Dr Andres Rodriguez: Is this the Chinese Century?

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I loved hearing Dr Anders Rodriguez — a historian from the China Studies Centre at the University of Sydney — tackle the provocative question: “Is this the Chinese century?” He brings a historian’s humility (no crystal ball here) and a keen interest in how China’s recent past, the rhetoric of Xi Jinping and the CCP, and memories of the 19th–20th centuries shape ambitions for the 21st. Anders reminds us that discussions about the end of the “American century” aren’t new — they go back decades — and that what looks like decline is often relative to other rising powers. He draws on examples like the 1988 Newsweek debate and scholarly work such as Paul Kennedy’s Rise and Fall of the Great Powers to show how perceptions of power shift over time. This talk is less about a definitive yes or no and more about asking what China actually wants, how history informs policy, and what patterns might hint at possible futures. If you’re curious about China’s historical drivers and how they might influence global politics, this is a thoughtful, measured talk well worth your time.

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Dr Anders Rodriguez from the China Studies Centre at the University of Sydney asks one of the big questions of our time: Is this the Chinese century? This talk isn’t a flashy prediction piece — Anders is a historian, not a futurologist — so expect careful thinking, context and a healthy dose of humility. He focuses on China’s recent past, how the Chinese Communist Party and Xi Jinping frame that past, and why those narratives matter for understanding present ambitions.

Anders takes us through key reference points: the long-standing debate about the “American century”, the 1988 Newsweek anxieties and the idea of a “Pacific century”, and influential scholarly perspectives like Paul Kennedy’s Rise and Fall of the Great Powers. He specialises in Republican-era China (1912–1949), so he brings deep historical insight into how memory, trauma and national revival shape contemporary strategy. Rather than offering a blunt yes-or-no, Anders asks what China wants for this century and whether Western narratives about decline might be more about fear than structural reality.

If you’re interested in geopolitics, Asia–Pacific history, or what history can teach us about future power shifts, this talk will challenge you to think differently. Please like, share and comment with your thoughts — do you think history points to a Chinese century, or does power remain more complex and contested? Subscribe for more talks and events from the China Studies Centre and other leading thinkers.

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