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China Changes Everything: An anthology by social justice activists, journalists and commentators
China is this century’s greatest success story, rising from poverty to become a leading force for global change. China’s Targeted Poverty Alleviation program has helped 800 million people out of extreme poverty.China's solar panels, wind turbines and hydro power lead global efforts to save the planet.Electric cars, high-speed rail, clean and quiet metro subways set an example for the world.The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is extending China's infrastructure revolution to friends in the Global ports, highways, schools, hospitals, power grids, communication, instead of neocolonial dependency.CONTENTSChina’s Road to Socialism
A Fundamental China – Socialist or Imperialist? – Sara Flounders
Communist Principles & Culture Drive China’s Development
for the Benefit Of All Humanity – Jacqueline Luqman
Completing the Original Reinvigorating Marxism in Contemporary China
– Ken HammondSocialist Planning in Practice
Reflections on How China is Building Socialism – Sydney Loving
Between the Rust Belt and the Model City – Pawel Wargan
A Tale of Two Economic Systems’ Transit – Betsey Piette
Steel Tracks vs War China Builds Subways and Aids Gaza
While the U.S. Builds Militarism – Lee Siu Hin
If China Provides Universal Healthcare, Why Can’t the U.S.? – Margaret Flowers
Healthcare in A Cooperative Project – Sue Harris
Green
China Leads the World in Energy Production and Green Technology – Lyn Neeley
China’s Aquacultural Revolution – Kyle Ferrana
Terraforming for the 21st Century – Judy Bello
3. Plans for a Future World
Contrasting Strategies of the U.S. and Prospects for Peace and
Solving Global Problems – Roger Harris
The Race for U.S. Imperialism vs. China – Janet Mayes
Science Fiction or Science Reality? Socialism Leads Humanity out of Artificial Scarcity – JR Hagler
4. Moving from Isolation to Prosperity
Leadership Was the Key in China’s Targeted Poverty Alleviation Campaign – Dee Knight
Dismantling Western Hypocrisy on Xinjiang and Gaza – Arjae Red
Xizang’s Leap from Serfdom to Socialism – Arnold August
5. The U.S. War Drive Against China Intensifies
The U.S. Advances Its Dystopian Plans to Destroy China – Megan Russell
China Cannot Be Contained – Margaret Kimberley
The U.S. Wants War with China – Joe Lombardo
The Greatest People’s Success Story in Human History – KJ Noh
Taiwan’s Residents Reject Being Washington’s Proxy – Chris Fry
An Analysis of the Escalating U.S. Threats Toward China – Mick Kelly
6. China’s Impact on the World
Around the World China is Turning on the Lights – Greg Dunkel
Lips and Korea, China, and Northeast Asia’s Long Revolution – Ju-Hyun Park
Is China’s Foreign Policy “Good Enough”? – Danny Haiphong
China, Yemen and the Red Sea Passage – Ché Marino
Should the Renminbi Replace the Dollar? The Surprising Answer – Radhika Desai
7. Looking Back & Looking Forward
The Rise of China and the Crisis of U.S.
A Fundamental China – Socialist or Imperialist? – Sara Flounders
Communist Principles & Culture Drive China’s Development
for the Benefit Of All Humanity – Jacqueline Luqman
Completing the Original Reinvigorating Marxism in Contemporary China
– Ken HammondSocialist Planning in Practice
Reflections on How China is Building Socialism – Sydney Loving
Between the Rust Belt and the Model City – Pawel Wargan
A Tale of Two Economic Systems’ Transit – Betsey Piette
Steel Tracks vs War China Builds Subways and Aids Gaza
While the U.S. Builds Militarism – Lee Siu Hin
If China Provides Universal Healthcare, Why Can’t the U.S.? – Margaret Flowers
Healthcare in A Cooperative Project – Sue Harris
Green
China Leads the World in Energy Production and Green Technology – Lyn Neeley
China’s Aquacultural Revolution – Kyle Ferrana
Terraforming for the 21st Century – Judy Bello
3. Plans for a Future World
Contrasting Strategies of the U.S. and Prospects for Peace and
Solving Global Problems – Roger Harris
The Race for U.S. Imperialism vs. China – Janet Mayes
Science Fiction or Science Reality? Socialism Leads Humanity out of Artificial Scarcity – JR Hagler
4. Moving from Isolation to Prosperity
Leadership Was the Key in China’s Targeted Poverty Alleviation Campaign – Dee Knight
Dismantling Western Hypocrisy on Xinjiang and Gaza – Arjae Red
Xizang’s Leap from Serfdom to Socialism – Arnold August
5. The U.S. War Drive Against China Intensifies
The U.S. Advances Its Dystopian Plans to Destroy China – Megan Russell
China Cannot Be Contained – Margaret Kimberley
The U.S. Wants War with China – Joe Lombardo
The Greatest People’s Success Story in Human History – KJ Noh
Taiwan’s Residents Reject Being Washington’s Proxy – Chris Fry
An Analysis of the Escalating U.S. Threats Toward China – Mick Kelly
6. China’s Impact on the World
Around the World China is Turning on the Lights – Greg Dunkel
Lips and Korea, China, and Northeast Asia’s Long Revolution – Ju-Hyun Park
Is China’s Foreign Policy “Good Enough”? – Danny Haiphong
China, Yemen and the Red Sea Passage – Ché Marino
Should the Renminbi Replace the Dollar? The Surprising Answer – Radhika Desai
7. Looking Back & Looking Forward
The Rise of China and the Crisis of U.S.
- GenresChina
348 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 2, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 11, 2025
What the Book Does Well
Ambitious scope & clear aim. The anthology collects essays from a range of writers — activists, journalists, scholars — all committed to highlighting the transformations underway in the People’s Republic of China. The essays cover China’s anti-poverty programs, green energy and infrastructure investments, social policy, foreign-policy, and broader “common prosperity” goals. Friends of Socialist China+2Bookshop.org+2
A counter-narrative to mainstream discourse. Many of the contributions intentionally(?) frame China not as a threat or a rival, but as a model of large-scale social uplift, industrialization, and an alternative path of development. This reframing challenges dominant Western media narratives that often emphasize China’s geopolitical rivalry or human-rights controversies. Friends of Socialist China+2Bookscape+2
Concrete data & successes. The book highlights some of China’s concrete achievements: dramatic poverty reduction (the anthology claims a “Targeted Poverty Alleviation” program lifted some 800 million people out of extreme poverty), massive expansion of renewable energy infrastructure, high-speed rail networks, urban transit systems, and growing educational access. Barnes & Noble+2Bookshop.org+2 This helps ground the political argument in empirical — or at least widely cited — facts.
Diverse authors with varying perspectives. Because the book is an anthology, it brings together many voices: historians, activists, journalists, commentators. That plurality can help a reader see China’s rise from different vantage points — political, economic, social, global solidarity — rather than a single monolithic viewpoint.
Taken together, the book succeeds in offering a vision of China as a force for radical social transformation — internally and globally — and invites readers to reconsider prevailing assumptions about “development,” “progress,” and “modernity.” For someone skeptical of mainstream Western narratives about China, this anthology can be eye-opening — or at least thought-provoking.
Limitations and Critical Questions
Strong ideological framing — less space for complexity. The anthology is unapologetically sympathetic to China’s socialist project and presents a strongly pro-China narrative. Consequently, critical issues — for example regarding political freedoms, social dissent, human rights, demographic challenges, or structural inequalities — get little or no space (at least as described in summaries ). The framing risks smoothing over real tensions or contradictions for the sake of a positive “model” image.
Selective use of data and success stories. While the book cites impressive figures (e.g. 800 million lifted out of extreme poverty), such claims are politically charged and often contested. Some critics argue that aggregate numbers do not fully capture disparities, underemployment, regional inequalities, or underreported social costs. A reader who wants a more balanced, critical, multi-dimensional view may find the book lacking nuance.
Potential bias in global-south solidarity framing. The anthology presents initiatives like Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and green-energy exports as altruistic, solidarity-driven efforts to uplift the Global South. ..What about debt dependence, local governance issues, etc ….what about environmental tradeoffs, and loss of sovereignty in BRI-participating countries? The book appears to downplay or omit these glaring counterarguments!.
Lack of critical distance and limited internal debate. Because the contributors generally share a common ideological perspective (socialist, anti-imperialist, pro-China solidarity), the anthology offers more affirmation than debate. For readers seeking a balanced analysis weighing both achievements and shortcomings — or a rigorous internal critique of China’s development model — this book may feel one-sided.( No offense Dee !🙂)
Overall Verdict & Who This Book is For
I think China Changes Everything is a valuable and timely anthology — especially for readers who:
Are skeptical of dominant Western-oriented analysis of China and want to see arguments from a different vantage point.
Are interested in models of collective/socialist-oriented development at scale.
Readers who want to learn about China’s social, economic, and geopolitical initiatives from a lens of solidarity and global justice.
At the same time if you’re looking for rigorous, balanced critique including both achievements and structural/political problems — this book should be complemented with other, more critical or academic works on China.
In short this is a powerful anthology — energizing and worldview-challenging — but is it a “definitive,” balanced, and fully objective account of contemporary China ? I need either a trip to China and most definitely more research on China to come to a justifiable conclusion !
Review of “Leadership was the Key in China’s Targeted Poverty Alleviation Campaign” by Dee Knight
(A more academic-toned review)
Dee Knight’s article provides a compelling analysis of China’s Targeted Poverty Alleviation (TPA) campaign, situating it within the broader historical trajectory of the Chinese revolution. By drawing a parallel between the TPA and the Long March, Knight emphasizes that the campaign was not merely an economic initiative, but part of a sustained political and social project to transform the conditions of China’s most vulnerable populations.
What stands out most in Knight’s account is the centrality of leadership at multiple levels … national, provincial, and local. President Xi Jinping’s emphasis on “targeted” measures, illustrated through his visit to Shibadong Village, reinforced the importance of adapting strategies to local conditions. Equally significant were the contributions of Village First Secretaries and grassroots Party cadres who lived and worked alongside rural residents. This multi-tiered leadership structure, often characterized by personal sacrifice, was instrumental in ensuring both accountability and effective implementation.
Knight’s use of case studies, such as Deng Yingxiang’s extraordinary leadership in mobilizing her community to literally carve a tunnel through an isolating mountain, or Gao Shanshan’s holistic approach to poverty alleviation in Shanxi province, highlights the human dimensions of systemic change. These narratives not only underscore the Party’s organizational capacity but also illustrate how leadership that is embedded within communities can generate sustainable transformation.
Another important element in the article is the integration of poverty alleviation with broader social and economic reforms. Infrastructure development, access to healthcare and education, digital connectivity, ecological restoration, and industrial diversification were not treated as separate goals but as interconnected strategies. This multidimensional approach challenges reductionist models of poverty alleviation that focus narrowly on income thresholds while neglecting structural inequalities.
From an academic perspective, the article also raises critical questions about the role of political will and collective mobilization in addressing poverty. Looking at China’s achievements in contrast with Western skepticism... The outcomes — such as China’s increase in life expectancy, the near elimination of illiteracy, and the integration of remote rural populations into national development—suggest that the campaign represents a unique model of poverty eradication with global implications.
Personally, I found the article both informative and thought-provoking. It challenged me to reflect on the extent to which poverty in other countries, including the United States, persists not because of lack of resources but because of fragmented leadership and absence of political will. Knight’s analysis demonstrates that leadership, when aligned with collective purpose and sustained investment, can bring about transformations once thought impossible.
In conclusion, Knight’s article is not only a historical account of China’s TPA campaign but also a contribution to global debates on poverty alleviation, governance, and development. It suggests that leadership rooted in long-term vision and embedded in local realities remains the decisive factor in overcoming entrenched inequality.
Ambitious scope & clear aim. The anthology collects essays from a range of writers — activists, journalists, scholars — all committed to highlighting the transformations underway in the People’s Republic of China. The essays cover China’s anti-poverty programs, green energy and infrastructure investments, social policy, foreign-policy, and broader “common prosperity” goals. Friends of Socialist China+2Bookshop.org+2
A counter-narrative to mainstream discourse. Many of the contributions intentionally(?) frame China not as a threat or a rival, but as a model of large-scale social uplift, industrialization, and an alternative path of development. This reframing challenges dominant Western media narratives that often emphasize China’s geopolitical rivalry or human-rights controversies. Friends of Socialist China+2Bookscape+2
Concrete data & successes. The book highlights some of China’s concrete achievements: dramatic poverty reduction (the anthology claims a “Targeted Poverty Alleviation” program lifted some 800 million people out of extreme poverty), massive expansion of renewable energy infrastructure, high-speed rail networks, urban transit systems, and growing educational access. Barnes & Noble+2Bookshop.org+2 This helps ground the political argument in empirical — or at least widely cited — facts.
Diverse authors with varying perspectives. Because the book is an anthology, it brings together many voices: historians, activists, journalists, commentators. That plurality can help a reader see China’s rise from different vantage points — political, economic, social, global solidarity — rather than a single monolithic viewpoint.
Taken together, the book succeeds in offering a vision of China as a force for radical social transformation — internally and globally — and invites readers to reconsider prevailing assumptions about “development,” “progress,” and “modernity.” For someone skeptical of mainstream Western narratives about China, this anthology can be eye-opening — or at least thought-provoking.
Limitations and Critical Questions
Strong ideological framing — less space for complexity. The anthology is unapologetically sympathetic to China’s socialist project and presents a strongly pro-China narrative. Consequently, critical issues — for example regarding political freedoms, social dissent, human rights, demographic challenges, or structural inequalities — get little or no space (at least as described in summaries ). The framing risks smoothing over real tensions or contradictions for the sake of a positive “model” image.
Selective use of data and success stories. While the book cites impressive figures (e.g. 800 million lifted out of extreme poverty), such claims are politically charged and often contested. Some critics argue that aggregate numbers do not fully capture disparities, underemployment, regional inequalities, or underreported social costs. A reader who wants a more balanced, critical, multi-dimensional view may find the book lacking nuance.
Potential bias in global-south solidarity framing. The anthology presents initiatives like Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and green-energy exports as altruistic, solidarity-driven efforts to uplift the Global South. ..What about debt dependence, local governance issues, etc ….what about environmental tradeoffs, and loss of sovereignty in BRI-participating countries? The book appears to downplay or omit these glaring counterarguments!.
Lack of critical distance and limited internal debate. Because the contributors generally share a common ideological perspective (socialist, anti-imperialist, pro-China solidarity), the anthology offers more affirmation than debate. For readers seeking a balanced analysis weighing both achievements and shortcomings — or a rigorous internal critique of China’s development model — this book may feel one-sided.( No offense Dee !🙂)
Overall Verdict & Who This Book is For
I think China Changes Everything is a valuable and timely anthology — especially for readers who:
Are skeptical of dominant Western-oriented analysis of China and want to see arguments from a different vantage point.
Are interested in models of collective/socialist-oriented development at scale.
Readers who want to learn about China’s social, economic, and geopolitical initiatives from a lens of solidarity and global justice.
At the same time if you’re looking for rigorous, balanced critique including both achievements and structural/political problems — this book should be complemented with other, more critical or academic works on China.
In short this is a powerful anthology — energizing and worldview-challenging — but is it a “definitive,” balanced, and fully objective account of contemporary China ? I need either a trip to China and most definitely more research on China to come to a justifiable conclusion !
Review of “Leadership was the Key in China’s Targeted Poverty Alleviation Campaign” by Dee Knight
(A more academic-toned review)
Dee Knight’s article provides a compelling analysis of China’s Targeted Poverty Alleviation (TPA) campaign, situating it within the broader historical trajectory of the Chinese revolution. By drawing a parallel between the TPA and the Long March, Knight emphasizes that the campaign was not merely an economic initiative, but part of a sustained political and social project to transform the conditions of China’s most vulnerable populations.
What stands out most in Knight’s account is the centrality of leadership at multiple levels … national, provincial, and local. President Xi Jinping’s emphasis on “targeted” measures, illustrated through his visit to Shibadong Village, reinforced the importance of adapting strategies to local conditions. Equally significant were the contributions of Village First Secretaries and grassroots Party cadres who lived and worked alongside rural residents. This multi-tiered leadership structure, often characterized by personal sacrifice, was instrumental in ensuring both accountability and effective implementation.
Knight’s use of case studies, such as Deng Yingxiang’s extraordinary leadership in mobilizing her community to literally carve a tunnel through an isolating mountain, or Gao Shanshan’s holistic approach to poverty alleviation in Shanxi province, highlights the human dimensions of systemic change. These narratives not only underscore the Party’s organizational capacity but also illustrate how leadership that is embedded within communities can generate sustainable transformation.
Another important element in the article is the integration of poverty alleviation with broader social and economic reforms. Infrastructure development, access to healthcare and education, digital connectivity, ecological restoration, and industrial diversification were not treated as separate goals but as interconnected strategies. This multidimensional approach challenges reductionist models of poverty alleviation that focus narrowly on income thresholds while neglecting structural inequalities.
From an academic perspective, the article also raises critical questions about the role of political will and collective mobilization in addressing poverty. Looking at China’s achievements in contrast with Western skepticism... The outcomes — such as China’s increase in life expectancy, the near elimination of illiteracy, and the integration of remote rural populations into national development—suggest that the campaign represents a unique model of poverty eradication with global implications.
Personally, I found the article both informative and thought-provoking. It challenged me to reflect on the extent to which poverty in other countries, including the United States, persists not because of lack of resources but because of fragmented leadership and absence of political will. Knight’s analysis demonstrates that leadership, when aligned with collective purpose and sustained investment, can bring about transformations once thought impossible.
In conclusion, Knight’s article is not only a historical account of China’s TPA campaign but also a contribution to global debates on poverty alleviation, governance, and development. It suggests that leadership rooted in long-term vision and embedded in local realities remains the decisive factor in overcoming entrenched inequality.
November 9, 2025
This book is special – it details China’s historic achievements and breakthroughs. The authors are well-known authorities like Professor Gerald Horne (a leading US historian and author of dozens of books), Jacqueline Luqman, chair of the Black Alliance for Peace and DC radio host, Margaret Kimberley, editor of Black Agenda Report, K.J. Noh, anchor of The China Report, Kenneth Hammond, a leading China historian, Radhika Desai, founder of the GeoPolitical Economy Report,
Megan Russell, coordinator of CodePink’s “China Is Not Our Enemy” campaign, and others from Friends of Socialist China.
There are chapters on China’s Targeted Poverty Alleviation program that has helped 800,000 people overcome extreme poverty, with free healthcare and education, and full participation in China’s common prosperity; successful efforts to save the planet from climate change disaster, capturing the sun’s and wind’s power with solar panels, wind turbines and hydro power; electric cars, high speed rail, clean and quiet metro subways in all major Chinese cities; the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), extending China's infrastructure revolution to friends in the Global South: ports, highways, schools and hospitals, power grids, communication and industrialization, instead of debt traps and neo-colonial dependency; and the BRICS platform of geo-economic cooperation is forging a path to peaceful common prosperity for a shared future, instead of endless war.
It really shows how China is indeed changing everything - offering hope of common prosperity and peace!
Megan Russell, coordinator of CodePink’s “China Is Not Our Enemy” campaign, and others from Friends of Socialist China.
There are chapters on China’s Targeted Poverty Alleviation program that has helped 800,000 people overcome extreme poverty, with free healthcare and education, and full participation in China’s common prosperity; successful efforts to save the planet from climate change disaster, capturing the sun’s and wind’s power with solar panels, wind turbines and hydro power; electric cars, high speed rail, clean and quiet metro subways in all major Chinese cities; the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), extending China's infrastructure revolution to friends in the Global South: ports, highways, schools and hospitals, power grids, communication and industrialization, instead of debt traps and neo-colonial dependency; and the BRICS platform of geo-economic cooperation is forging a path to peaceful common prosperity for a shared future, instead of endless war.
It really shows how China is indeed changing everything - offering hope of common prosperity and peace!
November 26, 2025
Particularly enjoyed the chapters on China + Palestine and China and the DPRK. Skimmed through a few of the essays that were rehashing top-line pro-China arguments that I already agree with, but I imagine those aren't aimed at the already converted like me!
November 17, 2025
A hard-hitting anthology full of extremely relevant articles for understanding the rapid changes the world is undergoing thanks to the People's Republic of China.
January 1, 2026
It’s a good thing to have something to be optimistic about, and as a socialist this hasn’t always been easy. But seeing China as a socialist state gives me something hopeful to look towards. Basically, if Amerika doesn’t blow up the world, I don’t see why China and the rest of the world couldn’t continue moving toward a better future.
About the book: every chapter is written by a different author, and each one focuses on its own subject.
About the book: every chapter is written by a different author, and each one focuses on its own subject.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews