China's success as a socialist country is attributed to its focus on common prosperity, working-class rule, and adherence to Marxism and Mao Zedong thought.
China avoided the Soviet Union's fate by learning from its mistakes, maintaining CPC leadership, prioritizing economic reforms while retaining the workers' state, and avoiding overextension.
Deep dives
Chinese Socialism and its Successes
China has achieved significant progress in various aspects, such as lifting 800 million people out of poverty, improving living standards, becoming a global leader in renewable energy production, and adopting a peace-oriented foreign policy. These accomplishments are attributed to China's socialist approach, which focuses on creating common prosperity, maintaining working-class rule, and adhering to Marxism and Mao Zedong thought. China's success contrasts with the perception of Western countries that view China as a capitalist nation due to its market reforms and the presence of billionaires. However, China remains socialist and continues to deliver for its people.
Learning from the Soviet Union's Demise
China studied the process of the Soviet Union's deterioration and collapse to learn from the negative example. They observed the economic stagnation, ideological decay, and political reforms that weakened the Soviet Union. China recognized the importance of delivering on people's expectations for improved living standards and maintaining the role of the workers' state. Unlike the Soviet Union, which marginalized its Communist Party and empowered an emerging entrepreneurial class, China retains the leading role of the Communist Party and prevents capitalists from organizing separately. Additionally, China adopted a cautious and experimental approach to reforms, crossing the river by feeling the stones. This comprehensive understanding of the Soviet Union's decline has contributed to China's ability to thrive and retain popular support.
China's Rapprochement with the US and the Soviet Union's Perspective
During the 1970s, China sought to reduce its enemies and break its isolation by establishing better relations with the US. This move was based on the recognition of China's fragile geopolitical situation, which faced threats from both the US and the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union notably had a strained relationship with China, leading to the Sino-Soviet split. While the Soviets expressed concern about China's rapprochement with the US, their position was weakened by their own internal challenges and desire for peaceful coexistence. The Soviet Union did not have a particularly strong standing to critique China's economic reforms, given their own experiments with market mechanisms. The rapprochement with the US provided China with stability and opportunities for economic growth, allowing them to draw investments and learn from advanced Western techniques.
China's Approach and Lessons for Longevity
China's ability to survive and thrive as a socialist country while the Soviet Union collapsed can be attributed to its cautious approach and lessons learned from the Soviet era. China emphasized the importance of economic reforms while maintaining the workers' state, CPC leadership, and adherence to Marxism. They avoided overextension, prioritized peace-oriented foreign policies, and developed mutually beneficial relationships with other nations. By analyzing the Soviet Union's deterioration, China recognized the need to learn from negative examples and adapt to changing circumstances. As a result, the People's Republic of China continues to exist, provides for its people, and balances economic progress with socialist principles.
Carlos Martinez (@agent_of_change) joins the show to talk about his excellent book "The East Is Still Red: Chinese Socialism in the 21st Century".
In this first part of this three part discussion on China we’ll be delving into why socialist China remains but the USSR doesnt. We'll be tackling this question through the lens of how these two communist juggernauts approached the necessity of controversial political and economic reforms in the 1970s in China under Deng Xiaoping and in the USSR under Mikhail Gorbachev in the 1980s. Next episodes in this series will look at Chinese socialist democracy, and the propaganda war against it!
Carlos Martinez is an author and political activist from London, Britain. His first book, The End of the Beginning: Lessons of the Soviet Collapse, was published in 2019 by LeftWord Books. He is a co-editor of Friends of Socialist China, a co-founder of No Cold War, and a coordinating committee member of the International Manifesto Group. He writes regularly in the Morning Star, Global Times, China Daily and CGTN.
