How Communism became the disease it tried to cure MercatorNet (blog) The great German sociologist, Max Weber (1864-1920) offered an understanding of the evolution of socialist regimes in the twentieth century from revolutionary radicalism to a stagnant system of power, privilege and plunder, manned by self-interested ... |
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How Communism became the disease it tried to cure - MercatorNet (blog)
In a world becoming more atomized and misanthropic by the day, where it seems sometimes that you have only to be a raving degenerate in order to achieve fame and powerwitness Donald Trump and Steve Bannon, or, in a different way, Milo Yiannopoulos (whose degeneracy, though, has partly caught up with him)it is useful to be reminded of the other side of human nature. The institutions of modern capitalism happen to reward depravity, first and foremost in the economic sphere, but since the maturation of mass society generations ago, in the cultural sphere as well. One is constantly confronted, therefore, by moral and intellectual filththe depths of human vulgarity on television and the internet, mad lusts for power and profit in politics and business, collective slavishness to mainstream norms in intellectual institutions, self-deception on a virtually heroic scale among the hordes of objective servants of power. One feels hemmed in by forces of delayed social implosion; one feels claustrophobic in a society whose categorical imperatives are but to privatize and marketize, to impersonalize, bureaucratize, and stupidize, all for the sake, ultimately, of accumulating capital.
Fortunately there are avenues of momentary escape from the decadence. One such avenue is to follow a particular train of thought that David Graeber pursues in his bestselling Debt: The First 5000 Years, as well as in this paper. It provides a conceptual antidote to the knowledge that Trumps and Bannons exist.
Namely, Graeber reminds us that fundamental to human nature, more fundamental than the debaucheries thrown up by late capitalism, is the tendency that he dubs communism. On a deep level, we are all (or nearly all), to some degree, communists. For if communism means from each according to his ability, to each according to his need, as Marx defined it, then it simply means sharing, helping, and cooperatinggiving to others in need what youre able to give them, even if it is only advice, assistance at some task, sympathy or emotional support, or some money to tide them over. Friends, coworkers, relatives, lovers, even total strangers constantly act in this way. In this sense, Graeber says, communism is the foundation of all human sociability; it can be considered the raw material of sociality, a recognition of our ultimate interdependence that is the ultimate substance of social peace.
From this perspective, incidentally, the early Marxs apotheosis of communism in the Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844 acquires a somewhat different meaning. To quote his grandiose idealistic formulation:
This communism, as fully developed naturalism, equals humanism, and as fully developed humanism equals naturalism; it is the genuineresolution of the conflict between man and nature and between man and manthe true resolution of the strife between existence and essence, between objectification and self-confirmation, between freedom and necessity, between the individual and the species.
If one understands communism in Graebers sense, as, in effect, a fundamental tendency of human natureand a principle immanent in everyday life, to quote Graeberthese exalted theses are at least suggestive. For instance, humans psychological communism does tend to resolve conflicts between man and nature and between man and man, for it springs from the reservoir of sympathy that Enlightenment thinkers such as Adam Smith understood to be shared by all non-pathological humans.
The communist morality, in fact, is nothing but a corollary of the Golden Rule, that you should treat people as youd like to be treated, with respect and compassion. Morally speaking, communism is common sense. Indeed, polls show that, despite what were taught to think about the political proclivities of Americans, large numbers agree with this radical statement. In 1987, for example, when Reaganism was ascendant, a national poll found that 45 percent of Americans considered Marxs famous slogan quoted above (from his Critique of the Gotha Program) to be so obvious that they thought it was enshrined in the U.S. Constitution! This is a point one might make in debates with political conservatives (i.e., reactionaries).
It would be amusing, too, to point out to some Breitbart writer or his legions of online followers that, in spite of himself, he is manifesting a communist morality every time he helps someone, every time he shares or cooperates; he is acting contrary to the capitalist imperative to gain wealth, forgetting all but self. Or to point out to a conservative Christian that Christian love is essentially communistic, and that Jesus hated the wealthy. (See, e.g., Luke 6:24-25: But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.) A communist society would just be a society in which the baseline communism of everyday life (and of original Christianity) was the guiding rule, the main principle of social organization.
As for our own society, the only reason it is able to function at all is that its held together by this dense anti-capitalist fabric, into which the more superficial patterns of commercialism, the profit motive, and greed are woven. Capitalism is parasitic on everyday communism: everything would collapse if the latter even momentarily vanished. One might, therefore, reverse the typical judgment of apologists for the status quo: not only is capitalism not a straightforward expression of human nature (supposedly because were all predominantly greedy, as an Ayn Rand or a Milton Friedman might say); it is more like a perversion of human nature, which evidently is drawn to such things as compassion, love, community, respect for others, and free self-expression unimpeded by authoritarian rules in the economic or political sphere.
Such are the thoughts with which I try to comfort myself periodically, when feeling overwhelmed by the systemic misanthropy that daily bombards us all.
Chris Wright is a doctoral candidate in U.S. labor history, and the author of Notes of an Underground Humanist and Worker Cooperatives and Revolution: History and Possibilities in the United States. Read other articles by Chris, or visit Chris's website.
This article was posted on Wednesday, March 15th, 2017 at 7:33pm and is filed under Capitalism, Communism/Marxism/Maoism, Donald Trump, Economy/Economics, Society.
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When we investigate at colleges and universities, we find that attention levels at thought and political theory classes are not high. People are there in body but not in spirit, ministerChen Baosheng lamented, calling for professors to do away with packaging that is not that fashionable and find new, trendy ways to encourage the nations youth to embrace Communism. With the spread of religion Christianity and Islam in particular and consumerism, fewer and fewer young Chinese people care to embrace the 20th-century ways of Mao Zedong.
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If the recent history of President Xi Jinpings tenure is any indication, that new trendy packaging will involve attempts at American-style hip-hop music. While Beijing has censored hundreds of pop songs, many of them rap songs, for harming social morality, the Chinese government has taken to publishing rap music videos with pro-Beijing, pro-Marxist messages in the hope of attracting youth attention.
Below, five of the most painful attempts at coolness from the Chinese government:
The Four Comprehensives Rap February 2016
The Four Comprehensives are vague government objectives intended to bring about the Chinese dream, Beijings communist alternative to the American dream. They are, according toThe Nanfang: to comprehensively develop a moderately prosperous society, tocomprehensively reform the country, tocomprehensively enact a rule of law, and tocomprehensively root out Party corruption.
Naturally, the state outlet Xinhua saw in this fertile ground for a hip-hop anthem.
The Four Comprehensives Rap features such catchy lyrics asthe environment will become greener and haze will disappear andProsperity is the goal, reform is the drive, rule of law is the guarantee, building up the Party is the key! While in America, rap music surfaced as a defiant voice against perceived corruption of those in power, Chinese government rap celebrates utmost submission to authority.Respect, obey and implement the law, the lyrics warn laypersons and Party members alike.
As with many Chinese government-sponsored rap videos, this songs music video features bizarre animated sequences featuring a middle-aged man lecturing a young girl with the song. The girl, who initially dismisses the Four Comprehensives as about the Chinese dream or whatever, learns to love the governments abstract promises.
The Reform Group is Two Years Old December 2015
Who would ever suspect that a rap song with a title as catchy asThe Reform Group is Two Years Old was written by stodgy old Marxists locked up in the bureaucratic mazes of Beijing? The titular reform group is an ad hoc creation meant to weed out corruption in local Communist Party offices. As with The Four Comprehensives Rap, the song praises the benefits of strict adherence to the rule of law and deference to authority.
Streamline the administration and delegate power to lower levels and unleash energy, the rapper performing the song demands.Only the daring will prevail at key stages of reform.
To rule the party strictly we must harden our bodies, the judicial reform must be victorious, the song continues, thanking Communist Party officials for their commitment to the environment: they hate smog to the bone. Chinese government propaganda repeatedly mentions the alleged successes of Xis administration in protecting the environment to mask its woeful failure in addressing the issue.
President Big Daddy Xi appears in animated form in the video, and the song itself incorporates some key quotes from Xi speeches into its lyrics.
This Is China June 2016
Unlike many government productions, this rap song was the product of an actual rap group, albeit a loyalist Communist Party rap group. CD Rev, which had previously released pro-Marxist singles independent of the government, wrote a song the government claimed was meant to show the real face of China. The red dragon aint no evil, the rappers claim. Instead, the nation is full of young men like us, aspiring and friendly.
The rap group celebrates the Chinese government because we have tight gun control laws and we can use apps to pay in nearly all the situations.
Marx Is a Millennial May 2016
Literally translating to Marx is a Post-90s, the Chinese language term for the same generation, thisgovernment-commissioned work of art is intended to address the issue Education Minister Chen appears so alarmed by: the fact that young Chinese people, attracted to Western culture and the hope of a comfortable, capitalist lifestyle, have little interest in Communist dogma. The rapper in this song admits to never being interested in Marx before one day, I discovered how awesome he was.
The music video boasts bright colors and a geometric design reminiscent of the 1980s Dire Straits music video Money for Nothing.
I saw my faith, dont even ask why/You are my Venus, my dear Marx,the song proclaims.
Xinhua appeared particularly proud of this production in its article about the rap song. How to make Marxism attractive to the Chinese youth? Maybe a rap!the state outlets write-up reads.
Battle Declaration May 2016
Unlike the videos previously mentioned, Battle Declaration does not rely on bizarre cartoonish designs or a fun, colorful tone to attract attention. This rap song was intended to attract young people to a career in the Chinese military, and its aesthetic is much closer to teen boy Xtreme marketing than the bright jewel hues of Marx Is a Millennial.
The lyrics are also significantly more dramatic:
Even if a bullet passes through my chest My mission remains carved in my heart Brothers, lets follow this path [Roar! Roar! Roar! Roar!] Roar with animal spirit Look to the bravest general of them all Walk from here toward the site of combat
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5 Chinese Government Hip-Hop Anthems Meant to Make Communism Cool Again - Breitbart News
Offering statues as gifts to other nations has long been a subtle way of extending politicsinto the realm of arts. New York's Statue of Liberty, for instance, wasfunded by France to celebrate freedom and enlightenment.
But a similar gift from China is now putting Germans in a rather awkward position. The influential Germantrading partner wants to buy the town of Trier a statue of Karl Marx to honor him as one of the co-authors of the Communist Manifesto, a political text written with Friedrich Engels in 1848. Another German town accepted a similaroffer two years ago.
To some in Trier, the giftis a welcome expression of Chinese-German partnership. To others, however, the free Karl Marx is a provocation, given that Eastern Germany's own communist experiment resulted in the deaths of more than 100 people who tried to flee from the communist east into the west before the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. They also think accepting such a gift from China, which is frequently criticized for violating human rights, would send the wrong message at a time when Western liberalism isunder attack by right-wing populists and authoritarianregimes.
The council of Trier accepted the gift Monday evening, paving the way for a permanent bronze statue, erected in the city center ahead ofthe philosopher's birthday 200 years ago in May next year.
It is a decision that is likely to surprise those who witnessed the early days after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Across Eastern Europe, statues of communist heroes such as Marx and Vladimir Lenin were toppledduring the 1991 breakup of the Soviet Union.In 2014, during the Ukraine conflict, more than 200 remaining Lenin statues were destroyed within days in an expression of anger toward the Kremlin.
Although Lenin statues have long beenhard to find in Germany, a number of Marx monuments continue to surprise visitors in cities such as Berlin and Chemnitz in east Germany. The latter used to be called "Karl Marx City" until one year after the fall of the Berlin Wall, when officials decided it was time for Marx to assume a more subtle role.
Chemnitz's Marx statue was nottaken down, though,and it has once again become the city's landmark its head alone being 23 feet tall. In Trier, the Marx monument will probablybe much smaller.
City officials refrained from making a final decision on its height Monday evening, probably making it the city's next talking point. Some think that a tall statue standing on a plinth overlooking tourists and city residentswouldimply Marx's intellectual incontestability, whereas in reality his theories remain contentious in Germany. Critics want the Chinese statue of Marx to be of real-life height so that tourists can confront the communist theorist eye to eye.
"Take him down from the plinth," one resident told a German radio station. "I like that compromise -- [Marx being] on an equal footing [with everyone]."
Read more:
What toppled Lenin statues tell us about Ukraines crisis
A giant Lenin head was unearthed in Germany
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China keeps buying Karl Marx statues for Germany to celebrate communism. Not all want to join the party. - Washington Post
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TheSouth China Morning Postreports that Education Minister Chen Baosheng wants to make Communist ideology trendy and fashionable again:
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When we investigate at colleges and universities, we find that attention levels at thought and political theory classes are not high. People are there in body but not in spirit, Chen said.
Why is this? The content does not suit their needs. Perhaps the approach is outdated, the tools are rather crude and the packaging is not that fashionable.
Students needed to be led by the core values of Chinese socialism to ensure their healthy moral growth. They should also study traditional Chinese culture, revolutionary culture and advanced socialist culture, Chen said.
It is probably going to take a little more than some hip-hop music and a stack of Che Guevara T-shirts to get Chinese youth interested in studying advanced socialist culture to ensure their healthy moral growth, especially since the Internet keeps showing them glimpses of the world outside Chinas totalitarian ideological boundaries. It may or may not comfort Chen to know that left-wing academics in the West also complain that communisms biggest problem is poor packaging.
The Internet must be one of the major driving forces behind the cultural and ideological insecurity of Chinas elites, which is very encouraging. The SCMP article reads like a totalitarian nightmare, but it is good news that the Communist Party is so worried about losing its grip on the next generation. Under President Xi Jinping, the Party has been cracking down on organized religion for similar reasons.
Beijing is worried about people who make subversion look cool, as Korean-born, American-educated provocateur Kwon Pyonglearned the hard way last September. Kwons social media hijinks culminated in a selfie that featured a T-shirt comparing Chinese President Xi Jinping to Adolf Hitler.
In theory, few Chinese should have been able to read his Facebook and Twitter posts dedicated to overturning communism, because the Internet is locked down so tightly in China. The government nevertheless arrested him, put him on trial for subversion, failed to inform his defense attorneys which of his posts slander and insulted state power and the socialist system, and then forced his defense lawyers out of the case with an impossible paperwork demand, just to make sure Kwons fair trial ends with the necessary conviction.
Kwons former attorney Zhang Lei put the case in perspective for theNew York Times:
Mr. Kwon embodies a phenomenon that worries the Chinese government: young people, exposed to foreign ideas, sometimes through study abroad, who feel free to criticize the government, perhaps navely believing that they wont get into serious trouble, Mr. Liang said.
Hes from a younger generation thats absorbed ideas about democracy and freedom, he said. They have a clearer spirit of opposition.
To treat Kwon Pyongs online criticism of President Xi Jinping and the one-party state as a national security threat highlights the Communist Partys insecurity about commentary that does not accept the Partys monopoly on power, said Freedom House Executive Vice President Daniel Calingaert, protesting his arrest. Maybe Kwon will be sentenced to help the Education Minister develop a hip and cool curriculum for selling Communism to the kids.
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China Orders Universities to Make Communism Cool Again - Breitbart News