I don't think it is a "variant", but a ploy to compete on the world stage. So, you think what China did over the past 3 decades or so - moving their country from the Stone Age, where hundreds of millions subsisted on a cup or two of rice daily, towards becoming an advanced, relatively prosperous nation - was a ploy to conceal that they’re still old fashioned imperialist commies?
I do not think that is possible. Their change must have been profound - and genuine. Or, turned real along the way.
There is a long standing discussion about ends justifying means. But, Mahatma Gandhi focused on the same issue from a different angle - and found that means will determine the character of the outcome.
Gandhi said means are foreseeable, ends are not. Thus, means can be controlled, managed and guaranteed. “If one takes care of the means the end will take care of itself.” Last, but not the least, more often than not, the ends changes in character as a result of the means adopted in its attainment
southasiamonitor.org
I remember the Chinese leader Deng. I think he genuinely wanted the best for his country when he started their program of political and economic reforms. BUT - even if you are right, and the whole thing started as a ploy - 30 years later, the means they used - introducing capitalism and growing the economy several percent a year - would make the process acquire its own quality and momentum. Means would determine the ends.
I’m not saying they haven’t done nasty things - spying, stealing intellectual property, oppressing minorities, and so on. They have a big dark side to their civilization. But, none of the past or present civilizations avoided having a dark side. Rome would not be possible had they respected human life and rejected slavery. |
