The Gilded Cage: Technology, Development, and State Capitalism in China

Ya-Wen Lei's book explores the contours of China's techno-developmental regime and its resulting form of techno-state capitalism, highlighting the unequal values assigned to economic sectors and the expansion of technical and legal instruments used to measure and control workers and capital. She argues that China's rise is shaped by its time-compressed development, the complex relationship between the authoritarian state and tech companies, and an ideology that fuses nationalism with high modernism, technological fetishism, and meritocracy.

Format: Hardback
Length: 368 pages
Publication date: 21 November 2023
Publisher: Princeton University Press

Since the mid-2000s, China has undergone a significant shift in its economic development strategy, moving away from labor-intensive, export-oriented manufacturing towards a focus on socioeconomic development centered on science and technology. This transition has led to the emergence of a techno-developmental regime characterized by the dominance of techno-state capitalism. Ya-Wen Lei, in her book "Techno-State Capitalism in China: The Rise of the Digital State," delves into the contours of this regime and its impact on the lives of individuals and communities.

Through extensive fieldwork and in-depth interviews with a diverse range of stakeholders, including managers, business owners, workers, software engineers, and local government officials, Lei provides a comprehensive account of China's rapid rise to economic and technological dominance. She explores the unequal values assigned to different economic sectors, highlighting the massive expansion of technical and legal instruments used to measure and control workers and capital. Lei also examines the complex relationship between China's authoritarian state and its increasingly powerful tech companies, highlighting the tensions and conflicts that arise from their coexistence.

One of the key themes of the book is the fusion of nationalism, high modernism, technological fetishism, and meritocracy that shapes China's development. Lei argues that this ideology has contributed to the unequal distribution of resources and opportunities, as well as the emergence of new forms of social exclusion. She draws comparisons between China's transformation and the Gilded Age in the United States, highlighting the similarities in terms of rising inequality and social unrest. However, Lei argues that China's development is more akin to a gilded cage, where the Chinese state and tech capital are producing rising inequality and new forms of social exclusion.

The book also sheds light on the challenges faced by workers and entrepreneurs in China's rapidly changing economy. Lei describes the intense competition and pressure to innovate that characterizes the tech industry, as well as the lack of legal protections and social safety nets for workers who are marginalized or exploited. She also highlights the role of government policies and regulations in shaping the development of the tech industry, emphasizing the need for greater oversight and accountability to ensure that the benefits of technological progress are shared fairly.

In conclusion, "Techno-State Capitalism in China: The Rise of the Digital State" is a thought-provoking and insightful book that provides a comprehensive analysis of China's economic development and its impact on society. Lei's work sheds light on the complex dynamics between the Chinese state, tech capital, and individual lives, highlighting the challenges and opportunities that arise from China's rapid rise to economic and technological dominance. The book is a valuable resource for scholars, policymakers, and anyone interested in understanding the evolving relationship between technology, politics, and society in China and beyond.

Weight: 824g
Dimension: 295 x 295 x 35 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780691212838