The Lau China Institute and Young China Watchers competition aims to discover and showcase the newest young writing talent on China in the UK. We want to help foster the next generation of experts on China by providing a platform for young people to be heard.
In 2022, the competition theme was 'China’s digital transformation'. Luke Cavanaugh received first prize for his article titled 'How online mass-line could transform China’s political ecosystem'.
Q: Luke, what does your essay propose?
A: "The centrality of local dialogue and policy experimentation in China can be traced as far back as Mao Zedong. The concept of 'mass-line', a form of public consultation, which encourages CCP officials to proactively consult the masses has long been an integral part of the Chinese political process. Like so many things in China, the frequency and scale of these resource-intensive consultations have been significantly hampered by Covid-19. To broaden policymaking participation, and deliver mass-line at speed and scale, this essay proposes that China learn from digital consultation projects across the world in shifting to an online mass-line".
Read the essay
Runners up
The runners up were Christina Burjan for her entry on China’s technology R&D, and Jingbo Hua who looked at China’s use of QR code technology during the Covid pandemic.
Congratulations all!
Find out more about the 2022 competition.