken by anti-abortionists, gunmen and white supremacists are just some of the issues that characterise today's American society. Meanwhile, politicians either have their hands tied in solving these problems, or are using them as political campaign tools.

Han Dongping

America's flawed democracy: When power and cognitive abilities of the people fail to match

Academic Deng Xize notes that the 2020 US election demonstrates what he terms the Socratic Trap, referring to the gap between people's cognitive abilities and the power they hold. How will this affect the democratic process, and what are the shortcomings of democracy?

Deng Xize

Can America find its way under Biden?

His divisive ways had earned President Donald Trump the moniker "Trump who builds our nation" amongst Chinese netizens. When President-elect Biden assumes power, will he be straitjacketed by the radical left in his party and be turned unwittingly into another "Biden who builds our nation" to the Chinese? Will America's troubles translate to opportunities for China?

Lance Gore

Capitol siege: Is American democracy doomed?

US academic Zhu Zhiqun gives his take on the future of US leadership and the state of its democracy, making the sad observation that from now on, no one in the world is likely to see, respect, or depend on the US in the same way again. But is American democracy truly doomed?

Zhiqun Zhu

Chinese liberal intellectuals divided over Trump and the US elections

Liberal intellectuals in China are not a monolithic group. While the elites within the community once served to moderate divergent views, disagreements laid bare by the recent US elections shows that deeper schisms run deep, especially between those espousing conservative and liberal views.

Liang Xingguo

Western democracy's worst enemy is itself, not China

Zheng Yongnian reminds political watchers of today that fascist regimes of the past grew out of once-democratic systems. What is to say that cannot happen in today's world, even in mature democracies such as the US? Is the coronavirus crisis putting democratic systems to their greatest test yet? And despite what some think, China, where the pandemic first spread to the world, may not be Western democracy's biggest enemy after all.

Zheng Yongnian