def. Disco – The concession or sacrifice by a player of an element of its platform in order to preserve or advance its overall agenda or argument.  The central tenet of a Disco is that forward progress cannot be achieved by the player unless or until the player first moves backward (i.e., one step back, two steps forward.)

 

Deng Xiaoping is credited with opening up China and advancing it to become a modern, fast-growing country.  In playmaker’s parlance, he’s also credited with showing his country how to run a Disco—that is, how forward progress cannot be achieved unless or until the player first moves backward.

 

In 1976, Deng made a bold and calculated move. He repudiated the Cultural Revolution and launched the “Beijing Spring,” allowing for the first time open criticism of the suffering that had occurred during the period (a.k.a., taking “one-step back.”)

 

 

Deng was no dummy. He knew his ability to influence as China’s de-facto leader rested in his public credibility.  And to earn it, he had to admit fault. So he made the concession in order to move forward and free himself of the baggage of China’s recently tumultuous political history.

 

Thirty-two-years later, we think Deng’s Disco was the right play to run at the right time, thus affirming that sometimes, forward progress cannot be made until a player takes one-step back.

 

Posted by: John Koval