Jack Sargeant discusses his reflections on reading Dan Wang’s ‘Breakneck’ and what Welsh Labour can learn from engineers.
Before I became a politician, I was an engineer. There are very few of us in politics in the UK. But China has increasingly built its political system around them. There are lessons here for us – and for Welsh Labour, as the debate starts on its future direction.
UK politics is dominated by certain professions. Advanced manufacturing isn’t one of them.
Losing my Senedd seat in May has given me time to reflect. I’ve realised that I’ve always looked at politics differently to many of my peers because of my background in engineering. UK politics is dominated by certain professions. Advanced manufacturing isn’t one of them. But that is where I cut my teeth in the workplace. I took this perspective into the Senedd when I was the first former apprentice to take on the role of Skills Minister.
I’ve also had more time to read over the last month. One book which struck home was Dan Wang’s Breakneck. Wang compares the different approaches of the US and China to economic development. The US, he says, is a Lawyerly society, and China is an Engineering society, contrasting the groups of professionals most likely to be in leadership positions.
China, as an ‘engineering state’, is a place where people in power think like engineers. They focus on building things, solving problems, and delivering results at speed. That approach has helped China build roads, railways, and whole cities far faster than most countries.
The United States, despite its history of technological development, has become, says Wang, a state run by lawyers. That means challenges and blockages are built into the system. It takes far more time to get things done. Litigation, or avoiding the threat of litigation, is a feature of the system.
Sound familiar? Nobody in Wales and the UK would fail to recognise the slow pace of delivery in projects like HS2 and the failure of the privatised model to deliver infrastructure in areas like the national grid and water.
There is definitely space for more practical thinking in how we run government.
Wang acknowledges there are shortcomings in both societies. Engineers do best when it comes to building infrastructure but face limitations when it comes to social policy, especially in an authoritarian state. The book for instance rightly focuses on the barbarism and failure of the one child policy.
Reading Breakneck as someone who is both an engineer and a politician made me reflect on a simple but important point: there is definitely space for more practical thinking in how we run government.
As an engineer, I was trained to look at a problem, plan a solution, and get on with it. There was a sense of purpose and direction. You define the outcome, gather the resources, and make progress. In Breakneck, Wang shows how that mindset is everywhere in China’s development.
As someone who has been a politician, I also recognise our built-in barriers. Politics today can be reactive and short-term, driven by headlines rather than solutions. The nature of our media, and particularly social media, does not reward long-term thinking. From an engineering point of view, that can be frustrating. Big challenges like climate change, energy, transport, and housing need long-term planning and delivery.
We spend a lot of time debating process, rules, and risks where decisions are slowed down by procedures and arguments. Decisions are never fully made as each step allows new objections and legal processes. Look at any planning process and you will see that less time is spent on making sure the project achieves its goal than in fighting relatively small elements. The clearance of each planning condition – even if simply procedural – opens up a new front to slow down or even thwart progress.
Sometimes that protects people and improves decisions, but it can also stop things from happening at all. There is a better balance to be struck.
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This is not just about the planning process but the speed at which change happens across much of government. Tony Blair was right to say that the development of AI is happening at breakneck pace. We have to move quickly if we are to ensure it benefits all and that ethical standards are applied.
That is where Breakneck is useful. It reminds us what can be achieved when a country organises itself around delivery. China shows that if you align skills, resources, and leadership, you can transform infrastructure and industry very quickly.
However, the book is also clear that this comes at a cost. Systems that move fast do not always listen well. Mistakes can be large and difficult to correct. As an engineer, I know that ignoring feedback leads to failure. As a politician, I know that ignoring people leads to loss of trust. So, the question is not whether we should copy China, but what we can learn from their example.
One clear lesson is that engineers need to be more involved in decision-making. If we want better outcomes, we need people with technical understanding helping to shape policy.
Politics today can be reactive and short-term, driven by headlines rather than solutions. The nature of our media, and particularly social media, does not reward long-term thinking.
Another lesson is about long-term planning. Engineers think in systems and over long timeframes. Politics often works in short cycles. Bridging that gap is critical. We need policies that are stable enough to allow big projects to be delivered properly.
There is also a lesson about ambition. In Breakneck, China’s progress is visible – bridges, rail lines, cities. These are not just economic assets; they are symbols of progress. People can see change happening around them. In the UK, progress can feel slower and less visible, even when good work is being done.
But we should not forget what our system does well. Democracy brings debate, accountability, and protection of rights. These are not weaknesses, they are essential safeguards. The challenge is making them work alongside delivery, not against it. That’s why Andy Burnham is right to point to the gaps in Tony Blair’s analysis.
Indeed, Andy’s philosophy of ‘Manchesterism’ – which worked out practically on the ground as Manchester Mayor – closely resembles the foundational economy agenda we were pioneering in Wales. In Wales, for example, the focus is on building sustainable transport, clean energy, and better housing, while also tackling inequality.
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For me, the biggest takeaway from Breakneck is about balance. We need the mindset of engineers, clear thinking, problem-solving, and a focus on outcomes. But we also need the values of good politics, fairness, accountability, and listening to people.
The future challenges we face, especially around net zero and economic change, will require both. We must move away from short-term thinking and focus on real solutions that improve people’s lives. Politics needs to draw politicians from a wider group of professions. This is something I have written about before.
That means investing in skills, supporting industries, and building the infrastructure we need, not just talking about it.
In the end, Breakneck is not just about China. It is a reminder that how we organise our systems matters. If we want to deliver for our communities, we need to bring engineering thinking into politics and make sure politics still keeps engineering grounded in the needs of people.
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