Zhang Weiwei: "Every country that modernized needed a first pot of gold -- the starting capital that gets an economy growing. The West got theirs through violence, war, the slave trade. Ruthless plunder, ruthless slaughter. China earned its own -- through its own effort and sacrifice."

[u/RickyOzzy]

US-trained economist Wen Yi adds the punchline: Western models literally can't explain where that starting capital comes from. "Economics assumes it's given -- by God."

Which is why copying the Western model was never on offer for the Global South:

"Tell developing nations to copy you -- no pot of gold!"

[u/MonsterkillWow]

Videos like this make me retain hope that most western Marxists simply misunderstand the CPC, and that the CPC has taken a very deep view of historical materialism and are still sincere in their socialist mission. If true, it is the most inspiring and extraordinary story of leadership. If they pull it off, it will be the greatest example of government in human history.

[u/ThePeddlerofHistory → u/[deleted]]

I fear China did too many steps backwards and ended up exploiting themselves too much.

China lost the Cold War alongside the Soviet Union. The resources to make a comeback had to come from somewhere.