China is authoritarian
So are Google, Facebook and windows. But these entities can't be held accountable because they are "private companies"
this post was submitted on 21 May 2026
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Gonna repost myself but authoritarianism is difficult for libs to define because any serious understanding of the concept reveals it to be a tool for propaganda rather than understanding politics
All states are "authoritarian" in that they are all tools by which the ruling class dominates the others. The working classes controlling a state still wield its authority to dominate capitalists, fascists, landlords, etc, but this use of authority liberates the majority. The authority question is therefore not a question of amount, but in whose hands, the working classes or capitalists.
It is the same as the United States and Silicon Valley; I won't defend China because I hate America, just as I can't ally with Baphomet just to kill Lucifer.
I am politically pessimistic, so I don't believe that any good state, government or politician really exists, they are all equally disgusting and putrid, and as such, I hate each and every one of them equally.
I will defend China because it's doing good. It has lifted 100s of millions out of poverty.nit is the only country that is on track to hit the goals set by the Paris climate agreement - many years ahead of schedule. It invests heavily in public infrastructure, to the good of the people. It has become a fantastic producer of solar energy panels, which will be needed to ensure a livable future - in fact China does so many wonders in the fields of climate science, energy production and so much more. It has one of the best democratic systems I have ever seen - and that shows in the belief its citizens have in the democratic processes of China. It is one of the only countries that has taken Big Tech seriously - curtailing it rather than letting it foment genocides and spread misinformation. It is the only country that actually makes billionaires answer to the law. It has made great strides with it's anti-corruption campaigns as well, something I wish I would see elsewhere.
The critiques I have of the nation are likewise being rectified. LGBTQ rights are constantly being expanded for example.
Why do you assume support of a country is contingent on how one feels about another country?
I don't hate the US because of anything to do with China. I hate the US because of what the US is and does.
You have a very simplistic worldview.
This is Baphomet slander. They're not evil.
Good choice with Baphomet, a propaganda campaign to persecute the Templar Order because they became too powerful.
Noo, if you admit that there can be more than one bad thing, you've fallen for western propaganda! For there is only one bad thing: The ~~bourgeoisie~~ west!
/s
Yeah lmao
And, again, I hate US too, but I hate every government/state/party/politician equally, so well... I'm just really pesimistic, more as I live in Venezuela, that basically divinizes China, and here we can barely even exist peacefully; just now we even have an arbitrary curfew for the army to steal everything they want in my town.
Oof, that's tough. Are there any mutual aid groups in your area to reach out to?
Here are some definitions from A Modern Anarchism, by Daniel Baryon (aka "Anark").
Authoritarianism: The degree to which a power structure monopolizes control over the total social implementation of some power.
Domination: The degree to which some power structure utilizes coercion, violence, and/or deception to achieve its ends.
And his definition of power:
When I say power I mean, quite simply, “the ability to successfully enact one’s will.”
Please explain logically, how the term "western propaganda" would apply.
Edit: Sniff sniff, it smells like someone (deliberately?) misunderstands what the word "monopolization" means. Did Cowbee's blocked ass comment already?
Based on this, Anark makes it seem like authoritarianism is both good and necessary as long as it's the working classes holding the authority. Same with whatever degree of domination is minimally required to prevent capitalists and fascists from overturning this. I don't really think it's "propaganda" so much as the words "authoritarianism" and "domination" are deliberately picked to sound scary.
Edit, responding to your edit: What's with that response? Why brag about blocking me? That's very silly behavior. I don't think I've misunderstood anything, and it's certainly not deliberate. The proletariat monopolizing control is a good thing.
That would be like comparing Marx's definition of "dictatorship" to the modern definition of the same word, complete with all of its societal connotations.
Sort of. Marx had the same concept of authority and dictatorship, in that they belong to classes, and therefore should belong to the working classes. The anarchist critique of authority presented by Anark doesn't make it seem bad at all.
The issue with using language such as "dictatorship" and "authoritarian" is those words have specific negative colloquial connotations.
For example, one of the dictionary (Merriam-Webster) definitions of "authoritarian" is:
of, relating to, or favoring a concentration of power in a leader or an elite not constitutionally responsible to the people
This definition specifies a singular "leader or an elite" and would be incompatible with a definition that includes rule by the proletariat.
Similarly, here is one of Merriam-Webster's definitions for "dictatorship":
a form of government in which absolute power is concentrated in a dictator or a small clique
My point being not that these definitions are absolute and cannot be changed, but currently in western societies, that the definitions describe rule by a singular elite leader or small group of leaders who have absolute, or near absolute power over their populace.
I understand, it's all a part of what we have to deal with in the battle of linguistics to make our ideas clear.