Martin Jacques, former editor of Marxism Today, witnessed the collapse of Britain's traditional industrial base in the 1980s. The journal, linked to the Communist Party of Great Britain, featured leading intellectuals such as Eric Hobsbawm and Stuart Hall and argued that the old trade-union bloc could no longer sustain a socialist project.
From Marxist analysis to Chinese admiration
Jacques and his colleagues saw the rise of a service-oriented, creative class as a possible new engine of progressive change. When that promise failed to materialise and the Labour Party moved towards the centrist policies of Tony Blair, Jacques turned his attention eastward. A 1993 visit to the People's Republic sparked a belief that the Chinese Communist Party was delivering a model of "statist capitalism" that could outpace Western liberalism.
His 2019 bestseller, *When China Rules the World*, portrayed China as a "civilisation-state" whose development path was uniquely its own, combining authoritarian governance with rapid industrial growth.
Why the left looks to Beijing
After the 2015-2019 Corbyn era, many on the British left feel politically marginalised. Traditional working-class voters have drifted towards populist right-wing messages, while left-wing activists are increasingly concentrated in urban graduate circles. In that context, China appears as a vibrant counter-example to a stagnant British state.
Economists such as Adam Tooze praise China's activist industrial policy and green manufacturing push. Media outlets like Novara Media highlight the success of state-owned electric-vehicle factories in Chongqing. Some commentators even propose an "Anglo-Dengism" as a remedy for Britain's economic malaise.
"It doesn't matter if a cat is black or white, if it catches mice it's a good cat.", Deng Xiaoping
Supporters argue that China's ability to marshal state capacity, invest in infrastructure and drive technological upgrades offers a template for a Britain that has seen real-income growth stall for two decades and struggled with large-scale projects such as HS2.
What lies ahead for the British left?
Critics warn that China's successes are rooted in conditions that Britain does not share: a massive surplus labour force, a young population, access to the American consumer market and decades of globalisation. Replicating a one-party model in a liberal democracy with entrenched property rights and a strong judicial tradition is unlikely.
Nevertheless, the fascination signals a broader search for alternatives. As Jeremy Corbyn steps back and Keir Starmer steers Labour towards the centre, left-wing thinkers may continue to cite China's state-led development as a benchmark, even if only to contrast it with Britain's own infrastructural shortcomings.
the British left faces a choice: continue to idealise an external model or return to the analytical rigor of publications like *Marxism Today*, confronting domestic realities head-on and proposing realistic reforms for the United Kingdom.