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Isn't a key tenet of communism that workers own the means of production? That doesn't seem to be the case in China. Isn't a fundamental motivator or justificat

Isn't a key tenet of communism that workers own the means of production? That doesn't seem to be the case in China. Isn't a fundamental motivator or justification for moving towards communism a reduction in inequalities? That doesn't seem to be the case in China. China is certainly remarkable, but I think a more apt description is: authoritarian with market-oriented policies. I don't see much evidence for communism as originally envisioned. China's recent rise has largely been the story of a strong state enabling markets to function, but I wonder if the state's growing desire to involve itself in business will lead to sclerosis, similar to what happened in the Soviet Union under Stalin.

AnimalMuppet 8y ago
China's government isn't involved in business in anything like the way the USSR's was. China probably has some room before it hits those particular problems.
beat 8y ago
China had/has different problems in different eras. At the beginning of modern communist China, the country suffered from incredible poverty. Most people could barely feed themselves. They had suffered pretty much nonstop war for over half a century - the Boxer Rebellion (against European colonial powers), the Japanese occupation, WWII, and civil war. I ran numbers on this a while back. Per capita GDP in China has increased 130 times since 1960, from ~$60/year to over $8000/year. With success like that, is focusing on inequality over that period the right approach? Would they be better off with hatchet axe and saw, as Rush put it? But today, the problems are different. Incredible growth leads to massive concentrations of power. It's not just the inequality, it's the ability to alter the system to favor those already in power, at the expense of everyone else. That's sort of America's problem today... the top is growing, but mostly by hoarding 100% (or more) of all economic growth, so none of the benefits reach the bottom 90%. China doesn't have that problem - yet.
stretchwithme 8y ago
This isn't communism at all. They do oppress those who they think present a threat with the same savagery.

AnimalMuppet 8y ago

China's government isn't involved in business in anything like the way the USSR's was. China probably has some room before it hits those particular problems.

beat 8y ago

China had/has different problems in different eras. At the beginning of modern communist China, the country suffered from incredible poverty. Most people could barely feed themselves. They had suffered pretty much nonstop war for over half a century - the Boxer Rebellion (against European colonial powers), the Japanese occupation, WWII, and civil war. I ran numbers on this a while back. Per capita GDP in China has increased 130 times since 1960, from ~$60/year to over $8000/year. With success like that, is focusing on inequality over that period the right approach? Would they be better off with hatchet axe and saw, as Rush put it? But today, the problems are different. Incredible growth leads to massive concentrations of power. It's not just the inequality, it's the ability to alter the system to favor those already in power, at the expense of everyone else. That's sort of America's problem today... the top is growing, but mostly by hoarding 100% (or more) of all economic growth, so none of the benefits reach the bottom 90%. China doesn't have that problem - yet.

stretchwithme 8y ago

This isn't communism at all. They do oppress those who they think present a threat with the same savagery.