How America and China Are Converging in Unexpected Ways

The concept of globalization once carried the hopeful narrative that China would gradually adopt American ideals simply by engaging with the global trade system established by the United States, possibly even moving toward democratization, as suggested by former U.S. President Bill Clinton. It was widely believed that American-led neoliberalism was poised for ultimate triumph.

In many respects, this outlook held truth. Over the past several decades, China has incorporated significant elements of the American ethos—entrepreneurship, consumer culture, and integration into global markets—transforming into an industrial powerhouse with a burgeoning middle class, advanced technology sectors, and internationally recognized companies such as Huawei, Lenovo, and Alibaba. The lifestyles of China's 1.4 billion citizens have become far more varied and prosperous, with the United States serving as the archetype.

What neither side anticipated was the reciprocal nature of this influence.

In the ongoing ideological and geopolitical rivalry between the two nations, recent developments suggest the influence is now flowing in the opposite direction. The return of Donald Trump to the presidency has highlighted shifts in the U.S. that mirror aspects of China’s political landscape—ranging from democratic backsliding and heightened border security to restrictions on free expression, among other parallels.

Having lived in Shanghai since 2008, I have observed firsthand the culmination of China’s ascent. There are undoubtedly lessons America can draw from China’s experience. Crucially, China strengthened itself by adopting select features of the American model while maintaining its core Communist Party control and pervasive state involvement. This blend has driven its remarkable success.

Conversely, the current trajectory of the United States appears to echo elements of China’s political approach, a direction that conflicts with America’s foundational identity.

Although the Make America Great Again movement vocally opposes the Chinese Communist Party, some of its policies and actions effectively validate similar methods, revealing a shared desire for strong centralized control in practice.