TL/DR –
The book “Breakneck: China’s Quest to Engineer the Future” by Dan Wang presents a comparison between the US and China’s approaches to infrastructure and economic development. The author argues that China’s rapid advancement as a global leader in manufacturing, infrastructure development, and renewable energy is due to its status as an “engineering state”, focusing on rapid construction and development. The book also critiques China’s social engineering policies, such as the One-Child Policy, and suggests that both the US and China can learn from each other’s successes and failures.
While the United States struggles with worsening infrastructure, slow housing development, and a lack of high-speed rail, China has been surging forward in these areas for decades. Despite some progress made by the Biden administration’s policies, the US still falls behind in implementing essential infrastructure projects, particularly concerning the green transition. Conversely, China has rapidly ascended to become a global leader in manufacturing, churning out everything from toys to high-tech products like electric vehicles and solar panels – a feat that makes the US’s efforts appear lackluster.
In his newly published book Breakneck: China’s Quest to Engineer the Future, author Dan Wang presents a fresh perspective on this disparity. He proposes that the US, a “lawyerly society,” is riddled with legalistic hurdles hampering construction and change, whereas China, an “engineering state,” constructs at a speed unmatched by any other country. However, he warns readers not to expect an in-depth examination of the American lawyerly society in his book, as it is primarily focused on the Chinese engineering state.
China’s engineering state has fueled its rise to become the world’s leading manufacturer, responsible for 29% of global total manufacturing value added in 2023. This dominance was achieved not only by producing low-value goods but also through a state-led effort to excel in the production of high-tech goods. The rapid domestic adoption of green technologies like electric vehicles, solar panels, and wind power has been largely driven by state-directed industrial policy, including government subsidies, tax incentives, and bank financing.
In addition to green tech, China’s engineering state has facilitated mind-boggling rates of housing and infrastructure development, with the country essentially constructing a city twice the size of New York City every year for the past 35 years. This ability to deliver tangible results likely contributes to maintaining the legitimacy of China’s government despite its authoritarian nature.
However, China’s engineering prowess has its fair share of drawbacks, including industrial overcapacity, massive debts, and a property bubble. Nonetheless, the societal impacts of China’s engineering state extend beyond infrastructure. Wang asserts that the government’s obsession with control leads to social engineering attempts that treat citizens as mere aggregates rather than individuals.
One striking example of this social engineering is the One-Child Policy, implemented with a tunnel vision disregard for the possibility that fertility rates could drop with accelerated economic growth. The ensuing mass campaign of sterilization and abortion manifested the worst of Beijing’s social engineering practices. Yet, in contrast, it also highlights the positive side of the US’s lawyerly society – the ability to thwart such extreme violations of individual rights.
Despite presenting a rather grim view of both societies, Wang expresses optimism for their future, hoping they can learn from each other’s strengths. However, his analysis indicates that significant challenges lie ahead. There’s little indication of lawyerliness emerging in China, and the engineering ethos needed in the US may be hindered by the Democratic Party’s legalistic nature. Furthermore, despite positive discussions about China’s achievements, many of its weaknesses remain overlooked, such as a regressive tax system, inadequate welfare spending, and increasing pessimism among youths about their economic prospects.
As tensions between the US and China escalate, it’s essential to remember that behind their governments are populations facing similar struggles. Both countries’ citizens are grappling with a pessimistic economic future, insufficient welfare, and governments indifferent to their plight. In these turbulent times, these shared experiences could serve as the foundation for much-needed international solidarity.
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