I'm heavily critical of Deng, as are even many "Dengists" here, but Deng's program still fits within a socialist framework, even if I think using capitalist accumulation to drive a Socialist transition in an undeveloped country to be playing with fire, and his criticisms of Marx and use of Chicago-school economics utterly wrong-headed. And that's before we get to the whole Pol Pot debacle.
If we call China capitalist, we'd also have to call the Soviets under the NEP capitalist and Vietnam as it stands capitalist. The truth of the matter is probably more "a capitalist driven economy under socialist direction and a DotP, used to get to a point where Socialism can survive without engaging in siege tactics".
Which, again, I'm not a fan of but is a consistent ideological position, and one Xi seems to be transitioning back towards a more Socialist economic framework. So critical support is warranted.
If we call China capitalist, we’d also have to call the Soviets under the NEP capitalist and Vietnam as it stands capitalist.
Bingo. Understanding historical context is what separates the western anti-communist lib(eral)-left from serious socialists of any flavor. The October Revolutionaries didn't intend for socialism to be built from the ground-up in a peasant-based feudal society but as a spark to ignite a world revolution. The goal was to topple the bougeoise, create proletarian governments, then have the more industrially developed socialist states aid in the uplifting of the less developed socialist states.
Obviously that didn't happen and those Revolutionaries, followed by the scant few that were also successful, were left as economically feeble fledgling states surrounded by the most heinous vampiric empires drooling at the plans they had to carve them up like a Thanksgiving turkey.
Arguments based off of the facts of the historical context and material conditions I can get, regardless of my agreement or disagreement, but these kinds of ignorant sophistry rubs me in the same wrong way as when a chud starts bellowing how nazi germany was a socialist state.
Modern China is not the USSR immediately after the Tsar. The material conditions are different. And the USSR didn't have billionaires. Relatively privileged party officials, but no billionaires. I don't see how allowing the proliferation of billionaires in any way aids in the development of a country toward socialism.
Edit: wait.. so I said that there were no soviet billionaires and your response is a single book titled Soviet Millionaires? I can't even find a review of this book. Does this pass as research?
One of the parent comments was literally
these kinds of ignorant sophistry rubs me in the same wrong way as when a chud starts bellowing how nazi germany was a socialist state.
Edit 3: you should read that pamphlet. The notion that wealthy collective farmers have anything in common with the transnational billionaire class of our neoliberal capitalist hellworld is absolutely laughable
“a capitalist driven economy under socialist direction and a DotP, used to get to a point where Socialism can survive without engaging in siege tactics”.
Could you expand on that more?
It seems to me that the proliferation of billionaires with close ties to party officials - or are party officials themselves - not only further entrenches capital, but frustrates the ability to escape the siege.
Yeah so then how does this still fit within a socialist framework? It's a strategy which is likely to directly contribute in aiding it's class enemies. Assuming that hasn't already happened.
I do have critical support for CPC but not on socialist grounds. But rather on the grounds of challenging the hegemony of American liberal capitalism, with an eye toward leadership on climate change and lifting billions out of poverty. But I'm not convinced that they're moving toward socialism. Maybe you can recommend some literature which could convince me?
I'm far, far more convinced that we are desperate to be hopeful for anything that looks like progress for humanity and justice for the working class .
I'm heavily critical of Deng, as are even many "Dengists" here, but Deng's program still fits within a socialist framework, even if I think using capitalist accumulation to drive a Socialist transition in an undeveloped country to be playing with fire, and his criticisms of Marx and use of Chicago-school economics utterly wrong-headed. And that's before we get to the whole Pol Pot debacle.
If we call China capitalist, we'd also have to call the Soviets under the NEP capitalist and Vietnam as it stands capitalist. The truth of the matter is probably more "a capitalist driven economy under socialist direction and a DotP, used to get to a point where Socialism can survive without engaging in siege tactics".
Which, again, I'm not a fan of but is a consistent ideological position, and one Xi seems to be transitioning back towards a more Socialist economic framework. So critical support is warranted.
Bingo. Understanding historical context is what separates the western anti-communist lib(eral)-left from serious socialists of any flavor. The October Revolutionaries didn't intend for socialism to be built from the ground-up in a peasant-based feudal society but as a spark to ignite a world revolution. The goal was to topple the bougeoise, create proletarian governments, then have the more industrially developed socialist states aid in the uplifting of the less developed socialist states.
Obviously that didn't happen and those Revolutionaries, followed by the scant few that were also successful, were left as economically feeble fledgling states surrounded by the most heinous vampiric empires drooling at the plans they had to carve them up like a Thanksgiving turkey.
Arguments based off of the facts of the historical context and material conditions I can get, regardless of my agreement or disagreement, but these kinds of ignorant sophistry rubs me in the same wrong way as when a chud starts bellowing how nazi germany was a socialist state.
Modern China is not the USSR immediately after the Tsar. The material conditions are different. And the USSR didn't have billionaires. Relatively privileged party officials, but no billionaires. I don't see how allowing the proliferation of billionaires in any way aids in the development of a country toward socialism.
https://www.amazon.com/Soviet-millionaires-Reg-Bishop-Reginald/dp/B007XCMNDA?ref_=d6k_applink_bb_marketplace
Have you read this book?
Edit: wait.. so I said that there were no soviet billionaires and your response is a single book titled Soviet Millionaires? I can't even find a review of this book. Does this pass as research?
One of the parent comments was literally
Please tell me you're joking or trolling me
EDIT 2: WHY WOULD YOU LINK TO AMAZON WHEN YOU CAN LINK TO THE ENTIRE TEXT FOR FREE?
Edit 3: you should read that pamphlet. The notion that wealthy collective farmers have anything in common with the transnational billionaire class of our neoliberal capitalist hellworld is absolutely laughable
Go read some of Deng's books then. I'm not having this argument.
Could you expand on that more?
It seems to me that the proliferation of billionaires with close ties to party officials - or are party officials themselves - not only further entrenches capital, but frustrates the ability to escape the siege.
This is exactly my critique. In addition to the risk of wholesale capitalist capture of the state.
Yeah so then how does this still fit within a socialist framework? It's a strategy which is likely to directly contribute in aiding it's class enemies. Assuming that hasn't already happened.
I do have critical support for CPC but not on socialist grounds. But rather on the grounds of challenging the hegemony of American liberal capitalism, with an eye toward leadership on climate change and lifting billions out of poverty. But I'm not convinced that they're moving toward socialism. Maybe you can recommend some literature which could convince me?
I'm far, far more convinced that we are desperate to be hopeful for anything that looks like progress for humanity and justice for the working class .
Here’s a podcast episode that may be a starting point to understanding the argument in defense of Chinese socialism
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