Back in 1936, a certain country used the Olympic Games to showcase the achievements of its totalitarian regime. Visitors were impressed by signs of economic progress, including a new national freeway system; amazed at technological innovations, like the first public use of live TV coverage; and awed by the orderly nature of a society where the police had the whip hand. Even the local athletes put on a good show. Apart from some unpopular successes for certain U.S. athletes of color, the host country easily topped the medal table, with 33 golds to the USA’s 24.

Now, 72 years later, we are to be treated to a similar spectacle — the Beijing Olympics, when another ascendant totalitarian power will pull out all the stops in an attempt to promote its economy, society and political system. But what, exactly, is China’s political system?

Although it claims to be a communist country, China can be more accurately described as a fascist state. Due largely to the horrific events of World War II, the word “fascism” and “fascist” are now terms charged with extreme emotions. But looked at in terms of political science, fascism is a system of state power that utilizes nationalism and big business to strengthen a country economically, industrially and militarily, especially when the country feels disadvantaged by the existing global system. In the past, Italy, Germany and Japan turned to fascism in an attempt to redress the power balance of what they saw as a biased international system that favored the main capitalist and colonial powers. Now China is doing something similar.

Instead of public ownership of the means of production and the equitable distribution of wealth that should characterize a communist system, the so-called Chinese Communist Party encourages big business, billionaires and bling. China is now a land of gross inequalities populated by high-class hookers and low-paid factory workers, a place where trendy consumer goods are promoted alongside the increasingly hollow platitudes of socialism.

The internationalist aspect of communism is merely used as a means of extending China’s influence in Africa, whose raw materials the Chinese covet but are too weak to control directly. Meanwhile, closer to home, under the umbrella of growing military might, Chinese nationalism has become increasingly virulent, with constant threats aimed at the Taiwanese or anyone who supports the independence of the Tibetans or Uighurs. Here in Tokyo, we get a front-row seat any time Japan does something that displeases the Chinese government — from visiting Yasukuni Shrine to complaining about poisoned gyoza. Then, we’ll see the Chinese rent-a-mob out there in force with its nationalistic slogans about “great China” and “little Japan.”

China’s role in the global economy is also interesting. Happy to be the “world producer” to America’s role as the “world consumer,” the Chinese government keeps the yuan low and exports high. While America closes factories and builds shopping malls, China builds steel plants and infrastructure, slowly altering the balance of power and transforming itself into the world’s major power. All this with a one party state, no democracy and oppression of dissent.

The big assumption is that involving China in the world economy like this will tie its interests to ours and promote Chinese democracy. In the meantime, China gets thousands of new factories and hundreds of millions of workers inured to hard labor and shortages, while the West gets to play with its credit cards. Chinese democracy, meanwhile, is left securely on the back burner.

In 1936, the very year of the Berlin Olympics, top Nazi Hermann Goering called on German workers to make greater sacrifices in the nation’s drive to become industrially and militarily powerful. “Guns will make us powerful; butter will only make us fat,” he famously said. China’s role in the world economy is a clear case of “guns instead of butter.”

Recently, the film director Steven Spielberg called attention to China’s role in the ethnic massacres taking place in Darfur, a province of the Republic of Sudan, whose government China supports by trading, supplying weapons, and using its U.N. Security Council veto when necessary.

Spielberg’s decision to boycott the Olympics soon came under attack by critics who suggested that what we needed was “constructive engagement” with the Chinese. It might chill some of us to remember that exactly the same arguments were used back in 1936, when many had reservations about attending Hitler’s Olympics.

Of course, each nation — including China — has a sovereign right to develop its industry, economy, and even military power in whichever way it likes. But at the same time, the rest of the world should do a better job of recognizing what’s really going on: a powerful one-party state is using our greed for cheap consumer goods to gradually transform itself into the biggest concentration of industrial muscle on earth, while using the Olympics to send out a “dog whistle signal” that a new superpower has arrived and expects to be obeyed.

Latest 15 of 90 Total Comments Show All

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  notimpressed at 11:17 AM JST - 4th April

  apecNetworks* so basically if anyone really wanted to help Tibetans, they would be helping them to govern themselves. They may have traded up slightly with the PRC but its still a long way from self determination. Ive heard a few things about the limits within US academics, Im from NZ and we have politically correct tabboo areas too, but within the Asian studies Department it seemed not too bad. Only thing is when you have someone lecturing on a particular country that they absolutely adore, not much critique gonna happen there. It was an eye opener for me having a teacher of Japanese postwar history, who although a confessed Japanophile, had no qualms with tearing them to pieces. Luckily in NZ, we dont have an agenda, where academics are defending the actions of its own state, and hence watering down the dialogue, basically because hasnt done anywhere near as many things that require staunch defending. When it comes to Domestic issues however, its the same old story but on a smaller scale. I think thats the biggest problem wih alot of American posters, is that they apply the American 'line' that they have been sold and refuse to look at things objectively. ie. Communists are dirty reds etcetc Its just a sstem of state that has (questionable?) merits and drawbacks, just like democracy. To quote Ben Harper... theres good intentions and theres good deeds, but they're as far apart as heaven and hell. Seems to often be the case with all political systems. If only there was a God-King that would sort it all out. Yeh the Harrer stuff was interesting, but Im too lazy to do any further reading lol. Last, The pentagon papers stuff sounded like state sponsored terrorism to me.

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  Nordon at 12:10 PM JST - 4th April

  Interesting article.

  It does at least give me a new perspective why China invaded, though I'm not going to believe for a moment for altruistic reasons. Tibet is a good base for operations in greater Asia, and if the communist power of the day thought that America or Britain would use it to prevent the spread of communism I can see why they would preempt the take over of Tibet.

  Regardless, that is only a revealing history lesson, this however is all about the human condition of China's rule in Tibet.

  Tibetans are pissed. They'd like more autonomy if not to regain their independence. Heck, maybe they like to practice their religion without being persecuted.

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  nosunset at 02:37 PM JST - 4th April

  Thanks for so attentive of China as a Chinese i m very proud^_^ how could it come out "2008 Olympics & Nazi Olymipics" and the Tibet issue! your history seems got A ,ha!!! someone who want or commented on this , i think he/she should read lots of historic books at first ,or people will laugh at you talk nonsense,and even talk about "democracy" ,Don't demonize Olympics and China,its funny and stupid those so-called "powerful and democratic countries" should have the attitude as it be, This called "big nation pulse",Maybe i will teach you, and Dont look down up you ! Japan is as Japan does makes me think the saying "stupid is as stupid does" isnt the last Crazy/???? (my english is not good ,not to totally express the point)

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  Hikozaemon at 02:41 PM JST - 4th April

  Nosunset - nobody is demonizing the olympics, and nobody is demonizing China. Only the communist party of China is being demonized, and it is being demonized in sympathy for its abuse of the Chinese people.

  There is a lot of reaction like this is an attack on their country when it is not - it is an attack on the regime that rules China, which is in many ways similar to the fascist regimes that ruled Japan, Germany, Italy and Spain in WWII, and rules North Korea and Cuba today.

  China is the victim of the communists - that is why people are protesting. Unless you are a member of the CCP yourself, I don't see why you would be offended.

  Peace

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  nosunset at 03:03 PM JST - 4th April

  Hikozaemon,thanks for you comment,First ,I want to say ,i m a ordinary people,what i said and did is who an ordinary people would do, Coz i m a Chinese and i love my nation. Second, the "demonize" "CCP",impersonally to say ,its a big question,not a word to say it clear,Mabey misunderstanding between us , One thing can sure is that ,CCP is trying its best for people,though sometimes a Negative news(not sure its authenticity),Its just a small song ,In general CCP doing well ,Everything has its rule!

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  notimpressed at 03:52 PM JST - 4th April

  nosunset: I hope you dont ever question or speak out against that party "who is doing its best" while you are living in China, you will find out about it. The reason you doubt authenticity of the media is because the CCP denies everything they do wrong, and exaggerate everything they do right. They dont even let the press into Tibet!! lol. Please remember you can love your country without loving the politics or the way they treat thier own people. Do you think tianmen square massacre was fiction? Alot of us, do actually read alot of history books. Some of us study even when we dont go to university anymore. Before you tell us to read history books, remember there are more books outside China than in it, because the CCP destroyed so much literature and culture during the peoples' revolution. If you want to discuss, you have to try not to be on the defensive so quickly. Then you might understand that we are not all against China the country or the people, but the system running it. Just because they are doing well in economics for a small amount of people, what about free speech and what about the majority of people who are struggling?

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  apecNetworks at 04:52 PM JST - 4th April

  To Nosunset:

  Politics and the Nazi Olympics aside, you do know there are some huge showdowns coming in the Olympics? Gymnastics? (What happened to the Russians?) Gymnastics is one event where the US, Japan and the PRC either "put up or shut up". I want no boycott primarily b/c of the numerous showdowns. Sports is very revealing, and APEC isn't sooooo different.

  Btw, what do you think of the movie, "Tomorrow Never Dies", a James Bond movie? Did you find him "a corrupt, decadent agent from a Western power"?

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  nosunset at 04:54 PM JST - 4th April

  Notimpressed,from you metioned you know lots of China and history, in some way has a deeply outsight,you said majority of people who are struggling ,yes you are right, now the poor and rich's gap more and more , it contribute to many reasons ,its very professional about the economic, i think its inevitable

  "tianmen square massacre" I do knew it ,its unpublish in China ,But i knew it from many ways ,and know the truth, I think its a action in a special time anassed a special situation,It killed many students ,no matter how many years passed ,in the history its bad effect, its in book ,in history, But in real life , I think the action must be taken in the complex situation. In the world ,everything never be balance,like the war breakout everyday ,for the USA fire the Irak,and the "black list",after the Irak,the next "Irak" will appear,So its the rules , every nation has its local complexion ,culture .language,thought,custom``` So it will be a local way to deal with it , Oh i cannt say ,Coz its too much and complex,And nice to see you ,Do you have an MSN or Email ,maybe we can use that to communicate,Though we have different ideology ,we can be friends~~! My email:n0sunset@163.com !

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  notimpressed at 01:29 PM JST - 5th April

  nosunset:Im glad you have an open mind there. My main ideology is that the CCP is not doing its best for the people. The main problem with all communist parties, is that its ideology never matches its actions. Im not AMerican either and I see alot of contradictions there that would take forever to get into. Unfortunately no political systems live up to expectations, and excuses offered for wrong doings are never enough for me. I really dont know if there is any right answer anymore for the world. I want to go to sleep and wake up in 500years and see whats progressed.

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  nosunset at 03:53 PM JST - 5th April

  I like the words you said "I really dont know if there is any right answer anymore for the world. I want to go to sleep and wake up in 500years and see whats progressed.". that also what i 'v been looking for ,I think there is no right answer ,it depends ,But has a principle——Justice! I think i should sleep for 500years ,lead me into a new balanceable world,But Its impossible ,!!!!haha

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  apecNetworks at 11:11 AM JST - 6th April

  To understand Tibet and its relations to the past as presented in the Pentagon Papers is to understand US Foreign Policy. I am heavily exposed to it, so it may be useful for JT readers to take a look at the training conducted in the US:

  http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:VVn6jbCxPlgJ:www.sais-jhu.edu/programs/asia/sea/coursesyllabi/ca.fpasia%2520F07%2520Syllabus.Wise.pdf+pentagon+papers%2Btibet&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=33&gl=us

  US Foreign Policy is dependent on covert operations to setup the conditions for military actions in some situations. The above course at SAIS reflects the huge importance the US places on covert action and those who plan it are well trained. It may be something needed to be examined at least in APEC. We must be alert to all possibilities that may affect the 2008 Olympics.

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  Nessie at 12:07 PM JST - 6th April

  To understand Tibet and its relations to the past as presented in the Pentagon Papers is to understand US Foreign Policy. I am heavily exposed to it,

  The exposure seems to have had a pernicious influence on your posting, Apec. Is it really necessary to link to a bibliography?

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  gmygmygmy at 10:15 PM JST - 6th April

  Dalai Lama is a liar, check out Seven Lies about Tibet and His Holiness at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acHkXqik_Bo

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  gmygmygmy at 10:17 PM JST - 6th April

  The western media distorted the truth about Tibet roit.

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  taiko666 at 02:13 PM JST - 7th April

  Dubyakiller: your assertion that one's right to make critical observations of other countries is determined by one's own nationality is ludicrous. What's more, it's seems that you're one of those people to whom appearing to be politically correct is far more important than protesting against real injustices being perpetrated now against real people.

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