One theory I’ve heard about the accelerating of the worsening conditions of western proletariat is that the USSR used to provide a bulwark against things getting too bad. People would point at the USSR and the illusion that capitalism was better for individual prosperity would collapse in comparison. Then, with the USSR gone things have been deteriorating for the past ~30 years.
If that is true, even somewhat, why haven’t we seen a similar effect from China’s example? Is the theory simply wrong? Maybe western capitalism is just unable to even offer scraps from the table at this point. Maybe people are unaware of how things are in China? Could we dare to expect that China’s example will force a lifting of the boot from our necks?
in near future, no. based on anecdotal evidence of interacting with west europeans, fear mongering about china has seeped to much, won’t shrug off anytime soon, specially with multiple crises and tensions rising in the world and the role china has on the global stage.
my guess is this effect will be seen in the global south, as china is delivering infrastructure and investments in africa and latin america.