Dengism: Difference between revisions
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''<small>This article is about the ideological tendency inspired by [[Deng Xiaoping]] outside of [[China]], for the ideology of the [[Communist Party of China]] itself, see [[Socialism with Chinese Characteristics]]</small>'' | ''<small>This article is about the ideological tendency inspired by [[Deng Xiaoping]] outside of [[China]], for the ideology of the [[Communist Party of China]] itself, see [[Socialism with Chinese Characteristics]]</small>'' | ||
'''Dengism''' is a largely online political tendency which expresses critical or uncritical support for the [[People's Republic of China]], as well as a label for the ideological strain which supports this position. Dengism is named for [[Deng Xiaoping]] and derives some of its ideological positions from his writings. Use of the term from either supporters or critics is not common outside of internet spaces, and the concept may have originated on the internet {{cn}}. Dengism is controversial due to its direct connection to the heated debate over [[China]]. Dengism bears relation to [[Deng Xiaoping Theory]] and [[Xi Jinping Thought]] {{cn}} but is often associated much more with foreign supporters of the ideology of the [[Communist Party of China]] (particularly Westerners). | '''Dengism''' is a largely online political tendency which expresses critical or uncritical support for the [[People's Republic of China]], as well as a label for the ideological strain which supports this position. Dengism is named for [[Deng Xiaoping]] and derives some of its ideological positions from his writings. Use of the term from either supporters or critics is not common outside of internet spaces, and the concept may have originated on the internet {{cn}}. Dengism is controversial due to its direct connection to the heated debate over [[China]]. Dengism bears relation to [[Deng Xiaoping Theory]] and [[Xi Jinping Thought]] {{cn}} but is often associated much more with foreign supporters of the ideology of the [[Communist Party of China]] (particularly Westerners).<ref name=":0">[https://github.com/Red-Spectre/Info/blob/main/Against%20Dengism.md Against Dengism]''Red-Spectre''</ref> | ||
== Characteristics == | == Characteristics == | ||
=== Campism and support for "Actually Existing Socialism" === | === Campism and support for "Actually Existing Socialism" === | ||
Despite claiming to uphold [[Mao Zedong|Mao Zedong's]] thesis that revolutionary movements must develop in accordance to national peculiarities and independently of external socialist states, most Dengists adhere to an extreme form of foreign dogmatism; viewing the primary bringers of socialism as being the supposedly socialist People's Republic of China and the [[Russian Federation]] (the latter country they reluctantly admit is not socialist, but de-facto regard it as still being socialist), rather than the proletariat and its revolutionary vanguard in each country. In addition, most Dengists omit class struggle altogether in favor of national struggle; viewing the world as being a conflict between an "anti-imperialist" (Eastern) camp and an imperialist (Western) camp, regardless as to the whether such states are socialist or not. | Despite claiming to uphold [[Mao Zedong|Mao Zedong's]] thesis that revolutionary movements must develop in accordance to national peculiarities and independently of external socialist states, most Dengists adhere to an extreme form of foreign dogmatism; viewing the primary bringers of socialism as being the supposedly socialist People's Republic of China and the [[Russian Federation]] (the latter country they reluctantly admit is not socialist, but de-facto regard it as still being socialist), rather than the proletariat and its revolutionary vanguard in each country. In addition, most Dengists omit class struggle altogether in favor of national struggle; viewing the world as being a conflict between an "anti-imperialist" (Eastern) camp and an imperialist (Western) camp, regardless as to the whether such states are socialist or not.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">[https://queer-bolshevik.medium.com/the-aes-doctrine-wrong-then-wrong-now-a8666de371da The "AES" Doctrine: Wrong then, Wrong Now]</ref> | ||
Further, Dengists dogmatically adhere to the "[[Actually existing socialism|AES]]" ("actually existing socialism") doctrine. "AES" is a propaganda term concocted in the [[Union of Soviet Socialist Republics|Soviet]] revisionist regime under [[Brezhnev]] in order to justify their revisionist deviations and stagnation. Today, it is similarly used by Dengists to suggest that the modern corporatist and profit-driven economic system found in China and similar countries are the "be-all end-all" of socialism, as well as to justify any and all [[Revisionism|revisions and deviations to Marxism]] which the CPC and similar parties make. | Further, Dengists dogmatically adhere to the "[[Actually existing socialism|AES]]" ("actually existing socialism") doctrine. "AES" is a propaganda term concocted in the [[Union of Soviet Socialist Republics|Soviet]] revisionist regime under [[Brezhnev]] in order to justify their revisionist deviations and stagnation. Today, it is similarly used by Dengists to suggest that the modern corporatist and profit-driven economic system found in China and similar countries are the "be-all end-all" of socialism, as well as to justify any and all [[Revisionism|revisions and deviations to Marxism]] which the CPC and similar parties make.<ref name=":1" /> | ||
=== "Critical support" === | === "Critical support" === | ||
In order to deflect correct criticism from Marxists, Dengists, when supporting capitalist-imperialist states such as the Russian Federation or revisionist (and [[Internal debates|arguably]] social-imperialist) countries like China or the [[History of the Soviet Union (1956-1991)|post-Stalinist Soviet Union]], claim they are merely "critically supporting" such countries. However, this "critical support" is almost always uncritical in nature, with Dengists militantly repeating [[Russo-Ukrainian War|Russian propaganda]], denying war crimes, and often using blatant contradictory reasoning (for example, denouncing [[Protracted People's War|People's Wars]] waged by [[Maoism|Maoists]] on the basis of dubious propaganda of supposed war crimes propagated by, at times, even the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]], yet proceeding to dogmatically support the Chinese government's decision to send weapons to reactionary capitalist governments in [[Nepal]] and the [[The Philippines|Philippines]] as "socialist internationalism"). | In order to deflect correct criticism from Marxists, Dengists, when supporting capitalist-imperialist states such as the Russian Federation or revisionist (and [[Internal debates|arguably]] social-imperialist) countries like China or the [[History of the Soviet Union (1956-1991)|post-Stalinist Soviet Union]], claim they are merely "critically supporting" such countries. However, this "critical support" is almost always uncritical in nature, with Dengists militantly repeating [[Russo-Ukrainian War|Russian propaganda]], denying war crimes, and often using blatant contradictory reasoning (for example, denouncing [[Protracted People's War|People's Wars]] waged by [[Maoism|Maoists]] on the basis of dubious propaganda of supposed war crimes propagated by, at times, even the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]], yet proceeding to dogmatically support the Chinese government's decision to send weapons to reactionary capitalist governments in [[Nepal]] and the [[The Philippines|Philippines]] as "socialist internationalism").<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> | ||
=== "Support" for "Mao Zedong Thought" === | === "Support" for "Mao Zedong Thought" === | ||
Similar to how Maoists (and Mao Zedong himself) paid lip-service to the theoretical advancements made by [[Joseph Stalin|Josef Stalin]] and his government but in reality were [[Anti-Stalinism|anti-Stalinists]], Dengists claim to uphold Mao Zedong as a major contributor to Marxism, but in reality are strongly opposed to his actual policies. Dengists view the [[Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution|Cultural Revolution]], the [[Sino-Soviet Split|Sino-Soviet split]], and such as "ultra-left". While Dengists oppose Maoism, they fail to actually understand its revisionist aspects and merely do so because Maoists are opposed to the notion of "actually existing socialism", of which is key in Dengist dogma. | Similar to how Maoists (and Mao Zedong himself) paid lip-service to the theoretical advancements made by [[Joseph Stalin|Josef Stalin]] and his government but in reality were [[Anti-Stalinism|anti-Stalinists]], Dengists claim to uphold Mao Zedong as a major contributor to Marxism, but in reality are strongly opposed to his actual policies. Dengists view the [[Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution|Cultural Revolution]], the [[Sino-Soviet Split|Sino-Soviet split]], and such as "ultra-left". While Dengists oppose Maoism, they fail to actually understand its revisionist aspects and merely do so because Maoists are opposed to the notion of "actually existing socialism", of which is key in Dengist dogma.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
=== Third-worldism === | === Third-worldism === | ||
Not unexpectedly, most Dengists adhere to varying degrees of third-worldist ideology. Dengists commonly employ pseudo-racialist terminology to refer to Westerners and view the proletariat in Western countries as being "bought off" by imperialism (ironically, considering most Dengists are actually [[United States of America|US-Americans]] themselves). Thus, Dengists believe that socialism could only be attained in Western countries via a direct military conquest by the People's Republic of China or Russian Federation (that is assuming they concern themselves with spreading socialism in the first place, of which they largely do not). | Not unexpectedly, most Dengists adhere to varying degrees of third-worldist ideology. Dengists commonly employ pseudo-racialist terminology to refer to Westerners and view the proletariat in Western countries as being "bought off" by imperialism (ironically, considering most Dengists are actually [[United States of America|US-Americans]] themselves). Thus, Dengists believe that socialism could only be attained in Western countries via a direct military conquest by the People's Republic of China or Russian Federation (that is assuming they concern themselves with spreading socialism in the first place, of which they largely do not).<ref name=":0" /> | ||
=== Dogmato-revisionism === | === Dogmato-revisionism === | ||
Like many other revisionist groupings, Dengists take a [[Dogmato-revisionism|dogmato-revisionist]] position. Dengists, while actually caring very little for the classics of Marxism, often resort to quote mining (a rhetorical tactic wherein a debater selects certain quotes from an author to support their position while omitting the general ideas said author promoted) of Marxist theorists such as [[Lenin]] and [[Marx]] in order to support their bourgeois revisionist thesis that private property and bourgeoisie exist under socialism. Similarly, any Marxist who understands this dishonest tactic employed by Dengists are dogmatically rejected as "ultra-leftists". | Like many other revisionist groupings, Dengists take a [[Dogmato-revisionism|dogmato-revisionist]] position. Dengists, while actually caring very little for the classics of Marxism, often resort to quote mining (a rhetorical tactic wherein a debater selects certain quotes from an author to support their position while omitting the general ideas said author promoted) of Marxist theorists such as [[Lenin]] and [[Marx]] in order to support their bourgeois revisionist thesis that private property and bourgeoisie exist under socialism. Similarly, any Marxist who understands this dishonest tactic employed by Dengists are dogmatically rejected as "ultra-leftists".<ref name=":0" /> | ||
== Notable Dengist propaganda outlets == | == Notable Dengist propaganda outlets == | ||
| Line 41: | Line 41: | ||
== Criticism == | == Criticism == | ||
Dengists have been widely criticized by most on the Left. Dengists, because of their extreme sectarianism and dogmatism, are generally regarded in a similar way to other largely online pseudo-socialist trends like "[[patriotic socialism]]". By the 2020s, Dengism as an ideology has been firmly disproven and discredited by [[Anti-revisionism|anti-revisionists]]. | Dengists have been widely criticized by most on the Left. Dengists, because of their extreme sectarianism and dogmatism, are generally regarded in a similar way to other largely online pseudo-socialist trends like "[[patriotic socialism]]". By the 2020s, Dengism as an ideology has been firmly disproven and discredited by [[Anti-revisionism|anti-revisionists]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> | ||
== See also == | == See also == | ||
Revision as of 14:33, 7 August 2023
This article is about the ideological tendency inspired by Deng Xiaoping outside of China, for the ideology of the Communist Party of China itself, see Socialism with Chinese Characteristics
Dengism is a largely online political tendency which expresses critical or uncritical support for the People's Republic of China, as well as a label for the ideological strain which supports this position. Dengism is named for Deng Xiaoping and derives some of its ideological positions from his writings. Use of the term from either supporters or critics is not common outside of internet spaces, and the concept may have originated on the internet [citation needed]. Dengism is controversial due to its direct connection to the heated debate over China. Dengism bears relation to Deng Xiaoping Theory and Xi Jinping Thought [citation needed] but is often associated much more with foreign supporters of the ideology of the Communist Party of China (particularly Westerners).[1]
Characteristics
Campism and support for "Actually Existing Socialism"
Despite claiming to uphold Mao Zedong's thesis that revolutionary movements must develop in accordance to national peculiarities and independently of external socialist states, most Dengists adhere to an extreme form of foreign dogmatism; viewing the primary bringers of socialism as being the supposedly socialist People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation (the latter country they reluctantly admit is not socialist, but de-facto regard it as still being socialist), rather than the proletariat and its revolutionary vanguard in each country. In addition, most Dengists omit class struggle altogether in favor of national struggle; viewing the world as being a conflict between an "anti-imperialist" (Eastern) camp and an imperialist (Western) camp, regardless as to the whether such states are socialist or not.[1][2]
Further, Dengists dogmatically adhere to the "AES" ("actually existing socialism") doctrine. "AES" is a propaganda term concocted in the Soviet revisionist regime under Brezhnev in order to justify their revisionist deviations and stagnation. Today, it is similarly used by Dengists to suggest that the modern corporatist and profit-driven economic system found in China and similar countries are the "be-all end-all" of socialism, as well as to justify any and all revisions and deviations to Marxism which the CPC and similar parties make.[2]
"Critical support"
In order to deflect correct criticism from Marxists, Dengists, when supporting capitalist-imperialist states such as the Russian Federation or revisionist (and arguably social-imperialist) countries like China or the post-Stalinist Soviet Union, claim they are merely "critically supporting" such countries. However, this "critical support" is almost always uncritical in nature, with Dengists militantly repeating Russian propaganda, denying war crimes, and often using blatant contradictory reasoning (for example, denouncing People's Wars waged by Maoists on the basis of dubious propaganda of supposed war crimes propagated by, at times, even the CIA, yet proceeding to dogmatically support the Chinese government's decision to send weapons to reactionary capitalist governments in Nepal and the Philippines as "socialist internationalism").[1][2]
"Support" for "Mao Zedong Thought"
Similar to how Maoists (and Mao Zedong himself) paid lip-service to the theoretical advancements made by Josef Stalin and his government but in reality were anti-Stalinists, Dengists claim to uphold Mao Zedong as a major contributor to Marxism, but in reality are strongly opposed to his actual policies. Dengists view the Cultural Revolution, the Sino-Soviet split, and such as "ultra-left". While Dengists oppose Maoism, they fail to actually understand its revisionist aspects and merely do so because Maoists are opposed to the notion of "actually existing socialism", of which is key in Dengist dogma.[1]
Third-worldism
Not unexpectedly, most Dengists adhere to varying degrees of third-worldist ideology. Dengists commonly employ pseudo-racialist terminology to refer to Westerners and view the proletariat in Western countries as being "bought off" by imperialism (ironically, considering most Dengists are actually US-Americans themselves). Thus, Dengists believe that socialism could only be attained in Western countries via a direct military conquest by the People's Republic of China or Russian Federation (that is assuming they concern themselves with spreading socialism in the first place, of which they largely do not).[1]
Dogmato-revisionism
Like many other revisionist groupings, Dengists take a dogmato-revisionist position. Dengists, while actually caring very little for the classics of Marxism, often resort to quote mining (a rhetorical tactic wherein a debater selects certain quotes from an author to support their position while omitting the general ideas said author promoted) of Marxist theorists such as Lenin and Marx in order to support their bourgeois revisionist thesis that private property and bourgeoisie exist under socialism. Similarly, any Marxist who understands this dishonest tactic employed by Dengists are dogmatically rejected as "ultra-leftists".[1]
Notable Dengist propaganda outlets
Dengists, being largely detached from actual revolutionary struggle and also being largely Westerners, lack any actual major political formations. Most Dengist "organizing" takes place online. Notable Dengist online communities and propaganda outlets include:
Subreddits
- r/GenZedong — a youth-focused extremist community largely based in Reddit. Despite regularly espousing hateful rhetoric, it has yet to be banned.
- r/InformedTankie — a subreddit dedicated to "helping tankies stay informed". Largely a repository of propaganda screeds. Believes Bolivia and Venezuela are "AES".
- r/asktankies — a subreddit where newcomers to Dengism can "ask tankies" about their views. Serves as a major indoctrination center into revisionist ideology.
Lemmy
- lemmygrad.ml — a web forum with archives for the subreddits above. Most users are from r/GenZedong.
- hexbear.net — a web forum which, in theory, is "left-unity", but is largely Dengist.
Media outlets
- redsails.org — a propaganda outlet which contributes third-worldist and Chinese nationalist material.
Criticism
Dengists have been widely criticized by most on the Left. Dengists, because of their extreme sectarianism and dogmatism, are generally regarded in a similar way to other largely online pseudo-socialist trends like "patriotic socialism". By the 2020s, Dengism as an ideology has been firmly disproven and discredited by anti-revisionists.[1][2]
See also
- Nikita Khrushchev
- Brezhnev Doctrine
- Nikolai Bukharin
- Actually existing socialism
- People's Republic of China