In Search of a Post-Socialist Mode of Governmentality

Abstract

This paper examines the mode of governmentality applicable as an analytical framework in socialist states committed to market socialism. The successes of socialist states like China and Vietnam over the past few decades since their market-based reforms are attributable to this diversifying mode of governmentality and have challenged the binary dichotomy between socialism and neoliberalism. The party-states in China and Vietnam have begun to search for a post-socialist mode of governmentality, which resonates with the departure from neoliberalism towards post-neoliberalism in various capitalist countries. In Vietnam, there are signs of reconfiguration and restructuring of the party-states in such a highly complicated and fluid context to adapt themselves to a more sustainable governmentality. This results in the amorphous and ambivalent situation of a double movement of accommodating and resisting neoliberalism. That, in turn, reveals significant implications for a transformative potential for political change.

Representation of autism in Vietnamese online news media between 2006 and 2016

“…Despite extensive engagement with 50 international organisations, the Party-State in Vietnam persists in its "underlying political philosophy and many of its practices" (Gainsborough, 2010, p. 476). Nevertheless, the Party-State of Vietnam has been executing deregulation, decentralization, privatization and marketization, which indicates a move toward neoliberalization (Schwenkel & Leshkowich, 2012;Thiem, 2015). However, these processes are formally termed as the transition toward "socialist-oriented market economy" and administrative governance reform, rather than neoliberalization.…”

“…Smith, 2010aSmith, , 2010b, rather than in contrast to "neoliberalism" as such. Thiem (2015) argues that the Reform project, based on selective adoption of neoliberal logics in Vietnam,has been "uneven,exceptional,novel and problematic" (p. 99) Vietnam has made considerable progress in economic development over the last 30 years, transforming from one of the world's poorest nations to a lower middle-income country (World Bank, 2017). The GDP per capita growth in the 1990s and 2000s was among the fastest in the world, averaging 6.4% a year in the 2000s, and poverty reduction programs helped 40 million people escape poverty over the course of two decades, bringing the poverty percentage down from 60% of the population in 1993 to 13.5% in 2014(World Bank, 2017.…”

“…Because imported reforms with a foreign logic are not compatible with the underlying social process when the existing political ideology persists, they create a hybrid model, rather than alter socialist precepts (p. 4). Thiem (2015) argues the authoritarian surveillance state still exercises an intimidating practice to circumvent the […] logic of transparency and accountability (p. 96). The economic transformation of Vietnam over the past few decades is significantly down to "a developmental structure", driven by the state (p. 91).…”

“…Generally, Vietnamese people do speak up about problems directly affecting their lives in the media and other public spheres. Given that the mechanisms for accountability are weak in the country (Thiem, 2015;Vasavakul, 2014), raising one's voice is one thing; holding those in power accountable is another.…”

The rise and fall of Korean drama export to China: The history of state regulation of Korean dramas in China

“…Post-socialist states have accommodated the principles of neoliberalism for economic development. However, political elites continue to use socialist principles to justify state intervention to control economic and political activities within the national system (Chelcea and Drut¸, 2016;Thiem, 2015). Therefore, what Thiem calls the ''amorphous and ambivalent situation of a double movement of accommodating and resisting neoliberalism'' (p. 80) helps achieve both the political and economic objectives of the post-socialist states.…”