It was long assumed that as China embraced open markets and private enterprise, its state-controlled economy would fall by the wayside, that free markets would inevitably lead to a more liberal society. Instead, China’s growth over the past four decades has positioned state capitalism as a durable foil to the orthodoxy of free markets, to the confusion of many in the West.
Christopher Marquis discussed his new book, Mao and Markets: The Communist Roots of Chinese Enterprise, in which he argues that China’s economic success is based on—not in spite of—the continuing influence of Communist leader Mao Zedong. Grounded in case studies and quantitative analyses, this book shows that while private enterprise is the engine of China’s growth, Chinese companies see no contradictions between commercial drive and a dedication to Maoist ideology.
About the Speaker
Christopher Marquis is the Sinyi Professor of Chinese Management at the Judge Business School, University of Cambridge and a Fellow at Jesus College, Cambridge. Marquis's research takes a sociological perspective and focuses on corporate strategies, entrepreneurship and social innovation, building sustainable businesses, and doing business in China. He is the author of the award-winning Better Business: How the B Corp Movement is Remaking Capitalism, and Mao and Markets: The Communist Roots of Chinese Enterprise.