Julian Gewirtz, PhD.

China’s rulers take inspiration from George Orwell’s “1984”: “Who controls the present, controls the past. Who controls the past, controls the future.” Columbia University Senior Research Scholar Julian Gewirtz, who is an author of several books on China, explores how Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party use control of historical memory as a tool of power, legitimacy, and repression. In this fascinating session, Gewirtz reveals how, through censorship, museum exhibitions, and political campaigns, the Party shapes what can be said and what must be forgotten about events like the Tiananmen protest movement, World War II and even COVID-19. Gewirtz, whose acclaimed book “Never Turn Back” (2022) documents these forbidden histories, connects the dots between past and present to show how historical narrative is weaponized in China’s domestic and international strategy. Attendees will come away with a deeper appreciation for how historical memory drives Chinese politics and how to leverage that knowledge to unlock more effective engagement, risk management and policymaking.

From titanic tariffs and contested export controls to shifting alliances and military brinkmanship, the U.S.-China relationship has entered a volatile new phase where past assumptions no longer hold, and the risk of escalation looms large. Drawing from his rare firsthand policy experience as the former senior director for China and Taiwan Affairs in the White House National Security Council (NSC) and as deputy China coordinator for the State Department, Columbia University Senior Research Scholar Julian Gewirtz decodes the complex forces driving this geopolitical rivalry, from technological arms races to tensions across the Taiwan Strait. Informed by his deep understanding of Chinese politics and American policymaking, Gewirtz uses the long lens of a historian to lay out clear scenarios for what could come next and what leaders must do now to prepare. Audiences walk away with a concrete toolkit for navigating U.S.-China competition, assessing geopolitical risk and actively scenario planning for a rapidly fragmenting world order.

What motivates China’s most powerful leader since Mao? Julian Gewirtz, Columbia University Senior Research Scholar and U.S. State Department and National Security Council veteran, offers a rare window into the strategic thinking of Xi Jinping and reveals how ideology, insecurity, ambition and long-term vision shape the decisions coming out of Beijing. From domestic control to global influence, Xi’s priorities are transforming the landscape of power, technology and diplomacy. In eye-opening presentations, Gewirtz blends insider insight from his time at the highest levels of U.S. government with deep scholarly expertise, including close study of Xi since before he became China’s top leader, to show how Xi’s worldview is reshaping global norms. Attendees will gain a sophisticated, actionable understanding of Xi Jinping’s strategic calculus and what it means for global business, diplomacy and the future of U.S.-China relations.

From Latin America to the Middle East, in industries spanning infrastructure finance to generative AI, China is asserting itself as a global power with an alternative vision of international order. Julian Gewirtz, a former State Department diplomat and senior White House advisor, illuminates how Beijing is expanding its influence and what that means for U.S. policy, global business, and the values underpinning international institutions. Using vivid stories drawn from history and his firsthand experience shaping global policy, Gewirtz helps organizations move beyond surface narratives and hype and toward grounded strategic thinking. Audiences will gain clarity on China’s global ambitions and the levers it’s using to advance them and learn key skills for adapting to a more contested and multipolar world.