CC: Patrick McGee – How Apple Built a Superpower

This week on Conflicted, Thomas Small is joined by Patrick McGee,
technology reporter and author of the phenomenal new book, Apple in
China. Patrick provides an exclusive look at how Apple, in its
relentless pursuit of operational excellence, drove a unique form
of globalization that profoundly reshaped the economic and
geopolitical world. Thomas and Patrick dissect the story of Apple's
pivot from near-bankruptcy to becoming a global superpower,
focusing on the often-overlooked genius of CEO Tim Cook - the
operations mastermind who built a manufacturing model that, while
pioneering, effectively hollowed out US industrial capacity. They
explore the critical role of Taiwan’s Foxconn and its founder,
Terry Gou, who understood that Apple’s demanding processes were not
exploitation, but a unique, fast-track training program that turned
China into an advanced manufacturing powerhouse. The conversation
follows the narrative from production to consumption, revealing the
chaos and extraordinary demand of the Chinese retail market, the
political awakening of the company under Xi Jinping's rising power,
and the ultimate irony: Apple, the champion of individual liberty,
forging a $275 billion partnership with America's foremost
geopolitical rival. The episode is a must-listen for understanding
the true forces that built the 21st-century global economy. You can
find Patrick @patrickmcgee_ To listen to more episodes like this -
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