"The theory of the Communists may be summed up in the single sentence: abolition of private property." Many of China's communists now privately wish that Karl Marx's words could be forgotten. On March 14th, they-or rather their proxies in China's compliant legislature-will approve a constitutional amendment that will describe private property rights as "inviolable". But few expect the jitters caused by Marx's legacy to be calmed so easily. China's leaders are struggling to keep their conspicuously ill-suited ideology in line with the accelerating change around them. In 2002 they adopted a new formulation that for the first time allowed private businessmen to join the Communist Party (though many were already closet members). Now they want to reassure them that the party will not, as it did in the 1950s, take away their businesses.
展开▼
