Roland Boer's Blog, page 4

How is the DPRK (North Korea) handling COVID-19?

An insight from the Pyongyang Times (here). At the beginning of January, 2020, the DPRK shut its borders immediately and undertook extensive measures to ensure that COVID-29 did not enter and spread in the country. A distinct advantage is that the DPRK is largely self-sufficient in such situations a result of many decades of Continue reading How is the DPRK (North Korea) handling COVID-19?

How anti-China stories are concocted: ‘deliberately spreading’ COVID-19?

Almost everyday there is a weirder and more twisted idea that gets aired. Those who are unfortunate enough to be located in one of the zero-sum largard countries are rather used to the lies, gossip and propaganda that passes as news, as they are also used to politicians who garner about the same level of Continue reading How anti-China stories are concocted: deliberately spreading COVID-19?

The story of Qin Hui, the traitor, and why it has relevance today

This story has particular relevance once again today. During the period of the Song Dynasty (9601279 CE), there was an imperial scholar and chancellor called Qin Hui (1090-1155 CE). At the time that the Song Dynasty lost its northern parts to the Jin empire, Qin Hui was captured by the Jin. After a few years Continue reading The story of Qin Hui, the traitor, and why it has relevance today

The China Model: A scientific assessment of how to contain and then emerge from COVID-19

Of the many insights Domenico Losurdo has provided, one is particularly pertinent in the current situation. In his studies of Chinese Marxism and indeed other anti-colonial struggles for liberation, Losurdo points out that understandings of the state, science and development, and productive forces are seen in a very different way from Western Marxists. Instead of Continue reading The China Model: A scientific assessment of how to contain and then emerge from COVID-19

Cultural confidence, or, telling China’s story well

Rather fond of this detailed analysis from Fu Ying, the experienced foreign affairs expert (see here). The structure of the piece reveals a very Chinese Marxist approach. It begins by noting the achievements of China on the international stage and then moves in the spirit of criticism and self-criticism to pointing out what Continue reading Cultural confidence, or, telling Chinas story well

Pre-publication: Not Some Other -ism: Chinese Socialism without Foreign Labels

This is a pre-publication version of an article that is written with a colleague, Yan Ping. It is called Not Some Other -ism: Chinese Socialism without Foreign Labels. If you are interested, you can download the article at this link (here). And here is the abstract: This study tackles four hypotheses concerning socialism with Chinese Continue reading Pre-publication: Not Some Other -ism: Chinese Socialism without Foreign Labels

Inspiration for our extraordinary times: Stalin’s speech on Red Square, 9 November 1941

This was arguably Stalins most important speech. He gave it on the 24th anniversary of the October Revolution. It was 1941. The Nazi Wehrmacht was only 20 kilometres away. Stalin was advised to leave Moscow and head east, but he chose to stay as a clear signal to everyone. On this cold day, with the Continue reading Inspiration for our extraordinary times: Stalins speech on Red Square, 9 November 1941

Russia and China side-by-side in COVID-19 struggle

Great video from the Russian ambassador to China, Andrey Denisov, in which he invokes the common struggle against fascism in the 1930s and 1940s (see also here). As he points out, while the Soviet Union did the really hard work to defeat Nazi Germany, the Chinese struggle against the Japanese was the primary factor in Continue reading Russia and China side-by-side in COVID-19 struggle

The Benefits of Unexpected Isolation: Learning from Lenin and Mao

An unexpected turn of events, when the world is turned upside-down, can provide an equally unexpected time of isolation. In the current situation, as we look out of our windows and see more clearly the sunset of the West, we may be able to learn a lesson or two from Lenin and Mao Zedong. They Continue reading The Benefits of Unexpected Isolation: Learning from Lenin and Mao

China’s new ‘Wolf Warrior’ style of international diplomacy

Quite a good article on the sunset of the West and Chinas stronger international voice. Get used to it, since it is the new normal. I have copied this article from the Global Times (here). Chinese diplomats were once known for their conservative, low profile in China and world affairs. Internationally our diplomats were considered Continue reading Chinas new Wolf Warrior style of international diplomacy