Members of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) have signed a pledge to support “Chinese socialism.”
“We, Friends of Socialist China, aim to support the People’s Republic of China and to promote understanding of Chinese socialism,” the statement reads. The statement has been signed by residents of a number of countries, including Canada, Australia, Germany, Switzerland, Scotland, China, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Sweden, India, Italy, Finland, Kenya, the Netherlands, Taiwan, Russia, Belgium, Norway, and other countries.
Asking “Why socialism?” the pledge declares, “As Marxists, we believe that although capitalism has brought about unprecedented progress in the development of the productive forces, its expansion throughout the world has directly led to the most appalling crimes against humanity.” It claims that capitalist societies have been linked to “war, empire, racism, misogyny, alienation, and environmental destruction.”
The pledge goes on to assert that socialism ended “European fascism and Japanese militarism.”
It argues that the view that socialism is “characterized by overzealous secret services, prison camps, thought control, stale uniformity, dictatorship, famines, social conservatism, corruption and poverty” is “propaganda.”
The pledge goes on to ask “Why China?” and says that China’s “size and level of development give it an objectively critical role in the global transition to socialism.”
“China is the most prominent force pushing for the establishment of a multipolar system of international relations and a new international economic order; meanwhile, it is emerging as the global leader in the struggle to avoid climate breakdown,” it reads. “As such, the continued survival of Chinese socialism is a crucial matter not only for the Chinese people but for all humanity.” The pledge notes that the “Cold War” between what it claims is itself and “the US-led imperialist system” carries the “danger of a ‘hot’ world war, and as such constitutes an existential threat to humanity.”
The pledge comes as the DSA has endorsed 163 candidates for the 2026 midterm elections.
