Chinese Socialism TodayA Socialist Reading Group Discussion

November 19, 2013

a unique state system, which combines the Chinese socialist system and traditional market economy

Crucial to this strategy is the establishment of the socialist market economy, which is strikingly different from the Soviet model, and models of Western countries.

The new system gives play to the role of the market mechanism while emphasizing the government’s strong macro-regulatory functions.

Zhao Boying, Chinese Central Party School

Political restructuring is carried out steadily to improve administration, the legal system and democratic governance.

The achievements to date offer proof that China is following a unique and successful path to development.

Zhao Boying, Chinese Central Party School

China Communist Party Hierarchy

China’s Leading Political Institutions

Challenges Extensive economic growth results in increased

consumption of material resources, and to environmental deterioration

China’s export-oriented economic development pattern is unsustainable.

Domestic demand is insufficient Gaps in income, in rural–urban development, and

between regions are continuing to widen because of unbalanced economic and social development.

Zhao Boying, Chinese Central Party School

Challenges There are problems in social security, medical and

health services, education and housing Corruption remains a serious problem and there is also the occasional issue of people’s

rights and interests being infringed.

Zhao Boying, Chinese Central Party School

Is there a contradiction between a market economy and the socialist system? Deng: There is no fundamental contradiction between

socialism and a market economy. The problem is how to develop the productive forces more effectively. We used to have a planned economy, but our experience over the years has proved that having a totally planned economy hampers the development of the productive forces to a certain extent. If we combine a planned economy with a market economy, we shall be in a better position to liberate the productive forces and speed up economic growth.

Deng Xiaoping

in the course of reform we shall make sure of two things: one is that the public sector of the economy is always predominant; the other is that in developing the economy we seek common prosperity, always trying to avoid polarization. The policies of using foreign funds and allowing the private sector to expand will not weaken the predominant position of the public sector, which is a basic feature of the economy as a whole. On the contrary, those policies are intended, in the last analysis, to develop the productive forces more vigorously and to strengthen the public sector.

Deng Xiaoping

to keep to the socialist road and to uphold the people's democratic

dictatorship, leadership by the Communist Party, and Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought

Deng Xiaoping: Four Cardinal Rules

Without democracy there can be no socialism and socialist modernization the essence of socialist democracy is that the

people determine their own destiny We have eliminated de facto life tenure for leading

officials, and realized orderly succession of organs of state power and leaders.

We have expanded orderly public participation in political affairs

the people are extensively involved in decision making

Hu Jintao (Former CPC Gen. Sec.) - Socialist Democracy in China

We have upheld and improved multiparty cooperation under the leadership of the CPC, carried out political consultation, democratic oversight and participation in the deliberation and administration of state affairs, and developed the broadest possible patriotic united front.

We have set up a sound decision-making mechanism that enables us to be fully aware of the conditions of the people, reflect their will, pool their wisdom and lighten their burden to make sure all our decisions meet the people’s interests and aspirations.

Hu Jintao - Socialist Democracy in China

We have set up a sound and dynamic personnel mechanism which attracts large numbers of talented people, puts them to best use and prepares them for both promotion and demotion.

We have established a socialist system of laws with Chinese characteristics. Under this system, the Party willingly operates within the limit set by the Constitution and laws and supports the people’s congress, the government, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, and the judicial organs which have independent responsibilities in accordance with the law and their respective charters in working in concert and harmony.

Hu Jintao - Socialist Democracy in China

We have set up a sound system of checks and supervision over the exercise of power to ensure that Party and state organs exercise their powers in accordance with statutory jurisdiction and procedures.

On the other hand, we must also recognize that the development of China’s socialist democratic legal system has not fully met the need of expanding people’s democracy and promoting economic and social development. Some specific institutional arrangements of the system of socialist democracy are inadequate, and there is still room for improvement in terms of safeguarding people’s democratic rights and giving play to their creativity. As the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics moves forward, so should the cause of building China’s socialist democracy.

Hu Jintao - Socialist Democracy in China

How does the CPC measure up based on Alvaro Cunhal – Six Fundamental Characteristics of a Communist Party1. A party that is completely independent of the interests,

ideology, pressures and threats of capital? My Response: Yes for the most part.

2. A party of the working class, of workers in general, of the exploited and oppressed. My Response: Yes, for the most part.3. A party with an internal democracy and a single central leadership My Response: Yes4. A party that is simultaneously internationalist and defender of the interests of its country. My Response: Lacking

Is the CPC A Communist Party?

5. A party that defines as its objective the construction of a society without exploiters or exploited, a socialist society. Yes, with qualifications6. A party with a revolutionary theory, Marxism-Leninism, that makes it possible to not only explain the world but also point the way towards its transformation. Yes, formally but not as much in practice.

Is the CPC A Communist Party?

Insufficient theoretical development of the membership. A sector of the leadership is reformist with hopes of capitalist restoration. Many academics and leaders in government think tanks openly promote neoliberal policies (predatory global capitalism) without a CPC response.

No public discourse on the class struggle, the exploitation of capitalism or US imperialism, or how to safeguard the socialist path in China

Failure to instill socialist principles in the working class. CPC has not actively promoted a mass scientific culture and has not overcome backward cultural beliefs from an agrarian semi-colonial, semi-feudal country, (Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism)

Does not appear to be an internationalist party Some aspects of nationalism, too timid in the struggle against US

led imperialism Too eager to fight over minor country boundaries

My Critique

Mike Wallace (interview with Deng in 1086): To get rich is glorious. That declaration by Chinese leaders to their people surprises many in the capitalist world. What does that have to do with communism?

Deng: We went through the ``cultural revolution''. During the ``cultural revolution'' there was a view that poor communism was preferable to rich capitalism. After I resumed office in the central leadership in 1974 and 1975, I criticized that view. Because I did so, I was brought down again. Of course, there were other reasons too. I said to them that there was no such thing as poor communism. According to Marxism, communist society is based on material abundance. Only when there is material abundance can the principle of a communist society -- that is, ``from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs'' -- be applied. Socialism is the first stage of communism. Of course, it covers a very long historical period. The main task in the socialist stage is to develop the productive forces, keep increasing the material wealth of society, steadily improve the life of the people and create material conditions for the advent of a communist society.

There can be no communism with pauperism, or socialism with pauperism. So to get rich is no sin. However, what we mean by getting rich is different from what you mean. Wealth in a socialist society belongs to the people. To get rich in a socialist society means prosperity for the entire people. The principles of socialism are: first, development of production and second, common prosperity. We permit some people and some regions to become prosperous first, for the purpose of achieving common prosperity faster. That is why our policy will not lead to polarization, to a situation where the rich get richer while the poor get poorer. To be frank, we shall not permit the emergence of a new bourgeoisie.

February 6, 1987 Why do some people always insist that the market is

capitalist and only planning is socialist? Actually they are both means of developing the productive forces. So long as they serve that purpose, we should make use of them. If they serve socialism they are socialist; if they serve capitalism they are capitalist. It is not correct to say that planning is only socialist, because there is a planning department in Japan and there is also planning in the United States. At one time we copied the Soviet model of economic development and had a planned economy. Later we said that in a socialist economy planning was primary. We should not say that any longer.

Deng Xiaoping

Comments After Tiananmen Incident in 1988: The few intellectuals who incited the students to action oppose the socialist system and advocate bourgeois liberalization. By that I mean they want China to be totally Westernized and to take the capitalist road. Our experience has shown, however, that we cannot take that road. The reason is very simple. Ours is an economically backward country with a population of one billion. If we took the capitalist road, a small number of people in certain areas would quickly grow rich, and a new bourgeoisie would emerge along with a number of millionaires -- all of these people amounting to less than one per cent of the population -- while the overwhelming majority of the people would remain in poverty, scarcely able to feed and clothe themselves. Only the socialist system can eradicate poverty. That is why we do not allow people to oppose socialism. By socialism, we mean socialism adapted to conditions in China. Without the Communist Party's leadership it would be impossible for China to go on building socialism -- that has been proved by history.

Deng Xiaoping

What is meant by market? Is it just a euphemism for capitalism? Is it only a

mechanism to determine prices and production needs? Does it address the issue of social relations – wage

slavery, stealing of surplus value generated by workers?

Is it a concession or does it imply that capitalism is the only means to rapid economic growth? Why did China have to include the capitalist mode of production after the revolution and abolition of capitalism? Why continue after the current modernization of China?

Is there such a thing as Socialist Market Economy?

Is capitalism necessary in a backward country after the working class has obtained complete political power because of lack of current scientific production methods and updated management techniques? If a little capitalism is good, then why not restore capitalist rule?

If only a concession, why not say so? When will it end? If the socialist stage of development will take 100 years, is that then the end of markets or the beginning of communist stage?

How is the predominant public production sector and complete working class rule guaranteed?

Is there such a thing as Socialist Market Economy?