[UNLOCKED] China Pt. 1: A Socialist Introduction w/ Jason Hickel
Mar 20, 2025
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Jason Hickel, a professor at the Autonomous University of Barcelona and author focused on global inequality, dives deep into China's complex history and its rise as a socialist state. He discusses the impact of China's revolutionary journey, addressing its achievements in public health and education. Hickel critiques the misconceptions surrounding China's economic evolution and its unique model compared to Western capitalism. The conversation encourages a reassessment of poverty alleviation in light of socialist policies and reflects on the narratives that shape our understanding of socialism today.
China's rise disrupts Western imperial frameworks, leading to misunderstandings surrounding its true intentions for independent economic development rather than global domination.
Understanding modern Chinese history, including significant events like the 1949 Communist Revolution, is crucial for comprehending contemporary Chinese perspectives and grievances against imperialism.
China's state-controlled industrial policy and innovations in technology contrast with the stagnation seen in the U.S., highlighting different approaches to competition and development.
Deep dives
The Role of China's Economic Sovereignty
China's rise to economic sovereignty is considered a main trigger for Western fears and militaristic responses. The narrative surrounding China's emergence claims that it poses a military threat, but this perspective is seen as a misunderstanding of China's intentions. Instead of seeking global domination, China's focus is on developing its economy independently, which undermines existing imperial capitalist frameworks that Western nations rely upon. The willingness of the West to engage in aggressive posturing for capital accumulation raises alarm about potential global conflict and the necessity to oppose such narratives.
Understanding Modern Chinese History
An overview of modern Chinese history reveals significant events that shaped the nation, including the 1949 Communist Revolution and the rise of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The historical context highlights China's struggles and responses to foreign imperialism, particularly during the Opium Wars and the establishment of spheres of influence by Western powers. The subsequent development of a socialist state under Mao Zedong marked an important transformation, allowing for major improvements in social indicators despite errors like the Great Famine. Recognizing this history is essential to understand contemporary Chinese perspectives and intentions.
The Achievements of Maoist China
The early years of the People’s Republic of China under Mao are noted for significant advancements in public health, education, and general social welfare, despite challenges faced during that period. China's rapid increase in life expectancy and improvements in public health systems demonstrate the effectiveness of state-led initiatives and planning. Additionally, the era achieved remarkable progress in gender equality through various reforms, ultimately showing a commitment to uplifting marginalized communities. While some critics focus on failures during this time, it's essential to acknowledge the substantial gains that were made for the population as a whole.
Liberalization and its Impact on Poverty
The shift toward liberalization in the 1980s under Deng Xiaoping had significant implications for poverty levels in China. It is often portrayed that capitalist reforms lifted many out of extreme poverty, but recent studies reveal a more nuanced reality. Evidence suggests that the restructuring led to widespread increases in poverty levels due to a lack of adequate public provision systems. Instead of viewing reforms solely positively, it's crucial to analyze their adverse effects on society and consider the lessons they provide for future economic systems.
China's Industrial Policy and Technological Advances
China's approach to industrial policy is pivotal in understanding its rapid technological advancements, particularly in renewable energy and innovation. By utilizing state control over finance, China has effectively directed capital toward necessary sectors while fostering competition among domestic firms. This strategy contrasts sharply with the more stagnant and monopolized tech landscape in the United States, which has failed to produce competitive alternatives. The emergence of companies like DeepMind showcases China’s capability to innovate and compete on a global level despite limitations imposed by trade sanctions.
Challenging Narratives of Chinese Imperialism
The narrative that paints China as an imperialist power is critically analyzed in relation to its actual geopolitical actions and standing. Evidence illustrates that while China engages in global economic relationships, it does not exploit or dominate poorer countries in the same manner as Western powers. Debunking claims of 'debt traps' aimed at Africa reveals that China's financial interactions are often more favorable compared to those of Western nations. Overall, it's essential to differentiate between the actions of core states and China’s position on the global stage to avoid conflating distinct economic realities.
The world that we all grew up in is no longer a reality—although, in many ways, those in power are grasping onto it with the desperation of drowning men flailing, lashing out—furious, terrified, and in denial of what is staring them in their faces: imminent death. The rest of us are watching this process unfold before our very eyes—also terrified, but seemingly powerless. It’s a weird time to be alive. But when has it ever not been?
As we watch, experience, and feel the collapse of the state that we live within—or for those of us not currently living in the belly of the beast, the imperial world that this state rules over—it feels like an important time to explore this collapse. Specifically, it’s an important time to understand what’s happening in the imperial world order, and in order to do that, we must understand China.
In this conversation, we’ve brought on a regular guest—a guest who you all know and love—Jason Hickel, to talk about China.
In this conversion we first take a brief dive into modern Chinese history, looking at the pre-revolution period, the 1949 communist revolution itself, the Mao period, the Deng period, and the Xi period. We analyze what the rise of China means in terms of the current world order and the implications for the United States. We tackle some common questions and dispel some common myths about China—like, is China capitalist? Is it imperialist? We analyze some current events like trade wars and Tiktok bans, and finally, we explain why it’s crucial not to fall into the trap of U.S. propaganda when it comes to how we on the Western left analyze China.
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