lbo-talk-digest V1 #5030

[Justin Schwartz]

I don't know much about China, but I was a Sovietologist of sorts, and Chris 
is right, even setting aside Gorby. Thing is, one party states have to 
encompass the whole range of perspectives, and so are generally quite 
diverse with lots of factions. In the pre-perestroika FSU--never mind 
Gorby--there was quite a lot of dissent in the Party about its policy. You 
couldn't challenge one-party rule, but hwo the party ruled was another 
matter. Where do you think Gorby and all the perestoikans came from? jks


>
>Quote:
>
> >Gave you a pause, didn't I, Nathan? Good. I am sure there are people in
>the
> >CCP who are very reasonable, moderate (or radical), civilized, and
> >democratic--Chinese Barbara Lees. jks
>
>No, there are not, since anyone who dissented from fundamental policy like
>Barbara Lee has would have been tossed out of office - as they have been
>systematically over the years- and often in worse times sent to jail or
>killed.
>
>Hmmm. This was the case in the USSR, and they wound up with Gorbachev. I
>think you're caracaturing the structure of one-party states. There was a 
>lot
>more latitide for freedom of discussion in the Soviet Party (post-Stalin,
>anyway) than is commonly believed in the West.
>
>Chris Doss
>The Russia Journal

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