When
the process of capitalist restoration in China started, some 30 years
ago, Deng Xiaping issued the slogan “to get rich is glorious” and he
added “let some get rich first”. And some have certainly gotten themselves obscenely rich. The destruction of the planned economy in China has created a
massive and widening gap between rich and poor and at the same time a
deep seated hatred against the new rich.

The crisis of capitalism is creating an unstable social and
political situation in Germany. Tensions are emerging within the
coalition government, elected only last year. Most interestingly, this
is having a radicalising effect inside DIE LINKE, which is being pulled
both left and right, with some of the leaders attracted by coalition
politics while the more radical ranks react against and seek an
alternative to the left.

A storm erupted in policy circles in South Africa after Julius
Malema the leader of the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL)
boldly proclaimed the need for the mining industry in South Africa to
be nationalized. The demand was predicated on fulfilling the vision of
the Freedom Charter, which was adopted at Kliptown in 1955 as the
‘manifesto’ of the liberation struggle.