Undercurrents: China's Belt and Road Initiative, and the Rise of National Populism

Ben speaks with China expert Yu Jie about the country’s flagship economic project, and Agnes discusses the concept of national populism with Matthew Goodwin.

Audio Updated 5 October 2020 59 minute listen

In 2013 China launched its flagship economic project, the ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ (BRI). In the five years since the initiative has rapidly expanded trade and infrastructure relationships between China and 88 countries in Eurasia and Africa, covering over 60% of global GDP. Ben speaks to the Asia-Pacific Programme’s Yu Jie to find out more.

The rise of populism is a phenomenon affecting political systems across the West. From the 2016 electoral shocks of Brexit and Trump through to the victories of Salvini and Bolsonaro in 2018, conventional ideological divisions between left and right are being dismantled and replaced by a politics of polarization and identity-fuelled tribalism. Agnes speaks to the Europe Programme’s Matthew Goodwin about his new book on ‘national populism’.

Read the Chatham House Expert Comment

Listen to the BBC interview: Yu Jie on China’s halloumi craze [from 27:00]

Find the book: National Populism: the Revolt Against Liberal Democracy

Listen to all episodes on the Chatham House site

You can also listen and subscribe here: