China ready to reinstate property rights.

[Midnight Son]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=535&e=4&u=/ap/20031222/ap_on_re_as/china_private_property

Millions of Chinese who have plunged into capitalism by starting businesses and investing in stocks and bonds will be guaranteed their right to private property for the first time since the 1949 revolution under a constitutional amendment proposed Monday by communist leaders.

The changes reflect the party's decision to cast off leftist dogma in pursuit of prosperity and national status — and to embrace the forces driving change in order to stay in control.

"The Chinese leadership understands that the private sector will be the engine for economic growth," said Joseph Cheng, a political scientist at the City University of Hong Kong.


Of course, they will continue to strongly discourage other civil freedoms..... But at least they tacitly admit that Communism is an abject failure.

[Anaxagoras]

Of course, they will continue to strongly discourage other civil freedoms..... But at least they tacitly admit that Communism is an abject failure.

Not necessarily. I've read an interesting argument that claims that Communism in China was a necessary stepping stone that prepared that country for the capitalist, free-market economy that the modern world demands. Yes, I realize that this turns Marxist theory on its head, but considering that Marxist theory is fucking ridiculous, that's not a bad thing.

I'm not totally sure, but I believe that Deng Xioping hinted that this stepping stone theory was exactly what the Chinese leaders believed.

[Midnight Son]

They could just admit they (and Marx and Engels) were wrong, but can't do it while "saving face."

[Daniel Morris]

Communism in China was a necessary stepping stone that prepared that country for the capitalist, free-market economy

I can appreciate their logic there, and wouldn't argue against it; i.e. China needed a unifying proletarian revolution in order to shake off colonial depredation and emerge on the world scene as a power on its peoples' own terms...that seems fair enough.

And hey, if it facilitates the transition from the Gang of Four to a globalized, friendly nation, then I'm all for the theory.

[Anaxagoras]

And hey, if it facilitates the transition from the Gang of Four to a globalized, friendly nation, then I'm all for the theory.

I hear ya, brother Morris!

[Midnight Son]

It's a Chinese world, we're just living in it.