Actually Existing Socialism

Actually existing socialism (AES) is a term for currently existing socialist states which are specifically under a dictatorship of the proletariat. The five current AES states are China, Cuba, Laos, Vietnam, and the DPRK. Examples of former AES states include the Soviet Union, Mongolian People’s Republic, and the Warsaw Pact countries of Eastern Europe, among others. This is the most common consensus amongst Marxist–Leninists.

Controversies

Ultra-Leftists denying the Existence of AES

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. Brezhnev however used the term to mean countries following the Soviet method of economic planning.

Eritrea

Some argue that Eritrea counts as actually existing socialism. 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.