I am not educated in the China. But I am still doubtful. Deng basically created state capitalism. Was a revisionist. And even Mao called him a capitalist roader. I know with his capitalist reforms he lifted a lot of people out of poverty, and rich people in China are under strict state control. But does China owe its development to Deng? Would it be just as developed if it didnt do such reforms? Does it justify Deng’s revisionism? What do Chinese Maoists think about Deng? I know Lenin’s NEP also allowed free market, but only for a limited time.

  • redjokerM
    10·
    4 years ago

    Revisionism is specifically the idea of blending capitalism and communism in a peaceful coexistence which will lead to communism through gradual reforms. Deng Xiaoping Theory not only draws from Lenin’s NEP, but also Mao’s New Democracy period, which allowed for strictly-controlled capitalism for the purpose of building productive forces and wasn’t a seamless blending. The New Democracy plans were scrapped because heavy sanctions severely limited foreign trade.

    The reform and opening up under Deng was also the result of China accepting World Bank and IMF loans. Taking those loans comes with stipulations that the government loosen control over sectors of the economy as well as institute reduced spending on welfare. Deng approached it in a way which would allow China to get through the rules imposed by outsiders as fast as possible before it destabilized the government.

    Now had Khrushchev not moved towards appeasing the West and instead created a strong trading bloc with China and newly liberated countries in Africa, Asia, and the Americas, Deng would never have needed to appeal to the West. However by the time Deng was leading the country, the USSR was a shadow of its former self, and even Gorbachev’s attempt to end the Sino-Soviet split without preconditions couldn’t save it.

    Mao did criticize Deng as a capitalist roader and sent him to the countryside to learn from the peasantry, but this ignores that Mao also invited Deng back after Lin Biao tried to stage a coup. This was criticism and education, not an expulsion from the Party. Had Mao thought Deng so irredeemable he would have pushed for expulsion.

    Furthermore, the reasons for Deng and Zhou being sent away the 2nd time revolve around their criticisms of the Cultural Revolution, which was leading to an incredible amount of suffering, particularly in urban areas. Personally I think the CR had noble intentions and had better outcomes in rural areas where the peasantry was empowered to take control back from the most corrupt Party officials, but overall was idealistic to presume students would not succumb to excessive violence which the Red Guards became infamous for. The Cultural Revolution was correctly denounced as a left deviation.

    • tight_pajamasOP
      5·
      4 years ago

      Thank you! I didnt know he was invited back to the party by Mao. But now that the China allows such economical relations, how will they close this wealth gap between the poor and rich in the transition? A long time ago when I said “I think Deng is kinda cool” I was told these forces of productions allow monopolies to form. Where can I read about Deng?

      • redjokerM
        5·
        4 years ago

        Deng wasn’t even kicked out of the Party, just removed from leadership. Reading Jude Woodward’s book The US vs China: Asia’s New Cold War really helped me appreciate Deng’s vision for building up a stable China.

        Regarding allowing monopolies to form, that has been a strategy by MLs since Lenin’s time to allow a company to rise to the level of a monopoly and then nationalize it. In China the critical infrastructure monopolies are still state-owned enterprises so capitalists can’t control the government. Juxtaposed to countries like the US where PG&E can burn California through neglect and merely get a slap on the wrist.