lequyan
4th June 2016, 10:54
Hello everyone.
As a new member of the forum, I'm not sure which sub-forum this thread belongs to. So first of all, apologies for any inconvenience caused.
I briefly mentioned the situation in Vietnam in my introduction thread.
I'll now discuss this matter in further detail.
THE SITUATION IN VIETNAM
I. The current state of affairs
1. Economy
I can guarantee that the economy in Vietnam is now capitalist. Capitalist relations are now fully restored (some may say they were always there in the first place, depending on the tendency). No, not even "state capitalism" in the Tony Cliff kind of sense, normal capitalism. It might be considered "state capitalism", perhaps in the Keynesian sense.
First and foremost, private property is protected by the state, in the constitution. It says “people are free to conduct business activity, their business will not be nationalized, protected by the state and the law”
State owned enterprise now make up less than 5% of the economy, and that include the ones which the state owns 50%. There are statistics we can find about this, even on official governmental sources. In fact, we can see this for ourselves just by walking on the streets of Vietnam. When was the last time a Vietnamese citizen see with their own eyes, a state owned enterprise of any sort?
There are 21 state owned enterprise left that are 100% owned by state. Soon to be privatized, or at least partially privatized, i think.
Having said that, there are public-private partnerships, large projects funded by state budget from time to time. The reality of that we must face, most of these projects make huge losses. This could either be because of corruption, bureaucratic management or the fact that its simply that its just not in the interest of the bureaucrats to run these state owned enterprise properly. Unlike the central planning period - which their main source of income is state owned enterprise; these officials now make much more money by privatizing these companies, embezzling the money from this selling, or even putting their family members or themselves as executives of these now privately owned companies.
There is a stock market in Vietnam. There are publicly known millionaires. These are not just “NEPmen”, but proper bourgeois. It is quite conspicuous that this “Renovation” (Đổi Mới) process has went much further than just "Lenin's NEP" type of reform.
In the constitution, there’s no private ownership of land. However, buying and selling of land happens on a daily basis, even protected by the state.
Overall, the state does own enterprises in "commanding heights of the economy". However, with the exceptions of telecommunications, media, and energy, even in these sectors, private enterprises dominate.
As for taxation, there’s no progressive taxation. The income tax is 25% - lower than Britain. Tax money isn’t used that effectively anyway, and this will be discussed later on.
Finally, the state aims to attract foreign capital. “Concessions” would be an understatement – a lot of foreign companies has gotten away with worker abuse, tax evasion.
2. Social welfare
Healthcare and education is no longer free. Even in public schools in hospitals.
In public schools and private schools, beside tuition fees, the parents have to pay all sorts of fees. Not to mention if the parents to do not pay bribes to teachers, their children won’t be left alone, and will be picked on by teachers.
Teachers, previously part of the white collar proletariat, in the Vietnamese conditions, now has become the petty bourgeois. A lot of teachers, in public and private schools alike, open cramming classes outside of school. To maximize their income, there have been cases where teachers do not teach the whole curriculum at school, in order to force the children to go to the cramming classes (which they own of course). If the children aren’t sent to these cramming classes, again, they’re picked on by the teachers. Teachers, once a progressive force, (and still is a progressive force in most nations), is a reactionary force in Vietnamese conditions.
There have been many cases, especially in the rural areas, where children had to drop out because they can’t afford education.
As for healthcare, no universal healthcare. There is a state funded insurance system. However, the insurance only cover the cost to a certain degree (70% minimum on paper), in certain situations, with certain illnesses, only if you go to the hospital you registered. In reality, there are very few situations where you would get 100% of the cost covered; most only get 20-40% covered. Cost of purchasing medicine is not covered. Pharmacies work together to push up the price of medicine. Doctors make deals with pharmacies, saying you need more medicine than you actually do, so the pharmacies can sell more, and the doctors get a share of the profit.
In public hospitals, you pay bribes to get checked up before everyone else. If you don’t have money – then have fun waiting even though you came to the hospital first.
In private hospitals and clinics, they’ll try to rip you off by making you take a bunch of test. So there’s two options: being ripped off at a public hospital, or at a private hospital. Either ways, if you’re poor, you’ll definitely suffer.
Social housing does exist nominally, but even when its called “social housing”, it remained unaffordable for large sections of the population. The working class mainly has to rent cramped, rundown apartments. I have seen builders who have to live in tents or shacks.
There is a “living wage law”. In theory, the minimum wage increases along with inflation. In reality however, the minimum wage only covers 50% of the daily expenses. The working class in Vietnam suffers from malnutrition, because they have to cut down on their spending to survive. Many have to work double shifts, two jobs two gain extra income.
Unemployment benefit is close to non-existent. If you’re fired, then welcome to the informal sector. In the worst case scenario, unemployment means prostitution, criminal activity to survive.
3. Class consciousness
The Vietnamese working class is plagued by false consciousness. The bourgeoisie and petty bourgeois uphold bourgeois and petty bourgeois ideology, but that’s obvious.
Everywhere throughout Vietnam, there’s a strong nationalist sentiment. This is the direct legacy of Ho Chi Minh. This nationalist sentiment, has degraded from the “national liberation” sentiment to the extreme, racist anti-Chinese nationalism.
The current consensus among the Vietnamese population, throughout different classes, is that the “evil Chinese has caused everything”. Pollution? “Evil Chinese has come here and did this. The “civilized Western company” would never do this”. Exploitation and worker abuse? “Evil Chinese has come here and did this. The “civilized Western company” would never do this”. Unhealthy food on the market? “Evil Chinese has come here and did this, flooding our market with unhealthy food. The “civilized Western company” would never do this”. Internationalist like me are looked down upon as “unpatriotic” and “idealist”. (Rabidly hating the entire Chinese population, blaming everything on the Chinese, saying you must love your nation no matter what is apparently, very rational). Corruption? “Politicians sell out to evil Chinese”.
Everything is viewed from the perspective of “national interest”. In the heads of the Vietnamese population, the worker and the capitalist have the same interest, because they’re both Vietnamese. All history, in their minds, is the history of national struggle, where nations fight each other to benefit their own population.
There’s some vague conceptions about “oppressor and oppressed”, however, its more similar to the an-cap/right wing populist style of argument. They think society is divided into 2 camps: “the state” and “the people”. “the state” is..well.. the state. “The people” include anyone who aren’t government officials, workers, capitalists alike. “The people” has common shared interests. Workers, capitalists are not classes, but merely different occupations, having different social functions. Workers and capitalists should “cooperate to maintain harmony and develop the nation”. Class collaborationism at its best.
The older generations, are more sympathetic to Marxism. However, while they’re critical of the current regime, they’re also viewing from a nationalist perspective: capitalist can be rich all they want, as long as they benefit the country.
Class has been thrown out of political discussion. I dare say US population has better class consciousness than Vietnamese population. At least in the US, there’s a growing social democratic movement, vague consciousness about “the 1%” among the youth. In Vietnam, they outright denies the concept of class. Most people think “rich people just worked harder and deserve their money”. Some even say “poor people are lazy, so they deserve it”.
In terms of economics, people attack Marxism-Leninism; they think free-market capitalism is the best thing in the world, and is synonymous with democracy and freedom. They think the solution to the problems is to privatize everything, and the quality of goods and services would improve, and prices will be cheap. And I do mean everything.
As for the youth, the situation is even worse. Young people worship America, think that US is the paradise of freedom and democracy. I tried criticizing USA once, while also criticizing the current Vietnamese regime, and they called me “brainwashed by Viet Cong propaganda”. You should’ve seen the reactions of the Vietnamese youth when Obama came to Vietnam last week. Truly horrifying…
You can’t even talk about public ownership of anything without being called an evil government supporter. Tried talking about free healthcare and education – got attacked as “utopian”. “Utopian”…. It seems that the Vietnamese population has become so hostile to left wing politics that even social democracy seems too extreme and radical.
4. Politics
It’s a one party state alright – but there are factions. So in the end, one party or multi party doesn’t matter – that’s just the form. The content remains the same. (I might be wrong with my understanding of the concept of “form and content” here. Criticism are welcomed).
The political system takes the form somewhat similar to bourgeois democracy, only with even less democracy: one person one vote, voting based on geography rather than industry, government at central level are not built from lower levels (unlike the grassroots democracy of the soviets). Being an official is a profession. The national assembly is a rubber stamping body (it has gained more power to debate recently). The executive and legislative branches are not combined (unlike the Paris Commune), resulting in a large bureaucratic apparatus.
Elections are still held, with candidates chosen by the Fatherland Front (controlled by the ruling party).
Reformism is non-existent here. People have no faith in the voting system, so they don’t expect to elect someone who can fix issues.
Within the party, there’s a pro-China, and a pro-US faction. Either ways, its choosing which imperialist to cater to. There’s no “socialist” or “leftist” faction wishing to build socialism in Vietnam.
However, most anti-communist sources portray this in a different light: there’s a “conservative” faction who wants to return to central planning, and a “progressive” faction who wants to follow the US model. Pure bullshit!
No one with a common sense, I’m sure, would disagree, that within the party, a significant majority don’t even know what Marxism is; neither do they believe in it.
Since 2002, party members are allowed to own private enterprises with no limits. Their reasoning is “this is the party of the working class, so we should allow the bosses of the working class to join as well” (?????). I’m not making this up.
I ensure all of you here on Revleft, that this is not a “deformed workers state”, or “bureaucratic collectivist” state in a Trotskyist sense. There’s no gains of the revolution to defend anymore, all of that is lost.
However, I do have a problem analyzing the class nature of the state in Vietnam. The proletariat certainly does not have any political power. The bourgeoisie can indirectly influence the government, but nowhere near the level of other capitalist states. Capitalists can bribe officials to gain contracts, to get away with tax evasion and producing harmful goods. But that is as far as it goes. In fact, many companies still have to pay bribes to officials so that they leave them alone. So, my question is: Is Vietnam a “Bonapartist” state? Or just a regular bourgeois state?
Currently, the only force of political opposition are anti-communist underground parties. Their rhetoric goes: “Vietnam is an evil communist country who upholds the wrong and stupid theory of Marxism-Leninism, and denies the people freedom and democracy. They cripple free enterprise blah blah hurr durr”. They are fighting an imaginary foe. In their head, Vietnam is like Cuba and the Soviet Union. The Marxist-Leninist Vietnam no longer exists. However, they have been gaining in popularity, due to the false consciousness of the Vietnamese population.
As for the left wing, the situation is sour. There’s no Marxist organizations. None. There’s no leftist opposition to the government in Vietnam. Not even centre-left social democrats.
The mainstream communist party is definitely a no. The communist youth organizations, also a no. As mentioned above in the section about class consciousness, even if I do join these organizations, the members are not taking Marxism seriously. Most people join for personal interests.
5. The threat of fascism
Alarming! The political system of Vietnam is starting to take the form of a fascist corporatist state. Society is organized into different groups with different social functions, each group have a their own national-level union to represent their interest. These national-union level is controlled by the state (in reality not doing much). Workers have “tổng liên đoàn lao động” – National Confederation of Labour. Capitalists have “VCCI” - Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Recently there was a clash about minimum wage – and in a truly corporatist fashion, VCCI and NCL negotiated. No direct confrontation – aimed to maintain “class harmony”. Both of these organizations are in theory elected, but in reality are as democratic as the ruling party Politburo.
What’s even more dangerous, is that the class base of fascism is solidifying. Among those who oppose the government, the petty bourgeoisie has resisted most strongly. The proletariat in Vietnam is disorganized, the petty bourgeoisie’s protests are much more frequent then workers’ strikes. Most of the protestors are small land owners, peasants who lost the land due to industrialization, and small traders. It is only a matter of time before the current regime falls, as it is currently very unpopular. Just have a look through a couple of anti-communist Vietnamese facebook pages, and look at the number of likes. The comments, are filled with people saying we need to overthrow the government. The only reason why the current regime last this long, is because managed to maintain a level of economic growth. This, combined with the lack of faith reformism, angry petty bourgeoisie and the rabid nationalism, means that once an economic crisis hits, the population would be very easily radicalized. This would’ve been an advantage, if the Vietnamese working class was class conscious. But this isn’t the case. Thus, the conclusion is: In a situation of crisis, Vietnam will likely fall to fascism. So to refer to Lenin - What is to be done?
II. WHAT IS TO BE DONE?
As we can see from part I, the system is bleeding the working class dry. I’m posting this here, to inform you all about the Vietnamese situation, so that I can get some advices. To be honest, I truly do not know what to do. I know we must start somewhere. I know the answer is “if the Left don’t exist, then build it!” Realistically, with the overwhelming majority of the population turning to extreme nationalism, condemning Marxism or any left wing political ideology for that matter, uncritically supporting capitalism, etc.. building the left or raising class consciousness seems impossible to me. Like I said above, even social democracy at this point sounds too radical for them.
I do have plans to produce communist propaganda materials. But is this it? If I were to create a Marxist organization, members would be only around 100. And that’s really lucky. Might I just add that the Vietnamese population is 90 million? Unlike other countries, where there are a number of Marxist organizations which I can join, this is not an option for me.
What to do now comrades? I’m not willing to just sit there and look at Vietnam fall to fascism. But at the same time, I’m just one person.
What to do…
- - - Updated - - -
Sorry about the lengthy post - i do feel that i need to provide everyone with adequate information about the situation to be able to give advices or suggestions.
As a new member of the forum, I'm not sure which sub-forum this thread belongs to. So first of all, apologies for any inconvenience caused.
I briefly mentioned the situation in Vietnam in my introduction thread.
I'll now discuss this matter in further detail.
THE SITUATION IN VIETNAM
I. The current state of affairs
1. Economy
I can guarantee that the economy in Vietnam is now capitalist. Capitalist relations are now fully restored (some may say they were always there in the first place, depending on the tendency). No, not even "state capitalism" in the Tony Cliff kind of sense, normal capitalism. It might be considered "state capitalism", perhaps in the Keynesian sense.
First and foremost, private property is protected by the state, in the constitution. It says “people are free to conduct business activity, their business will not be nationalized, protected by the state and the law”
State owned enterprise now make up less than 5% of the economy, and that include the ones which the state owns 50%. There are statistics we can find about this, even on official governmental sources. In fact, we can see this for ourselves just by walking on the streets of Vietnam. When was the last time a Vietnamese citizen see with their own eyes, a state owned enterprise of any sort?
There are 21 state owned enterprise left that are 100% owned by state. Soon to be privatized, or at least partially privatized, i think.
Having said that, there are public-private partnerships, large projects funded by state budget from time to time. The reality of that we must face, most of these projects make huge losses. This could either be because of corruption, bureaucratic management or the fact that its simply that its just not in the interest of the bureaucrats to run these state owned enterprise properly. Unlike the central planning period - which their main source of income is state owned enterprise; these officials now make much more money by privatizing these companies, embezzling the money from this selling, or even putting their family members or themselves as executives of these now privately owned companies.
There is a stock market in Vietnam. There are publicly known millionaires. These are not just “NEPmen”, but proper bourgeois. It is quite conspicuous that this “Renovation” (Đổi Mới) process has went much further than just "Lenin's NEP" type of reform.
In the constitution, there’s no private ownership of land. However, buying and selling of land happens on a daily basis, even protected by the state.
Overall, the state does own enterprises in "commanding heights of the economy". However, with the exceptions of telecommunications, media, and energy, even in these sectors, private enterprises dominate.
As for taxation, there’s no progressive taxation. The income tax is 25% - lower than Britain. Tax money isn’t used that effectively anyway, and this will be discussed later on.
Finally, the state aims to attract foreign capital. “Concessions” would be an understatement – a lot of foreign companies has gotten away with worker abuse, tax evasion.
2. Social welfare
Healthcare and education is no longer free. Even in public schools in hospitals.
In public schools and private schools, beside tuition fees, the parents have to pay all sorts of fees. Not to mention if the parents to do not pay bribes to teachers, their children won’t be left alone, and will be picked on by teachers.
Teachers, previously part of the white collar proletariat, in the Vietnamese conditions, now has become the petty bourgeois. A lot of teachers, in public and private schools alike, open cramming classes outside of school. To maximize their income, there have been cases where teachers do not teach the whole curriculum at school, in order to force the children to go to the cramming classes (which they own of course). If the children aren’t sent to these cramming classes, again, they’re picked on by the teachers. Teachers, once a progressive force, (and still is a progressive force in most nations), is a reactionary force in Vietnamese conditions.
There have been many cases, especially in the rural areas, where children had to drop out because they can’t afford education.
As for healthcare, no universal healthcare. There is a state funded insurance system. However, the insurance only cover the cost to a certain degree (70% minimum on paper), in certain situations, with certain illnesses, only if you go to the hospital you registered. In reality, there are very few situations where you would get 100% of the cost covered; most only get 20-40% covered. Cost of purchasing medicine is not covered. Pharmacies work together to push up the price of medicine. Doctors make deals with pharmacies, saying you need more medicine than you actually do, so the pharmacies can sell more, and the doctors get a share of the profit.
In public hospitals, you pay bribes to get checked up before everyone else. If you don’t have money – then have fun waiting even though you came to the hospital first.
In private hospitals and clinics, they’ll try to rip you off by making you take a bunch of test. So there’s two options: being ripped off at a public hospital, or at a private hospital. Either ways, if you’re poor, you’ll definitely suffer.
Social housing does exist nominally, but even when its called “social housing”, it remained unaffordable for large sections of the population. The working class mainly has to rent cramped, rundown apartments. I have seen builders who have to live in tents or shacks.
There is a “living wage law”. In theory, the minimum wage increases along with inflation. In reality however, the minimum wage only covers 50% of the daily expenses. The working class in Vietnam suffers from malnutrition, because they have to cut down on their spending to survive. Many have to work double shifts, two jobs two gain extra income.
Unemployment benefit is close to non-existent. If you’re fired, then welcome to the informal sector. In the worst case scenario, unemployment means prostitution, criminal activity to survive.
3. Class consciousness
The Vietnamese working class is plagued by false consciousness. The bourgeoisie and petty bourgeois uphold bourgeois and petty bourgeois ideology, but that’s obvious.
Everywhere throughout Vietnam, there’s a strong nationalist sentiment. This is the direct legacy of Ho Chi Minh. This nationalist sentiment, has degraded from the “national liberation” sentiment to the extreme, racist anti-Chinese nationalism.
The current consensus among the Vietnamese population, throughout different classes, is that the “evil Chinese has caused everything”. Pollution? “Evil Chinese has come here and did this. The “civilized Western company” would never do this”. Exploitation and worker abuse? “Evil Chinese has come here and did this. The “civilized Western company” would never do this”. Unhealthy food on the market? “Evil Chinese has come here and did this, flooding our market with unhealthy food. The “civilized Western company” would never do this”. Internationalist like me are looked down upon as “unpatriotic” and “idealist”. (Rabidly hating the entire Chinese population, blaming everything on the Chinese, saying you must love your nation no matter what is apparently, very rational). Corruption? “Politicians sell out to evil Chinese”.
Everything is viewed from the perspective of “national interest”. In the heads of the Vietnamese population, the worker and the capitalist have the same interest, because they’re both Vietnamese. All history, in their minds, is the history of national struggle, where nations fight each other to benefit their own population.
There’s some vague conceptions about “oppressor and oppressed”, however, its more similar to the an-cap/right wing populist style of argument. They think society is divided into 2 camps: “the state” and “the people”. “the state” is..well.. the state. “The people” include anyone who aren’t government officials, workers, capitalists alike. “The people” has common shared interests. Workers, capitalists are not classes, but merely different occupations, having different social functions. Workers and capitalists should “cooperate to maintain harmony and develop the nation”. Class collaborationism at its best.
The older generations, are more sympathetic to Marxism. However, while they’re critical of the current regime, they’re also viewing from a nationalist perspective: capitalist can be rich all they want, as long as they benefit the country.
Class has been thrown out of political discussion. I dare say US population has better class consciousness than Vietnamese population. At least in the US, there’s a growing social democratic movement, vague consciousness about “the 1%” among the youth. In Vietnam, they outright denies the concept of class. Most people think “rich people just worked harder and deserve their money”. Some even say “poor people are lazy, so they deserve it”.
In terms of economics, people attack Marxism-Leninism; they think free-market capitalism is the best thing in the world, and is synonymous with democracy and freedom. They think the solution to the problems is to privatize everything, and the quality of goods and services would improve, and prices will be cheap. And I do mean everything.
As for the youth, the situation is even worse. Young people worship America, think that US is the paradise of freedom and democracy. I tried criticizing USA once, while also criticizing the current Vietnamese regime, and they called me “brainwashed by Viet Cong propaganda”. You should’ve seen the reactions of the Vietnamese youth when Obama came to Vietnam last week. Truly horrifying…
You can’t even talk about public ownership of anything without being called an evil government supporter. Tried talking about free healthcare and education – got attacked as “utopian”. “Utopian”…. It seems that the Vietnamese population has become so hostile to left wing politics that even social democracy seems too extreme and radical.
4. Politics
It’s a one party state alright – but there are factions. So in the end, one party or multi party doesn’t matter – that’s just the form. The content remains the same. (I might be wrong with my understanding of the concept of “form and content” here. Criticism are welcomed).
The political system takes the form somewhat similar to bourgeois democracy, only with even less democracy: one person one vote, voting based on geography rather than industry, government at central level are not built from lower levels (unlike the grassroots democracy of the soviets). Being an official is a profession. The national assembly is a rubber stamping body (it has gained more power to debate recently). The executive and legislative branches are not combined (unlike the Paris Commune), resulting in a large bureaucratic apparatus.
Elections are still held, with candidates chosen by the Fatherland Front (controlled by the ruling party).
Reformism is non-existent here. People have no faith in the voting system, so they don’t expect to elect someone who can fix issues.
Within the party, there’s a pro-China, and a pro-US faction. Either ways, its choosing which imperialist to cater to. There’s no “socialist” or “leftist” faction wishing to build socialism in Vietnam.
However, most anti-communist sources portray this in a different light: there’s a “conservative” faction who wants to return to central planning, and a “progressive” faction who wants to follow the US model. Pure bullshit!
No one with a common sense, I’m sure, would disagree, that within the party, a significant majority don’t even know what Marxism is; neither do they believe in it.
Since 2002, party members are allowed to own private enterprises with no limits. Their reasoning is “this is the party of the working class, so we should allow the bosses of the working class to join as well” (?????). I’m not making this up.
I ensure all of you here on Revleft, that this is not a “deformed workers state”, or “bureaucratic collectivist” state in a Trotskyist sense. There’s no gains of the revolution to defend anymore, all of that is lost.
However, I do have a problem analyzing the class nature of the state in Vietnam. The proletariat certainly does not have any political power. The bourgeoisie can indirectly influence the government, but nowhere near the level of other capitalist states. Capitalists can bribe officials to gain contracts, to get away with tax evasion and producing harmful goods. But that is as far as it goes. In fact, many companies still have to pay bribes to officials so that they leave them alone. So, my question is: Is Vietnam a “Bonapartist” state? Or just a regular bourgeois state?
Currently, the only force of political opposition are anti-communist underground parties. Their rhetoric goes: “Vietnam is an evil communist country who upholds the wrong and stupid theory of Marxism-Leninism, and denies the people freedom and democracy. They cripple free enterprise blah blah hurr durr”. They are fighting an imaginary foe. In their head, Vietnam is like Cuba and the Soviet Union. The Marxist-Leninist Vietnam no longer exists. However, they have been gaining in popularity, due to the false consciousness of the Vietnamese population.
As for the left wing, the situation is sour. There’s no Marxist organizations. None. There’s no leftist opposition to the government in Vietnam. Not even centre-left social democrats.
The mainstream communist party is definitely a no. The communist youth organizations, also a no. As mentioned above in the section about class consciousness, even if I do join these organizations, the members are not taking Marxism seriously. Most people join for personal interests.
5. The threat of fascism
Alarming! The political system of Vietnam is starting to take the form of a fascist corporatist state. Society is organized into different groups with different social functions, each group have a their own national-level union to represent their interest. These national-union level is controlled by the state (in reality not doing much). Workers have “tổng liên đoàn lao động” – National Confederation of Labour. Capitalists have “VCCI” - Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Recently there was a clash about minimum wage – and in a truly corporatist fashion, VCCI and NCL negotiated. No direct confrontation – aimed to maintain “class harmony”. Both of these organizations are in theory elected, but in reality are as democratic as the ruling party Politburo.
What’s even more dangerous, is that the class base of fascism is solidifying. Among those who oppose the government, the petty bourgeoisie has resisted most strongly. The proletariat in Vietnam is disorganized, the petty bourgeoisie’s protests are much more frequent then workers’ strikes. Most of the protestors are small land owners, peasants who lost the land due to industrialization, and small traders. It is only a matter of time before the current regime falls, as it is currently very unpopular. Just have a look through a couple of anti-communist Vietnamese facebook pages, and look at the number of likes. The comments, are filled with people saying we need to overthrow the government. The only reason why the current regime last this long, is because managed to maintain a level of economic growth. This, combined with the lack of faith reformism, angry petty bourgeoisie and the rabid nationalism, means that once an economic crisis hits, the population would be very easily radicalized. This would’ve been an advantage, if the Vietnamese working class was class conscious. But this isn’t the case. Thus, the conclusion is: In a situation of crisis, Vietnam will likely fall to fascism. So to refer to Lenin - What is to be done?
II. WHAT IS TO BE DONE?
As we can see from part I, the system is bleeding the working class dry. I’m posting this here, to inform you all about the Vietnamese situation, so that I can get some advices. To be honest, I truly do not know what to do. I know we must start somewhere. I know the answer is “if the Left don’t exist, then build it!” Realistically, with the overwhelming majority of the population turning to extreme nationalism, condemning Marxism or any left wing political ideology for that matter, uncritically supporting capitalism, etc.. building the left or raising class consciousness seems impossible to me. Like I said above, even social democracy at this point sounds too radical for them.
I do have plans to produce communist propaganda materials. But is this it? If I were to create a Marxist organization, members would be only around 100. And that’s really lucky. Might I just add that the Vietnamese population is 90 million? Unlike other countries, where there are a number of Marxist organizations which I can join, this is not an option for me.
What to do now comrades? I’m not willing to just sit there and look at Vietnam fall to fascism. But at the same time, I’m just one person.
What to do…
- - - Updated - - -
Sorry about the lengthy post - i do feel that i need to provide everyone with adequate information about the situation to be able to give advices or suggestions.