There is more to China than it's current prominence in global affairs. In this enlightening talk, Kerry Brown reflects on China's rise and invites us to question our understanding of the country, its people and its values. How did China transform within a few decades to the global powerhouse it is today and what does a future with China in the steering wheel hold for the rest of the world?

Kerry Brown is Professor of Chinese Studies and Director of the Lau China Institute at King's College, London. He is an Associate of the Asia Pacific Programme at Chatham House, London.
From 2012 to 2015, he was Professor of Chinese Politics and Director of the China Studies Centre at the University of Sydney, Australia. From 2006 to 2012, he worked at Chatham House as Senior Fellow and then Head of the Asia Programme. From 1998 to 2005, he worked at the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, as First Secretary at the British Embassy in Beijing, and then as Head of the Indonesia, Philippines and East Timor Section. He lived in the Inner Mongolia region of China from 1994 to 1996. He holds an MA from Cambridge, and a PhD in Chinese politics and language from Leeds University.
Professor Brown has directed the Europe China Research and Advice Network. He is the author of almost 20 books on modern Chinese politics, history and language. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx