Re: [Marxism] CHINA AND CUBA II

["Carlos A. Rivera" <cerejota@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Walter Lippmann" <walterlx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>

> The Jose Marti
> medal for Hu Jin-tao was a Cuban way of saying that as
> far as Cuba was concerned, China was helping Cuba to
> maintain its independence, a very important thing.

THE important thing. And this is why in terms of anti-imperialism, China's
*current* role in the world is a positive one.

The "class nature" of China is of no importance in this respect, unless you
are an anarchist who believes all states are fascist.

Also, a lot has been spoken about "Iron Bowl" breaking.

I have my own view on this, an hypothesis if you will. My hypothesis is that
the "disappereance" of the "Iron Bowl" is actually a combination of the
souring of previously held views and better statistical information. I think
that a lot of the poverty in China was already there, but was masked by
statistical methods.

It is true some of the social gains have been dismanteled, but not all, and
furthermore, China remains and for what it seems wants to remain, a socially
oriented state. Certainly literacy and health are much better than in the
USA, although nowhere near Cuba.

My sole preocupation and concern regarding china was de serious discussion
on letting capitalists join the Party, because the Party as social equalizer
was a great progressive feature of Chinese state capitalism (meant as a
positive thing, not as "restoration" as some have it mean). If the Party
loses this role, it will lead to a transition similar to that suffered by
the USSR.

sks


_______________________________________________
Marxism mailing list
Marxism@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism