Depends on the system, but think of how public services are run, that's an example.
Cowbee
joined 2 years ago
Understanding the world is the first step to fixing it.
Gets even more stark right after the Soviet Union dissolved.
Bad things don't disappear if you can't percieve them, so no.
I think you should use this as an opportunity to get to learn the political structure of the DPRK a bit more. The Kims are beloved, but not all-powerful, the WPK isn't even the only party in government, but a coalition.
But, take care!
No problem! Let me know if you have any feedback. It also has audiobooks!
Kim Jong-Un is the head of the WPK, the main (but not only) political party in the DPRK. If my argument sounds like "billionaires aren't wealthy because they don't have much liquid," then you need to study Marxist economics more. Kim Jong-Un isn't performing an M-C...P...C'-M' circuit, production in the DPRK isn't funneled to him. They have a planned economy.
Secondly, most of the starvation happened in the rural areas, which were even more underdeveloped. One of Kim Jong-Un's major campaign goals is to bring the rural development more in line with the urban development. Social stratification exists in all socialist states, the USSR for example had a difference of about 10 times from the top to the bottom on average, but in capitalist systems this number is in the hundreds to millions to even billions. Equality is not the goal of Marxism, satisfying the needs of everyone and planning production more coherently is the goal.
As for labor organizing, yes, it's done by the WPK. Marxism has no basis in pushing for labor organizing outside the state, in a centrally planned economy this kind of organization leads to some areas having undue privledge. This was found early on in the USSR, that's why the Soviet system took over the factory committee style that was more localized and worked against the broader planned economy.
Again, I have my criticisms, but the DPRK should he able to chart their own course. I think you should read up on Marxism a bit more, without a firm analysis of capitalism it can be difficult to understand why public ownership and planning is so different from private ownership and markets. Not saying you need to read Capital yet, but just some good research at first.
It's great to want to learn theory! If you want, I actually made an introductory Marxist-Leninist reading list, it should help with structure. It's meant to build up as time goes on, so you aren't thrown in the deep end at the start.
The economic strarification in the DPRK is among the lowest in the world. The DPRK is not a wealthy country, nor is the Kim family excessively wealthy. They have privledges above and beyond the average person, no doubt, but the function of the DPRK's economy fundamentally cannot reach the same levels of stratification that capitalist economies do. The DPRK is not really a market economy, it doesn't really engage in traditional commodity production outside of Rason and other areas, and because of that rhere aren't these extreme profits to give to the Kim family even if they wanted to.
You also keep repeating the idea that there's very little democratic input, but that just isn't the case. The system requires worker input to function, it isn't a capitalist economy that can rely on markets to sort distribution. There's money, for sure, and some limited private property, but fundamentally the system cannot exist without those running society being able to have a say. The Kim family couldn't possibly run everything by themselves even if they wanted to. Labor is collectively organized, society-wide.
As far as control of information is concerned, that's a very standard measure proposed by Marx in the manifesto itself, it's very easy for outside influences to overwhelm the information sphere for their own gain. The US has been known to do that, especially with tools like Radio Free Europe, Radio Free Asia, etc. Defectors were far more common in the past, during the Arduous March when the Soviet Union dissolved and natural disasters led to famine. There are even defectors that risk their lives going back to the DPRK.
All in all, you seem extremely confident in your view of the DPRK for someone who has done no research whatsoever. If you haven't, then make it a point to learn. The Black Panther Party were such big fans of the DPRK that after visiting they adopted Juche into their practice. Again, I have my own criticisms, but it's hard to have a conversation with someone who hasn't done any research and doesn't seem to be interested in sources I bring to the table either.
Sure, but you can also join an org, and make a difference that way at a larger scale.