Initially, I always thought China was on a capitalist path, or at least a form of “state capitalism,” where the government leads economic development while allowing market economy and private capital to exist. However, recently while playing “Hearts of Iron IV,” I noticed that Hitler’s Nazi Party and Mussolini’s Fascist Party also called themselves “socialist,” which prompted me to think anew: does China’s current development trajectory resemble fascism? Or, how does it differ from true socialism? Here are some of my immature thoughts.
- Economic Model: Fascism vs. China’s Current Situation vs. Orthodox Socialism (the latter I will omit later)
Fascist economic features:
- State controls but does not eliminate private ownership; capitalists still exist but must obey the state.
- State-business cooperation; workers cannot challenge capitalist interests; enterprises are protected by the state.
- Opposes class struggle, emphasizes cooperation between capitalists and workers, serving national interests together.
China’s current situation:
- State controls the economic lifelines: state-owned enterprises dominate key sectors like finance, energy, telecommunications; private capital must obey national policies.
- Capital obeys the state: large private enterprises (like Alibaba, Tencent) are being rectified; capitalists who do not comply may face suppression or loss of influence, similar to the absolute control of enterprises under fascist economic models.
- Government intervenes in the market: economic development is directed by policy intervention rather than fully market-driven.
The economic model of socialism:
- Abolish the capitalist class, nationalize the means of production, and have the working class control the economy.
- Planned economy, distribution based on need rather than profit.
- Class struggle as the core, continuously weakening residual capitalist forces.
Therefore, China’s economic model is neither fully free-market capitalism nor true socialism but is closer to fascist state capitalism. Although there are state-owned enterprises, capitalists remain the main economic force in society; the working class does not control the means of production, and there is no genuine worker-led economic management system. China’s economic power remains in the hands of the state and capitalists, not in the public ownership under proletarian dictatorship as socialism requires.
- Political System:
Fascist political features:
- One-party dictatorship, party-state unity, all government institutions controlled by the party.
- Personal cult of the leader, the will of the supreme leader equated with the will of the state.
- Militarism and nationalism combined, emphasizing national strength and revival.
China’s current situation:
- Party-state integration: government, military, judiciary all controlled by the ruling party, similar to fascist one-party dictatorship.
- Personal cult: continuous propaganda of leaders, loyalty education deep into society, personal worship returning.
- Nationalist propaganda: emphasizing national revival, external enemies, shaping a narrative of unity against external threats.
Socialist political model:
- Proletarian dictatorship, managed by workers’ councils.
- Democratic centralism, leaders as representatives of the working class, not objects of personal cult.
- Internationalism, emphasizing proletarian unity worldwide, not national revival.
I personally believe China’s current political system has long deviated from socialism because it lacks proletarian dictatorship; instead, it is dominated by bureaucrats, and the working class has not truly seized political power. China is more authoritarian than capitalist democratic countries but different from fascist regimes centered entirely on militarism and nationalism. Currently, it mainly aims for the stability of the ruling party, not the extreme military mobilization of fascist states. However, if personal cults and militarism further strengthen, China could become closer to fascism rather than socialism.
- Social Control:
Fascist social control:
- Supremacy of nationalism, national interests above all, individual freedoms must obey the state.
- Intense racism, such as Nazi Aryan supremacy.
- Suppression of opposition, all political dissenters are suppressed or eliminated.
China’s current situation:
- Strengthening ideological control: censorship, internet blockade, high control over media, almost all information channels are state-controlled.
- Improved social monitoring system: large-scale use of AI and big data for social credit management, monitoring personal behavior, even more advanced than historical fascist states.
- China is gradually replacing class narratives with nationalist narratives, emphasizing Chinese unity and revival, rather than the working class or class struggle.
The socialist social model:
- Worker democracy, emphasizing the combination of individual and collective, not absolute obedience to the state.
- Internationalism, opposing racism, emphasizing proletarian unity worldwide.
- Freedom of speech (within the working class), but not allowing capitalists to control public opinion.
Currently (only at present), China’s social control appears stricter than in capitalist countries but different from socialist proletarian democracy. Its shift towards nationalism makes it more distant from socialism and closer to fascism. Currently, the official narrative is replacing class narratives with nationalist ones, and with increasing nationalist propaganda, it may further develop towards fascism.
- Foreign Policy:
Fascist foreign policy:
- Military expansion, resolving territorial issues through war.
- External aggression, such as Nazi Germany annexing Austria and invading Poland.
- Extreme national pride, rejection of international cooperation.
China’s current situation:
- Emphasizing external threats, shaping the narrative of “Western hostile forces” suppressing China.
- Hardening diplomacy, similar to fascist states emphasizing national pride and tough external stance.
- No significant military expansion yet, mainly relying on economic expansion like the “Belt and Road”.
The socialist foreign policy:
- Internationalism, supporting proletarian revolutions worldwide.
- Opposing imperialist wars, but supporting armed struggle to overthrow capitalism.
- Global proletarian unity, not solely national interests.
China still maintains a capitalist regime’s fragility, without large-scale military expansion. But nationalist propaganda is strengthening, foreign policy is becoming more aggressive, gradually aligning with fascist nationalism. If it moves towards military adventurism, China’s foreign policy will resemble fascism more than socialism.
Why do I compare it with fascist regimes? I mentioned earlier that if we call it socialism without insisting on the power and rights socialism brings to the masses, what kind of path are we actually on? Overall, I summarize fascism into four points, and everyone can judge for themselves:
- Nationalism, racial supremacy, extreme nationalism
- Retains private ownership, state intervention in the economy but does not eliminate capitalism
- Maintains hierarchy, emphasizes the supremacy of the state, opposes equality
- Protects capitalism, only uses state power to control capital
Finally, although China still retains some socialist forms (self-proclaimed, but I believe what they retain is a capitalist model), it has actually completely deviated from socialist principles, increasingly aligning with fascist characteristics in economic model, political system, social control, and nationalism. If nationalism further radicalizes, social conflicts intensify, and more aggressive foreign policies are adopted, China might fully turn towards fascism rather than socialism. (Just my personal opinion, mainly for discussion; different opinions are welcome.)