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> We hope that in the future, workers in Foxconn and elsewhere manage to find ways around such companies' military-style discipline and surveillance, come toget

> We hope that in the future, workers in Foxconn and elsewhere manage to find ways around such companies' military-style discipline and surveillance, come together, and forge collective paths out of this capitalist world of death, into a world worth living in. Are they aware that China is a communist country?

beaconstudios 8y ago
technically it's a socialist economy with mostly state capitalism. The party is communist but the idea in theory is they're in charge of transitioning towards communism as a vanguard party, just like the soviets. nonetheless, military-style discipline and surveillance have been very prominent in communist-led countries to date so I'm not sure why the author thinks that would change. Maoism and Stalinism aren't known for being cuddly and humanistic.
- claudiawerner 8y ago
  A few points here: From the orthodox Marxian perspective, it doesn't make sense to think of a "socialist economy", since the idea of economy is rooted in the law of value in the first place, and Socialism is supposed to abolish the value form. A "socialist economy" is an idea that has its roots in Lenin and only came to fruition with Stalin. >I'm not sure why the author thinks that would change The author, posting on libcom, is probably not a Stalinist or a Maoist, but rather an orthodox Marxist or left-Communist. Libcom is a website very much oriented away from Stalinist Communism.
- eeZah7Ux 8y ago
  It's state capitalism without the socialism: very little worker protection or freedom, no social safety nets, powerful large corporations and banks, military-style discipline and surveillance.
  - beaconstudios 8y ago
    Sounds like socialism to me.
yojex 8y ago
Although discussing this distinction is off-topic (I didn't downvote you), I'd like to point out that the demand for places like Foxconn comes from capitalist businesses in capitalist countries (one in particular).
- asianthrowaway 8y ago
  > I'd like to point out that the demand for places like Foxconn comes from capitalist businesses in capitalist countries (one in particular). True, but the implementation of the supply through the use of slave labor is a distinct communist practice. I thought it relevant to mention because the website seems to be a communist website, which is pretty ironic.
  - yojex 8y ago
    That's certainly true (and I hadn't noticed the website is communist, that's funny). I think we can agree that both capitalist and communist countries have blood on their hands here. Also worth pointing out that Foxconn is in a Free-trade Zone which tend to play by their own (lack of) rules.
    - asianthrowaway 8y ago
      Yes I agree, the big tech companies in the West are entirely complicit.
  - cjbprime 8y ago
    What do you mean by slave labor, with regard to Foxconn?
    - asianthrowaway 8y ago
      Maybe slave labor was hyperbole, I meant the dreadful conditions allowed to fester due to the lack of the concept of human rights in China.
      - 8y ago

beaconstudios 8y ago

technically it's a socialist economy with mostly state capitalism. The party is communist but the idea in theory is they're in charge of transitioning towards communism as a vanguard party, just like the soviets. nonetheless, military-style discipline and surveillance have been very prominent in communist-led countries to date so I'm not sure why the author thinks that would change. Maoism and Stalinism aren't known for being cuddly and humanistic.

claudiawerner 8y ago
A few points here: From the orthodox Marxian perspective, it doesn't make sense to think of a "socialist economy", since the idea of economy is rooted in the law of value in the first place, and Socialism is supposed to abolish the value form. A "socialist economy" is an idea that has its roots in Lenin and only came to fruition with Stalin. >I'm not sure why the author thinks that would change The author, posting on libcom, is probably not a Stalinist or a Maoist, but rather an orthodox Marxist or left-Communist. Libcom is a website very much oriented away from Stalinist Communism.
eeZah7Ux 8y ago
It's state capitalism without the socialism: very little worker protection or freedom, no social safety nets, powerful large corporations and banks, military-style discipline and surveillance.
- beaconstudios 8y ago
  Sounds like socialism to me.

yojex 8y ago

Although discussing this distinction is off-topic (I didn't downvote you), I'd like to point out that the demand for places like Foxconn comes from capitalist businesses in capitalist countries (one in particular).

asianthrowaway 8y ago
> I'd like to point out that the demand for places like Foxconn comes from capitalist businesses in capitalist countries (one in particular). True, but the implementation of the supply through the use of slave labor is a distinct communist practice. I thought it relevant to mention because the website seems to be a communist website, which is pretty ironic.
- yojex 8y ago
  That's certainly true (and I hadn't noticed the website is communist, that's funny). I think we can agree that both capitalist and communist countries have blood on their hands here. Also worth pointing out that Foxconn is in a Free-trade Zone which tend to play by their own (lack of) rules.
  - asianthrowaway 8y ago
    Yes I agree, the big tech companies in the West are entirely complicit.
- cjbprime 8y ago
  What do you mean by slave labor, with regard to Foxconn?
  - asianthrowaway 8y ago
    Maybe slave labor was hyperbole, I meant the dreadful conditions allowed to fester due to the lack of the concept of human rights in China.
    - 8y ago