ChinaTalk Reform and Opening with Soviet Characteristics: Russian Perspectives on China’s Rise
Aug 15, 2019
Chris Miller, an associate professor at Tufts University specializing in Russian politics, shares insightful perspectives on Sino-Soviet dynamics. He discusses how Deng Xiaoping's reforms drew lessons from the USSR, particularly in the late 1970s. The conversation navigates the complexities of Soviet economic policies under leaders from Stalin to Gorbachev and explores pivotal moments, like Gorbachev's visit to China, that shaped their reform approaches. Miller also highlights the lasting impressions of the USSR's collapse on Chinese leadership, including Xi Jinping's reflections on stability and change.
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USSR's Reform Challenges
- The USSR struggled to reform its economy partly due to ideological rigidity and frequent law changes.
- This made it unattractive for foreign investors, unlike China's more stable, albeit still communist, system.
Hidden Critiques, New Models
- Some Soviet intellectuals used critiques of Mao to criticize Stalin indirectly.
- As China reformed, these intellectuals, like Borlatsky, recognized Deng's new approach and its potential lessons for the USSR.
Deng's Inspiration
- Deng Xiaoping drew inspiration from Lenin's New Economic Policy (NEP) to justify China's economic reforms.
- The NEP, which allowed private enterprise in the countryside, had seen success in the 1920s USSR.
