Egon Krenz was the last General Secretary of the Socialist Unity Party in the German Democratic Republic. He has since become a prolific writer and has authored several books reflecting on his career and the former socialist country. However, one book and topic stands above the rest, and that is his book on China. The purpose of his book, which details his views and understanding of China, is to help explain China’s governance system to the world. He defends his socialist beliefs by highlighting China as an example of socialism that can be followed by other nations.
He notes that some in the West, especially among the left-wing camp, misunderstand China’s reform and opening-up as a deviation from the core socialist line. In the book, he identifies that socialism with Chinese characteristics is a socialist path that befits the natural circumstances that exist in China. He makes a clear statement in his book that, based upon the theories of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, he is convinced by the logic of the three-volume Capital, which contains a detailed explanation of the process of social development and how it functions. He also states that as long as it serves the well-being of the people, he does not consider the effective harnessing of the laws of the market and relevant capitalist methods to be a return to capitalism.
He is also very much a defender of the view that although socialism in Eastern Europe has ceased, he does not believe that capitalism has won the final struggle. He uses China in his defence, and its continued development, as an example of socialism succeeding. He believes that China’s system can serve as an example to other nations and even become textbook material for encouraging other countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The assertion is also made that China’s Belt and Road Initiative could replace the current dominant neoliberal model of globalisation.
The book China, Wie ich es sehe is an interesting read, especially for those interested in China and in the perspective of a former European communist leader on its current situation.
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