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Shenglan Chen
Shenglan Chen
Shenglan Chen is a PhD graduate of the Chinese University of Hong Kong and a former lecturer at Peking University. She was a Fulbright Scholar at Indiana University Bloomington in 2019, researching the legal and economic development of China.

The story of the unitary, all-powerful central government worked in the past, but it is failing to keep up with today’s complex realities. Such an oversimplified message undermines people’s confidence in tough times and provides a convenient tool for unjustified criticism of China.

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In China, the metaphor of Covid-19 as a mirror that reflects a society’s failings was deployed to critique other countries. However, in recent months, as China grappled with its own outbreaks, shortcomings at home have been revealed that have strained social cohesion.

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