The Prince

Xi Jinping is the most powerful person in the world. But the real story of China's leader remains a mystery. In this eight-part series Sue-Lin Wong finds out how he rose to the top, and what it means for China—and the rest of the world—now that he has ripped up the rule book to stay in power, perhaps for the rest of his life.

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Episodes

Trailer: Scam Inc

A sophisticated, predatory, multi-billion dollar industry is emerging from the shadows. It already rivals the size of the illicit drug trade. And it’s about to get bigger and much more powerful.  The Economist ’s Sue-Lin Wong follows a trail that starts with the collapse of a bank in rural Kansas to uncover a global, underground scam economy built around human trafficking, corruption and money laundering. Can it be stopped? To listen to the full series subscribe to Economist Podcasts+ ....

Jan 23, 2025•4 min

Trailer: Boom!

How did two old, unpopular men end up running for the world's most demanding job? It’s the question John Prideaux, The Economist’s US editor, gets asked the most. And the answer lies in the peculiar politics of the baby boomers.  Since 1992, every American president bar one has been a white man born in the 1940s. That run looks likely to span 36 years - not far off the age of the median American. This cohort was born with aces in their pockets. Their parents defeated Nazism and won the cold...

Jul 01, 2024•4 min

Trailer: The Modi Raj

Narendra Modi is one of the most popular politicians on the planet. India’s prime minister is eyeing a third term atop the world’s biggest democracy.  A tea-seller’s son, Mr Modi began life an outsider. The man behind the political phenomenon remains hard to fathom. India has become an economic powerhouse during his ten years in charge. But he’s also the frontman for a chauvinistic Hindu nationalist dogma.  Can Mr Modi continue to balance both parts of his agenda and finish the job of ...

May 28, 2024•5 min

Hide and bide

As a modest provincial official in Fujian, Xi Jinping is outshone by his celebrity wife, while colleagues are caught up in a lurid corruption scandal. How does Xi survive?  Subscribe to The Economist with the best offer at economist.com/chinapod .

Sep 28, 2022•36 min•Ep. 2

Redder than red

Xi Jinping is born into the top rung of China's elite. But his family is torn apart while he is still a child. The Economist 's Sue-Lin Wong finds out why Xi kept faith in the Communist revolution. Subscribe to The Economist with the best offer at economist.com/chinapod .

Sep 28, 2022•36 min•Ep. 1

Introducing The Prince

Xi Jinping is the most powerful person in the world. But the real story of China’s leader remains a mystery. The Economist ’s Sue-Lin Wong finds out how he rose to the top in a new podcast series launching on September 28th.  For more China coverage, subscribe to The Economist and find a special offer at economist.com/chinapod .

Sep 07, 2022•3 min