1: Redder than red

Xi Jinping is the most powerful man in the world. But the real story of China’s leader remains a mystery. The Economist‘s Sue-Lin Wong finds out how he rose to the top and what it will mean for China—and the world—when he secures an unprecedented third term in October.

The decisions Mr Xi makes affect us all. He will probably rule China for the rest of his life. But his story remains hidden by a strict censorship machine.

Our podcast series investigates Mr Xi’s turbulent past to reveal how he seized control of China. We hear from officials who have dealt with him up close, ordinary people whose lives have been upended by his ambitions and insiders who share his background. From his cloistered childhood in Beijing, to his political education in the booming port city of Xiamen, via popcorn diplomacy in rural Iowa, the contours of Mr Xi’s epic life come into view.

In the first episode, Mr Xi is born into Communist Party royalty. Then his family loses it all. Mr Xi’s life is turned upside down while he is still a child. Yet he emerges from one of China’s darkest periods as a true believer in the party. Why?

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