this post was submitted on 17 Jan 2024
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[โ€“] knfrmity@lemmygrad.ml 11 points 10 months ago (4 children)

I do have a grasp of what capitalist and socialist mean. I'm confused by your mixing and matching of terms. I'm consistently using Marxist definitions here.

France is a country with a capitalist mode of production.

China is socialist. China has home ownership for personal use, but no private land ownership and ever dwindling private ownership of the means of production. Homes for the purpose of living in, ie personal property, are not a means of production, and houses for rent for the purpose of enriching the owner at the expense of the tenant, ie private property, basically don't exist.

Markets have nothing to do with the distinction between capitalist and socialist modes of production, the ownership of the means of production and thus also the class in control of the state is the defining characteristic.

If you're interested in learning more about SWCC here are some resources.

Study guide: https://www.qiaocollective.com/education/socialism-with-chinese-characteristics?rq=Socialism%20with%20Chinese%20characteristics

An older but still relevant essay on how China is not capitalist: https://chinareporting.blogspot.com/2009/11/class-nature-of-chinese-state-critique_26.html?m=1

[โ€“] UrbonMaximus@feddit.uk -3 points 10 months ago (3 children)

Are you sure you're a Marxist? Sound more like an American from the 50s..

Socialism and capitalism are not mutually exclusive.

Capitalism is an economic system where the capital owner holds the means of production and their operation for profit.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but China does have companies that operate globally and are for profit, and some of them are even privately owned.

There are different forms of capitalism. For example: France is mainly welfare capitalism, China is state capitalism (party state capitalism to be more precise) and people would argue that USA is laissez-faire capitalism.

There are also different types of socialism.. France for example is a socialist democracy. China is totalitarian socialism.

France is a country with a capitalist mode of production. Markets have nothing to do with the distinction between capitalist and socialist modes of production, the ownership of the means of production and thus also the class in control of the state is the defining characteristic.

Most of the biggest industries in France, from energy to rail, are state owned.

China is socialist. China has home ownership for personal use, but no private land ownership and ever dwindling private ownership of the means of production. Homes for the purpose of living in, ie personal property, are not a means of production, and houses for rent for the purpose of enriching the owner at the expense of the tenant, ie private property, basically don't exist.

Seems like you live in a dream world. 20% of home owners in China have a second (and more) home/s, and they definitely use it for profit.

Also, leasehold of state property exist all over the globe. It's not unique to capitalism or socialism or any other ism.

[โ€“] knfrmity@lemmygrad.ml 2 points 10 months ago (2 children)

I can't respond to this, it's so absurd and distortionist. In the context of tried and true Marxist-Leninist theory, the word philistine comes to mind.

In any case, this theory is all available online for free if you're interested. Marxists.org js a good place to start.

[โ€“] UrbonMaximus@feddit.uk 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

As I thought, you're not here to debate in good faith with facts. Just spew your version of events and propaganda. Thanks for clarifying.

[โ€“] knfrmity@lemmygrad.ml 0 points 10 months ago

You're welcome to come discuss the vast differences between liberalism and Marxism over at Lemmygrad anytime.