Key information on China The following review is an expansion, at the Tribune’s request, of the original printed in the most recent edition -of Peace News. The author, John Morgan, is President of the Canadian Peace Congress. Among the many books pub- lished on China in 1975, one is especially recommended for busy Supporters of the peace move- ment who do not have time to become Sinologists but who do need trustworthy information and analyses from those who are, and who also thoroughly understand and support the world peace ef- fort. Such a book has appeared, translated into English from Rus- sian, Hungarian, German, Bulga- tian, Polish and Mongolian. (Present-Day China: Socio- Economic Problems. Moscow: Progress Publishers, 1975); its 248 pages of economic, sociological and political analysis contain more sensible and helpful infor- mation and interpretation than this reviewer has elsewhere found in such small compass. Thirteen scholars from six socialist countries contributed es- says to the book, which is divided into five sections:* (1) general © problems in the analysis of Chi- na’s socio-economic system, (2) main stages of economic policy and development (3) the class structure, (4) development pros- pects, and (5) the Mao groups’ ac- tivity abroad. Among the many topics discussed are Sun Yat-sen’s views on development, the situa- tion in Kuomintang China, Mao’s nationalistic doctrine of the ‘“‘new democracy,’’ the orientation and leadership role in earlier days of the Communist Party, the na- tional economic plans, the switch-over to Maoism and con- sequent difficulties and confu- sions, the status of classes and social sections, foreign trade, militarism. The Chinese population prob- lem is studied in relationship to its aggravation through, abrupt changes of economic-social poli- cy; industry is analyzed in its two spheres of civilian and military, the former deprived in favor of the latter, especially in agricul- ture. There is an especially able presentation of the changes in ' Chinese industry from pre- revolutionary days to the present, buttressed by tables and statistics from official Chinese sources, and with careful estimates where Statistics are unavailable; Mao’s socio-economic views on egalitarianism and poverty are presented and critically analyzed in terms of the objective require- ments of workers building large scale and highly mechanized pro- duction facilities. The ‘great leap forward”’ is discussed in its vari- ous aspects, and shown to be ac- tually a disastrous fall backward. The major importance of handi- crafts in present-day China is discussed in relationship to- the founding of cooperatives, their _ subsequent deformation by speed-up, and the destructive im- pact of this on the economy. The present class structure of China is discussed in relation- ship to Mao’s redefinition of classes, which holds that the bourgeoisie-proletarian struggle JOHN MORGAN continues even after the means of production are socialized and will do so up to the founding of com- munism, with the distinct possi- bility of the bourgeoisie triumph- ing — hence, Mao’s ‘‘struggle”’ emphasis. The exposition and criticism of this is the best this reviewer has seen. Similarly, a discussion of the Chinese work- ing Class in 1964-5 is an excellent example of concrete analysis of the various categories of workers, their training problems, their material conditions, their wage problems, their relationship to the present political apparatus, the role of unions. While several essays deal in part with agriculture, there is one specializing in its analysis, giving a careful exposition of the changes occasioned by abrupt Switches of policy, the sig- nificance of various social groups in the countryside, the problems of communes and brigades, the deformation occasioned by the “prepare for war and_ natural calamities”’ slogan. On China’s prospects for de- velopment, the analysis probes various strains and conflicts oc- casioned by the deformations and deprivations arising from the military program, estimated to consume some 20% of China’s gross productivity; the outcome Suggested is for an eventual post-Mao assumption of power by a group with the same kind of nationalistic mentality, but more practical-minded and realistic. The final essay is a brief exposi- tion of the history of the hegemonic attitude of China to- .ward non-Chinese peoples, espe- cially toward Mongolia. Of spe- cial interest is the summary of Chinese-Mongolian economic re- lations until the Chinese break-off which left Mongolia with a seri- ous economic loss. However, this article needs to be considerably expanded through statistical and other kinds of documentation that give the other articles much of their authority. These 248 pages are packed with helpful information and analysis. One should read the en- tire book. However, it’ is slow reading and if one had to choose through pressure of time a single article, the first one, some 50 pages long, will give an excellent overview of the general situation. It is by M.I. Sladkovsky of PACIFIC TRIBUNE—AUGUST 20, 1976—Page 6 the U.S.S.R. and is entitled “General Problems in the Analy- sis of the P.R.C.’s Socio- Economic System.”’ This reviewer has prepared a lengthy precis of the entire book, which may be secured by writing to the Canadian Peace Congress, Toronto office. In view of the fact that 800 million people in China are being taught the inevitability of war, and to prepare for it, in view of Maoist opposition to de- tente and the obvious swing to the right in foreign policy, and in view of the attempted ‘destruction of the liberation struggle in Angola through joint action with South Africa and the CIA, it is essential that workers for peace have reli- able knowledge of the truth about China. This book has a lot of it to offer. Note: Studies such as those con- tained in Present Day China are important not only for an understanding of what occurs in that country but as aids to rev- olutionary forces elsewhere who seek to avoid similar happenings in their own countries. As Hungarian’ scholar G. Gidaszi comments: “The contradictions in China’s development reflect some tenden- cies which are typical of many Third World countries that are backward in socio-economic terms, tendencies which could pos- sibly characterize their future de- velopment’’. (p. 59) 2 For instance, ‘The working class in China was said to include the army and all Party members regardless of their social origin be- cause, the argument went, they were the most consistent advocates of working class goals and ideas. This kind of logic swelled the class basis of the dictatorship of the pro- letariat in China to 15 million, which was three times the actual ‘figure but nevertheless only amounted to only 5% of the coun- try’s adult population. “The importance of this prob- lem goes well beyond the framework of China’s develop- ment, for it is one of the basic prob- , lems in the transition to the socialist road of former colonial and semi-colonial countries with backward class relations similar to China.”’ He suggests that particular at- tention should be directed toward making distinctions ‘“‘about which the Chinese views should be re- garded as a specific reflection of objective problems arising from China’s social realities and which as a harmful product of the dis- torted mental reflection of genuine or imagined problems, as ideologi- cal views which falsify the realities, or as incorrect theoretical con- cepts. A scientific and consistent separation of the two would make it easier for us to fight against in- - correct ideological propositions and concepts’’. (p. 64) There is no implication by any of the writers, however, that variants of Maoism are inevitable in Third World countries, but on the con- trary that such difficulties can be avoided or greatly reduced in scope by leadership that thoroughly un- derstands scientific socialism and avails itself of the cummulative ex- perience and aid of the socialist countries. — John Morgan } A LOOK AT THE OLYMPICS Some comparisons eae _. By TOM MORRIS ae _ MONTREAL ~The. two action-packed and exciting weeks Olympics were probably watched by more people than any evi far. Canadians, no less than anyone, glued themselves to their woke up ‘tired for work as they followed the competitions by! world’s finest athletes. ... oe — _ It’s quite nattral:that our impressions overall will be varied — were-thée Gaitiés themselves. People I talked to discovered new spay they previously were not familiar with, new names that were ins made famous by massive electronic coverage. : _ While the Olympic spirit prevailed and each competitor did hi her best, the stunning results achieved by the socialist world as a whl deserve some examination. There:are 40 countries included in the list of medal winners. Of! 40, 11 are socialist and 29 capitalist. The overall comparisons read this:268 medals for the capitalist states — 344 for the socialist. EB more impressive is a look at the top 10 winners. Here you fin' socialist and three capitalist countries with a decisive edge in mee 1 for socialism — 325 to 158. : a Any way you look at it; the superiority of sports and recreation un@ \ socialism is seen. The German Democratic Republic would have to!) considered the most improved and impressive team given its size # success. Forty gold medals, a total of 90 Olympics medals — and entered only 16 of the 21 Games’ events. And, as we’ve said ie times in this space, the GDR has only 17 million people — but wha} difference compared with Canada’s approach to sports and physi* ( culture! y One hundred and twenty-one first place finishes for the elev’ ‘ socialist countries more than makes the point. But it’s not only’ Av vastly better training programs, the superior facilities, the accessibilll for all to sports that was evident to all who cared to see. There is als? matter of attitude and approach. ] Re eg pe tp * Ok The socialist athletes didn’t bellyache when they lost. We didn’t he) | Sour grapes excuses and bégrudging comments when athletes fro! t non-socialist countries did well. Having met several medal winners y the GDR team socially during the Games it’s difficult to imagine the « making the sort of stupid comments some U.S. and Canadians mae I about their opponents. Ff But that also mirrors the complete difference in concepts of the M) ‘ major contending social systems. When the great new Cuban tra ‘ I champion Alberto Juantorena said he will give his two gold medals" the Cuban Revolution, Canadian broadcasters didn’t know what ye meant. When the GDR women swimmers were asked if sports ma® : them “‘less feminine’’, they weren’t quite sure what the hell was beif I asked ... ; + OK OK, yi Canada’s athletes didn’t surprise anyone. All the talk by the medh ! that the host country traditionally has never won less than three gold and we were aiming for five, was just that — talk. Again, we wé! simply outclassed. It’s not the fault of the athletes who worked ha ; and have as much pride and desire as anyone. The question now # whether more organization and effort will go into amateur sports % less. It could go either way now that the Olympics are over. ne ae Hake After hundreds of hours of TV viewing the country was groggy wl”) the enormity of the whole show. Still, it was hard not to be shaken # the last day watching the closing ceremonies. Staged like a 1940’s Cer B. DeMille extravaganza, the ‘Indian motif’ was nothing short a insulting to Canada’s native people. Giant teepees? Powder bltie buck skins? What sort of a folksy image were they trying to foist off on tht world? - Given our past and present treatment of Native peoples, the organly; ers of this giant turkey should be made to spend afew months in the ré environment provided for Indian people — tarpaper shacks, mé@ nutrition, disease, alcholism, cops, jails. . . ie “ Quit trying to hide, Grimsby, and get back to work...”