By Ekaterina Cabylis – Jan 15, 2025
How Class Consciousness Was Gained Overnight
The Red Note revolution might be healing us in ways we didn’t think were possible. In just 48 hours, waves of North Americans and people across the globe have been migrating to Chinese platforms like Red Note (Xiaohongshu), sparking a cultural shift. Americans are beginning to see what life in China is really like, shattering decades of Cold War stereotypes. It’s heartwarming, informative, hilarious, and moving to witness some of these cross-cultural interactions. But most importantly, it’s decentering the global North.
For the first time in history, Chinese and American citizens are able to exchange information rapidly and directly, breaking down years of political and cultural isolation. Historically, interactions between these two nations have been heavily obstructed by propaganda, fueling misunderstanding and fear.
For decades, U.S. propaganda portrayed China as an authoritarian, impoverished state, a narrative that persisted even as China modernized and became a global powerhouse. This image kept many Americans unaware of the reality: a society where people enjoy well-rounded lives with access to housing, food, healthcare, luxury lifestyles, complete with brand names and stylish fashion. The reality of what China actually looks like—where sleek maglev trains connect cities at lightning speeds, and entire urban areas are powered by cutting-edge solar energy will be almost incomprehensible to many in Western countries.
Now, as these misconceptions begin to crumble, more people are discovering that a better, more equitable way of living is not only possible but already being realized elsewhere. Platforms like Xiaohongshu, named after Mao’s “Little Red Book,” are helping to bridge this gap by offering verified information and shedding light on misconceptions about China. Many are learning that China doesn’t privatize essentials like healthcare or electricity, that its youth enjoy a 70% homeownership rate, and that there are sprawling cities with four times the population of New York where houselessness has been eradicated.
Does this sound too good to be true? It isn’t. This shift represents the final step toward decolonization. American imperialism thrives on divide-and-conquer, spreading hopelessness by convincing people that no alternatives exist. When people can’t imagine, see, or believe that another way of living is possible, they’re less likely to challenge the status quo. American hegemony projects Western values, political structures, and cultural norms onto other countries, reinforcing a narrow vision of what’s possible.
China’s rise does not involve global dominance or cultural imposition. Historically, China has focused on building economic partnerships without the use of force or colonization, and it has largely refrained from interfering in the internal affairs of other nations. Instead, China uses mutual respect, non-interference in sovereignty, and collaboration, making its global influence distinct from Western colonial practices.
In the late 1940s, during the McCarthy era, fear of communism was weaponized to crush labor unions, civil rights efforts, and progressive movements that challenged the grip of big business. The CIA furthered this by shaping education and media to align with capitalist ideas. Since World War II, the CIA has been involved in overthrowing or attempting to overthrow numerous governments, with 75-80% of these efforts targeting socialist or left-leaning governments. These efforts, especially during the Cold War, aimed to protect capitalist interests and counter communism.
During the Cold War, the U.S. covertly supported Tibetan exiles through the CIA, funding resistance groups, establishing military training camps in Nepal, and promoting anti-China propaganda. The CIA also cultivated influence via “Tibet Houses” in New York and Geneva and offered asylum to the Dalai Lama and his followers. These efforts were part of a broader strategy to counter Communist influence, at the expense of Tibetan sovereignty.
The myth of “Tank Man” from the Tiananmen Square protests is one of the most persistent pieces of American propaganda regarding China. The iconic image of a lone man standing in front of a column of tanks has been heralded in the West as a symbol of defiance against an oppressive government.
Tiananmen: The Massacre that Wasn’t
First, the image itself was captured the day after the protests were quelled, not during the height of the events. Contrary to popular belief, there is no evidence that the tanks ran over the man or that he was killed. Eyewitness accounts suggest he was eventually escorted away unharmed.
Despite Western portrayals of China and Russia as military threats, their defense spending remains lower than the US’s colossal military budget, which surpasses China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran combined. The United States holds around 45% of the global prison population. Having just 4% of the world’s population, the U.S. accounts for nearly half of the world’s incarcerated people. Per capita, the U.S. has six times more incarcerated individuals than China. The United States has the highest incarceration rate for women globally. As of recent data, there are approximately 190,600 women incarcerated in the U.S., making up about 10% of the total global incarcerated population.
What Communism Actually Means
Anti-communism in the U.S. serves to protect capitalist interests at home and abroad, leading to violent interventions in countries striving for independence or socialist reforms. Communism seeks to build a classless, stateless society where wealth and power are shared equally. Decisions are made collectively, and the state is meant to “wither away” as society becomes self-governing. However, Cold War propaganda blurred these ideas with authoritarianism, framing communism as inherently repressive.
Communism is rooted in Indigenous systems, egalitarianism and communal living. Karl Marx drew inspiration from the Haudenosaunee peoples of North America. Examples like the Soviet Union and China show how these principles can be applied, though no system has yet achieved the ideal fully.
While many think of the Chinese government as being led solely by the Communist Party (CPC), it’s actually structured into several branches. The key components include the legislative (National People’s Congress, NPC), the executive (State Council, President, and Premier), the judicial (Supreme Court and Supreme People’s Procuratorate), and the military (Central Military Commission).
In China, socialism is practiced through decentralized decision-making, with local governments having autonomy over planning and welfare, allowing communities to tailor policies to their needs. China’s governance, often misrepresented in the West, includes mass participation through local committees and urban councils. Decisions made by People’s Congresses at township and county levels are grassroots-driven, with no lobbying allowed. The system consults with organizations like the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference to ensure policies benefit the collective good.
The National People’s Congress holds the most power, with the authority to amend laws, approve budgets, elect key officials like the President and Premier, and oversee major state issues. Decisions are made at different levels—from townships to the national level—where deputies are directly elected by local populations. The CPPCC (Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference) works alongside the NPC, engaging in consultations with various political parties, civic groups, and other organizations. This body gathers suggestions that it passes along to the NPC for consideration. Together, these structures help maintain a blend of centralized control with mechanisms for broader participation in governance.
China’s Achievements in Socialism
The rapid economic growth was driven by a mix of policy changes and investments in infrastructure, education, and industrialization. China focused on poverty alleviation and rural development, enabling millions to migrate to cities and join the workforce using direct policies to tax billionaires and reinvest wealth into public infrastructure, education, and healthcare. This approach lifted over 800 million people out of poverty.
• Poverty Alleviation: From 1978 to 2020, China lifted 850 million people out of poverty, marking one of the greatest achievements in human history.
• Infrastructure Development: Under Mao and subsequent reforms, China built extensive manufacturing capacities and modernized cities, creating high-speed rail networks, bridges, and roadways.
• Healthcare Expansion: Life expectancy in China has risen from 35 years in 1949 to 78 years in 2022, thanks to accessible healthcare initiatives like the New Cooperative Medical Scheme.
• Education: China now provides nine years of compulsory education, significantly boosting literacy, especially in rural areas.
• Technological Advancements: China leads in green energy, investing in renewable sources like solar and wind power, and promoting clean transportation options. Technology has empowered rural communities to engage in broader markets, narrowing the economic divide between urban and rural areas.
• Rural Development: Agricultural reforms have improved rural incomes and reduced urban-rural wealth gaps. The introduction of the Household Responsibility System allowed farmers to lease and manage their own land, boosting productivity and enabling them to sell surplus crops in the market. Specialized teaching brigades made up of agricultural experts provided crucial training in modern farming techniques.
Communism draws from Indigenous societal structures, it focuses on collective living and sustainability. Decolonization involves reclaiming these social models, including treaty-based living in North America. It also means moving toward green energy, supporting internationalism, and rejecting resource extraction from Africa and Latin America.
Chinese socialism and traditional Indigenous systems in North America both share a deep-rooted worldview that values harmony with the land, collective responsibility, and reciprocal relationships between humans and nature. These systems prioritize sustainable living, respect for the environment, and interconnectedness—principles that transcend cultural boundaries and offer valuable lessons for creating more balanced and resilient communities.
Connecting these ideas also challenges the dominant global narrative, where Western-centric views on progress often overshadow other, equally valid traditions and ways of life. The transition to renewable energy is a direct threat to the colonialist economic model, which relies on fossil fuels and the exploitation of resources from the Global South.
The spread of socialist ideas is exactly what the tech oligarchy seeks to prevent, because once Americans realize it’s possible, they might strive to achieve it themselves. China leverages technology to improve living standards, making life more accessible and allowing people to work less. In contrast to the U.S., where many never fully retire, China’s approach offers a vision of shared prosperity, where the focus shifts toward quality of life and sustainable living.
(Substack)
Ekaterina Cabylis
Ekaterina Cabylis is a Canadian author, graphic designer, advocate for decolonial education, and collaborator with the Rise Up Initiative. With a profound commitment to critical thinking grounded in Marxism, Ekaterina supports decolonial sovereignty through creative endeavors. Ekaterina is also a self-published author and illustrator of "Community," children's literature addressing class struggle. They have contributed articles to MR Online and Orinoco Tribune, actively promoting social change and equity.
