Joseph Torigian on Xi Zhongxun and Elite Chinese Communist Party Politics

In this episode of the Odd Lots podcast, hosts Joe Weisenthal and Tracy Alloway interview Joseph Torigian, a research fellow at Stanford's Hoover Institution and author of "The Party's Interests Come First: The Life of Xi Zhongxun, Father of Xi Jinping." The discussion explores the life and influence of Xi Zhongxun, the father of current Chinese President Xi Jinping, and delves into the complexities of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) history, ideology, and internal dynamics. Torigian provides insights into why individuals joined the CCP, the significance of party history, the nuances of factionalism, and the ever-present risk of political purges. The conversation also touches on Xi Zhongxun's role in managing relations with Soviet experts and the impact of his experiences on his son's policies.

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Odd Lots

Introduction to Bloomberg Daybreak, WSJ's Take on the Week, and the Odd Lots Podcast

Motivations for Joining the CCP and the Role of Deputies in a Leninist System

The CCP's Historical Narratives and the Significance of "Leftism"

Xi Zhongxun's Role in Managing Relations with Soviet Experts and the Dangers of Foreign Contact

Xi Zhongxun's Purge, the Cultural Revolution, and Xi Jinping's Perspective

Xi Jinping's Inspiration from His Father and the Moby Dick Analogy

Researching the CCP and Misconceptions About Its Inner Workings

Joseph Torigian on Xi Zhongxun and Elite Chinese Communist Party Politics

Odd Lots

00:00Introduction to Bloomberg Daybreak, WSJ's Take on the Week, and the Odd Lots Podcast

Introduction to Bloomberg Daybreak, WSJ's Take on the Week, and the Odd Lots Podcast

05:07Motivations for Joining the CCP and the Role of Deputies in a Leninist System

Motivations for Joining the CCP and the Role of Deputies in a Leninist System

13:50The CCP's Historical Narratives and the Significance of "Leftism"

The CCP's Historical Narratives and the Significance of "Leftism"

20:54Xi Zhongxun's Role in Managing Relations with Soviet Experts and the Dangers of Foreign Contact

Xi Zhongxun's Role in Managing Relations with Soviet Experts and the Dangers of Foreign Contact

26:00Xi Zhongxun's Purge, the Cultural Revolution, and Xi Jinping's Perspective

Xi Zhongxun's Purge, the Cultural Revolution, and Xi Jinping's Perspective

34:28Xi Jinping's Inspiration from His Father and the Moby Dick Analogy

Xi Jinping's Inspiration from His Father and the Moby Dick Analogy

43:02Researching the CCP and Misconceptions About Its Inner Workings

Researching the CCP and Misconceptions About Its Inner Workings