New Left revisionism reshapes understanding of China's economic history

A movement among scholars of the Chinese New Left is contesting the prevailing neoliberal perspective that views Maoist command economics and the capitalist reforms of Deng Xiaoping as fundamentally opposed. This new interpretation presents both eras as interconnected stages in the pursuit of national strength, challenging Western narratives that portray Deng's reforms as a departure from Maoism. In 'Deng Xiaoping and the Transformation of China,' Ezra Vogel commended Deng for charting a course to enhance China's wealth and power. Meanwhile, Orville Schell and John Delury, in 'Wealth and Power: China's Long March to the Twenty-first Century,' characterized Deng's 'reform and opening-up' as a blend of Lenin's state discipline and Milton Friedman's market principles. The New Left contends that these perspectives overlook the Maoist era's contributions and the lasting significance of socialist ideals, impacting the understanding of China's history and future on both national and international stages.