Spicy question maybe, but I’m interested in your takes.
Personally, I think there’s some major issues with at least the terminology of the 2 phase model of lower/higher stage communism or socialism/communism as the terms are used in classical theory. Specifically the ‘lower stage’ or ‘socialism’ term is problematic.
In the age of revision and after the success of counterrevolution it has become clear that there is in fact a transitional phase leading up to the classical transitional phase. Societies did not jump from developed capitalism to socialism immediately and even the states that arguably did were forced to roll back some of the core tenets of ‘socialism’ as it is described in Marx, Engels and Lenin. Namely no private ownership of the means of production and no exploitation of man by man.
To ultras this just means countries following this path aren’t socialist. So then China isn’t, Cuba isn’t, no country still is really and those of us claiming they are then have to be revisionists. And to be fair, if you’re dogmatic you can make that point going from the source material. China itself recognizes this inconsistency, thus not seeing itself at the stage of socialism. Yet it’s a socialist state. But then what do we actually mean by ‘socialism’ when we use the term like this? Just a dictatorship of the proletariat? Any country in the process of building socialism?
That question comes up all the time and confuses the fuck out of people, because the term is either not applied consistently or as it’s defined is lacking. I think discourse in the communist movement and about AES would profit immensely if we had a more consistent definition or usage of the term or a better defined concept of what that transition to socialism is and how we should call it.
So, by international class war you mean like a bi-polar world with the capitalist nations on one side and the socialist ones on the other, not willing to interact besides threats and proxy wars? So, basically you agree with the Chinese position of “no new Cold War.”
On “is china socialist:”
The constitution says the goal of the CPC is socialism and eventually communism. Basically every party would say that their goal is country specific socialism and eventually communism. If China is already fully socialist then why does XI say “socialism by 2050?”
More or less.
Xi has stated that socialism with Chinese characteristics, the ideology of the Communist Party of China, is socialism adapted to Chinese historical conditions, and not any other -ism. https://redsails.org/regarding-swcc-construction/
“First of all: Socialism with Chinese characteristics is socialism, not any other “ism.” The guiding principles of scientific socialism thus cannot be abandoned. Our Party has always emphasized adherence to the basic principles of scientific socialism, but adapted to the particular conditions of China. This means that socialism with Chinese characteristics is socialism, not some other doctrine.”
“Socialism by 2050” refers to one of two core concepts of the Chinese Dream, which is the material and cultural rejuvenation of the Chinese nation by the 100th anniversary of the founding of the PRC: the first, being a moderately prosperous society by 2020 - which has already been completed; the second, being a modern, prosperous and fully developed nation by 2050.
According to the Chinese themselves, their mode of production is socialism, but they also believe that there exist multiple stages of socialism in their country. As of now, they are in the primary stage and won’t enter the intermediate stage until 2050 or so.
I understand what SWCC is. However, it’s an ideology not an full economic system (yet). I support China, but until the special economic zones are eliminated it won’t be full socialism.