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The Political Thought of Xi Jinping
Over the course of the last half dozen years, China's supreme leader Xi Jinping has made extraordinary changes which have profound implications not only for the Chinese people but nations throughout the world. Given how swiftly and fundamentally China's relations with the rest of the world are changing under Xi's rule, it is imperative that we know what Xi Jinping Thought is, how it evolved, and why it is so important.
In The Political Thought of Xi Jinping, Steve Tsang and Olivia Cheung provide an authoritative overview of what "Xi Jinping Thought" is and is not and what it means for both China and the world. Xi, now effectively leader for life, has worked to ensure that "Xi Jinping Thought" becomes cemented as the new state ideology. Clearly inspired by the doctrine of "Mao Zedong Thought," which shaped the parameters of acceptable thinking for a quarter century, Xi wants his doctrine to define what he calls the "China Dream of national rejuvenation" and serve the pathway to its fulfillment by 2050. Drawing from original research of Xi's speeches, writings, and policies, Tsang and Cheung conceptualize Xi's vision independently from interpretations provided by the Chinese Communist Party or other sources. They further examine and explain how Xi seeks to transform this vision into reality.
In The Political Thought of Xi Jinping, Steve Tsang and Olivia Cheung provide an authoritative overview of what "Xi Jinping Thought" is and is not and what it means for both China and the world. Xi, now effectively leader for life, has worked to ensure that "Xi Jinping Thought" becomes cemented as the new state ideology. Clearly inspired by the doctrine of "Mao Zedong Thought," which shaped the parameters of acceptable thinking for a quarter century, Xi wants his doctrine to define what he calls the "China Dream of national rejuvenation" and serve the pathway to its fulfillment by 2050. Drawing from original research of Xi's speeches, writings, and policies, Tsang and Cheung conceptualize Xi's vision independently from interpretations provided by the Chinese Communist Party or other sources. They further examine and explain how Xi seeks to transform this vision into reality.
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Published February 6, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
March 25, 2026
Another book that found me in a very Chinese moment in my life. This is a fairly comprehensive study of “Xi’s thought”, in reality a series of objectives and first principles described in the usual Chinese self-aggrandizing way
This is what we can learn from Xi’s thought: Xi Jiping is a true believer in Maoism, sure that the CCP represents the only path for China development, and that the usual form of consultive Leninism developed during Deng Xiaoping’s time should be substituted by a form of vanguard centralism with the total removal of factionalism and Xi remaining on top. While he has not successfully ended factions he was able to centralize power around him, making his view synonymous with the correct “Marxism Leninism with Chinese Characteristics” line and that line synonymous with China. Xi has enforced this through ressucitating self criticism and political rectifications.
In order for the perpetuation of the Party as the sole mover of Chinese politics, there must be a social contract with the Chinese population. The people expects corruption to be combatted and the quality of life to keep growing and, in exchange, the Party must remain in absolute power. All development must be party driven and party identified, civil society has nothing to contribute in identifying popular needs or governmental oversights.
Xi Jiping sees Chiba as a superior civilization who is destined to lead the world. This in itself is not surprising, as any great power sees their civilization as naturally superior. The interesting part here is that this leading role for China is an objective for the future, as Xi currently sees as the role of developed countries to support development around the world while keeping away from liberal democratic criticism.
Xi’s foreign policy is heavily based in resentment politics. However, proving Fukuyama right, he has no objective of actually exporting Marxism Leninism with Chinese characteristics as a guiding ideology, merely satisfied as having other countries become semi vassals of China through economic and political ties.
As it stands now, it is very difficult that China will actually achieve its more ambitious objectives. It will probably never become a richer state than the US, or even the poorer European states, and the economy shows signs of slowing down. By prioritizing political loyalty over the capacity of innovating, Xi Jiping will probably not help in allowing China to pick up the pace. Over 36% of Chinas population lives with under 175 USD a month and their rural and urban poverty alleviation programs have mostly failed. China will also probably not take Taiwan, not now, at least. The greatest boon to a China starting to show signs of exhaustion was the election of a complete mongoloid for the leadership of the Us and the summary alienation of former US allies. However this won’t last forever. I do not believe that Xi Jiping will be seen in the broad future as a noteworthy Chinese leader beyond his centralization of power
This is what we can learn from Xi’s thought: Xi Jiping is a true believer in Maoism, sure that the CCP represents the only path for China development, and that the usual form of consultive Leninism developed during Deng Xiaoping’s time should be substituted by a form of vanguard centralism with the total removal of factionalism and Xi remaining on top. While he has not successfully ended factions he was able to centralize power around him, making his view synonymous with the correct “Marxism Leninism with Chinese Characteristics” line and that line synonymous with China. Xi has enforced this through ressucitating self criticism and political rectifications.
In order for the perpetuation of the Party as the sole mover of Chinese politics, there must be a social contract with the Chinese population. The people expects corruption to be combatted and the quality of life to keep growing and, in exchange, the Party must remain in absolute power. All development must be party driven and party identified, civil society has nothing to contribute in identifying popular needs or governmental oversights.
Xi Jiping sees Chiba as a superior civilization who is destined to lead the world. This in itself is not surprising, as any great power sees their civilization as naturally superior. The interesting part here is that this leading role for China is an objective for the future, as Xi currently sees as the role of developed countries to support development around the world while keeping away from liberal democratic criticism.
Xi’s foreign policy is heavily based in resentment politics. However, proving Fukuyama right, he has no objective of actually exporting Marxism Leninism with Chinese characteristics as a guiding ideology, merely satisfied as having other countries become semi vassals of China through economic and political ties.
As it stands now, it is very difficult that China will actually achieve its more ambitious objectives. It will probably never become a richer state than the US, or even the poorer European states, and the economy shows signs of slowing down. By prioritizing political loyalty over the capacity of innovating, Xi Jiping will probably not help in allowing China to pick up the pace. Over 36% of Chinas population lives with under 175 USD a month and their rural and urban poverty alleviation programs have mostly failed. China will also probably not take Taiwan, not now, at least. The greatest boon to a China starting to show signs of exhaustion was the election of a complete mongoloid for the leadership of the Us and the summary alienation of former US allies. However this won’t last forever. I do not believe that Xi Jiping will be seen in the broad future as a noteworthy Chinese leader beyond his centralization of power
January 8, 2026
Un gros pavé sur le secrétaire Xi, comme on les aime. Ce n'est pas une lecture de chevet
August 2, 2024
Attempt of critically systematising XJP's speeches and policy documents to explain the state ideology enforced upon the population of PRC. The ideology oddly named "Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era" is not coherent, full of contradictions and lies. This attempt on translating the obscure party speak into clear English offer any reader an overview of the dogmas used by the ruling class of China.
July 14, 2024
Excellent insight into Xi Jinping’s political thought, aspirations for China and how he developed as a leader to bring China to its current state and where he envisions the Chinese end state. Taken from letters and comments translated by the authors directly. A good read for sure.
June 29, 2024
I listened to the unabridged 11-hour audio version of this title (read by Rebecca Lam, HighBridge Audio, 2024).
Xi Jinping, China's President (in practice, its Supreme Leader), is the least-known of the leaders of the world's major powers. So, given that China has the world's second economy and, by some accounts, may overtake the US within a few years, this book is a timely addition to the genre of political biographies.
Xi Jinping has made significant changes to China's political system, its economy, and its relationships with the rest of the world. Xi's ruling philosophy and worldview is called "Xi Thought" in this book. Xi has cemented his Thought (what we in the West call doctrine) as the new state ideology. After having the party rescind the limit of two 5-year terms for the top leader, he began his third term in 2022, essentially making him leader for life.
Xi dreams of replacing the American-dominated world order with a Sino-centric order in which China has resumed its rightful place as the top country in terms of power, wealth, advancement, civilization, and benevolence. Any alternative vision or history is banned. Collective leadership at the top has been transformed into an echo chamber. Party members are required to study Xi Thought on a daily basis, using an app. Xi Thought is also fully integrated into China's education system.
Xi views his Thought, strongly influenced by Mao Zedong Thought, as "China Dream of National Rejuvenation," a "Make China Great Again" vision, to be realized by 2050. He sees no reason for China not being the world's leading power, given its glorious history and record of successes. In Xi's telling, a point of pride for China is that it has never invaded another country, a demonstrably-false claim.
Fighting corruption is one of the main tenets of Xi Thought. When he took over in 2012, corruption was rampant. Party leaders had lost ideological conviction, had their individual fiefdoms, and were pursuing their private interests. For China's problems, Xi blames both the West and the prior leaders' opening up policies.
The authors have used Xi's speeches, writings, and issued policies to conceptualize Xi's vision independently of narratives provided by the Chinese Communist Party or other official sources in China. For example, Xi deems loyalty to China, to the Communist Party, and to him as being one and the same. He has upended the communism principle of rule by a committee of equals to place himself on top of a hierarchy that is not allowed by communism.
Both the writing of the book and narration of the audio version are dry and uninspiring. Perhaps this dryness is inevitable for a book derived from speeches, writings, and policies, rather than from insider accounts and personal interviews. But the latter style would be quite impractical in the case of the Chinese leader.
Xi Jinping, China's President (in practice, its Supreme Leader), is the least-known of the leaders of the world's major powers. So, given that China has the world's second economy and, by some accounts, may overtake the US within a few years, this book is a timely addition to the genre of political biographies.
Xi Jinping has made significant changes to China's political system, its economy, and its relationships with the rest of the world. Xi's ruling philosophy and worldview is called "Xi Thought" in this book. Xi has cemented his Thought (what we in the West call doctrine) as the new state ideology. After having the party rescind the limit of two 5-year terms for the top leader, he began his third term in 2022, essentially making him leader for life.
Xi dreams of replacing the American-dominated world order with a Sino-centric order in which China has resumed its rightful place as the top country in terms of power, wealth, advancement, civilization, and benevolence. Any alternative vision or history is banned. Collective leadership at the top has been transformed into an echo chamber. Party members are required to study Xi Thought on a daily basis, using an app. Xi Thought is also fully integrated into China's education system.
Xi views his Thought, strongly influenced by Mao Zedong Thought, as "China Dream of National Rejuvenation," a "Make China Great Again" vision, to be realized by 2050. He sees no reason for China not being the world's leading power, given its glorious history and record of successes. In Xi's telling, a point of pride for China is that it has never invaded another country, a demonstrably-false claim.
Fighting corruption is one of the main tenets of Xi Thought. When he took over in 2012, corruption was rampant. Party leaders had lost ideological conviction, had their individual fiefdoms, and were pursuing their private interests. For China's problems, Xi blames both the West and the prior leaders' opening up policies.
The authors have used Xi's speeches, writings, and issued policies to conceptualize Xi's vision independently of narratives provided by the Chinese Communist Party or other official sources in China. For example, Xi deems loyalty to China, to the Communist Party, and to him as being one and the same. He has upended the communism principle of rule by a committee of equals to place himself on top of a hierarchy that is not allowed by communism.
Both the writing of the book and narration of the audio version are dry and uninspiring. Perhaps this dryness is inevitable for a book derived from speeches, writings, and policies, rather than from insider accounts and personal interviews. But the latter style would be quite impractical in the case of the Chinese leader.
April 17, 2026
A Mixed Bag
The below is a review of the Audible Audio edition of this work.
This book’s biggest weakness is that it does not provide any critical analysis of the Political Thought of Xi Jingping. As a matter of fact, the authors explicitly state, at the beginning of the book, that they would not provide any views as to the feasibility, efficacy and reasonableness of Xi’s views. Hence the book cannot really be said to have been written for beginners or those without, at the very least, an intermediate knowledge of China (i.e., economics, geo-politics, domestic policies, etc.). In addition, and to further drive home the point, the author analyzes Xi’s policies from the historical perspective of Marxist-Leninist theory and history. Anyone without such a knowledge would be at a disadvantage with respect to reading this book. Hence, the book is really written for those with at least an intermediary knowledge of China and Marxist-Leninist theory.
On the other hand, those with a specialist interest in China would already be familiar with much of what is contained in the book. They would gain little from reading it. The book seems aimed at an audience with an intermediate knowledge of China as well as Marxist-Leninist theory and history.
One last point, specifically about the audiobook, it is performed relatively poorly primarily because it sounds as if AI was doing the actual performance (this reviewer has no idea of whether or not this was actually the case). It sounds like it was being performed by a robot. This reviewer has listened to many, many audiobooks and can easily say this is at the bottom fifth in terms of quality.
The below is a review of the Audible Audio edition of this work.
This book’s biggest weakness is that it does not provide any critical analysis of the Political Thought of Xi Jingping. As a matter of fact, the authors explicitly state, at the beginning of the book, that they would not provide any views as to the feasibility, efficacy and reasonableness of Xi’s views. Hence the book cannot really be said to have been written for beginners or those without, at the very least, an intermediate knowledge of China (i.e., economics, geo-politics, domestic policies, etc.). In addition, and to further drive home the point, the author analyzes Xi’s policies from the historical perspective of Marxist-Leninist theory and history. Anyone without such a knowledge would be at a disadvantage with respect to reading this book. Hence, the book is really written for those with at least an intermediary knowledge of China and Marxist-Leninist theory.
On the other hand, those with a specialist interest in China would already be familiar with much of what is contained in the book. They would gain little from reading it. The book seems aimed at an audience with an intermediate knowledge of China as well as Marxist-Leninist theory and history.
One last point, specifically about the audiobook, it is performed relatively poorly primarily because it sounds as if AI was doing the actual performance (this reviewer has no idea of whether or not this was actually the case). It sounds like it was being performed by a robot. This reviewer has listened to many, many audiobooks and can easily say this is at the bottom fifth in terms of quality.
February 1, 2025
thoughts on Xi Jinping
This book was highly organized and very easy to comprehend. I have formed a much better understanding of Xi Jinping and where he is taking China. Although I feel he has been thoughtful and successful in some areas such as improving China economically, I don’t feel his autocratic approach will succeed in the long run when more Chinese people will demand to be heard. Just as Mao thought didn’t outlast Mao, Xi thought will not outlast Xi.
This book was highly organized and very easy to comprehend. I have formed a much better understanding of Xi Jinping and where he is taking China. Although I feel he has been thoughtful and successful in some areas such as improving China economically, I don’t feel his autocratic approach will succeed in the long run when more Chinese people will demand to be heard. Just as Mao thought didn’t outlast Mao, Xi thought will not outlast Xi.
February 11, 2026
This work has gone a long way to teach me about the actual structures of modern Chinese political thought and bureaucracy. There is an ideological frame to the analysis presented here, but the focus on analysis of primary source documentation and the attempt to examine the ideas in good faith are more than enough to allow me room to agree to disagree with the authors when I see fit. Good read, I would love to have been taught this material in a class form with the authors.
April 19, 2026
In-depth, albeit perhaps not in-depth enough, as there isn’t a lot of internal debate about what different Sinophiles or China watchers think beyond what the authors propose (nor specific examples of what would be different if their interpretations proved wrong).
That said, it’s informative and useful if you’re just entering this level of specificity in your studies (and will give you questions to ponder, even if those questions are not directly posed or answered by the text).
That said, it’s informative and useful if you’re just entering this level of specificity in your studies (and will give you questions to ponder, even if those questions are not directly posed or answered by the text).
November 4, 2025
I finished this forever ago and forgot to update it whoops. Great book with some interesting insight on the political rise and dominance of Xi Jinping with a focus on and break down of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. The first two chapters felt redundant and unnecessary. Good read, curious to see how it continues to develop as time goes on.
Want to Read
February 12, 2024Five Books
March 26, 2024
This is a very complex, detailed, and well-researched book! The authors provide vital insights related to the PRC, the CCP, and Xi Jinping himself.
June 11, 2024
Well written and researched, terrible ideology.
August 31, 2024
The writing is incredibly dry, which makes this an excruciating read. Pity.
October 1, 2024
Although its tone is somewhat dry and the academic writing style ponderous, the book provides a good insight into the main currents in Xi doctrine.
October 21, 2024
Interesting look at the political ideology of Xi Jinping and his outlook on China. Doesn't seem very deep however.
February 10, 2025
This is the best book on Xi Jinping's political thought that I've ever read!
Read
May 1, 2025Tough book to read. I cannot imagine how much pain the author had been through reading all those background info for this book! Though!
May 16, 2025
very informative, a bit densely written analysis of Xi thought
May 27, 2025
Another Tsang/Cheung banger
June 16, 2025
Amazing, needs to be more widely read and understood.
February 8, 2026
Edited (or written) by some western agencies linked with intelligence services propaganda department.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews