China and the Western Left w/ Immanuel Ness
Added 2021-12-28 01:55:51 +0000 UTCIf you havent heard this one yet, definitely check it out!
I think its a genuinely unique and interesting conversation, and I get the bonus of getting to talk about China *at length*. If you disagree with something I say, please let me know your critique and position! China is an infinitely deep and genuinely complex topic, and I am trying my best to understand its rise and its dynamics like anyone else; as such I am open to being corrected if I get something wrong.
Also, Immanuel is a real treat, and Adnan and Henry are *great* as always!
Subscribe to Guerrilla History on your fav podcast app.
Support Guerrilla History and get bonus monthly episodes and early releases here: https://www.patreon.com/guerrillahistory
Comments
Thank you for the thoughtful and comradely reply! I agree that China is seeking to more or less dominate its region, particularly the south china sea, and that puts it at loggerheads with other countries in the region. Thats one contradiction to continue to monitor for sure, and when and where it hurts regular working people from different countries, it should be pointed out and criticized. The Duterte regime point is also an important point, and there are criticisms to be made there for sure. From China's perspective, the Phillipines is a regionally important country and I can see them trying to get along with whatever government is in power, if for nothing else than to keep that country from fully falling into the hands of the US. Having US bases all over the region is a direct threat to China, and if they scorned and attacked the Philippines it would ultimately be to their geopolitical disadvantage and to the US (and its allies) clear advantage. Its a very difficult tightrope to walk, which doesnt excuse China's excesses and errors, but does point toward explaining it. My ultimate sympathies are with the MLM comrades in the Philippines, and hopefully their internal struggles can topple the duterte regime and advance a more progressive or revolutionary political structure. I think if they did that successfully, China would seek to work with that government as well for the same reasons I mentioned above. AS for imperialism, I am open to arguments on this front. I hear conflicting stuff out of Africa itself and amongst African comrades on this question. Imperialism has a clear definition as set out by Lenin, and if China meets that definition in any given place or time, then it opens itself up to that anti-imperialist critique. I would love to have some more resources on that question in particular. In any case, I can see them doubling down on their nationalist interests to the exclusion of the interests of other people, other nations, and their self-determination, as you argue. I can also see them being pushed by internal factions and external mass movements and pressures away from that and toward a revitalized revolutionary footing. I think the jury is still ultimately out on that question in particular, but as I said, I could be wrong! Thanks again for the constructive criticism and overall feedback. I really do appreciate and value your perspective, my friend.
Revolutionary Left Radio
2022-01-13 18:50:22 +0000 UTCLove this episode. Overall huge fan of the show. I think this topic is super important considering the US has been saber-rattling against China and looking for a new target to justify its unjust "defense" budget. Good points around China being a counter-hegemony to the US and providing a development alternative to the 3rd world particularly the continent of Africa. However, I think the episode failed to criticize China's growing imperialist behavior. One example is the Philippines. To exert more control over the seas of SE Asia the Chinese navy has been using intimidation tactics to push fisherfolk out of areas they've been fishing in for generations. Additionally, Jingping's willingness to court and work with the Duterte regime, a fascistic regime that's killed 30,000+ in a drug war that targets the poor, and continues its all-out war policy with the countries internal MLM movement. This behavior is def more oriented toward building their global power than promoting proletarian rev solidarity.
PowStruggg
2022-01-09 21:37:53 +0000 UTCExactly. I often argue that China itself is, in many ways, more meritocratic and even more democratic than the US is. China has its problems, like all societies, and they are FAR from ideal, but their primary goal is the uplifting of their billion + people, while the US' goal is to plunder everyone and everything, and shove the winnings into the fewest pockets possible. A truly spiritually dead, visionless, empty nihilist society...
Revolutionary Left Radio
2022-01-09 20:52:54 +0000 UTCwhen Manny brought up the concept that Xi isn't doing those books on how socialism is the end goal because he believes it but rather that there are a hundred million communist party members, with many holding him to account, that just cracked wide open the common western propaganda that China is brainwashed and lead from the top toward "evil gommunism 100 bajillion dead"
dotke
2022-01-06 00:29:03 +0000 UTC
