https://thenextrecession.wordpress.com/2021/09/30/iippe-2021-imperialism-china-and-finance/

from yesterdays thread, we got this paper floating which argues that there isnt an argument for imperialism. we'll take it from there. also I'd love to see more material supporting this stance!

to me, the author of the linked paper doesnt really answer the question.

the text says middle rank economies arent or cant be subimperialist? unclear how they support this claim.

  • they cite a study showing china as in between imperialist and imperialized

  • their own UE index shows a massive decrease of outflow in china in the last 20 years compared to earlier. this dosnt conflict with the argument that china might be imperialist, because its the recent shift to capital export that we look at here.

author then they later say “imperialist economies and the rest is not narrowing – on the contrary. And that includes China, which will not join the imperialist club.” - how does make sense with the above then?

the linked ppt seems to compute imperialism in total trade. noone is arguing china is imperialist against the west, but this calculation masks the argument of a potential “subimperialism”, in China’s global south trade, because this is a small share of China’s total trade. so we’re not left with any conclusion about “sub-imperialism” or whatever you will call these countries that have net outflows to the old west, but exploit the global south in their own right. this could include overseas China economy, turkey?, the gulf, malaysia. etc.

  • LeninWeave [none/use name]
    ·
    3 years ago

    My understanding is TSMC is at the top of the industry, currently. China can fab, but not as well. For instance, that article is about the 28 nm to 14 nm nodes, and TSMC is at something like 5 nm. The node sizes don't really mean all that much, but it's a general indication at least.

      • LeninWeave [none/use name]
        ·
        3 years ago

        Yeah, but I'm pretty sure that's what keeps it all going. No one wants the industry to crash. For instance, if China shut down TSMC, they'd have a shortage of processors they really need for research.

        Kind of makes me wonder, with the chip shortage, of China’s desire to dive head-first into a tech driven society and their desire to catch up in chips is going to play a role in the coming Cold War.

        100% yes. It's already started with the Huawei thing.

        • SolidaritySplodarity [they/them]
          ·
          3 years ago

          In the short term, China could nationalize the fabs and limit exports, creating an effect like shutting them down for the rest of the world while increasing local supply.

          Not that this is a good idea.