Noah Smith Critiques Outdated Views on China's Ideology, Highlighting "Repurposed Joke"

Noah Smith, a prominent economist and writer, recently drew attention to what he described as a "repurposed old joke about Chinese exchange students learning communism from Japan in the 80s." This commentary, shared on social media, serves as a critique of persistent, anachronistic perceptions regarding the nature of China's ruling Communist Party. Smith's observation suggests that some discussions about China are rooted in historical inaccuracies rather than contemporary realities.

The "joke" itself, implying Chinese students would learn communism from capitalist Japan in the 1980s, underscores a perceived irony. This period marked significant economic liberalization in China under Deng Xiaoping, moving away from strict Maoist principles, while Japan was a global economic powerhouse. The re-use of such a joke points to a broader argument that certain viewpoints on China are "stuck in a 1980s timewarp," as noted by entrepreneur Balaji Srinivasan in a related discussion.

Srinivasan elaborated on Smith's point, arguing that while the party in control of China is still officially the Chinese Communist Party, it is "better thought of as the Chinese Nationalist Party." He explained that three main groups—the CCP itself, parts of the Western left, and some Republicans—perpetuate the "communist" label for varying reasons. The CCP maintains an illusion of continuity from Mao Zedong to Deng Xiaoping, downplaying Deng's significant capitalist reforms.

For some on the Western left, China is seen as "actually existing communism," while others align with China out of opposition to the U.S. Meanwhile, some Republicans, according to Srinivasan, remain in a "1980s timewarp" regarding China's ideology, finding the "communist" label rhetorically useful even if they acknowledge its ultranationalist tendencies. This collective adherence to an outdated label, Srinivasan suggested, "is meant to gloss over Deng's 1978 coup" and the party's transformation.

Smith's tweet and the subsequent discussion highlight a critical disconnect between historical narratives and China's current political and economic landscape. The repurposed joke serves as a poignant symbol of how ingrained, and potentially misleading, certain historical interpretations can be in contemporary geopolitical discourse. The debate emphasizes the evolving identity of the CCP, shifting from a purely communist entity to one increasingly driven by nationalist imperatives.