64. Platform Capitalism with Chinese Characteristics by This Machine Kills
soundcloud.com
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.

  • pluggd [they/them]
    ·
    4 years ago

    Cliche time. It's not about competition in the way you're using the word there, implying a fair contest.

    It's about survival and prosperity. The US has stated that they will do anything to prevent the rise of China and have demonstrated a willingness in the past to do anything to achieve their aims.

    They have also said that they want to end the Chinese project and have ended other projects in the past by any means necessary.

    There is also a full spectrum media, political and economic campaign against China right now.

    You're narrowly focussing on one issue, leaving out any historical or wider current context, imo.

    • infuziSporg [e/em/eir]
      ·
      4 years ago

      That's not my point.

      The point is that you shouldn't excuse any/all of China's flaws due to competition.

      The entire meaning of "critical support" is that they're better than the alternative but could still be improved upon.

      • pluggd [they/them]
        ·
        4 years ago

        Take your point and I get the concept of critical support of course.

        The point I'm making is that this podcast somehow forgot any historical or current context and may as well be part of the campaign against China rn. It's disappointing from what's supposed to be a left pod.

        If they are are acting in good faith, they're assuming a level of political and historical knowledge from their audience that just isn't there imo.