>The most recent edition of Monthly Review (see below
>for link to web teaser) is a book length investigation
>of capitalist restoration in China.
I am also very interested in this issue of MR. I just got it in the mail and haven't had time to read it yet other than glance at the intro and conclusion. I haven't solidified a view of China for myself yet as I can't say I'm an expert or even a good amateur on the subject.
I do think that phrases like "capitalist restoration" or a bit too loaded to be useful -- even despite the evidence. I know what Chinese Party officials say about the market reform process. This is an article they gave to Political Affairs last January: http://www.politicalaffairs.net/article/view/36/1/1/ It was somehwat controversial for PA readers (pros and cons - went both ways).
My initial impression of the MR issue is that Hart-Landsberg and Burkett use a slippery-slope kind of argument about this or that "market reform" reform ending up in a rejection of socialism. I don't endorse that kind of argument, but look forward to getting into the issue and hearing what others have to say on this topic. Right now, I lean toward the section of the left that argues for the development of capitalist social relations of production as a necessary pre-condition for socialism (to be inadequately simplistic in stating the case).
Joel Wendland
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