- What changes did Mao make to Marxism and Leninism to make them more appropriate to the Chinese setting?
- Is it still appropriate to think of
- Discuss the possibility of
Friday, April 1, 2016
Blog Discussion Group Eight
Blog post due at 11:55pm on April 5 and comment due at 11:55pm on April 8.
China
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Is it still appropriate to think of China as a "communist" country?
ReplyDeleteChina has capitalist features and even welfare-state features, but still is a communist country at the belly of it all. It has a "free market", but yet the Chinese Communist Party is very much intertwined in the control of all of the companies and still retains majority of the profits. The have welfare programs to help their poor, but by no means functions as a classically defined welfare-state. The country is still one-party dominated and still controls the economy. While it no longer operates like the original Communist Party from 50 years ago, it still has a Communist Party rule. Though they have relaxed how they rule in varying areas of economy, welfare programs, and free-markets, it still is communist. It is just very hard in today's modern society to pigeon hole them as "communist" since today's communist China has inherent traits of capitalism and welfare-state, but without fully taking on those forms as well. So this issue is a very grey area in terms of trying to define China. China has redefined a new type of communism that is not in its traditional form.
I completely agree. I think the fragmented communism China displays is just the prerequisite for possible, oncoming democracy. They have democratic elections at the grass roots level of govt, though the CCP still has input, but I think all this is leading to a democratic society in the future for China. Their economy is free-market, they have some capitalistic views and actions and the CCP seems to be losing it's forced hold on the country. I think with each generation, the CCP will become less and less powerful as the people realize there are freedoms to be had without the authoritarian rule over them.
DeleteWhat changes did Mao make to Marxism and Leninism to make them more appropriate to the Chinese setting?
ReplyDeleteMao agreed with Marxism and Leninism to the extent of having a utopia, but it wasn't for equality of class via industrialization, it was by wiping out class enemies by way of political purification. His thought was to start a revolution by putting together an army to carry out the purification; he put in place every support that supported him and no one else. His army attacked and took out anyone who did not support Mao and they began destroying any historical artifacts that spoke of previous dynasties; he wanted everyone to look forward toward the utopia, not back at historical eras. This would allow nothing to be left but an equal class of people who supported Mao and his mission.
What else did Mao do though outside of military will, that was different than Marxism-Leninism? I think it also includes the level of control he demonstrated over the people he ruled, through a much stronger authoritarian rule, which then brings us to the modern idea and comparative politics definition of "communism" as we know it today.
DeleteIs it still appropriate to think of China as a “communist” country?
ReplyDeleteI think we should still think of China as a "sort of" communist country. Meaning it still has some communism in them but I wouldn't fully say it is a communist country. Now I know it isn't as " communist" as it was when Mao was the leader of the party. But it is still under communist terms. Things arnt as harsh as they were when Mao was in the head position.China DOES allow capitalism now. China is now the largest economy in the world. Everybody isn't on the same level as each other. Some have more money than others and there are some poor people too. It is very interesting to think about though because it is a hard question to answer when thinking if it should still be called a communist country or not.
I think it is highly possible that China will eventually become a democratic state. One of the major barriers keeping China from democracy is social control by the communist party that limits democratic ideas spreading with “…state-dominated media and means of communication…” But they are making progress towards change and our textbook speculates, “As the people of China become more secure economically, better educated, and more aware of the outside world, they will also likely become more politically active.” I believe that as China becomes more educated and exposed to the outside world they will likely accept and embrace democracy over communism. Another factor making democracy a possibility for China is that the conditions that make a democratic state are already there: “…a high literacy rate, extensive industrialization and urbanization, a fast rate of economic growth, and a burgeoning middle class…” I think a democratic China is just a matter of time now that they are exhibiting all the favorable conditions and making changes towards ending communist control over society with a more educated population.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with your stance in that the conditions are favorable for them to eventually become a democratic state. Unless the current party makes a hard turn towards an extremist limit on media, etc. the people will eventually be able to rise up. That being said, the party keeps moving towards more capitalist tendencies, but while putting "safeguards" in place to protect the communist party. So it may be a long while before we see it happen, but it is possible.
DeleteKatherine
DeleteI agree with you however if China is to become eventually become a democracy, I don't think it could ever be parliamentary or presidential from the likes of the United Kingdom and the United States. I say this simply because apart from the rich "Western like" cities like Beijing and Shanghai, alot of the country remains very poor and undeveloped. Holding a national election would be very difficult to achieve.
What changes did Mao make to Marxism and Leninism to make them more appropriate to the Chinese setting
ReplyDeleteMao’s teaching differs from Marxism and Leninism in that revolution to turnover capitalistic government should be led by the peasants instead of working class. Mao believed that peasants would lead a more successful revolution in China than working class. Once revolution is achieved and government is overthrown, revolution has to continue to suppress idea of traditionalism. Also party must not be separate from the people but the issues of the people have to be at the top of party’s agenda. While in Marxism and Leninism communism party is dictating terms to masses.
Is it still appropriate to think of China as a “communist” country?
ReplyDeleteChina is still considered to be a communist country to this day. Therefore it is appropriate to consider China communist. Many people will argue that China is capitilist rather than communist. The running party of the country is still considered to be communist to this day. This year china will reach its 50th year of being ran by the communist party.
I agree with you Trey, I believe Chinese government is still communist. Country is ran by one party, and central planned economy still takes place. Although government is loosening their grip over planned economy and adopting some capitalistic ideas, politics are still communist. Government is also relaxing its laws over social control which reflect much of democratic, human rights, policies. But government still has all the power to enforce any economic or social laws they desire, which makes it a communist state.
DeleteTrey,
DeleteI totally agree with your answer. I also think that if a country is ran by a majority party of communist then it is fair categorize them as that. Even if the early ways of the communist party are not practiced and have changed into a different style of government that imitates dictatorship. It is still a
communist party.
While China is still considered to be a communist country by many in the world, in reality it is more capitalistic than anything. After all, the party that runs it, to this day, is a party identified with communism and communist values, thus making China a de facto communist country. Naturally, in the face of capitalism, many communist policies have changed/been abolished, but it will still be some time before China is completely free of Communist influence. Overall, despite being more capitalistic than communist, it is still appropriate to think of China as being a Communist country.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you completely. Although many still refer to China as a communist country it's changing to capitalism. It will take a very long time for people to view China as anything other than communist. It should be interesting to see how the change happens over time and how long it takes
DeleteIs it still appropriate to think of China as a “communist” country?
ReplyDeleteI think it would be more appropriate to call China a quasi-communist state. Because while they do have many aspects of the traditional, modern idea of what a communist state is, like central-planning, single party government, and often authoritative regimes-- they also now conduct in more liberal capitalism, less-strict regimes, etc. So while still the country is not a democracy or capitalist nation by any means, it is also not a completely "communist" state-- so thus is it quasi-communist.
This is definitely an interesting way to view things. After reading your view point on it and your explanation I can completely agree with why you call it a quasi-communist country. It definitely gives me a different view to the country.
DeleteIs it still appropriate to think of China as a communist country?
ReplyDeleteI think it is no longer appropriate to consider China as still being a communist country. In fact, I would say that China is more towards Authoritarian rather than communist since the CCP still has a grip on power to some extent. Even though the Chinese Communist Party rules China, its policies have been steering away from communism more and more since Mao was put out of government. Some reasons that China cannot be considered a communist country are that there is first of all a big wealth gap and the market is everywhere, with all different types of businesses, brands, stores etc.
Benjamin, I would have to disagree that China is moving more towards an authoritarian country than a communist country. Authoritarianism is defined as “A system of rule in which power depends not on popular legitimacy but on the coercive force of the political authorities. Hence, there are few personal and group freedoms.” In the past this may have been true but our textbook claims, “…the CCP appears to be trying to save communist rule in China by moderating or abandoning many of its totalitarian features…the CCP has relaxed its grip on many areas of life. Citizens can generally pursue their interests without interference…” However, I do agree that it is no longer appropriate to consider China a traditional communist state. I am not sure what they would be considered now; is it possible they are redefining communism?
DeleteIs it still appropriate to think of China as a “communist” country?
ReplyDeleteThe citizen's interest and Political participation are carried out by the Chinese Communist Party. But elections at a local level have become more democratic. Communist party has also loosened up on who they accept into their party including peasants, political activists and even the growing capitalist class of private business owners. They may be more open but the media, arts and education are under party supervision. China's citizens are turning away from communism rule and the communist party control and influence is weakening. Even though people are turning away from the communist rule it probably won't change anytime soon. The Tiananmen massacre is an example of the extremes the government will go to remain in power.
Is it still appropriate to think of China as a “communist” country?
ReplyDeleteI think that it is appropriate to still thin china as a communist country. they operate under leadership and government that is communist party, it just is not the same communist party from years ago as we knew it to be. It has changed significantly. The operations have transformed into basically a dictatorship in reality.
Melissa I sort of disagree with you, but agree at the same time. Yes china still obtains the communist like intentions and relations, but throughout the past couple of centuries they have began leaning in some form toward democracy. They've began adapting some of our political views in a sense of form, but altering it to a way the people can understand without giving up more power than necessary. China is built on power and ruling, willing o do anything to maintain it, but nearly every government is the same way.
DeleteIs it still appropriate to think of China as a “communist” country?
ReplyDeleteCommunism is a social, political, and economic ideology and movement whore ultimate intention is the establishment of the communist society. Communism is also a way of organizing a society in which the government owns the things that are used to make and transport products and nothing is privately owned property. The Chinese government has always had a hand for power; they’re the number one producers of most products found across the world, have the leading economic wealth, and growing population. Granted in the 1970s china began to develop a more modern based legal system and even developed legal codes in criminal, civil, administrative, and commercial law. The system alone isn’t independent of the government, but the real power lays within the Chinese Communist Party. I wouldn’t completely say their becoming more democratic, but their adapting democratic view and policies that are helping them push their way towards democracy. The Chinese government will always be willing to maintain the power they currently own at any and all risk, for their system has been around for hundreds and thousands of years with minor alterations every century or two.