Cowbee [he/they]

Mine neither, sadly…

Really pretty architecture too!

Much of the consequences of the decay in imperialism come from the global south rising. African countries for example are developing, while the west is surging to the right and increasing in violent attacks. Organizing of course matters, China is just an example of what happens when you effectively organize.

China is directly undermining imperialism by providing an alternative for the global south to turn to for development. Reading the works of Fanon and Nkrumah makes this fairly obvious, for a global south country to rapidly develop they need regional sovereignty and ideally a way out of their formerly colonial economies that isn’t just neocolonialism from the west. China presents a real alternative that does not underdevelop the global south, and gives them the opportunities they need to escape neocolonialism.

China trading with capitalist countries does not give them what they need to continue imperializing. In fact, China serving as the outlet for the west to de-industrialize has actually harmed western industrial capacity, resulting in decreased military power and a decline in hard and soft power. They are not propping up the west, they are leading it to their grave as the west cannot help but go towards due to the profit motive.

This isn’t about good will, this is a material process that happens when a socialist country is rising.

Here are some cool ones I’ve found! Can’t visit, unfortunately, but there are people who can and have taken some cool pictures.

This is some of the laziest racism I have seen in a while.

China is interested in helping socialism around the world. They are generally noninterventionist, but are directly combatting the system of imperialism and helping the global south escape the trap of underdevelopment. Further, they help countries that are heavily sanctioned, such as Cuba and the DPRK. The socialist market economy itself is helping decouple the world from the system set up by the west to plunder the world.

It’s perfectly possible, it just requires the downfall of imperialism as committed by the west at mass scale, and the adoption of renewables and smarter city planning, combatting desertification, etc. as seen in countries like China.

His parents denied an autopsy after he died, and the doctor that examined him found no evidence of mistreatment. It seems likely that he contracted illness like botulism, and was returned before his sentence was complete as a show of good will. The denial of an autopsy left it credible that he was tortured to death, which is how the story was reported in the west, but there’s no actual evidence for this narrative beyond the coma of unclear origin.

Regardless, nobody is saying the DPRK is a utopia. There are good aspects to the DPRK, but more than anything it is a real country, not literally Mordor as many westerners make it out to be. The image of a hellscape is used to justify sanctions and dehumanization of northern Koreans.

Why not?

Is your point that only those that have visited the DPRK have a right to speak on it? At best, this means most of us are equally unable to speak on it, meaning any condemnation of it as an evil country akin to Mordor is as absurd as those claiming it isn’t an evil country akin to Mordor.

Fair, lol.

Odd that there are so many NATO fans that deny its historical roots and present role.

Weird that there are at least three landlord fans.

I don’t know what your intentions are, and I didn’t suggest that I did. I understand why you don’t discuss Marxism, you told me already. I’m not sure why you think I’m forcing you to “debate me,” I already explained that it’s fine not to. Really not sure what you’re trying to do here.

I never once suggested that people need to read a list compiled by me to have a discussion with me, so I’m not sure where that came from. The list isn’t a prerequisite for discussion, neither Meow nor I implied that. I also said you’re completely okay to not discuss with me, I also despise debate culture, getting cheap “wins,” etc. I just pointed out why people may be “dogpiling” you, as you said. I’m fully comfortable with not having a discussion with you, I’ve said so multiple times, so I’m also not sure why you describe me of not understanding why you don’t want to. I do understand.

Surely you can also see that, by positioning yourself as old and experienced, ie wiser, you are speaking condescendingly towards those you disagree with? I’m fine to take this to DMs, if you wish, but my preference is open discussion as the main purpose of discussing Marxism, and the merits of it, is to create more comrades.

You’ve already shown yourself to be fairly obstinate, and likely aren’t going to be swayed, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t onlookers. There’s no karma on Lemmy, upvotes do practically nothing (by design), but people are swayed and convinced when they see effective and sensible points being made.

In other words, I focus on swaying onlookers, rather than the person I am directly talking to. Far more effective use of time, unless the person I am talking to is willing to have an actual discussion (which is rare).

I also disagree that the guide was being used as a “cudgel,” the point being made was that Marxist theory is useful. The guide was given as an avenue to explore theory, not as a way to “debunk” you. The point stands without the guide, that Marxist theory is useful, and your counterpoint dismissed it by saying you studied Marxism in a liberal, western academic setting, a setting well-known for distorting Marxism, blunting and defanging it.

I limit social media to certain times and places. Kills doomscrolling!

Who is included in “our entire modern civilization?” Some parts of the world are in decline, some are rising and are stronger every day.

I’m not talking to Meow, and this is not a formal debate setting. I agree with Meow, and am fine to back up Meow’s points if you wish, after all, I put together the reading guides Meow mentioned. That’s my personal investment in this discussion, defending the utility of guides I put together (even if the advanced list isn’t really a list at this point but a remnant of the prototype basic list).

I feel that if you want to avoid discussing Marxism-Leninism, it’s better to not make a counter-assertion at all, and instead just indicate from the get go that you don’t want to discuss it. I agree with Meow that it’s critically relevant to the discussion at hand, though, which is why it was brought in.