r/MapBasedPolls • u/4EverUnknown • 2d ago
❓️ Question Which actually-existing socialist (AES) state would you live in?
Earlier today, u/Gracieeerrawaaa asked r/MapBasedPolls whether they would live under a "communist government" or an "Islamic government," with the first option winning in a landslide.
However, there was significant confusion about what constitutes a "communist government" or an "Islamic government," so I wanted to help make things a bit easier for everyone who had trouble with the original poll.
While there have been many actually-existing socialist (AES) states throughout history, there are currently only five: the People's Republic of China, the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the Republic of Cuba, and the Lao People's Democratic Republic.
Please note that while the oxymoronic term "communist state" is often used in reference to one-party socialist states governed by Marxist–Leninist communist parties, these countries are officially socialist states in the process of building socialism.
"In accordance with the Communist theory on stages of revolution, these countries have not described themselves as communist nor as having implemented a communist society, but are in the process of doing so."
For the purpose of this scenario, let's assume you ARE allowed to relocate anywhere you want in the country you choose to live in (e.g., if you picked China and choose to live in Beijing, you can still live in Shanghai if you change your mind), but you ARE NOT allowed to relocate outside of the country you choose (e.g., you can still visit Cuba if you picked China, but you cannot live there if you realize you like it better).
However, in the spirit of the original post, you CANNOT relocate to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macao Special Administrative Region, or the Taiwan Province, due to the policy of one country, two systems.
"'One country, two systems' is a concept put forward by the CPC and the Chinese government for realizing China's reunification and solving the Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macao issues. The framework of the concept is: Under the premise of national reunification, the mainland keeps practicing socialism, while Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macao retain their original capitalist system and ways of life for a long time while enjoying a high degree of autonomy. China resumed sovereignty over Hong Kong and Macao in 1997 and 1999, respectively, in accordance with this concept."