A question about development in poorer nations

A correspondent enquired, "When developing a poor nation, such as the ones on the coast of West Africa, is it better to use a capitalist approach or a communist approach?"

Reply:
 There is no present alternative to capitalist development in the short term.

 The only approach which can be used to develop nations requires capital.

 Despite answers to the contrary communism has not existed anywhere in the world, they were all examples of state developed capitalism, developing and retaining waged slavery, state ownership instead of, or in addition to, private ownership of the means of production and distribution in the absence of a large domestic capitalist class.


 This has allowed some nations with huge populations to develop capitalism (with Chinese characteristics) in some cases, utilising the availability of their populous numbers to move into production gaps in world markets with less initial cost.


 The change from state capitalism to a mixed state and private system may have been started by Deng Xiaoping in 1978, but the idea of China being part of the global economy did not originate with Deng. As Mao Zedong is reported to have told a US diplomat in 1945: ‘China needs to build up light industries to supply her own market and raise the living standards of her own people. Eventually she can supply these goods to other countries in the Far East. To help pay for this foreign trade and investment, she has raw materials and agricultural products. America is not only the most suitable country to assist this economic development of China: she is also the only country fully able to participate. ‘


 Nation states are feature also of capitalist social and political development, their governments, the executive arm of the domestic capitalist class, despite the winning of the franchise, capitalism's democratic pretensions stop at representative democracy, which favours the rule of the dominant class in society over the electorate, with the electorates agreement to be governed over by different flavours of the same capitalist sauce which ensures their subjugation to the necessity, for the immense majority to sell their mental and physical energies for a wage or salary in order to access some basic necessities.

 This is the same the world over in developed nations and developing ones are playing capitalist catch up, but the economic dice are loaded against developing nations.

 It is impossible and always has been so, to have some communist or socialist oasis, in a sea of capitalism.


 Capitalism is global also, in its reach and scope. It requires raw materials and markets and developed capitalist nations combine in their collective interests, with dominant economic players exerting the greatest influence.

 They are all in competition with each other and this rivalry leads to war.
Socialism /communism however is an advanced post-capitalist society still to come into existence but not through underdeveloped nations opting for a state capitalist road as this will only be in the interests of elites and pseuds masquerading or believing themselves, as egalitarians.

 Real communism/socialism is,
· A world without buying and selling.
· A world without classes.
· A world without borders.
· A world without money.
· A world where ‘real’ democracy and mutual cooperation can flourish and grow.

 It’s not just socialists that are repulsed by the hypocrisy, lies and self-seeking of capitalism’s elite. Poverty, hunger, wars and environmental destruction are intrinsic to the market system. As is the extreme wealth of the few at the expense of the many. Reforms, charity, and appeals to the gods have not, and cannot change its fundamental base. Sticking plasters don’t work. Only major surgery will.

 The World Socialist Movement exists to complete one task. And that is to abolish capitalism through democratic means.

 Human beings are unique. We can imagine something and make it a reality.

 Socialism proposes a world for all and not just for the few. Where the present, and future generations, can live in peaceful, mutual cooperation. But, we need your help to achieve it.

http://www.worldsocialism.org/