Cowbee [he/they]

The extent depends on the existing level of development. If there is already a large and developed industrial base, then it may make more sense to go with a more heavily planned economy than one that also implements market forces. Further, it wasn’t strictly necessary in China’s case, merely the correct choice to make in the given circumstances, but certainly not a hard requirement. The DPRK grew 3.7% last year as estimated by the ROK despite being overwhelmingly publicly owned and planned, and under intense sanctions. Moreover, even under Mao and later the Gang of Four, there were still markets and private property. Economic growth and development was still positive pre-Deng, just unstable:

You’ll find that those of us on Lemmygrad are generally supportive of Deng Xiaoping, Socialism With Chinese Characteristics, and Reform and Opening Up. Deng Xiaoping Theory correctly applied Marxism-Leninism to the conditions of China, and as such appears to have paid off extremely well. I would say this was the correct course of action, as would most here.

Secondly, I think it’s important to understand that all economies are mixed forms of ownership, with the exception of tribal communalism and eventually late-stage communism. Even the DPRK has special economic zones like Rason. Socialism is not defined by its purity, but just like all other modes of production, by its principle aspect. In the PRC, public ownership governs the large firms and key industries, while diverse forms of ownership exist in the medium and small firms, such as private, joint-stock, cooperative, and sole-proprietorships. By controlling the key industries and large firms, the CPC and the working class as a whole has the real power in the economy, the one who controls the rubber controls the rubber ball factory.

Over time, this form of ownership changes. Public ownership becomes economically compelled as firms grow in scale, and class conflict rises. Not everyone will chart the same course China has, because not everyone will come from the same semi-feudal, post-colonial background. The west will have a very different approach, most likely, as will countries in South America and Africa, Southeast Asia, etc. This is why the CPC calls their model “Socialism With Chinese Characteristics,” in anticipation of “Socialism With Mexican Characteristics,” “Socialism With Kenyan Characteristics,” etc.

One final thing, I recommend looking at Cheng Enfu’s model of the “stages of socialism.” This best helps contextualize the course China is taking, and where they are at in this course. The PRC is currently in the “primary stage” of socialism, which is why they have the structure they presently do. Over time, they are developing more and more, allowing them to advance to higher stages of socialism.

By becoming an alternative to the US Empire, the PRC is positioning itself to better help those that also cross the river and join their comrades in building socialism without fear of being isolated. China is playing a major role in fighting imperialism through multilateral development, which is essential at this point in time for the global south to be liberated from the global north.

Hope this helps!

Going alright, only got 3 and a half hours of sleep last night though so work is going to suck. How about you?

I use the web version, personally!

As imperialism is dying, conditions in the global north are weakening. The petite bourgeousie is being proletarianized, and the spoils of imperialism are drying up as the global south de-links from the global north. Socialist countries are breaking new ground and advancing. This is fertile ground for fascism in the west, the threat of communism is rising while the petite bourgeoisie is panicking, ready to be used by the bourgeoisie as footsoldiers to root out communists.

It’s certainly an obstacle, but one that is appearing because conditions for socialism are rising. Contradictions are sharpening, this is increasingly a historic opportunity.

Yep, fully aligned! Lemmy.ml is IMO the best spot for agitprop on Lemmy. Lemmy.world is too hostile to leftists and removes our content, so it’s much harder to do, but also on Lemmy.ml everyone can see it! It’s still work, but not an uphill battle. And thanks for the kind words!

For what it’s worth, I’ve watched Second Thought and Hakim for years, as well as a bit of Yugopnik, just not a big podcast guy, haha. I do tune in from time to time though!

The commie super-server!

Yep, it takes a bit to get used to, but is actually much better than Reddit for agitprop. If we both build up our spaces on grad and bear while engaging in agitprop on .ml, we have both a place to send people and a means to get more. Lemmy.ml is constantly struggle sessions because of it, but we do get new users here and on bear because of it. I host my ML intro reading list on Lemmy.ml for outreach, and it actually gets more positive attention than it would have if I only hosted it here or on bear.

That all being said, I do enjoy my time far more here and on bear, so I need a place to come back and relax alongside fellow comrades.

Not a consistent deprogram listener or subreddit user, just a commie that uses Hexbear.net, Lemmygrad.ml, and Lemmy.ml.

Personally, I think everyone that wants to do agitprop should have a Lemmy.ml account, while also using Lemmygrad.ml/hexbear.net as a space to study theory and hang out with fellow communists. Keep the agitprop on one side, and the fun hang out space and theory discussion here. By building up spaces we control, it’s better for learning, while also allowing us to engage on our own terms in spaces others can widely see. My ML reading list is hosted on Lemmy.ml for this reason, and my own discussions on Lemmy.ml have done a fair job and seen a good deal of success, while also depending on these spaces for theory, discussion, and coherent analysis of modern events.

Essentially, I see it as us needing to maintain our own spaces, while agitating elsewhere and bringing comrades over to our side. We should even still be on Reddit, X, etc and bring people to Lemmy, Mastodon, etc, focusing on building up these better spaces and bringing people over at the same time. It’s functionally the same stance as Lenin in “Left-Wing” Communism.

Yep! Lemmygrad.ml is widely federated on its own side, but widely defederated on the other side. We can talk to others, but they often can’t see us unless they are from Lemmy.ml or Hexbear.net.

Hexbear is largely a “you see it, you can interact with it” instance. Most others will see your posts if you can interact, but you won’t even see Lemmy.world posts or comments.

Lemmy.ml is widely federated and minimally defederated. You can talk to nearly anyone and everyone.

I use all 3 for different purposes, and scroll each locally for the most part. Lemmy.ml is for agitprop (which is where I’m most active), Hexbear is for chilling out with other leftists and discussing hobbies, and Grad is where I go if I want something more ML and theory-focused.

Seconding this, the more established we have our own spaces the better off we are.

It does!

Bit of A, bit of B. When it’s such a useful tool for hegemony, even the “true believers” end up swept by that too. They mutually reinforce each other and form a “politician’s Christianity.”

Welcome comrade, and good luck!

You too Oppo!

Same.

My favorite obscure communist theory is that Engels created Max Stirner as a pseudonym for Marx to get mad at, lol

Can absolutely second Elementary Principles of Philosophy, it’s the first work that really made dialectical materialism “click” for me! Even put it in my intro ML reading list for it. I linked an .epub in case you’d rather use an eReader, from a site maintained by a comrade.

toots.matopacos.dog is Left-Unity, run by a Hexbear user. ML content is welcome.

It would be so funny to have Lenin’s bust directly watching me as I sleep, lmao