--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I find Chinese debates about their…" description: "\"I find Chinese debates about their political system domestically, but also about China's claims in the international system, to be among the most origi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ede/timothy-garton-ash-15575_21st-century_i-find-chinese-debates-about-their-polit_992514.jpg" --- # I find Chinese debates about their political system… ![“I find Chinese debates about their political system domestically, but also about China's claims in the international system, to be among the most original and surprising and exciting of our time. The starting point is a system that none of us had anticipated, which I call Leninist capitalism, but…” quote by Timothy Garton Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ede/timothy-garton-ash-15575_21st-century_i-find-chinese-debates-about-their-polit_992514.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ede/timothy-garton-ash-15575_21st-century_i-find-chinese-debates-about-their-polit_992514.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ede/timothy-garton-ash-15575_21st-century_i-find-chinese-debates-about-their-polit_992514.jpg) > “I find Chinese debates about their political system domestically, but also about China's claims in the international system, to be among the most original and surprising and exciting of our time. The starting point is a system that none of us had anticipated, which I call Leninist capitalism, but also obviously because it is the most important emerging power. The question of China's relations with the United States in particular, and the rest of the world in general, is the question of war and peace in the 21st century.” [Timothy Garton Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-garton-ash/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote highlights China’s unexpected political-economy blend, labeling it “Leninist capitalism,” and stresses its pivotal role in global power dynamics and future peace or war. **In simple terms:** China’s unique system reshapes world politics and security. Key Takeaway Recognize and study China’s hybrid model. Themes politics economics global security China US relations Mood analytical concerned Type observational analytical When to use this quote - policy analysis - academic research - media commentary - diplomatic strategy Key Concepts Leninist capitalism emerging power geopolitics systemic surprise Questions to Reflect On - How does China’s system differ from classic capitalism? - What implications does this have for US foreign policy? A Different Perspective Labeling China as “Leninist capitalism” may oversimplify complex reforms. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [21st century](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/21st-century/) [Capitalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capitalism/) [Century](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/century/) [China](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/china/) [China Relations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/china-relations-2041528/) [Chinese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chinese/) [Chinese Debates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chinese-debates-2041527/) [Claims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/claims/) [Debate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debate/) [Emerging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emerging/) [Emerging Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emerging-power-610426/) [Exciting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exciting/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [International](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/international/) [Leninist Capitalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leninist-capitalism-2041525/) [Originals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/originals/) [Our time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-time/) [Particular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/particular/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Political system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-system/) [Political systems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-systems/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Question China](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/question-china-2041526/) [Relation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relation/) [Starting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/starting/) [Starting point](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/starting-point/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Surprising](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprising/) [United](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [There is a growing recognition about China as a power in the ascent, and there is a question out there about what China will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/there-is-a-growing-recognition-about-china-as-a-power-in-the-ascent/) [Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/) > [One of the big goals of my administration will be to reposition Mexico again as an emerging power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrique-pena-nieto/one-of-the-big-goals-of-my-administration-will-be-to-reposition/) [Enrique Pena Nieto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrique-pena-nieto/) > [“Without the participation of one fifth of the global population, without the endorsement of the world's second-largest economy, without the political will and security…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wang-yizhou/without-the-participation-of-one-fifth-of-the-global-population/) [Wang Yizhou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wang-yizhou/) > [The sanctions have nothing to do with our relations with China, because our relations with the People's Republic of China are at an unprecedented…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/the-sanctions-have-nothing-to-do-with-our-relations-with-china/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [I grew up in New York City in the late '70s, at a time when U.S. - China relations were something that was on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pomfret/i-grew-up-in-new-york-city-in-the-late-70s-at-a-time-when-u-s-china/) [John Pomfret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pomfret/) > [U.S.-China relations doesn't need another lawyer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-washburn/u-s-china-relations-doesn-t-need-another-lawyer/) [Abigail Washburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-washburn/) > [The Chinese Government and I myself have always attached great importance to China-U.S. relations. In the new historic era, I look forward to working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hu-jintao/the-chinese-government-and-i-myself-have-always-attached-great/) [Hu Jintao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hu-jintao/) > [We have heard the Chinese refer to the Shangri-La Dialogue speech at various points. You have a lot of articulations about the top leadership…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-sitharaman/we-have-heard-the-chinese-refer-to-the-shangri-la-dialogue-speech-at/) [Nirmala Sitharaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-sitharaman/) > [Frankly I'm a bit concerned when it comes to U.S.-China relations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-paulson/frankly-i-m-a-bit-concerned-when-it-comes-to-u-s-china-relations/) [Henry Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-paulson/) > [President Trump insists on fairness and reciprocity in U.S.-China relations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-ortagus/president-trump-insists-on-fairness-and-reciprocity-in-u-s-china/) [Morgan Ortagus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-ortagus/) > [We have power... Our power isn’t in a political system, or a religious system, or in an economic system, or in a military system;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-trudell/we-have-power-our-power-isn-t-in-a-political-system-or-a-religious/) [John Trudell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-trudell/) > [What is called 'capitalism'is basically a system of corporate mercantilism, with huge and largely unaccountable private tyrannies exercising vast control over the economy, political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/what-is-called-capitalism-is-basically-a-system-of-corporate/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [But while capitalism may be a convenient scapegoat, it did not cause any of these problems. 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And so the thing that has throughout informed my thinking about international relations is history. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-garton-ash/i-m-a-historian-by-training-and-by-conviction-and-so-the-thing-that/) [Timothy Garton Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-garton-ash/) > [America should do a reverse Columbus. 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We have to build this Europe with the material we have at our disposal. And this material is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-garton-ash/well-that-s-the-way-democracy-works-we-have-to-build-this-europe-with/) [Timothy Garton Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-garton-ash/) > [Europe is a woman, now middle-aged, who has already had a number of heart attacks and is currently experiencing the biggest health crisis of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-garton-ash/europe-is-a-woman-now-middle-aged-who-has-already-had-a-number-of/) [Timothy Garton Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-garton-ash/) > [The main problem with American power is not that it is American... No, the main problem with American power is the power itself. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-garton-ash/the-main-problem-with-american-power-is-not-that-it-is-american-no/) [Timothy Garton Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-garton-ash/) > [What is the elephant in all our rooms? It is the global triumph of capitalism. Democracy is fiercely disputed. Freedom is under threat even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-garton-ash/what-is-the-elephant-in-all-our-rooms-it-is-the-global-triumph-of/) [Timothy Garton Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-garton-ash/) > [Nuclear proliferation - the proliferation of WMDs altogether - is one of the greatest dangers of our time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-garton-ash/nuclear-proliferation-the-proliferation-of-wmds-altogether-is-one-of/) [Timothy Garton Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-garton-ash/) > [Every step that produces a single job for a currently unemployed European should be taken. Every centimetre of red tape that puts someone out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-garton-ash/every-step-that-produces-a-single-job-for-a-currently-unemployed/) [Timothy Garton Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-garton-ash/) > [But transitions from the politics of violence to democratic compromise are always messy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-garton-ash/but-transitions-from-the-politics-of-violence-to-democratic/) [Timothy Garton Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-garton-ash/) > [America is divided by a great argument about itself. Europe is divided by a great argument about America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-garton-ash/america-is-divided-by-a-great-argument-about-itself-europe-is-divided/) [Timothy Garton Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-garton-ash/) > [The trouble is that privacy is at once essential to, and in tension with, both freedom and security. A cabinet minister who keeps his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-garton-ash/the-trouble-is-that-privacy-is-at-once-essential-to-and-in-tension/) [Timothy Garton Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-garton-ash/) > [Russia has lost an empire but not yet found a role. Russia has to decide what it wants to be. And as we know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-garton-ash/russia-has-lost-an-empire-but-not-yet-found-a-role-russia-has-to/) [Timothy Garton Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-garton-ash/) [Explore all 42 Timothy Garton Ash quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-garton-ash/) ## More 21st century quotes > [The young people today are the 21st century.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-scorsese/the-young-people-today-are-the-21st-century/) [Martin Scorsese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-scorsese/) > [“You know it’s the 21st Century when someone TEXTS you from the washroom to ask you to bring them a roll of toilet paper.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/comic-strip-mama/you-know-it-s-the-21st-century-when-someone-texts-you-from-the/) [Comic Strip Mama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/comic-strip-mama/) > [“I am made of a thousand ghosts. Only you can shoot me down.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-james/i-am-made-of-a-thousand-ghosts-only-you-can-shoot-me-down/) [Bella James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bella-james/) > [Like many others, I have deep misgivings about the state of education in the United States. Too many of our students fail to graduate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/like-many-others-i-have-deep-misgivings-about-the-state-of-education/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Undeniably, character does count for our citizens, out communities, and our Nation, and this week we celebrate the importance of character in our individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/undeniably-character-does-count-for-our-citizens-out-communities-and/) [William J. 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In the 21st…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/the-20th-century-has-been-marked-by-cynicism-selfishness-greed-and/) [Óscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/) > [I firmly believe that the mission of religion in the 21st century must be to contribute concretely to the peaceful coexistence of humankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daisaku-ikeda/i-firmly-believe-that-the-mission-of-religion-in-the-21st-century/) [Daisaku Ikeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daisaku-ikeda/) > [Facebook, Twitter...Welcome to The 21st Century...Where Someone can stalk you without leaving the couch!..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/facebook-twitter-welcome-to-the-21st-century-where-someone-can-stalk/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Human Race is all over universe! And I am the first person to inform you. I am the most influential person of this decade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwani-kumar-ojha/human-race-is-all-over-universe-and-i-am-the-first-person-to-inform/) [Ashwani Kumar Ojha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwani-kumar-ojha/) > [Like the railroads that brought us together in the 19th century, these trails will bring us together in the 20th and 21st centuries. (at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/like-the-railroads-that-brought-us-together-in-the-19th-century-these/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [What I love about making albums in the 21st century is that so few people buy albums! I can make an album without any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/what-i-love-about-making-albums-in-the-21st-century-is-that-so-few/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [As a former Apollo astronaut, I think it's safe to say that SpaceX and the other commercial developers embody the 21st century version of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rusty-schweickart/as-a-former-apollo-astronaut-i-think-it-s-safe-to-say-that-spacex-and/) [Rusty Schweickart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rusty-schweickart/) > [The computer provides the only way to give students a real foundation in 21st-century skills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-negroponte/the-computer-provides-the-only-way-to-give-students-a-real-foundation/) [Nicholas Negroponte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-negroponte/) [Browse all 771 21st century quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/21st-century/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I find Chinese debates about their political system domestically, but also about China's claims in the international system, to be among the most original and surprising and exciting of our time. 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