64. Platform Capitalism with Chinese Characteristics by This Machine Kills
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Cold open: https://www.npr.org/2021/04/13/984994360/he-tried-to-organize-workers-in-chinas-gig-economy-now-he-faces-5-years-in-jail We dig deeper into our explorations of technological and financial capitalism in China by discussing an invaluable source for rigorous, ruthless analysis: Chuang, a collective and journal “analyzing the ongoing development of capitalism in China, its historical roots, and the revolts of those crushed beneath it.” We then start getting into a long, detailed, investigative report on the working conditions of platform labor in China. While some ghouls in Western countries might look at the horrors we discuss and say, “See, it could be worse.” We must instead assert, “No, it should be better.” Some stuff we reference: • Delivery Workers, Trapped in the System | Chuang: https://chuangcn.org/2020/11/delivery-renwu-translation/ • Social Contagion: Microbiological Class War in China | Chuang: https://chuangcn.org/2020/02/social-contagion/ Subscribe to hear more analysis and commentary in our premium episodes every week! patreon.com/thismachinekills TMK shirts are now available: bonfire.com/mech-luddite/ Hosted by Jathan Sadowski (twitter.com/jathansadowski) and Edward Ongweso Jr. (twitter.com/bigblackjacobin). Production / Music by Jereme Brown (twitter.com/braunestahl)

So this episode is about the capitalist immiseration being experienced by gig economy drivers in China rn. Sounds just as fucked as delivery drivers in the US tbh.

I was expecting more context from a left pod. Like maybe if China wasn't forced to compete with a ruthless global hegemon in the course of their development, for the survival of their project, their system might not be quite so authoritarian. Instead it's an episode of chinabad.

It's easy to be liberal when you're in a position of unassailable power. Not so easy when the US has the stated aim of killing your project by literally any means necessary.

Is this pod legit? Maybe I'm wrong about this, but don't the presenters write for vice and isn't it a vice pod? Is vice still owned by news corp?

Anyway, fwiw, the episode is worth listening to imo, more in the context of a great power media war and less as concern for the rights of chinese workers.

  • RealAssHistoryHours [he/him,they/them]
    ·
    4 years ago

    No one will even admit to reading Chuang anymore after several of their staff were found out to literally work for the feds. I don't know about Chuang personally, I feel like they have some insightful works still, and I don't find the idea of the CIA operating an ultra-left anti-capitalist China publication to be particularly realistic. But all of these analyses seem to divorce China from it's world historical context, which I don't see as a particularly useful mode of investigation. I like some of what I've read from the Qiao Collective though in contrast, where they seem to only focus on the world historical context, but don't have much to say about some of China's more questionable policies.

    • carbohydra [des/pair]
      ·
      4 years ago

      several of their staff were found out to literally work for the feds

      It wouldn't surprise me but source pls?

      Neocons literally started as trotskyists, they absolutely know the value of turning ultras.

      I do find it strange that someone anonymous would spend so much time, money and effort writing in English (good English, too) about the minutia of Chinese internal social life.

      • RealAssHistoryHours [he/him,they/them]
        ·
        4 years ago

        I cannot find a source unfortunately. It was huge blowout on Twitter when people found out they took submissions from people with ties to the State Department I think. I don't remember the exact details.

        • honeynut
          ·
          1 year ago

          deleted by creator

    • DivineChaos100 [none/use name]
      ·
      4 years ago

      No one will even admit to reading Chuang anymore after several of their staff were found out to literally work for the feds

      Is this Max Blumenthal type "the six degrees of separation apply to the CIA"-finding out or something more legit?

      • RealAssHistoryHours [he/him,they/them]
        ·
        4 years ago

        There was big blow out when people linked maybe a contributor or editor to the State Department. I forget the details, but their reputation took a major hit and everyone was dunking on ultra-lefts for a quick second for citing Chuang.

    • summerbl1nd [none/use name]
      ·
      4 years ago

      yeah, chuang is bad but the reality on the ground is that these gig workers really do have it bad, even sixthtone admitted to it. government is too hamfisted to do anything effective and the grassroots shit gets cut down in the cradle by capital interests in the name of preserving political stability, life is real tough for chinese gig workers.