Over the last decade-and-a-half, China has seen its financial technology (fintech) industry achieve a level of scale and ubiquity without peer among developed economies — Alibaba’s Alipay and Tencent’s WeChat Pay, to name a few examples, each enjoy over one billion users, and are deeply integrated into daily life. Yet, by its hybrid nature, fintech presents complex challenges novel to both financial and technology regulation, the dramatic collapse of China’s peer-to-peer lending industry being a case in point. In this context, as much as Chinese firms lead the way in fintech development, Chinese regulators also act as innovators in the yet-undeveloped field of fintech regulation. As such, the study of the Chinese regulatory experience may yield insight into how other nations may develop their own regulatory frameworks towards fintech as an emerging industry. This research investigates the characteristics and challenges of Chinese fintech regulation. Specifically, this research considers the current institutional approach to regulation, the financial risks that current regulation seeks to address, and the effects of said regulation on the fintech industry. Given the novelty of fintech as a regulatory field, this research addresses a new and developing niche within the broader study of Chinese economic policymaking. I utilize a combination of general policy analysis and case study of specific regulatory actions to analyze both the regulatory process and its effect on the fintech industry. Qualitative analysis of regulatory documents and materials is complemented by quantitative analysis of industry-level data in examining both regulatory initiatives and their empirical economic effects upon fintech firms.This research is expected to yield the result that, because of its novelty and intersectionality, Chinese fintech regulation is underdeveloped relative to traditional finance or technology regulation. Simultaneously, this research is also expected to indicate a general trajectory towards greater regulatory scrutiny towards fintech firms.

The rise of illiberal and right-wing nationalist movements poses a clear threat to liberal democracy in Europe. Across the continent, illiberal parties campaign against independent civil society and democratic institutions, while advancing xenophobic, anti-feminist, and anti-immigrant beliefs. In countries where such parties have gained power, illiberal leaders are dismantling checks on government power, protections of civil liberties, and even free elections. Our project explores the rise of illiberalism in Europe across four dimensions: exclusion and resistance to social change; misinformation; nationalism and sovereignty; and the erosion of democratic institutions. Through our analysis, we propose policy recommendations for civil society organizations, regional and national actors, and European Union institutions to proactively defend liberal democracy.