I was watching David Harvey's 2019 Capital series. While going through Marx's analysis of capitalism, he decides to use Foxconn & China as an example of social relations & commodity fetishism.
Video in Question: https://yewtu.be/watch?v=1Sgo9I61gOI&list=PLWvnUfModHP9Ci8M1g39l4AZgK6YLCXd0&index=1
Timestamp 1:26:00-1:31:00
spoiler
During this segment he talks about worker suicides at Foxconn. How in response they needed to buy suicide nets. He argues that when China opened up to the world market the Foxconn suicides were a natural cause of the capitalism they exposed themselves too. He argues that the Chinese government couldn't understand this principle, and failed at controlling the horrors capitalism brings. Next, in a patronizing way, wonders 'if Deng Xiaoping even read this stuff (Marx's Capital)'. Then proceeds to accuse Deng of willfully exposing his population 'to the horrible conditions of places like Foxconn'. Finally he presumes Deng would answer, 'yes, but its okay because we all have wealth and cell phones now'!
Timestamp 1:53:00-1:55:00
spoiler
David continues to clutch his pearls at the horrors of Foxconn. David then once again assumes Deng's answer to if he understood capital/capitalism, and what opening up the market would do. Saying, 'Yes I read it I know perfectly well that this is what we have to go through to deal with the rising productivity of labor. The only way we can do that is through market competition and this will create alienation, inequality, and exploitation'. Then the noble David Harvey dunks on his straw man argument saying, 'Alright, having done that, how can you still justify what it is your doing?' Finally he leaves whether China will become socialist by 2050 as an open question, some say yes, some say no.
TLDR: China=Bad/Capitalist/1984, Foxconn Suicide Nets, Deng & the CPC are a bunch of dummies, sweatshops.
Throughout the series he sprinkles in bits of anti-China rhetoric but these two segments particularly stood out to me. Now, to be clear, this post isn't meant as an attack on David. I want to use these criticisms as a learning experience, I'm here for the truth. These are arguments I've heard many times before among liberals.
So what's the deal with Foxconn & the suicide nets? What are the working conditions like inside China, is it the sweatshop hell liberals claim it to be? Did Deng betray the revolution and turn China capitalist? I would like as much information on these broad topics as possible please. Bonus points if it's a source I can share with the next lib who asks me these questions.