Dengism

This article is about the revisionist tendency outside of China. For the social-fascist ideology of the People's Republic of China, see Socialism with Chinese Characteristics.

Picture of Chinese revisionist despot Deng Xiaoping, from whom Dengism is named.

Dengism is a revisionist, social-imperialist political tendency largely found in online spaces in the West. Dengists premise their views off unquestionable support for the modern social-imperialist People's Republic of China, its ruling party, its revisionism, and its capitalist reforms alongside any other state which they dynamically regard as either "anti-imperialist" or "actually existing socialism." Although largely taking influence from the views of Deng Xiaoping, its namesake, and his successors, Dengists eclectically incorporate ideas from other revisionist and anti-Marxist movements, including third worldism, Brezhnevism, Khrushchevism, and others.

Dengists opportunistically support capitalist-imperialist wars and states such as the Russian Federation, claiming these reactionary regimes will bring about "multipolarity" without reference to Marxist–Leninist theory or the aims of proletarian revolution. Dengists generally disregard class struggle altogether in favor of a campist view of national struggle between Eastern "anti-imperialist" and Western imperialist states. Dengists often care very little about revolution in capitalist countries, often employing third worldist rhetoric.

Because of Dengists' opportunist, highly revisionist, racist, and chauvinistic views and almost exclusive presence online as opposed to any physical organizations and parties, Dengism can be compared to other tendencies such as patriotic socialism. Although largely relegated to the internet, various offline parties and organizations are influenced by Dengism to some extent, including Communist Party USA, Party for Socialism and Liberation, and Freedom Road Socialist Organization.

Ideology

Denial of class struggle

Dengists deny the fundamental role of class struggle in the construction of socialism and instead believe that the chief aim of the socialist state is to develop the productive forces in a class collaborationist alliance with the large bourgeoisie and other exploiters. After a time decades in the future, Dengists believe without reason that these "socialist" projects will change course and liquidate the exploiters. Other Dengists do not even seek this eventual goal and instead hold that the higher stage of socialism will simply entail everyone be enriched to the status of the bourgeoisie.

Support for imperialism

Dengists deny the imperialist and social-imperialist nature of the Russian Federation and People's Republic of China respectively and utilize the opportunist theory of "multipolarity" to justify their support of these reactionary states. Dengists hold that the primary conflict in the world is not that between the proletariat and bourgeoisie but between an imperialist Western camp composed of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and an "anti-imperialist" camp composed of Russia, China, and their respective dependencies.

In this respect, Dengists reject class struggle in favor of a fascistic view of national and even racial struggle.

Chauvinism and third worldism

Dengists adopt a chauvinist attitude, usually in favor of Chinese people and against Westerners. Dengists align with third worldist positions and erroneously view most Westerners as "labor aristocracy" who are lacking in revolutionary potential. Dengists further hold that the bourgeois nationalist deviations of the Communist Party of China are required in their pursuit of "Socialism with Chinese Characteristics".

"Support" for Mao Zedong

Similar to the stance taken by the modern Communist Party of China, Dengist nominally support Mao Zedong (with many even upholding him as a foundational theorist in Marxism) but in practice oppose most of his policies. Dengists entirely reject the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, a fundamental event in China's socialist construction, and side with the capitalist roaders which Mao's government purged from the party.

Similarly, Dengists are in staunch opposition to Marxism–Leninism–Maoism, which is the modern continuation of Mao's theories. Dengists opportunistically subscribe to anti-communist propaganda on Maoist movements such as the Communist Party of Peru and regard the modern execution of Mao's concept of protracted people's war as "terrorism."

Notable communities

Dengists, being largely detached from actual revolutionary struggle and also being largely Westerners, lack any actual major political formations. Most Dengist "organizing" takes place online. Notable Dengist online communities and propaganda outlets include:

Subreddits

• r/GenZedong, an extremist community largely based in Reddit.
• r/InformedTankie
• r/InternationalLeft, a community dominated by "patriotic socialists" and other crypto-fascists.
• r/asktankies
• r/TheDeprogram, based around the YouTubers of The Deprogram podcast.
• r/CommunismMemes

Lemmy

• Hexbear, though nominally "left-unity", it is functionally Dengist
• Lemmygrad, a Dengist community composed mostly of r/GenZedong users

Media outlets

• redsails.org, a propaganda outlet which contributes pro-PRC material
• Qiao Collective, publishes Chinese nationalist and social-chauvinist propaganda
• Friends of Socialist China
• Breakthrough News, hosts programs called the "China Report" and the "Socialist Program". Has hosts like Eugene Puryear and Brian Becker who are members of the revisionist Party for Socialism and Liberation, a party that uncritically supports the revisionist PRC. Has also worked with the Qiao Collective.

YouTube channels

• Hakim, an Iraqi political YouTube channel. As of February 2025, the channel has 314,000 subscribers and over 25 million views.
• Second Thought

See also

• Patriotic socialism
• Maoism–Third Worldism
• Social-imperialism
• Brezhnev Doctrine
• Chinese revisionism
• Socialism with Chinese Characteristics