An interesting piece(attached). Not that I agree with the formulation.
But it is time to shed illusion about China and India and about the
future of globalisation. Sadly enough, CPI(M) PB members like
Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee loosely (and irresponsibly ) said at times
that it is time to walk along with globalisation
Beijing Embraces Classical Fascism
aei.org ^ | 1 May 08 | Michael A. Ledeen (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2012128/posts)
Posted on Wednesday, May 07, 2008 2:16:42 AM by Tailgunner Joe
In 2002, I speculated that China may be something we have never seen before: a mature fascist state. Recent events there, especially the mass rage in response to Western criticism, seem to confirm that theory. More significantly, over the intervening six years China's leaders have consolidated their hold on the organs of control--political, economic and cultural. Instead of gradually embracing pluralism as many expected, China's corporatist elite has become even more entrenched.
Even though they still call themselves communists, and the Communist Party rules the country, classical fascism should be the starting point for our efforts to understand the People's Republic. Imagine Italy 50 years after the fascist revolution. Mussolini would be dead and buried, the corporate state would be largely intact, the party would be firmly in control, and Italy would be governed by professional politicians, part of a corrupt elite, rather than the true believers who had marched on Rome. It would no longer be a system based on charisma, but would instead rest almost entirely on political repression, the leaders would be businesslike and cynical, not idealistic, and they would constantly invoke formulaic appeals to the grandeur of the "great Italian people," "endlessly summoned to emulate the greatness of its ancestors."
Substitute in the "great Chinese people" and it all sounds familiar. We are certainly not dealing with a Communist regime, either politically or economically, nor do Chinese leaders, even those who followed the radical reformer Deng Xiaoping, seem to be at all interested in treading the dangerous and uneven path from Stalinism to democracy. They know that Mikhail Gorbachev fell when he tried to control the economy while giving political freedom. They are attempting the opposite, keeping a firm grip on political power while permitting relatively free areas of economic enterprise. Their political methods are quite like those used by the European fascists 80 years ago.
Unlike traditional communist dictators--Mao, for example--who extirpated traditional culture and replaced it with a sterile Marxism-Leninism, the Chinese now enthusiastically, even compulsively, embrace the glories of China's long history. Their passionate reassertion of the greatness of past dynasties has both entranced and baffled Western observers, because it does not fit the model of an "evolving communist system."
Yet the fascist leaders of the 1920s and 1930s used exactly the same device. Mussolini rebuilt Rome to provide a dramatic visual reminder of ancient glories, and he used ancient history to justify the conquest of Libya and Ethiopia. Hitler's favorite architect built neoclassical buildings throughout the Third Reich, and his favorite operatic composer organized festivals to celebrate the country's mythic past.
Like their European predecessors, the Chinese claim a major role in the world because of their history and culture, not just on the basis of their current power, or scientific or cultural accomplishments. China even toys with some of the more bizarre notions of the earlier fascisms, such as the program to make the country self-sufficient in wheat production--the same quest for autarky that obsessed both Hitler and Mussolini.
To be sure, the world is much changed since the first half of the last century. It's much harder (and sometimes impossible) to go it alone. Passions for total independence from the outside world are tempered by the realities of today's global economy, and China's appetite for oil and other raw materials is properly legendary. But the Chinese, like the European fascists, are intensely xenophobic, and obviously worry that their people may turn against them if they learn too much about the rest of the world. They consequently work very hard to dominate the flow of information. Just ask Google, forced to cooperate with the censors in order to work in China.
Some scholars of contemporary China see the Beijing regime as very nervous, and perhaps even unstable, and they are encouraged in this belief when they see recent events such as the eruption of popular sentiment against the Tibetan monks' modest protests. That view is further reinforced by similar outcries against most any criticism of Chinese performance, from human rights to air pollution, and from preparations for the Olympic Games to the failure of Chinese quality control in food production and children's toys. The recent treatment of French retailer Carrefour at the hands of Chinese nationalists is a case in point. It has been publicly excoriated and shunned because France's President Nicolas Sarkozy dared to consider the possibility of boycotting the Olympics.
In all these cases, it is tempting to conclude that the regime is worried about its own survival, and, in order to rally nationalist passions, feels compelled to portray the country as a global victim. Perhaps they are right. The strongest evidence to support the theory of insecurity at the highest levels of Chinese society is the practice of the "princelings" (wealthy children of the ruling elites) to buy homes in places such as the United States, Canada and Australia. These are not luxury homes of the sort favored by wealthy businessman and officials from the oil-rich countries of the Middle East. Rather they are typically "normal" homes of the sort a potential émigré might want to have in reserve in case things went bad back home.
Moreover, there are reasons to believe that eruptions of nationalist passion do indeed worry the regime, and Chinese leaders have certainly tamped down such episodes in the past. In recent days, the regime has even reached out to the Dalai Lama himself in an apparent effort to calm the situation, after previously enouncing the "Dalai clique" as a dangerous form of separatism and even treason.
On the other hand, the cult of victimhood was always part of fascist culture. Just like Germany and Italy in the interwar period, China feels betrayed and humiliated, and seeks to avenge her many historic wounds. This is not necessarily a true sign of anxiety; it's an integral part of the sort of hypernationalism that has always been at the heart of all fascist movements and regimes. We cannot look into the souls of the Chinese tyrants, but I doubt that China is an intensely unstable system, riven by the democratic impulses of capitalism on the one hand, and the repressive practices of the regime on the other. This is a mature fascism, not a frenzied mass movement, and the current regime is not composed of revolutionary fanatics. Today's Chinese leaders are the heirs of two very different revolutions, Mao's and Deng's. The first was a failed communist experiment; the second is a fascist transformation whose future is up for grabs.
If the fascist model is correct, we should not be at all surprised by the recent rhetoric or mass demonstrations. Hitler's Germany and Mussolini's Italy were every bit as sensitive to any sign of foreign criticism as the Chinese today, both because victimhood is always part of the definition of such states, and because it's an essential technique of mass control. The violent denunciations of Westerners who criticize Chinese repression may not be a sign of internal anxiety or weakness. They may instead be a sign of strength, a demonstration of the regime's popularity. Remember that European fascism did not fall as the result of internal crisis--it took a bloody world war to bring it down. Fascism was so alarmingly popular neither Italians not Germans produced more than token resistance until the war began to be lost. It may well be that the mass condemnation of Western calls for greater political tolerance is in fact a sign of political success.
Since classical fascism had such a brief life span, it is hard to know whether or not a stable, durable fascist state is possible. Economically, the corporate state, of which the current Chinese system is a textbook example, may prove more flexible and adaptable than the rigid central planning that doomed communism in the Soviet Empire and elsewhere (although the travails of Japan, which also tried to combine capitalist enterprise with government guidance, show the kinds of problems China will likely face). Our brief experience with fascism makes it difficult to evaluate the possibilities of political evolution, and the People's Republic is full of secrets. But prudent strategists would do well to assume that the regime will be around for a while longer--perhaps a lot longer.
If it is a popular, fascist regime, should the world prepare for some difficult and dangerous confrontations with the People's Republic? Twentieth-century fascist states were very aggressive; Nazi Germany and fascist Italy were both expansionist nations. Is it not likely that China will similarly seek to enlarge its domain?
I believe the answer is "yes, but." Many Chinese leaders might like to see their sway extend throughout the region, and beyond. China's military is not so subtly preparing the capability to defeat U.S. forces in Asia in order to prevent intervention in any conflict on its periphery. No serious student of China doubts the enormous ambitions of both the leadership and the masses. But, unlike Hitler and Mussolini, the Chinese tyrants do not urgently need quick geographical expansion to demonstrate the glory of their country and the truth of their vision. For the moment, at least, success at home and global recognition of Chinese accomplishments seem to be enough. Since Chinese fascism is less ideological than its European predecessors, Chinese leaders are far more flexible than Hitler and Mussolini.
Nonetheless, the short history of classical fascism suggests that it is only a matter of time before China will pursue confrontation with the West. That is built into the dna of all such regimes. Sooner or later, Chinese leaders will feel compelled to demonstrate the superiority of their system, and even the most impressive per capita GDP will not do. Superiority means others have to bend their knees, and cater to the wishes of the dominant nation. Just as Mussolini saw the colonization of Africa and the invasion of Greece and the Balkans as necessary steps in the establishment of a new fascist empire, so the Chinese are likely to demand tribute from their neighbors--above all, the Chinese on the island nation of Taiwan, in order to add the recovery of lost territory to the regime's list of accomplishments. Even today, at a time when the regime is seeking praise, not tribute, in the run-up to the Olympic Games, there are bellicose overtones to official rhetoric.
How, then, should the democracies deal with China? The first step is to disabuse ourselves of the notion that wealth is the surest guarantor of peace. The West traded with the Soviet Union, and gave them credits as well, but it did not prevent the Kremlin from expanding into the Horn of Africa, or sponsoring terrorist groups in Europe and the Middle East. A wealthy China will not automatically be less inclined to go to war over Taiwan, or, for that matter, to wage or threaten war with Japan.
Indeed, the opposite may be true--the richer and stronger China becomes, the more they build up their military might, the more likely such wars may be. It follows that the West must prepare for war with China, hoping thereby to deter it. A great Roman once said that if you want peace, prepare for war. This is sound advice with regard to a fascist Chinese state that wants to play a global role.
Meanwhile, we should do what we can to convince the people of China that their long-term interests are best served by greater political freedom, no matter how annoying and chaotic that may sometimes be. I think we can trust the Chinese leaders on this one. Any regime as palpably concerned about the free flow of information, knows well that ideas about freedom might be very popular. Let's test that hypothesis, by talking directly to "the billion." In today's world, we can surely find ways to reach them.
If we do not take such steps, our risk will surely increase, and explosions of rage, manipulated or spontaneous, will recur. Eventually they will take the form of real actions.
To: Tailgunner Joe
We have seen this before.
To: Tailgunner Joe
No matter the character of the latest "great man" or "new ideology" or "recent revolution", China always decays into its natural state ~ a fascist state.
The few times they've broken out of that model for any significant periods of time were after they'd been conquered by foreigners good and proper.
Otherwise the Chinese people score well on tests and are resourceful. You just wouldn't care for them running your local government.
>>
"Nonetheless, the short history of classical fascism suggests that it is only a matter of time before China will pursue confrontation with the West. That is built into the dna of all such regimes. Sooner or later, Chinese leaders will feel compelled to demonstrate the superiority of their system, and even the most impressive per capita GDP will not do. Superiority means others have to bend their knees, and cater to the wishes of the dominant nation. Just as Mussolini saw the colonization of Africa and the invasion of Greece and the Balkans as necessary steps in the establishment of a new fascist empire, so the Chinese are likely to demand tribute from their neighbors—above all, the Chinese on the island nation of Taiwan, in order to add the recovery of lost territory to the regime's list of accomplishments. Even today, at a time when the regime is seeking praise, not tribute, in the run-up to the Olympic Games, there are bellicose overtones to official rhetoric."
To: Travis McGee
You sure wouldn't know it, watching U.S. leaders with so much brown on their noses. There's just not enough hours in the day to kiss Chinese ass.
The Western world should hang it's collective head, for what it has been a party to, AGAIN!!!!!!
To: muawiyah
Read an interesting book recently on the rise of modern science with a comparison between the West, Islam, and China.
China has always had high levels of technology, but never developed modern science on their own. Technology is using scientific principles, but science is understanding them. Thus they could have rockets without understanding jet propulsion.
Also, their ancestor worship has resulted in a culture where you aren't allowed to go out "on your own" until you've mastered copying those who have gone before you.
To: Travis McGee
Hasn't this be obvious from day one? Seriously, who didn't see this coming? If you and I can grasp it, why didn't our leaders?
The fact is, they did. They got their's along the way, and the nation be damned.
We're about ten to fifteen years away from our kids dying as a result of our building up the China war machine. And this time tens of millions of U.S. Citizens on U.S. soil stand to pay the price as well.
There is a contempt in my heart for those who are bringing this fate upon our nation.
To: VR-21
The danger time will come if and when the global economy tanks.
Then we shall see a Chinese Hitler, and all of those unsold ChinaMart boots will be on marching Chinese feet.
To: Travis McGee
I completely agree.
The similarties between China and 1930s Germany are numerous. And yet people don't seem to get it.
Austria, Poland, France... Tiawan, Borneo...
If you think about it, Hong Kong and Macao were but the first of such maneuvers. China thinks it's on a roll... and to be honest it is. We're sitting back thinking we are the manifest destiny leader for eternity, and we're about to get our lunch handed to us.
To: DoughtyOne
Toss a new factor into the old equation: 50 million or so "excess" males of soldier age, the unintended consequence of a generation of the "one child policy."
In China a man without a wife and heirs is a big problem, an unstable element, and not even honorable.
Fifty million of them, loose in the countryside???
Much better to send them overseas. If they win victories, great. If they die, fine. If they win victories and most of them die, better yet.
Send them to the fertile islands of Asia, with "Land and brides!" as their battle cry. The Russian far east? Forget it. It's gone.
In 100 years, I believe there will be more Chinese than Africans in Africa.
To: Travis McGee
Frankly Russia is little different. It's morphed into a fascist state under Putin. The biggest question in my mind is will these two fascist states (Russia and China) cooperate when the chips are down or will they be at odds with each other. That will make a huge difference in what actually happens.
Communism is international socialism.
Fascism is national socialism.
Remove communist ECONOMIC policy alone, and you have today's China.
It is the same old communist pig with a new shade of lipstick, and the west will be smeared with that lipstick because the west kissed the pig.
Joe, thanks for the warning 50 years ago, nobody listened.
To: Tailgunner Joe
My fear is that the Chinese will start looking at North America for additional living space.
The Germans used the same argument to justify invading Poland.
On August 22, 1939, a few days before the official start of World War II, Hitler authorized his commanders, with these infamous words, to kill "without pity or mercy, all men, women, and children of Polish descent or language. Only in this way can we obtain the living space [lebensraum] we need".
http://www.holocaustforgotten.com/poland.htm
To: Tailgunner Joe
I think the notion that China is communist is malformed. It's a merchantilist totalitarian state. Fascism may indeed describe it, but communism certainly does not.
Pray for the Chinesse Christians that are being repressed! God is the only hope for the Chinese People, and even their national survival in the long run!
To: Tailgunner Joe
well,the writter still just knows only a bit about China today.
Chinese government does censor the inflow of information,such internet ,ratio..etc.
But such a censorship doesn't work much .if a chinese really wants to look throught CNN,BBC,VOA,Youtube or Freerepublich here, his only obstacles is not the censorship from Chinese government,but english.
Chinese gvovenment seldom block the access of english websites.and even if the website is blocked by Chinese govenrment,using proxys is very easy.
So, you claim that Chinese government succeed in making Chinse people blind and deaf is just a bull shit by censorship.
in fact, the fury among Chinese broke out just after Chinese people really get tough with the ignorance and arrogance among wester medias and people themseves as I am doing or visiting foreign countries,instead of the ration far away from their life.
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