The Myth of Chinese Capitalism: The Worker, the Factory, and the Future of the World by Dexter Roberts

In The Myth of Chinese Capitalism, journalist and author Dexter Roberts boldly challenges the widely accepted notion that China is a capitalist success story. Through a thoughtful analysis of both the hard data and firsthand accounts, Roberts exposes the harsh reality of life for Chinese citizens who work in the country’s many factories and construction sites. He argues that the trajectory of China’s economy, coupled with its lack of transparency and accountability, present a potential crisis for the world.

The book begins with a history of the country’s Mao-era "socialism with Chinese characteristics," which unionized labor and limited the power of big business. Roberts then details how the country’s transition to market capitalism has left many Chinese citizens in precarious working conditions, exposed to grueling days, wage theft, and even abuses of power and corruption. This unfairness is most blatant in factories, which Roberts believes exist in “barbaric” form in China. Exploited workers are often locked in buildings and forced to work overtime in hazardous conditions.

Roberts further analyzes the effects of the country’s economic reforms, arguing that cheap credit, predatory real estate deals, and opaque contracts have essentially caused citizens to become willing debt slaves to large banks. He warns of a looming economic bubble, which could potentially lead to vast wealth disparities and unchecked power for the ruling class.

The author also looks at the effects of rural migration and unchecked urbanization, noting the astronomical growth of megacities such as Shanghai and Shenzhen. He draws attention to the exodus of families from farming communities, who have faced environmental degradation, evictions, and poverty as a result of this massive urban population explosion.

Finally, Roberts argues that the world must shift gears before China’s rapid growth creates an even larger crisis, both at home and abroad. He calls for increased worker protections, improved safety protocols, and greater transparency and accountability from the Chinese government in order to curb the alarming rise of authoritarianism.

In The Myth of Chinese Capitalism, Roberts lays out a clear and important picture of the country’s current economic situation and its potential implications. He leverages both academic data and personal stories to show how the country’s exploitation of workers and lack of regulation can create dangerous conditions both domestically and internationally. With his sharp insights and thorough research, Roberts shows that if the world fails to take action to protect Chinese workers, an even greater crisis may be on the horizon.