"The People’s Liberation Army in a New Era: Individuals, Ideas, and Influence" edited by CWP alum Joel Wuthnow
Xi Jinping has towered over governance in the People’s Republic of China since his accession as Chinese Communist Party general secretary in November 2012. He has consolidated power to the furthest extent since Mao Zedong, overturning a shift toward collective decisionmaking that began with Deng Xiaoping in 1978.1 He has used this power to articulate bold visions for China and its place in the world, often referencing his dream of the “great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation,” and its associated content, including the pursuit of rebalanced growth, technological and diplomatic power, and unification with Taiwan by the country’s 2049 centennial. Party doctrine has referred to Xi’s tenure as a “new era”—defined by strong leadership and new opportunities, but also by challenges that threaten the Party’s security, such as economic stagnation, “black swans” like the COVID-19 pandemic, and strategic rivalry with the United States.2 Building the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) into a formidable force has been a priority for Xi. He has often remarked that his “China Dream” complements a “Strong Army Dream,” suggesting that upgraded capabilities and the use of military (and paramilitary) power to shape the security environment and address challenges are a prerequisite for China to achieve its rejuvenation.3 Chinese media frequently highlights new capabilities that underscore the progress that Xi is making toward his “Strong Army Dream.”4 Indeed, Xi has often associated himself with the military to take credit for a force that is
Wuthnow, Joel; Grossman, Derek; Saunders, Phillip C.; Scobell, Andrew; and Yang, Andrew N.D., "The People’s Liberation Army in a New Era: Individuals, Ideas, and Influence" (2026). Books. 20. https://digitalcommons.ndu.edu/ndupress-books/20
Dr. Joel Wuthnow is a Senior Fellow at the Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS), National Defense University. His research areas include Chinese foreign and security policy, Chinese military affairs, U.S.-China relations, and strategic developments in East Asia.
His recent books and monographs include China’s Quest for Military Supremacy (Polity, 2025, with Phillip C. Saunders), Taming the Hegemon: Chinese Thinking on Countering U.S. Military Intervention in Asia (NDU Press, 2025), Sea Dragons: Special Operations and Chinese Military Strategy (Naval War College Press, 2025, with John Chen), Crossing the Strait: China’s Military Prepares for War with Taiwan (NDU Press, 2022, lead editor), and Gray Dragons: Assessing China's Senior Military Leadership (NDU Press, 2022). His research and commentary has also appeared in outlets such as Asia Policy, Asian Security, China Leadership Monitor, The China Quarterly, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, Global Asia, Joint Force Quarterly, Journal of Contemporary China, Journal of Strategic Studies, Korean Journal of Defense Analysis, Naval War College Review, The New York Times, and in edited volumes.
Prior to joining NDU, Dr. Wuthnow was a China analyst at the Center for Naval Analyses, a postdoctoral fellow in the China and the World Program at Princeton University, and a pre-doctoral fellow at The Brookings Institution. His degrees are from Princeton University (A.B., summa cum laude, in Public and International Affairs), Oxford University (M.Phil. in Modern Chinese Studies), and Columbia University (Ph.D. in Political Science). He is proficient in Mandarin.
Photo Credit: https://digitalcommons.ndu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1021&context=ndupress-books
