Rethinking Marxism In The Light of Chinese Reforms

In the spring of 1989 the democracy movement in mainland China was crushed by the Chinese authorities. Later, a series of communist regimes in Last European countries and the former Soviet Union collapsed. These events are used as proof by the pundits and the press of “the end of Marxism.” ¹ Some hold that the peoples in the former socialist countries identified Stalinism with Marxism and discarded both. ² Others insist that “Marx not be held responsible for the bad applications of his theories (e.g., for Stalinism). ³ Regardless of one's attitude toward Marxism, it cannot be denied that Marxism has received a heavy blow. The vitality of Marxism has not ended, but nowhere does Marxism retain the status as the master discourse that it once enjoyed. ⁴ Yet Marx's reputation as a great thinker has continued to grow, and his historical influence cannot be neglected. It is therefore still possible to assess Marxism with new insight. Through critical analysis, we can still find some useful ideas in Marxist political and academic theories. Marxism still deserves to be probed seriously. The reforms in China since late 1978 furnish a practical backdrop for a critical analysis of Marxism.