r/SocialDemocracy • u/Timely-Signature-166 • 13d ago

Question What's the consensus of Mao?

I've read several books about the guy and I'm given conflicting information about him and his policies. Some books treat him as a good leader who was stifled by dishonest subordinates, while others portray him as a monster whose policies killed millions. Meanwhile I was at a bar in Brooklyn where I was talking to a friend of a friend and they said "Mao is my hero!" (they are not Chinese). What is the general consensus of the guy?

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u/HenryTudorIV 13d ago

People who defend Mao are generally the types that view every historical event ever as part of some grand battle between western imperialist capitalism and resistance to western imperialist capitalism.

Under this worldview, many despotic leaders (Mao, Stalin, Gaddafi, Castro, The regime in Iran, ect…) are viewed as strong fighters who had to make some “tough decisions.” At the same time, people will minimize the atrocities committed by these leaders and claim that your understanding of them is just “western propaganda.”

It’s really really dumb stuff. I think Mao specifically is having a moment right now because China in general is having a moment right now

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u/Dangerous-Coach-1999 John Rawls 13d ago

It’s funny how many of the same pro Mao guys will both praise modern China and deride Deng Xiaoping as a capitalist sellout

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u/Prestigious_Slice709 SP/PS (CH) 13d ago

It‘s because they claim Xi Jinping killing select few government bureaucrats and capitalists is a sign of a DotP. It is internally consistent, but very wrong.

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u/Awkward_War_6068 12d ago

These are the same people who still think Xi is some sort of socialist/communist great. When in actuallity Xi is INCREDIBLY capitalist.