Why China isn't Imperialist

President Trump’s trade war against China has sent shockwaves across the global economy. Meanwhile, politicians in Britain point the finger at China for the failure of British Steel, with some claiming it is the victim of a dastardly plot by the CCP to deindustrialise the West. Our own politicians seem to be doing a good enough job of wrecking the economy without China’s help, so we ask the pressing question, is China imperialist?

This panel will begin with an overview of what is meant by imperialism, its history and how it was essential to overcome the domestic crises of capitalism.

Imperialism is as a much a force today as it was 100 years ago but the global economy has since undergone drastic economic, political, technological and social changes. Naturally, imperialism has changed in form with it. Once we have an idea of what imperialism is, past and present, we can begin to assess whether China exhibits any of these traits.

On the agenda: Capitalist vs. Socialist accumulation, The Belt and Road, A view of China from The Third World, contextualising anti-China propaganda

Format: Speeches with Q&A

Dr. Sam-Kee Cheng is currently a Research Assistant Professor of Department of Government and Public Administration. She holds a PhD from SOAS in Development Studies. The title of her dissertation is The Political Economy of China’s Development and Go Global: Primitive Socialist Accumulation in China and Its Impact on Latin America and Africa. Sam-Kee is a co-ordinator of the Political Economy of China’s Development Working Group in International Initiative for Promoting Political Economy (IIPPE), an international academic group aims to promote Marxist political economy and organises annual conferences in Europe. She is currently working with publisher Routledge on a book on primitive socialist accumulation in China.