He Yaomin: Economic Practices and Theoretical Explorations During the Period of Socialist Revolution and Construction [1]

2025-06-20 Modern Chinese History

The Economic History of the People's Republic of China (1949–1978), compiled by a team led by Professor He Yaomin of Renmin University of China, has been published by Renmin University Press. As the first unified textbook to systematically expound upon the history of China’s economic development from the founding of the PRC to the pre-reform and opening-up period, it serves as a core curriculum textbook for economics majors in higher education. This volume is part of the "China Series" of original textbooks—specifically the Chinese Economics series—organized by the Ministry of Education and reviewed and approved by the National Textbook Committee.

[Constructing an Independent Knowledge System for Chinese Philosophy and Social Sciences]

The period from 1949 to 1978 was a critical era in which the Communist Party of China (CPC) united and led the Chinese people in conducting socialist revolution and construction. This stage realized the transition from New Democracy ^[1] to socialism, carried out the socialist revolution, and advanced socialist construction, thereby laying the fundamental political prerequisites and institutional foundations for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. It was also a historical stage in which China established its socialist economic system, explored paths for socialist economic construction, achieved immense successes, and accumulated precious experience. Although the process of exploration in this period underwent serious twists and turns, the original theoretical achievements and Great Achievements ^[2] made by the Party in socialist revolution and construction provided the valuable experience, theoretical preparation, and material foundation for initiating Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the new historical period. Strengthening the study of economic history during the period of socialist revolution and construction—and summarizing and refining the economic practices and theoretical contributions of this era—will effectively promote the construction of an independent knowledge system for Chinese economics.

The Contemporary Value of Researching the Economic History of the Socialist Revolution and Construction Period

Comprehensively analyzing and researching the course of struggle in economic construction led by the CPC during the period of socialist revolution and construction. There are many successful theories, practices, experiences, and methods in the CPC-led struggle to develop the Chinese economy from weak to strong. Some of these can be summarized and sublimated into core concepts of Chinese economics, such as: adhering to a path of economic construction and development characterized by independence, self-reliance, and self-improvement; building an independent and relatively complete industrial system and national economic system; the principle that economic construction must "concentrate resources to accomplish major undertakings" ^[3]; implementing major and critical research, national defense, and livelihood projects through the "whole-of-nation system" ^[4]; the principle of development for the people and development relying on the people; fully mobilizing the enthusiasm of the masses to participate in economic construction; respecting objective economic laws and using economic methods to manage the economy; and adhering to the combination of opening to the outside world with a step-by-step implementation, as well as combining the utilization of foreign capital and technology with a "self-centered" (China-led) approach. Other elements can be sublimated into important concepts of Chinese economics, such as taking agriculture as the foundation and industry as the leading factor; adhering to the combination of introduction, digestion, and absorption of advanced foreign technology and management experience; and the necessity of combining key breakthroughs with overall advancement, and comprehensive balance with coordinated, incremental progress in economic development.

Revealing and summarizing the profound changes and great achievements of China's socialist economic development. Economic development during this period is clearly manifested in six evolutionary aspects:

Main Thread of Development: Not merely quantitative economic changes, but more importantly, a change in the social nature of the country, whereby the socialist economic system was established and the path of socialist construction took shape.
Development Goals: The national economy moved toward socialist industrialization, established an independent and relatively complete industrial system and national economy, and proposed the goal of the "Four Modernizations." ^[5]
Economic System Operation: China moved from a New Democratic economic system to a socialist planned economic system, leveraging the advantage of concentrating resources for major undertakings, overcoming severe economic difficulties and obstacles, and establishing a powerful macroeconomic management system that promoted the vigorous development of productive forces.
Economic Achievements: Unprecedented economic gains were achieved, a solid material and technical foundation was laid, and comprehensive national strength was significantly enhanced.
People's Wellbeing: A socialist political system, economic system, and social security system were established to benefit the entire population, ensuring the rights to subsistence and development and continuously improving living standards.
International Status: China stood firmly on the side of safeguarding the interests of developing countries, resolutely defended world peace against imperialism and hegemonism, and socialist China stood tall in the East.

Fully understanding and recognizing the rich connotations of the "Chinese Path." Although the period of socialist revolution and construction lasted less than 30 years, it was the formative era for exploring the path of socialist economic construction. Economic development in this period possesses rich theoretical and practical significance, such as: the historical necessity of the transition from the New Democratic economic formation to the socialist economic formation; the establishment of the socialist economic system; the确立 (establishment) and operation of the macroeconomic management system and planned economy; the path of socialist industrialization; the prioritization of heavy industry in relation to China’s industrial structure and policy; the adjustment of major proportions within the national economy; the structure of ownership and the development of the state-owned economy; the transformation of rural economic relations; and the breaking of Western economic blockades through independence and self-reliance.

Refining new concepts, categories, and expressions from the exploration and formation of the economic construction path. The practical, theoretical, and institutional innovations of this period provide a treasure trove for building an independent knowledge system for Chinese economics and offer solid support for strengthening "Confidence in the Four Areas" ^[6]. From the perspective of practical innovation, we must deeply investigate the Party's General Line for the Transition Period ^[7], the confiscation of "bureaucrat-capital" ^[8] to establish the state-owned economy, the correct treatment of the national bourgeoisie, and the shift in the Party's main tasks after the 8th CPC National Congress. From the perspective of theoretical innovation, we must explore the relationship between the five economic components ^[9] of New Democracy and the contradictions between the productive forces and relations of production. From the perspective of institutional innovation, research must focus on Land Reform, the agricultural cooperative movement, the "Unified Purchase and Marketing" system ^[10], and enterprise management models such as the "Ansteel Constitution." ^[11]

Research Objects and Key Content of the Economic History of the Socialist Revolution and Construction Period

In studying the economic history of the PRC, the research object for this period is the history and objective laws of economic construction, comprising three levels:

The evolution of the mode of production: This involves the objective laws of the development of productive forces and the transformation of the relations of production. Massive projects like the "156 Projects" ^[12] and the "Third Front Construction" ^[13] drove the productive forces, while socialist transformation guided the change in relations of production.
Specific manifestations of the economic base: This includes the study of economic systems, structures, policies, and development paths. Studying the transformation of the economic base in conjunction with the superstructure is the fundamental way to explain objective economic laws.
Specialized fields: This encompasses the history of industrial, agricultural, and commercial economics, as well as fiscal, monetary, and foreign trade history.

The key is to grasp the theme and main thread: the theme is the realization of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation; the main thread is the exploration of the socialist path and the realization of modernization. Crucially, one must recognize that the periods before and after "reform and opening-up" are both practical explorations of socialist construction led by the Party. As such, "the two historical periods cannot be used to negate each other." ^[14]

Research Methods for the Economic History of the Socialist Revolution and Construction Period

Research must adhere to dialectical materialism and historical materialism, guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and implement the stance, viewpoints, and methods of Political Economy with Chinese Characteristics.

Historical materialism reveals the laws of social development by starting from the production of material goods and researching the development of productive forces. General Secretary Xi Jinping has noted: "In the various historical periods of revolution, construction, and reform, our Party has applied historical materialism to systematically, concretely, and historically analyze Chinese social movements and their laws of development... Only by adhering to historical materialism can we continuously raise our understanding of the laws of socialism with Chinese characteristics to a new level."

Adhere to historical materialism and a correct outlook on Party history, and establish a "big picture" view of history ^[15]. Studying the history of the Party and the history of the state is a compulsory course for upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics and for continuing to push forward various undertakings of the Party and the state. Historical materialism is the fundamental method by which Chinese Communists understand and grasp history. To maintain a correct outlook on Party history, one must rely on the Party’s three historical resolutions ^[16]—particularly the Resolution of the CPC Central Committee on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party over the Past Century—and the spirit of Central Committee documents as a basis. We must accurately grasp the themes, main threads, mainstream trends, and essential nature of New China’s historical development. This requires a correct understanding and scientific evaluation of major events, important meetings, and key figures in the economic history of New China. We must seek truth from facts when viewing major issues in Party history; we cannot avoid mistakes and setbacks because of achievements, nor can we negate achievements because of mistakes and setbacks encountered during exploration. To establish a "big picture" view of history, we must ground ourselves in the overall strategy of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the global changes unseen in a century ^[17]. We must analyze the mechanisms of evolution and explore historical laws within the long river of history, the great tides of the era, and the shifting winds of global affairs, thereby summarizing the experiences and lessons of national economic construction.

Maintain the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Persistent adherence to the Party's overall leadership and the armament of the Party’s innovative theories are the unique advantages of the Communist Party of China in leading economic work. The report to the 20th CPC National Congress systematically expounded upon the "Six Musts" ^[18]—namely, we must put the people first, we must maintain self-confidence and self-reliance, we must uphold the fundamentals and break new ground, we must remain problem-oriented, we must apply systems thinking, and we must maintain a global perspective. All of these serve as methodological guidance for the study of economic history during the period of socialist revolution and construction.

Socialist political economy with Chinese characteristics provides the theoretical foundation and fundamental analytical methods. Socialist political economy with Chinese characteristics emerged from and serves the economic practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics; it is the economic theory that studies and interprets the laws of motion governing the mode of production and the economic base of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Its emphasis is on studying and interpreting the laws of economic development and the characteristics of economic operation during the primary stage of socialism ^[19]. For the study and interpretation of economic history during the period of socialist revolution and construction, socialist political economy with Chinese characteristics provides a solid theoretical basis for understanding the evolutionary laws of New China’s mode of production and economic base. It reveals the theoretical logic through which New China promoted socio-economic development by transforming the productive forces and the economic base.

(Author: He Yaomin, Wu Yuzhang Senior Chair Professor at Renmin University of China) Source: Guangming Daily, June 17, 2025, Page 11 Web Editor: Tongxin

Notes

↩ [1] 新民主主义 (Xīn mínzhǔ zhǔyì): New Democracy. A concept in Maoism arguing that the revolution in colonial/semi-colonial countries must first pass through a stage of "New Democracy"—a coalition of revolutionary classes under the leadership of the proletariat—before transitioning to socialism.
↩ [2] 伟大成就 (Wěidà chéngjiù): Great Achievements. In recent CPC historiography, this refers specifically to the accomplishments of the "Four Periods" of Party history (Revolution, Construction, Reform/Opening-up, and the New Era).
↩ [3] 集中力量办大事 (Jízhōng lìliàng bàn dàshì): Concentrating resources to accomplish major undertakings. A core principle of the Chinese governance model, emphasizing the state's ability to mobilize national resources more efficiently than a market system for strategic goals.
↩ [4] 举国体制 (Jǔguó tǐzhì): Whole-of-nation system. Originally used for the state-led sports system, it now refers to a coordinated national strategy for achieving breakthroughs in core technologies and strategic industries.
↩ [5] 四个现代化 (Sì gè xiàndàihuà): The Four Modernizations. The goals of modernizing agriculture, industry, national defense, and science and technology, first proposed by Zhou Enlai.
↩ [6] 四个自信 (Sì gè zìxìn): Confidence in the Four Areas. Specifically: confidence in our path, our theory, our system, and our culture.
↩ [7] 过渡时期总路线 (Guòdù shíqī zǒng lùxiàn): General Line for the Transition Period. Adopted in 1953, it aimed for the gradual realization of socialist industrialization and the socialist transformation of agriculture, handicrafts, and capitalist industry/commerce.
↩ [8] 官僚资本 (Guānliáo zīběn): Bureaucrat-capital. Capital accumulated by high-ranking officials in the pre-1949 Nationalist (KMT) government (specifically the "Four Big Families"); its confiscation formed the initial basis of the PRC's state-owned economy.
↩ [9] 五种经济成分 (Wǔ zhǒng jīngjì chéngfèn): Five economic components. The mixed economy of the New Democracy period (1949–1956) consisting of: state-owned economy, cooperative economy, individual economy of peasants and handicraftsmen, private capitalist economy, and state-capitalist economy.
↩ [10] 粮食统购统销 (Liángshì tǒnggòu tǒngxiāo): Unified Purchase and Marketing of grain. A state monopoly policy introduced in 1953 to ensure urban food supply and resource accumulation for industrialization.
↩ [11] 鞍钢宪法 (Āngāng Xiànfǎ): The Ansteel Constitution. A set of principles for industrial management emerging from the Anshan Iron and Steel Company in 1960, emphasizing cadre participation in labor, worker participation in management, and the "triple combination" of workers, cadres, and technicians.
↩ [12] 156项工程 (156 xiàng gōngchéng): The 156 Projects. Major industrial infrastructure projects supported by the Soviet Union during China's First Five-Year Plan (1953–1957), forming the backbone of China's heavy industry.
↩ [13] 三线建设 (Sānxiàn jiànshè): Third Front Construction. A massive industrial development campaign in China's interior (the "Third Front") starting in the mid-1960s, aimed at creating an industrial base invulnerable to invasion by the US or USSR.
↩ [14] 两个不能否定 (Liǎng gè bùnéng fǒudìng): The "Two Cannot-Negates." A political directive from Xi Jinping stating that the period before the reform and opening-up (1949–1978) and the period after it cannot be used to negate one another, as both were essential parts of China's socialist exploration.
↩ [15] 大历史观 (dà lìshǐguān): "Big picture" view of history. A methodological approach promoted by Xi Jinping that emphasizes long-term historical trends and structural shifts over short-term events, encouraging an analysis of China's development within the context of millennia of Chinese history and global patterns.
↩ [16] 三个历史决议 (sān gè lìshǐ juéyì): The Three Historical Resolutions. These are the three seminal documents issued by the CPC (1945, 1981, and 2021) that provide the definitive official interpretation of the Party’s history, its successes, and its "errors." The 2021 resolution focuses on the New Era and clarifies the "Two Establishments."
↩ [17] 世界百年未有之大变局 (shìjiè bǎinián wèiyǒu zhī dàbiànjú): Changes unseen in a century. A strategic assessment by the CPC leadership suggesting that the current international order is undergoing a fundamental shift, characterized by the rise of the "Global South" (particularly China) and the relative decline of Western hegemony.
↩ [18] 六个必须坚持 (liù gè bìxū jiānchí): The "Six Musts." Formally known as the "Six Must Adheres," these constitute the world outlook and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought, providing a framework for policy-making and ideological alignment.
↩ [19] 社会主义初级阶段 (shèhuìzhǔyì chūjí jiēduàn): The primary stage of socialism. A theoretical construct in Chinese Marxism asserting that China is in a long-term stage where productive forces are relatively underdeveloped, necessitating a "commodity economy" (market mechanisms) and multiple forms of ownership while maintaining socialist direction.