- M.V. Rodden -

IS CHINA SOCIALIST?

This study group will attempt to explore and discuss four views:

1) The Haxhaite view that Maoism is "revisionist" Marxism-Leninism, and that there was never a genuine socialist revolution in China;

2) The Maoist view that "Mao Zedong Thought" is an extension of Marxism-Leninism, that there was indeed genuine socialism in China but that it is being reversed by the "revisionism" of Deng Xiaoping;

3) The "Market Socialist" view that the economic theories Deng Xiaoping are in the genuine interest of socialism in China;

4) and the Trotskyite view that all of the above are Stalinism, betrayal, and bureaucracy; and China is either a Deformed Worker's state or State Capitalist.

Questions:

· What is Socialism?

· What role does a 'market economy' play under socialism, if any?

· At what stage should market elements be abolished?

· Is China restoring Capitalism or modernizing socialism with its economic reforms?

· What is the correct view/theory of China?

· What line should be taken on China?

Note: Please try to read at least one writing from each of the following categories:

CHINA WAS SOCIALIST, BUT IS NO LONGER:

1) The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution & the Reversal of Worker's Power in China - Good points on Mao's role during Cultural Revolution - http://www.plp.org/pl_magazine/gpcr.html

2) Enver Hoxha Refuted - Article challenges Hoxha's view and defends Mao. - http://website.lineone.net/~partisan_britain/ISML/isml05/isml0505.html

3) A Critique of Soviet Economics by Mao Tsetung - http://ptb.lashout.net/marx2mao/Mao/CSE58.html

WAS NOT ever socialist:

1) China, myth and reality - http://www.marxismalive.org/china.html

2) WHERE WE STAND: There is no Country that today can be called Socialist - http://www.allianceml.com/PAPER/JANUARY2003/WWSTANDCHINA.htm

3) For Workers Political Revolution in China! - International Bolshevik Tendency - http://www.bolshevik.org/1917/no7/no07chin.html

4) What is Happening in China? - http://www.socialistalternative.org/literature/china.html

China IS Socialist:

1) CHINA IS STILL A SOCIALIST STATE - http://www.geocities.com/klomckin/China.still.socialist.html

2) Deng Xiaoping: EXCERPTS FROM TALKS GIVEN IN WUCHANG, SHENZHEN, ZHUHAI AND SHANGHAI - http://www.olemiss.edu/courses/pol324/dengxp92.htm

3) Deng Xiaoping: WE SHALL CONCENTRATE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/dengxp/vol3/text/c1030.html

4) Deng Xiaoping: CHINA CAN ONLY TAKE THE SOCIALIST ROAD - http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/dengxp/vol3/text/c1680.html

5) Deng Xiaoping: PLANNING AND THE MARKET ARE BOTH MEANS OF DEVELOPING THE PRODUCTIVE FORCES - http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/dengxp/vol3/text/c1660.html

6) Deng Xiaoping: THERE IS NO FUNDAMENTAL CONTRADICTION BETWEEN SOCIALISM AND A MARKET ECONOMY - http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/dengxp/vol3/text/c1480.html

NEUTRAL:

1) China's socialist market economy - http://www.ospaaal.org/corint/numero_4/eng_4/markchin.htm

Reference:

1) Encyclopedia of Marxism: Market - http://marxists.org/glossary/terms/m/a.htm#market

2) Encyclopedia of Marxism: Socialization - http://marxists.org/glossary/terms/s/o.htm#socialisation

3) Encyclopedia of Marxism: Market Socialism - http://marxists.org/glossary/terms/m/a.htm#market-socialism

4) Deng Xiaoping Theory - http://www.olemiss.edu/courses/pol324/dengthry.htm

5) China in Brief: THE COURSE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - http://www.china.org.cn/e-china/development/index.htm

6) Mao Tse-tung: ON STATE CAPITALISM - http://www.marx2mao.com/Mao/OSC53.html#fnp