Who controls China when Xi Jinping is gone? | Samo Burja

Erik Torenberg and Samo Burja discuss the complex relationship between Mexican drug cartels and the country's political system. Samo explains how cartels operate not as insurgencies but as business entities with deep connections to Mexican elites.

The discussion covers the economic impact of drug trafficking, how legalization affects cartel operations, and comparisons with other countries' experiences, and explore potential solutions for Mexico's development and the geopolitical implications for U.S.-Mexico relations.

Make sure to subscribe to Samo Burja's Bismarck Brief and the Live Players podcast to read analyses and briefs like this one:

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TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00) Introduction to Moment of Zen episode on Xi Jinping
(00:34) Xi's position as one of the most powerful people in the world
(01:55) Xi's shift to a more monarchical leadership style
(02:42) The "golden age of Chimerica" and expectations of liberalization
(03:38) Xi's dismantling of party cliques and power consolidation
(04:30) The anti-corruption campaign and its strategic purpose
(05:26) Understanding productive vs. extractive corruption in China
(06:48) Corruption in the People's Liberation Army
(08:24) Xi's political timing and personalization of power
(09:11) China's greatest challenge: unclear succession
(10:16) Inequality between urban and rural China
(11:00) Xi's earnest Marxist outlook and vision
(12:12) Reframing slower growth as increased equality
(13:00) Environmental improvements as potential indicators of economic slowdown
(14:48) Sponsors: Tools and Weapons | Brex
(17:06) Future direction: pressure vs. nationalization
(19:14) Jack Ma and the humbling of China's tech billionaires
(21:43) Xi's potential legacy if he were to pass away today
(22:42) Xi's restrained approach to Russia and Ukraine
(24:22) Belt and Road Initiative assessment
(26:26) Xi's anti-liberal ideological stance
(29:12) Impact on technocratic quality of CCP leadership
(30:58) Xi's approach to Chinese billionaires
(33:20) The shutdown of Jack Ma's business academy
(36:46) Capping the prestige of entrepreneurs in Chinese society
(39:13) "Princeling families" and barriers to new talent
(41:10) Sponsors: Netsuite | Shopify
(44:05) Advice for Xi: elevate younger leadership
(45:39) Creating elite roles outside the Communist Party
(48:32) China's scientific culture challenges
(50:35) Science, materialism and Marxist ideology
(53:01) China's need for scientific innovation
(54:11) Wrap

[dirkofeel]

Calling Shanghai a lower-end 1st world city is insane. There are amenities there that are beyond anything seen in almost all major western cities

[pauline]

Are you sure you have all the facts? That doesn't sound like what a Chinese citizens is experiencing living there.

[roro-vz]

Straight out of US state department 😂😂. At least ask Chinese people's perspective, you wont ask because you won't like it

[Hystericall]

This dude doesn't know what the heck he's talking about.

[echen]

Samo love your work! When will you goto China ( if u haven’t recently) to gain the broadest perspective possible.

[pbworld]

I just came here to see the comments and judge whether this video was worth watching.

[oxvendivil]

I'm pro China, not necessarily 100% pro Xi or CPC but this is a well balanced analysis from the outside, not something that is easy to understand for some one from the inside, sad reality but it is what it is, in general China is on the positive, a little naïve internationally, my feeling is the CPC is on its last legs politically even if they made good on development and the economy, but it will be replaced by a Nationalist Imperialist government that would make good use of the power and abilities China has accumulated under the CPC.

[chriscromeyn]

China's PRC flag has five stars on it....XJP is the 5th leader of China since 1949. Is China in the final star stage of the PRC Dynasty? The Last Emperor 2.0?

[chongyeeyap]

If you are so smart why aren't you a President.