May 12, 2021
A recent article in the Washington Times said Chinese President Xi Jinping has continued to consolidate power and has adopted the title “helmsman,” which represents ultimate authority. The title was last used by Mao Zedong, who ruled China from 1949 to 1976. Scott Berrier, head of the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency, said he believes Xi is firmly in control of the Chinese Communist Party, the military and every aspect of Chinese society.
In addition, the South China Morning Post reported that Xi is calling on universities in his country to produce inquisitive thinkers who are totally loyal to the Communist Party. Xi noted that China’s education system must train the “builders and successors” of socialism.
Rising authoritarianism in China is a manifestation of the country’s long-term trend in negative social mood. China’s Shanghai Composite Index continues to trade 43% below its 2007 all-time high.
To learn more about the connection between social mood and rising authoritarianism, read “Social Mood Can Increase Authoritarianism for Decades: Large-Degree Trends Toward Negative Social Mood Impel Tyrannical Behavior.”
If you look closely, you can see patterns in social mood that help you predict social trends. Learn more with the Socionomics Premier Membership.
The Socionomist enables you to see trend-shaping waves of social mood, as reflected by the stock market — and capitalize on them. The April 2023 issue looks at negative social mood’s influence on the tumultuous history of the Mexican Revolution. Mood Riffs topics include President Joe Biden’s reelection prospects, challenges facing corporate giants, the new workplace trend known as Bare-Minimum Monday, and British Columbia’s effort to relax laws governing hard drugs. Read the April issue when you become a Socionomics Premier Member. 
