webinar register page

Mao and Markets: The Communist Roots of Chinese Enterprise

It was long assumed that as China embraced open markets and private enterprise, its state-controlled economy would fall by the wayside, that free markets would inevitably lead to a more liberal society. Instead, China’s growth over the past four decades has positioned state capitalism as a durable foil to the orthodoxy of free markets, to the confusion of many in the West.

In his new book: Mao and Markets: The Communist Roots of Chinese Enterprise, Christopher Marquis argues that China’s economic success is based on—not in spite of—the continuing influence of Communist leader Mao Zedong. Grounded in case studies and quantitative analyses, this book shows that while private enterprise is the engine of China’s growth, Chinese companies see no contradictions between commercial drive and a dedication to Maoist ideology.

This program is part of China Center's "Considering China Webinar Series", exploring important topics related to China's many facets with our community.

Feb 9, 2023 12:00 PM in Central Time (US and Canada)