Red Cat, White Cat: China and the Contradictions of ‘Market Socialism’

After years of pro–market reforms, China faces a fundamental choice. Will it move toward private capitalism, or toward a renewal of the collective and socialist basis of its revolution? Red Cat, White Cat begins by examining the tensions growing within “market socialism.” Weil provides background on marketization, the class forces that produced it, and the polarization and social dislocation that it is generating.

Weil offers a timely analysis of the growing tensions between China and the United States and their roots in China’s push to lead in the world market. He also describes the continuing contention between the legacies of Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping. Finally, in making the case for the inherent instability of market socialism, Weil offers a challenging perspective on China after Deng, and the implications for the economic and political situation worldwide.

Robert Weil teaches sociology and Asian studies at the college level. He taught in 1993–1994 at a university in northeastern China.