Xi Jinping and the Elon Musk alternative by Mary Long

In the whirlwind of modern geopolitics, there are few figures who stir as much controversy and awe as Xi Jinping and Elon Musk. Both seem to occupy vastly different universes, one a leader of the Communist Party of China, the other a billionaire icon of capitalist innovation. But a curious political play has unfolded in recent years, raising questions about the future of both figures and the world order they help shape. Could Xi Jinping be presenting a Jack Ma alternative to Elon Musk? And what might Elon Musk’s MAGA-inspired, far-right identity mean for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in the context of global power?

Elon Musk, once hailed as the tech genius shaping the future, has recently embraced a persona that speaks to an increasingly populist and far-right faction in the United States. His recent ventures, ranging from the expansion of Tesla, SpaceX, and Twitter to his public statements about free speech and ‘woke’ culture, seem to have gradually aligned him with a certain segment of the political spectrum. The embrace of far-right rhetoric, combined with a near cult-like following of Musk, offers him a unique position within American politics, especially when viewed in the context of MAGA (Make America Great Again).

This, however, is not just a political maneuver; it’s an ideological positioning. Musk, who once marketed himself as an outsider and innovator, now walks a tightrope between economic populism, libertarianism, and the branding of himself as an anti-establishment figure. His social media presence, at the helm of Twitter, has made him a lightning rod for both praise and criticism, but in his very persona, there’s an unmistakable echo of the far-right’s love for billionaires who "disrupt" the system, giving the middle finger to political correctness, "big government," and the intellectual elite.

Now, let’s bring the conversation to China and Xi Jinping. In the face of the global rise of figures like Musk, it seems that Xi Jinping’s strategy has involved a cautious yet firm rejection of such Western-style disruption. Instead, he’s placed his bet on consolidating power through a different route, one that might just involve a blend of state control and carefully crafted relationships with businessmen—one of the most prominent of whom is Jack Ma.

Jack Ma, the former Alibaba billionaire, epitomized a very different version of the Chinese businessman. Unlike Musk, who has cultivated a near-religious following among his fans, Ma was known for his charm, his wisdom, and his ability to weave narratives of business success. In many ways, Ma seemed like the face of China’s new capitalist class, successful yet obedient to the Party, innovative yet constrained by the Communist framework. However, the rise of Xi Jinping has revealed a more subtle tension between the ambitions of the Chinese entrepreneurial class and the Party’s desire for absolute control.

This tension became most evident when Xi’s government cracked down on Ma’s empire. The Chinese government had long tolerated Ma’s business model, but as Ma’s influence grew, particularly after the failed IPO of Ant Group in 2020, Xi’s administration realized that Ma could be too powerful. The decision to rein him in was clear: No business mogul, no matter how successful, would outshine the CCP’s power.

But here’s where it gets interesting: While Musk aligns himself with populism and far-right identity in the West, Ma never played that role. Ma’s relationship with the CCP has always been about cooperation—recognizing that the Party controls the levers of power. Unlike Musk, whose politics have made him a divisive figure; Ma’s approach has been more pragmatic. However, the uncertainty of China’s regulatory environment under Xi Jinping, along with the CCP’s increasing power grabs, has led Ma to retreat from the spotlight, giving way to Xi’s own image as a man of absolute authority.

Could Xi Jinping be offering the world an alternative to the far-right, MAGA-style billionaire that Musk has become? There are several ways this could play out, especially when we look at how both figures have carved out their spaces in the global order.

Firstly, Xi Jinping’s control over the economy and his preference for state-owned giants, rather than letting billionaires like Musk run wild, puts him in a position of power that Musk can only dream of in the West. While Musk operates within a framework of relatively weak government regulations and a volatile political climate, Xi has ensured that Chinese corporations, those that remain in favor with the Party, remain tightly controlled. This ensures that China’s business class does not become a destabilizing force but remains aligned with the Party’s objectives.

Secondly, there’s a cultural element to consider. Musk’s influence in the West is as much about the values he espouses as the technology he promotes. In contrast, Xi Jinping has crafted a distinctly Chinese model of governance and societal norms that prioritize stability and control over individual autonomy. In this sense, the Jack Ma alternative is a model that emphasizes corporate success but within a framework where the Party's interests come first. This is in stark contrast to Musk’s love for “freedom” and “individual innovation,” which often appears in tension with the power structures he navigates in the West.

Lastly, there’s the issue of international diplomacy. While Musk plays in the sandbox of Silicon Valley, with occasional forays into the political sphere, Xi Jinping’s China operates on a far more global scale. By presenting a model that subjugates the whims of individual moguls like Musk to the overarching power of the Party, Xi is not only demonstrating that his brand of Chinese capitalism has legs, it’s also sending a message to the world that China will continue to rise, but its version of capitalism will always be tethered to state control. This plays directly into the geopolitical struggle between the U.S. and China, where the West’s liberal, free-market ideals are increasingly challenged by China's tightly controlled, state-driven model of growth.

What would it mean for the CCP to embrace this alternative to the far-right, Musk-inspired vision of power and influence? In short, it means continued stability and an emphasis on collective growth over individual glory. While Musk may rally the masses with his charisma and tech-driven solutions, Xi Jinping’s play is more about long-term control and centralized decision-making. For the CCP, this represents the power to continue pulling strings not only within China but also on the global stage.

But there’s also something else to consider: As Musk’s image continues to evolve; there is a growing sentiment that his populist rhetoric is a form of rebellion against the established order of the West. For China, this represents both an opportunity and a threat. If Musk’s version of capitalism begins to lose steam, or if his alignment with far-right politics alienates a large portion of the Western elite, there might be a window of opportunity for Xi Jinping’s more stable, state-aligned vision to step in as an alternative.

To some, this may sound like a simplistic analysis. But the truth is, we are witnessing a fascinating, albeit unsettling, dance of global influence, where the lines between state power and corporate innovation are increasingly blurred. Xi Jinping is, without question, a master of the game—tightly controlling the pieces in a way Musk can only dream of doing in the fragmented West. The real question now is whether the world will continue to follow Musk’s vision of decentralized power or whether Xi’s model of authoritative control will define the future.

For the Chinese Communist Party, the message is clear: power lies not in the hands of the individual, but in the hands of the Party. And in that, Xi Jinping has created an alternative to the Elon Musk model that seems set to last.