Is China Imperialist? Economy, State, and Insertion in the Global System

Abstract

According to Marxist theory, imperialism is not a policy pursued by certain states, but rather a structural relation emerging from the dynamics of some modes of production. In the capitalist era the profit and accumulation drive underlies the establishment of imperialist relations. This paper applies historical materialism to analyze the political-economic system in China today to determine the forces that have shaped China’s insertion into the global system. We present evidence that China’s role in other parts of the world does not fit the Marxist concept of imperialism. We argue that the nonimperialist character of China’s external relations stems from China’s particular political economy. JEL Classification: F54, O53, P52