Deng Xiaoping Theory is not recognized as as major of an advancement as Mao Zedong Thought or Xi Jinping Thought. Theory comes second to Thought, the CPC upholds both Mao’s and Deng’s contributions while recognizing ultimately Mao’s advancements were more significant overall, and that Xi Jinping’s own advancements and upholding of both Mao and Deng are the only sets of policy positions and ideological thinking to earn the title of “Thought” after Mao.
Alaskaball already clarified “Stalinism,” which I see as similar to self-identification as a “tankie.” Self-identifying Stalinists are usually doing so as a play on those who try to slander Marxism-Leninism as more Stalin than Marx and Lenin. I see “Dengism” largely as the same way, the only ones calling themselves “Dengists” are generally taking something levied as an insult and owning it, not as an actual political line.
I largely agree with this essay on the concept of “Dengism” vs Deng Xiaoping Theory.
Then let me retreat back to my initial point, which is that it is question-begging, and exactly part of the rhetorical angle of “DXT” that it basically does not exist and it’s all just Chinese Marxist-Leninism with some contributions from our favorite cadaver Mao and the groundbreaking theory of Xi, which was that we must uphold DXT and also that environmentalism is cool. Seriously, I find Xi much more respectable than Deng, but the idea that he iterated more on state ideology than Deng did is just silly. Deng championed at risk to his own life his own nominal socialism for decades until it finally overtook Mao at the latter’s pitiful concession, but by casting out so much of what Mao did as deviationism, and just being “Socialism with Chinese Characteristics,” is such a flagrant sleight-of-hand that it’s more like swallowing the ball in a game of three card monte and then asking the contestant to pick which cup it’s under. As I said, it’s a smokescreen.
I can’t say I agree with your final assessment, but returning to the base of the question, I don’t really consider “Dengism” to be a thing just like I don’t consider “Stalinism” to be a thing. I suppose I will concede that they can be used when specifically talking about Deng’s policies in his era, and questions like Socialism in One Country for Stalin, but that “Dengists” do not exist as people who put Deng as a major, universalized advancement on Marxism-Leninism.
“Dengists” do not exist as people who put Deng as a major, universalized advancement on Marxism-Leninism.
Of course they do not, and that’s exactly my point. I thought I was repeating myself too much, but then you talk past me like this and I question what I could possibly to do make my thesis more understandable. I don’t say Dengist because I think the people to whom I would apply that label would also self-identify that way, and I don’t define Dengism in terms that those people would like, because they and I disagree about Marxism and especially about the historical reality of the ideological trends that led to our respective positions.
I hear and understand what you’re saying, comrade, my point was to reject OP’s casting of everyone as “Dengites” or “Dengists” like a Trot slings “Stalinist.” I think in what you percieve as overcorrection on my part, I view as overcorrection on your part. I think we aren’t being charitable enough to each other.
Deng Xiaoping Theory is not recognized as as major of an advancement as Mao Zedong Thought or Xi Jinping Thought. Theory comes second to Thought, the CPC upholds both Mao’s and Deng’s contributions while recognizing ultimately Mao’s advancements were more significant overall, and that Xi Jinping’s own advancements and upholding of both Mao and Deng are the only sets of policy positions and ideological thinking to earn the title of “Thought” after Mao.
Alaskaball already clarified “Stalinism,” which I see as similar to self-identification as a “tankie.” Self-identifying Stalinists are usually doing so as a play on those who try to slander Marxism-Leninism as more Stalin than Marx and Lenin. I see “Dengism” largely as the same way, the only ones calling themselves “Dengists” are generally taking something levied as an insult and owning it, not as an actual political line.
I largely agree with this essay on the concept of “Dengism” vs Deng Xiaoping Theory.
Then let me retreat back to my initial point, which is that it is question-begging, and exactly part of the rhetorical angle of “DXT” that it basically does not exist and it’s all just Chinese Marxist-Leninism with some contributions from our favorite cadaver Mao and the groundbreaking theory of Xi, which was that we must uphold DXT and also that environmentalism is cool. Seriously, I find Xi much more respectable than Deng, but the idea that he iterated more on state ideology than Deng did is just silly. Deng championed at risk to his own life his own nominal socialism for decades until it finally overtook Mao at the latter’s pitiful concession, but by casting out so much of what Mao did as deviationism, and just being “Socialism with Chinese Characteristics,” is such a flagrant sleight-of-hand that it’s more like swallowing the ball in a game of three card monte and then asking the contestant to pick which cup it’s under. As I said, it’s a smokescreen.
I can’t say I agree with your final assessment, but returning to the base of the question, I don’t really consider “Dengism” to be a thing just like I don’t consider “Stalinism” to be a thing. I suppose I will concede that they can be used when specifically talking about Deng’s policies in his era, and questions like Socialism in One Country for Stalin, but that “Dengists” do not exist as people who put Deng as a major, universalized advancement on Marxism-Leninism.
Of course they do not, and that’s exactly my point. I thought I was repeating myself too much, but then you talk past me like this and I question what I could possibly to do make my thesis more understandable. I don’t say Dengist because I think the people to whom I would apply that label would also self-identify that way, and I don’t define Dengism in terms that those people would like, because they and I disagree about Marxism and especially about the historical reality of the ideological trends that led to our respective positions.
I hear and understand what you’re saying, comrade, my point was to reject OP’s casting of everyone as “Dengites” or “Dengists” like a Trot slings “Stalinist.” I think in what you percieve as overcorrection on my part, I view as overcorrection on your part. I think we aren’t being charitable enough to each other.