Tian Pengying: Viewing the World [1] through the Unique Worldview Contained within Chinese-path Modernization
In today’s world, the process of human social development is characterized by twists and turns, and the journey of various countries and nations exploring the path toward modernization is fraught with thorns and hardships. Multiple challenges and crises are intertwined and superimposed; the recovery of the world economy is difficult, the development gap continues to widen, the ecological environment continues to deteriorate, and the modernization process of human society has once again arrived at a crossroads of history. Polarization or common prosperity? Materialism above all or the coordinated development of material and spiritual civilizations? "Draining the pond to catch the fish" [1] or the harmonious coexistence of man and nature? Zero-sum games or win-win cooperation? Blindly copying the models of other countries or independent development based on one's own national conditions? What kind of modernization do we actually need? How can modernization be achieved? These "Questions of World Modernization" stand before humanity, urgently requiring an answer of the times.
Chinese-path modernization is deeply rooted in fine traditional Chinese culture, embodies the advanced nature of scientific socialism, draws upon and absorbs all the fine achievements of human civilization, represents the developmental direction of human civilizational progress, presents a new picture different from the Western modernization model, and constitutes a new form of human civilization. Chinese-path modernization has shattered the myth that "modernization = Westernization," demonstrated an alternative vision of modernization, expanded the path options for developing countries toward modernization, and provided a Chinese solution for humanity's exploration of a better social system. In particular, the unique worldview inherent in Chinese-path modernization and its great practice represent a major innovation in the theory and practice of world modernization, providing an important methodological choice for the vast number of developing countries to move toward modernization independently.
Relying on the Major Project of the National Social Science Fund of China titled "Research on the Worldview Inherent in Chinese-path Modernization," we focus our academic research, innovation, and focus on the study of the worldview of Chinese-path modernization, surveying the world through this lens. Within the many contradictory movements between China and the world, tradition and modernity, theory and practice, the present and the future, and thinking and being, we closely surround major issues of foundational, fundamental, and decisive significance. Grasping the "Questions of World Modernization," we strive within a theoretical (academic) horizon to provide possible intellectual support for answering the world-level and century-level problems facing human modernization.
First, grasping China and the world within the worldview of Chinese-path modernization. The worldview of Chinese-path modernization emphasizes "establishing oneself to help others establish themselves" and "benefiting the world" [2]. It not only bears in mind the strategic overall situation of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, but also pays close attention to the world's changes unseen in a century. While persisting in advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization, it closely links China's own fate with the fate of the people of all countries. It strives to provide new opportunities for world development through the new achievements of Chinese-path modernization, providing new impetus for humanity's exploration of modernization paths and making new contributions to the theoretical and practical innovation of human social modernization. Chinese-path modernization proactively shoulders the themes of world history; it focuses not only on China—building a great modern socialist country and realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation—but also on all of humanity, using its own strength to promote the peace and development of world history. Moving beyond a single-country perspective, the Communist Party of China uses a global vision to regard the promotion of building a community with a shared future for humanity as one of the essential requirements of Chinese-path modernization, actively responding to the universal concerns of people of all countries and taking the initiative to contribute to solving the common problems facing humanity and promoting the construction of a better world.
Second, grasping China and the Global South [3] within the worldview of Chinese-path modernization. China originated from the South, is concerned with the South, and is rooted in the South; it is a natural member of the Global South. Therefore, it focuses on the modernization of the South. China consistently adheres to an independent path of development and an open and inclusive developmental attitude. It consistently upholds mutual respect and equality for all countries—especially developing countries—understands and supports the people of Southern countries in choosing their own developmental paths, and proactively joins hands with developing countries to advance their respective modernization processes. By optimizing bilateral trade structures, raising levels of cooperation, realizing complementary advantages, and promoting the comprehensive economic, social, and cultural development of Southern countries, China provides space and injects developmental confidence and momentum for other developing countries to choose their development paths independently. At the same time, the worldview of Chinese-path modernization provides a practical path for late-developing Southern countries to evade the Western "modernization paradox" and the "wounds of modernity."
Third, grasping China and the new form of human civilization within the worldview of Chinese-path modernization. In the 21st century, world modernization presents three basic landscapes: Chinese-path modernization, Western modernization, and the modernization of developing countries. The worldview of Chinese-path modernization contains the concepts of Great Unity [4], coordinated development, and win-win cooperation. Within the grand pattern of world history, the Chinese people, the Communist Party of China, socialism with Chinese characteristics, Chinese-path modernization, and the new form of human civilization are all great products of the development of human civilization. While Western civilization certainly opened the door to modern human civilization, this by no means implies that modern human civilization is Western civilization. In fact, the door to human civilization that has been opened is bringing to all of humanity a brand new, infinite, and vast world of creation. Chinese-path modernization dissolves the discursive hegemony of Western modernization, and through the new form of human civilization it has created, it is becoming a true master of the progress of human civilization.
In short, Chinese-path modernization has expanded a new path for developing countries toward modernization, provided a Chinese civilizational solution for the better protection and inheritance of human civilization, and provided a richer and broader space of possibility for the development of world civilization and the comprehensive progress of humanity.
(The author is the Dean of the Institute of Chinese-path Modernization at Northeastern University)
Source: Chinese Social Sciences Net (cssn.cn)
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