Technology and rurality
Second episode of the CLACSO TV special on China and the BRICS. In the previous program, we explored the geopolitical dimension of this process: the new role of the Global South, the debate on multilateralism, and the tensions of a world that is beginning to move away from unipolar logic.
In this second episode, we'll explore two central dimensions of China's transformation: technology and rural life. Because China isn't just vying for economic and political power. It's also redefining how people live, how they produce, and how territory is organized, from sprawling digital cities to the countryside.
The analysis of:
-Marga Ferre, president of Transform! Europe, a network of foundations and research centers that analyzes the political, economic, and social changes of the European continent in dialogue with the Global South. We spoke with her about China, the BRICS, and the impact these transformations have on Europe: geopolitical tensions, technological dependence, and the difficulties of building an autonomous strategy in a multipolar world.
-Jorge DíazA Venezuelan researcher specializing in China and the country's economic and social transformation processes, he draws on his academic experience to analyze how technology, public policy, and rural development are interconnected, and what lessons learned resonate with the realities of the Global South.
-Paolo FerreroItalian politician and former Minister of Social Solidarity during Romano Prodi's second government. He addresses the impact of China's rise, geopolitical tensions, and the challenges facing Europe in an increasingly multipolar world.
-José Luis Centella, leader of the Communist Party of Spain, talks about China, the BRICS and the challenges of political forces seeking alternatives to the neoliberal model.
Interviewed by Gustavo Lema
Furthermore:
China is also a constant crossroads between tradition and future. In every city, in every region, spaces of memory, spirituality, and culture coexist with a strong commitment to innovation and technological development. In recent decades, poverty reduction, infrastructure development, digitalization, and new forms of employment are transforming daily life.
If there is one city that embodies this technological advancement, it is Hangzhou, the birthplace of the Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba. There, a digital ecosystem has taken root, transforming daily life, commerce, transportation, education, and the relationship between technology and social planning.
China's rural transformation is the result of sustained public policies: infrastructure, digital connectivity, e-commerce platforms, and basic services reaching rural areas. Rurality is no longer a thing of the past but has become part of the future. From the Global South, this experience raises key questions about sovereignty, development, technology, and territory.
