Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book presents comments of Su Shaozhi, the Director of Institute of Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. It explores the notion of undeveloped socialism. The book argues that different views exist about the operation of law of value in each of these two kinds of 'socialism'. It also argues that China's planners failed adequately to change the rules. The book suggests that the socialist mode of production has transformed state leaders into a new ruling class, whilst transforming the classes of old society into a more homogeneous labouring mass. It talks about the official desire to harmonise the interests of the state, the economic unit and the individual. The book documents Sun's views on the role of the state in a socialist economy, which are unorthodox both from the Stalinist and market socialist points of view.