Romany dismisses John's analysis as hankering for "some nebulous rising of the masses".

Tienanmen Square was not nebulous.

Romany,

Yes, I am aware that villagers do not adhere strictly to the one-child policy.

You mention that couples are now desiring a pigeon pair. Is the authority softening on the issue of the one-child policy. In the past, there were checks as to the strict implementation of this - but, again ... that was some time ago.

I saw the ratio of males per females listed, and at the time it seemed quite alarming.
A society which had such an unbalance was definitely in trouble. Unfortunately, when there is a "problem" looming at home, often the solution is to divert it to an "external" threat. I have no idea if this is occurring now.

I recall mature Chinese women being very strong and definitely wielding a lot of power - at least within the family unit. It is sad that young women are now gravitating towards "girlie-chicks" But that may change once they are established within the home - especially with an over-abundance of available males, and divorce recognised.

There may even become a "peticoat" rule in China :-)

Passy “That showed the great potential of the forces opposed to the dictatorship.”

They would not have dared under Mao’s “benevolent rule”.

“drawing on the lessons from 1989 to move to success in not only getting rid of the butchers of Beijing and their heirs,”

Actually I thought those fellows had been “purged” already.

“present economic slavery to economic freedom in which production occurs to satisfy human need”

Well that is happening, especially the “production occurs to satisfy human need” bit.

Just look at where most of your clothes are made and in return, the Chinese are allowed to own cars and make decisions outside the edicts of Mao’s little red book.

The point is

China has looked beyond itself to see how the real world operates.

China has seen the benefits of trade and has thus become exposed to alternative political processes which have turned Maoist Marxism on its head.

The centrally planned economy, which left people starving, has been replaced by a more liberal system of private capitalism where “hope” in the future is possible.

I think China is deliberately taking things slowly. It may have learned from the pace of change which drove Russia to the point of anarchy.

Removing overnight, a rigid authoritarian social system as happened in Russia, produces the violent reaction of unstructured irresponsibility associated with anarchy. China is wise in taking things slower. It will better serve all its people by allowing the steam of pent up expectations to vent progressively, over a longer time.

Such strategies will avoid the wanton death and destruction associated with “revolution”.

Of course, for your politics we know why socialists like revolution, it is the perfect excuse to blame and hide the inherent failings of the socialist philosophy.

Whereas, instead of fomenting revolution, Libertarian capitalists financed the Marshall plan which rebuilt western Europe after the destruction of WWII.

Danielle “Petticoat rule”

Jiang Qing (Mao’s wife) and the gang of four overthrew Deng and instituted one of the most debased and violent versions of socialism the ever, petticoated at that!

Call it another example of socialist depravity.

Passey,

Did you read my previous post outlining how things have changed in China? If you add that to the succinct post of Col Rouge you have the reason why I used the word "nebulous".

The uprising you refer to happened with the parents of to-days students. Things change - even in China.

Romany

Of course things change. Industrialisation in China has created a working class even more massive than in 1989. Most of the so-called middle class are in fact workers since they sell their labour power.

I doubt even the middle class is bought off.

Objectively China is ripe for revolution. Class divisions are even greater now than in 1989. Subjectively I don't know.

I don't know the state of illegal political and trade union organisations but suspect when the first cracks in the dictatorship appear they will win mass popular support because of their steady day to day work now.

For those who doubt the social contradictions that exist in Chna, and pour scorn on a non-Chinese person for daring to write about big picture ideas there is a Hong Kong Labour Activist speaking at Socialist Alternatives Marxism 2008 at the Uni of Melbourne over Easter.

Special Event: Au Loong-Yu, Hong Kong activist for worker's rights in China speaks at Socialist Alternative's Marxism 2008: Standing Up to Capitalism and War

Au Loong-Yu is a long term campaigner for workers' rights in China. He was a founding member of the Globalization Monitor, a Hong Kong based organisation that played an important role in the massive anti-WTO protests in Hong Kong in 2005. They have highlighted the conditions of Chinese workers and provided a forum for the struggle for democracy and workers rights both in Hong Kong and mainland China.
For a background in the Hong Kong workers and anti-globalisation movement see Au Loong-Yu's interview with New Left Review.

Au Loong-Yu will be speaking in a personal capacity at 2pm Friday March 21 on working class resistance in China as a special feature of Socialist Alternative's Marxism 2008 conference.

The conference runs over the easter weekend from Thursday March 21 to Saturday March 22 at Union House, Melbourne University, Parkville, Victoria.
Tickets are available at waged and concession prices. For tickets or more information please contact:

http://www.sa.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1451&Itemid=137


Other conference highlights include:

- A US speaker from Iraq Veterans Against War

- South African activists – Trevor Ngwane and Zodwa Madiba on anti-privatisation and other struggles taking place in South Africa today.

- Italian Marxist and activist Yurii Colombo

Live music: a Radical History of the Blues