Reform and China Today
Deng Xiaoping's reform and opening from 1978, rural reform and Special Economic Zones, the one-child policy (1980-2015), Tiananmen in 1989, WTO accession in 2001, growth and poverty reduction, China as a technology power, Xi Jinping's era, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Xinjiang, and China's relationship with Africa and Nigeria.
Growth, power and debate
China's growth since 1978 is among the fastest sustained expansions in economic history. Its technology sector now includes world leaders in telecoms, electric vehicles, batteries and payments; Chinese firms such as Transsion (Tecno, Infinix) dominate Africa's phone market, and Chinese-built infrastructure is visible across Nigeria.
Contested views: supporters describe Chinese lending in Africa as infrastructure the West would not finance; critics warn of debt and opaque contracts. Research by Deborah Brautigam and the China Africa Research Initiative found the "debt-trap diplomacy" narrative overstated, while still documenting real debt risks in specific countries.
Ezra Vogel, Deng Xiaoping and the Transformation of China (2011); World Bank, World Development Indicators (GDP, poverty); Deborah Brautigam, The Dragon's Gift (2009); OHCHR assessment of human rights concerns in Xinjiang (2022).