The Tech Policy Press Podcast Unpacking the Rise of 'Smart Authoritarianism' in China
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Jan 25, 2026 
Jennifer Lind, Associate Professor at Dartmouth and author of Autocracy 2.0, explains the rise of 'smart authoritarianism'—a model that preserves political control while protecting economic growth. She traces China's learning from Singapore, revisits assumptions about Chinese innovation, discusses tech competition and export controls, and considers what democracies can do to remain competitive.
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China Achieved Full Great-Power Status
- China ticked the classic boxes of great-power rise: population, economy, and military power.
- The missing piece historically was technological leadership, which China has now largely achieved.
Past Dismissals: Japan, Korea, Taiwan
- Jennifer Lind recounts historical U.S. dismissals of rising economies like Japan, Korea, and Taiwan as copycats.
- Those countries later climbed the value chain to become technological leaders, mirroring China's rise.
Authoritarian Institutions Can Enable Innovation
- Authoritarian regimes can create controlled versions of institutions (parliaments, universities, NGOs) that support longevity and performance.
- Those hybrid institutions can also enable innovation rather than only suppress it.
