Although Xi Jinping came to power a decade ago, he remains an enigmatic figure in the West. His priority has always been to keep Chinese society as stable as possible, steering a course through a period of astounding economic growth, while ensuring that nothing challenges the political status quo.

But with unrest stirring in Hong Kong, reports of human rights abuses taking place in the Xinjiang region and, devastatingly, the outbreak of a virus that would change the world, suddenly understanding Xi’s China is more important than ever before.

In this short and timely book, academic and author Kerry Brown will examine the complexities behind the man, explaining the impact that his rule is already having on the West. But who is Xi really, and what is his vision for China’s future? And, crucially, what does that mean for the rest of the world?