Roel Sterckx, the Joseph Needham Professor of Chinese History, Science, and Civilization at Cambridge University, makes the case for studying China's centuries-long history. Read by Helen Lloyd.

FURTHER READING:

Gazing back to see China’s future | Roel Sterckx

Engelsberg Ideas is funded by the Axel and Margaret Ax:son Johnson Foundation for Public Benefit.

Image: The Great Wall of China. Credit: nagelestock.com / Alamy Stock Photo