What does state capitalism mean? What are examples of state capitalism? Was USSR state capitalistic or maybe it was during some period (like in NEP)? If it wasn't then why do some people say that USSR wasn't really socialist country but state capitalistic?

  • drinkinglakewater [he/him]
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    edit-2
    1 year ago

    Lenin proposed state capitalism as a way to accelerate the capitalist mode of production because it was believed at the time that shifting to a capitalist mode of production was a prerequisite for a socialist one, but in this case it would have the state in command instead of leaving development to the whims of the bourgeoisie.

    After Lenin passed Stalin proceeded with the communization efforts in an effort to build a socialist mode of production but WW2 stifled that to a degree and then the post Stalin revisionist shift in the party reverted the economy back to being state capitalist where it sat until the USSR was destroyed.

    You can see the similar form of development in Dengist China where the economy shifted towards courting international capital to "build the productive forces" breaking from Mao's conception of socialist development.