Prototype Nation

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This work offers a vivid exploration of China's evolving role in the global technology production landscape. It examines how the country's mass manufacturing and imitation practices shifted from being perceived as hindrances to becoming valuable assets in the tech world. Through a transnational lens, the analysis reveals how the ideals of democratized innovation and entrepreneurial culture have influenced China's governance and international reputation. The author, drawing on over a decade of research in various experimental workspaces—including makerspaces, coworking hubs, and tech incubators across multiple continents—highlights a growing skepticism towards Western models of progress, particularly following the 2007-08 financial crisis. This skepticism fueled the global maker movement and redefined China as a hub of innovation. The text also critiques how the maker movement's aspirations to reshape social and economic systems align with a broader technopolitical agenda, fostering a new, assertive image of China. It illustrates how entrepreneurial practices impact governance, education, policy, and urban development, often perpetuating issues like sexism, racism, and labor exploitation. Ultimately, the work emphasizes the need to recognize the physical and social contexts that shape entrepreneurial endeavors, suggesting a way to break the cycle of promise and violence associated with technology.