China’s economic and technological advances are being unfairly dismissed in the United States and other parts of the West as a result of hierarchical thinking, according to a theory dubbed “winology” that is taking hold among some online commentators.

The term winology was coined by Chinese academics and refers to ways in which countries can both become a global leader in certain areas and be recognised as such.

Some discussions on social media have generated claims that this viewpoint regards Germanic peoples as “first-class” global citizens, Latins and Slavs as “second” or “third-class” and Chinese as “fourth-class”.

The theory is now attracting academic attention, including a seminar held at Wuhan University in June, with participants from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and Tsinghua University, who said it helped foster a vibrant intellectual discussion.

Yu Liang, assistant director and associate researcher at Fudan University’s Institute of China Studies in Shanghai, discussed the theory in an issue of the university’s quarterly Dongfang Journal devoted to the topic.