China's Path to Development: Against Neoliberalism

Description

This book is a treatise against neoliberalism illuminated by the path of China.  China is a model to be mimicked, but more so theoretically than by replication. If anything, nations of the global South must rid themselves of neoliberally imposed ‘one-size-fits all’ models, instrumentalised to shift value to US empire. Neoliberal models, robbing nations of their histories and resources, are negative ‘best practice’ serving the interests of the hegemon. Developing nations need to search for the theory that corresponds to their own conditions and development strategies. China’s experience, anchored in labour as the historical agent, offers numerous theoretical cues as to how to build comparable home-grown paths. Thinking development with a subject voids reductionist politics in favour of sober class analysis. The study concludes by restating the age-old wisdom that there is no development without the rule of labour. Preface Acknowledgements Contents 1 From Ironclad to Discreet Rule of the Proletariat Waste or Development The Irreconcilability of Neoliberalism with China The Culture of Neoliberalism Restating Our Hypothesis Situating the Issue Concluding Remarks References 2 Theory Without Subject The Conditions for Development Half-Truth and the Mainstream The Commodity and the War with China References 3 China Defies Neoliberalism Neoliberalism Contra Autonomy Second-Hand White Privilege in East Asia Neoliberalism and the Reign of Commodities The Context for Resource Allocation The Necessity of Immiseration for Profits Conclusion: China Defies Neoliberalism References 4 Towards a Socialist Development Theory Development Under the Imperialist Constraint Reified Subjects of Macroeconomics Kalecki’s Position Capital Formation in a Developing Context Capital Formation with Chinese Characteristics Investment Macro Policy Unemployment Agriculture Closing Comment References 5 From Discreet to Ironclad Dictatorship of the Proletariat Democracy is a Form of Power Exercise Fairy Tales of ‘Fair Trade’ Recollecting Thoughts Capital is Obfuscation The Future that Has Happened A Social Yardstick for Progress References Index