Actually Existing Socialism: Difference between revisions

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'''Actually existing socialism''' ('''AES''') is a term for currently existing [[Socialist state|socialist states]] under [[Dictatorship of the proletariat|dictatorships 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 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]].
[[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 ==
 
=== 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 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 ===
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 19:24, 21 February 2024

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

Ultra-leftist denial

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

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

  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.