James Carter

Jan 20, 2025 | sinicapodcast.com | James Carter

Audio playback is not supported on your browser. Please upgrade. Listen to the audio narration in the embedded player above!Succession is one of the most difficult challenges facing any leader. This column has visited that topic in the Ming dynasty, the Qing dynasty, and even, by analogy, in the United States. Ruling encourages the accumulation of authority, while succession requires relinquishing some power so that the next generation can step in.

Dec 7, 2024 | sinicapodcast.com | James Carter

Audio playback is not supported on your browser. Please upgrade. Listen to my narration in the embedded player above!In the early 1920s, seeing their country threatened by foreign imperialism and internal division, a group of patriotic Chinese — many of them students shaped by the May Fourth Movement — came together, seeking a way to unify and strengthen the country. The result was a new political party. One that promised to lead China to a new era.

Nov 23, 2024 | sinicapodcast.com | James Carter

“This Week in China’s History” is free this week, but please support this newsletter by becoming a paid subscriber!Audio playback is not supported on your browser. Please upgrade. Listen to Kaiser’s narration of “This Week in China’s History” in the embedded player above. Dawn comes late in Beijing in November.

Nov 11, 2024 | sinicapodcast.com | James Carter

Audio playback is not supported on your browser. Please upgrade. Listen to the audio narration in the embedded player above!There is much about the Cultural Revolution that defies belief, so perhaps it is fitting that one of its most important origins was the publication of a theater review.

Oct 10, 2024 | sinicapodcast.com | James Carter

I’ll have the audio version recorded over the weekend — I’m still in Beijing, and will get to a mic and a quiet space later! Thanks for your patience - KaiserEarlier this month, the People’s Republic of China celebrated the 75th anniversary of its founding. Two years ago, the Communist Party of China celebrated its centennial.