Other interesting bits from that article:
Xi knows how very corrupt China is and is repulsed by the all-encompassing commercialization of Chinese society, with its attendant nouveau riche, official corruption, loss of values, dignity, and self-respect, and such "moral evils" as drugs and prostitution, the professor stated. The professor speculated that if Xi were to become the Party General Secretary, he would likely aggressively attempt to address these evils, perhaps at the expense of the new moneyed class.
The professor said that he and others found dramatically different ways to “survive” the aftermath of the Cultural Revolution. While the professor and his closest circle of friends descended into the pursuit of romantic relationships, drink, movies and Western literature as a release from the hardships of the time, Xi Jinping, by contrast “chose to survive by becoming redder than the red.”
Xi also does not care at all about money and is not corrupt, the professor stated. Xi can afford to be incorruptible, the professor wryly noted, given that he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. It is likely that Xi could, however, be “corrupted by power.”
In all of the "is China just capitalism painted red, or is it actually trying to achieve communism?" discussions, I'm not sure I've seen this point brought up: it's near-impossible for a committed communist to rise through the political ranks of a truly capitalist country, but that at least appears to be possible in China.
This doesn't settle the debate, but the ease with which leftists can gain real political power seems like an enormous difference between China and any country that's unarguably capitalist.
moral evils” as drugs and prostitution,
ngl, this is conservative as fuck. I don't know how a communist could spout this "moral evil" bullshit. .
This is China we’re talking about. Communism or not, these values are going to be dominant in society, especially accounting for china’s unique history involving the opium wars and western exploitation.
lots of Asian countries have this exact sentiment. Japan in particular with cancel any famous person caught doing a drug.
he would likely aggressively attempt to address these evils
Hmmm trying to fix the contradictions of capital without changing the material basis of production, probably not a coincidence those "moral vices" are indistinguishable from redditors whining about "big corporations are ruining our values"
Hmmm trying to fix the contradictions of capital without changing the material basis of production
Isn't China currently looking into nationalizing industries? Not to say nationalized enterprise is literally socialism, because it isn't, but it is a step in that direction and is definitely at least a change in the economic base.
The skeleton of their economy ("the commanding heights of industry") has been nationalized all this time, even through the whole rightward turn from Deng to Hu. But in addition to this, over the last 15ish years specifically the government has been accelerating its takeover of private corporations, leading to public ownership, spending, etc. being an increasingly larger part of the economy. The CPC is also inserting supervisors into leadership of private companies that have yet to be nationalized.
I don’t really care to weigh in on whether he is “really a communist” or not, the man is fucking impressive.
the liberal great man theory of history
"This leader is personally impressive" =/= great man theory. Many people are personally impressive, but they aren't lionized the in the style of great man theory. Great man theory is more along the lines of "the political whims of the masses and the goals of entrenched interests are hardly important; what really drives historical change is the occasional near-deity with almost superhuman insight and determination."
Observing that some leader is impressive within the bounds of ordinary people is fine, especially when coupled with a materialist understanding of politics. After all, materialism doesn't mean no leadership, or that leadership is purely administrative and the leaders themselves should just be any competent-enough person picked out of the crowd. Good leadership is a real skill, as is having one's life together, and respecting a leader who has both is not automatically crossing over into great man territory.
having a great leader is not great man theory. Great man theory is people like Julius Caesar or even Donald Trump
"America was [good/bad] until Donal Trump came along and made it [bad/good] but now Joe Biden will make it [good/bad]." - very real attitudes of people alive right now
Xi was too busy reading theory to lead a country rather than reading theory to chase after long legged socialists
While you were chasing ethereal bisexuals, I was studying the Mao
The sentences right after this are also pretty glowing. Nice guy Xi :xi:
Nevertheless, despite Xi's lack of popularity in the conventional sense and his "cold and calculating" demeanor in these early years, the professor said, Xi was "not cold-hearted." He was still considered a"good guy" in other ways. Xi was outwardly friendly, "always knew the answers" to questions, and would "always take care of you." The professor surmised that Xi's new found popularity today, which the professor found surprising, must stem in part from Xi's being "generous and loyal."
Of course, we have President Xi getting a degree in Applied Marxism, cue the "while you partied, I studied the blade" meme :anarxi:
The professor and his friends were reading DeGaulle and Nixon and "trying to catch up for lost years by having fun," while Xi was reading Marx and laying the foundation for a career in politics. Xi even went off to join a "worker-peasant-soldier revolutionary committee" (note: a label given provincial governing units during the Cultural Revolution), after which the professor had presumed he would never see Xi again. It was an "open secret," the professor said, that it was through the "worker-peasant-soldier revolutionary committee" that Xi got his "bachelor's education." The professor said Xi's first degree was not a "real" university education, but instead a three-year degree in applied Marxism.
And to add on to that, Xi confirmed a martial arts master and purveyor of the mystic arts :xi-shining:
Xi at one point early in his career was quite taken with Buddhist mysticism, according to the professor. In comments Xi made to the professor, including during the professor's visit to Xiamen while Xi was serving as an official there, Xi displayed a fascination with Buddhist martial arts, qigong, and other mystical powers said to aid health, as well as with Buddhist sacred sites such as Wutaishan. The professor said he does not know whether Xi was actually religious, or whether he was simply looking for a way to aid his health and well-being. Regardless, the professor said, he was extremely surprised by how much Xi knew about the subject and Xi's seeming belief in supernatural forces.
three-year degree in applied Marxism.
:marx-ok: :zizek-ok: :kim-peace:
Seems like there’s an “I studied the blade” Xi meme in here somewhere.
Women though Xi was 'boring.'
Well, that is one thing we have in common. Now the laws of the universe dictate I will also become General Secretary of a party one day.
I don’t want context for this because the excerpt alone this reads like some drama where there’s a prof who is like “the president of china and I go way back, he’s actually very mediocre and boring though. Not like me, I’m really smart and cool. plus I do lots of drugs and many women are interested in me. We’re just so different it’s a shame.”
