This report by the Munk School’s Diana Fu and Emile Dirks disaggregates Chinese society by examining the impact of Xi’s rule on China’s rural poor, migrant workers, and ethnic minorities.Today, President Xi Jinping is the most powerful Chinese leader in a generation. As Canada navigates one of the thorniest periods in its relationship with China, it is imperative to analyze how Xi’s policies have impacted China’s diverse population. Under Xi’s rule, the party-state has pushed forward with anti-poverty campaigns and social reforms, providing greater financial and social security to some of China’s poorest. However, for many of China’s ethnic and religious minorities Xi’s tenure has been marked by growing repression. These developments make it tempting to view Xi’s rule as a break from the past. However, his administration has continued many of the policies of his predecessor while deepening the reach of the central party-state.

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