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'''Actually existing socialism''' ('''AES''') is a term for currently existing [[Socialist state|socialist states]] which are specifically under a [[dictatorship of the proletariat]]. The five current AES states are [[People's Republic of China|China]], [[Republic of Cuba|Cuba]], [[Lao People's Democratic Republic|Laos]], [[Socialist Republic of Vietnam|Vietnam]], and the [[Democratic People's Republic of Korea|DPRK]]. Examples of former AES states were the [[Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (1922–1991)|Soviet Union]], [[Mongolian People's Republic|Mongolian People’s Republic]], and the [[Warsaw Pact]] countries of [[Eastern Europe]]. This is the most common consensus amongst [[Marxism–Leninism|Marxist–Leninists]].
<blockquote>''"AES" redirects here. For other uses, see [[AES (disambiguation)]].''</blockquote>[[File:AES map.png|thumb|472x472px|Map showing current AES in dark red and former AES in orange]]
'''Actually existing socialism''' ('''AES''') is a term commonly used to refer to [[Socialist state|socialist states]], that is, states governed by a [[dictatorship of the proletariat]].  
 
The five predominantly recognized AES states are [[People's Republic of China|China]], [[Republic of Cuba|Cuba]], [[Lao People's Democratic Republic|Laos]], [[Socialist Republic of Vietnam|Vietnam]], and, [[Democratic People's Republic of Korea|Korea]], while examples of [[Former Existing Socialism|former AES states]] include the [[Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (1922–1991)|Soviet Union]], [[Mongolian People's Republic|Mongolia]], and the [[Warsaw Pact]] countries of [[Eastern Europe]].


== Controversies ==
== Controversies ==


=== Ultra-Leftists denying the Existence of AES ===
=== Ultra-leftist denial ===
[[Ultra-leftism|Ultra-Leftists]] (Particularly [[Maoism|Maoists]] and [[Hoxhaism|Hoxhaists]]), deny the existence of currently existing socialist states on the basis of [[revisionism]] and due to socialist nations such as China and Soviet Union enacting '[[social-imperialism]]'. They also argue that 'AES' was coined by Soviet leader [[Leonid Brezhnev]] and thus it is just revisionist terminology.<ref>{{Citation|author=Leonid Brezhnev|year=1977|title=Brezhnev on the Theory of Developed Socialism|title-url=https://soviethistory.msu.edu/1980-2/our-little-father/our-little-father-texts/brezhnev-on-the-theory-of-developed-socialism/}}</ref> However the modern usage of the word does not necessarily correlate the original term, and it had been changed overtime.
[[Ultra-leftism|Ultra-leftists]] (particularly [[Maoism|Maoists]] and [[Hoxhaism|Hoxhaists]]) deny the existence of currently existing socialist states on the basis of their being [[revisionism|revisionist]] and, in the case of the Soviet Union and China, displaying what they claim to be [[social-imperialism]]. They also argue that the term 'AES' was coined by Soviet leader [[Leonid Brezhnev]] and thus is inherently a revisionist term.<ref>{{Citation|author=Leonid Brezhnev|year=1977|title=Brezhnev on the Theory of Developed Socialism|title-url=https://soviethistory.msu.edu/1980-2/our-little-father/our-little-father-texts/brezhnev-on-the-theory-of-developed-socialism/}}</ref> Brezhnev, however, used the term to mean countries following the Soviet method of economic planning.


=== Eritrea ===
=== Eritrea ===
Some [[Marxism|Marxists]] (or other socialists) argue that there exists a sixth socialist state which is the [[State of Eritrea]].<ref>{{Web citation|author=Thomas C Mountain|newspaper=TesfaNews|title=Eritrea: 25 Years Of Struggle Building Socialism|date=2016-05-11|url=https://tesfanews.net/eritrea-25-years-struggle-building-socialism/|retrieved=2023-09-06}}</ref> However, due to Eritrea not including the word '[[socialism]]' in their constitution,<ref>[https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Eritrea_1997 1997 Constitution of the State of Eritrea]</ref> and the existence of a dictatorship of the proletariat is hard to justify, makes it a somewhat contentious issues among Marxist–Leninists.
Some argue that [[State of Eritrea|Eritrea]] counts as actually existing socialism.<ref>{{Web citation|author=Thomas C Mountain|newspaper=TesfaNews|title=Eritrea: 25 Years Of Struggle Building Socialism|date=2016-05-11|url=https://tesfanews.net/eritrea-25-years-struggle-building-socialism/|retrieved=2023-09-06}}</ref> The question is still being debated, with proponents claiming that Eritrea follows the same social and economic policies as the USSR (although policies by themselves do not necessarily form a dictatorship of the proletariat), and critics pointing out that Eritrea does not mention about Marxism or socialism anywhere in their official documents. This forms a gray area which makes it difficult to definitely lean one way or the other.
 
== References ==
[[Category:Marxist terminology]]
[[Category:Marxist terminology]]

Latest revision as of 18:48, 21 October 2024

"AES" redirects here. For other uses, see AES (disambiguation).

Map showing current AES in dark red and former AES in orange

Actually existing socialism (AES) is a term commonly used to refer to socialist states, that is, states governed by a dictatorship of the proletariat.

The five predominantly recognized AES states are China, Cuba, Laos, Vietnam, and, Korea, while examples of former AES states include the Soviet Union, Mongolia, and the Warsaw Pact countries of Eastern Europe.

Controversies[edit | edit source]

Ultra-leftist denial[edit | edit source]

Ultra-leftists (particularly Maoists and Hoxhaists) deny the existence of currently existing socialist states on the basis of their being revisionist and, in the case of the Soviet Union and China, displaying what they claim to be social-imperialism. They also argue that the term 'AES' was coined by Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev and thus is inherently a revisionist term.[1] Brezhnev, however, used the term to mean countries following the Soviet method of economic planning.

Eritrea[edit | edit source]

Some argue that Eritrea counts as actually existing socialism.[2] The question is still being debated, with proponents claiming that Eritrea follows the same social and economic policies as the USSR (although policies by themselves do not necessarily form a dictatorship of the proletariat), and critics pointing out that Eritrea does not mention about Marxism or socialism anywhere in their official documents. This forms a gray area which makes it difficult to definitely lean one way or the other.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Leonid Brezhnev (1977). Brezhnev on the Theory of Developed Socialism.
  2. Thomas C Mountain (2016-05-11). "Eritrea: 25 Years Of Struggle Building Socialism" TesfaNews. Retrieved 2023-09-06.