The CPI(M) is in an ideological bind. While some want to toe the China model of communism, another section advocates emulating communism of Latin American countries. A third section of party leaders believe that the party should adapt its ideology in sync with the changing ground realities of India. The party apparatchiks will deliberate on the paradigm shift in a four-day central committee meeting in Kolkata from January 17 to 20.
That the Marxist party is in a dilemma to chart out the contour line of its ideological tactical line before the party Congress to be held in 2012 in Kerala, was reflected when party general secretary Prakash Karat cited the compulsion for a “rejuvenated socialism of the 21st century” at a time when the party is questioning China’s claim as a socialist country. In a write up for the party mouthpiece, Mr Karat pointed out the vices of the 20th century Soviet model socialism but did not make it clear whether the Chinese model — an aggressive market economy — can be an alternative in this century. In fact without elaborating his point on China model, he indicated that he was against jumping the gun to take the Chinese route or Latin American paths of handling the neo-liberalism and globalised economy in a distinct way.
Perhaps Mr Karat and the other party satraps became sceptic about China model after going through an article by Marxist ideologue Eric Habswam (Mr Karat’s political guru). On being asked whether the Chinese Communist party can develop and respond to its new place on the global stage, Mr Habswam said: “This is a big mystery. Communism’s gone, but one important element of communism remains, certainly in Asia, namely the state Communist party directing society. How does this work? In China, there is, I think, a higher degree of consciousness of the potential instability of the situation. There is probably a tendency to provide more elbow room for a rapidly growing intellectual middle class and educated sectors of the population, which, after all, will be measured in tens, possibly hundreds of millions. It’s also true that the Communist party in China appears to be recruiting a largely technocratic leadership. But how you pull all this stuff together, I do not know. The one thing that I think is possible is the growth of labour movements.”