Wang Yashan: Theoretical Innovation and Global Significance of Chinese-Style Modernization from a Global South Perspective
Modernization is an inevitable trend in the development of human society, the fundamental prerequisite for achieving the free and comprehensive development of individuals, and a common goal pursued assiduously by all of humanity. Setting its foundation on the fundamental standpoint of Marxism, Chinese-path modernization has—through the continuous advancement of the "Two Combinations" [1]—formed a theoretical system that accords with China's national conditions, demonstrates Chinese characteristics, embodies Chinese civilization, and responds to Chinese realities. Against the contemporary background of waning Western hegemonism and the collective rise of the Global South, the theoretical innovations of Chinese-path modernization can inspire Global South countries—long shackled by Western colonialism and modernization models—to break through development dilemmas and accelerate their modernization transitions. Simultaneously, it can promote active, mutually beneficial, and win-win cooperation among nations. This holds significant theoretical and practical importance for promoting the common development of Global South countries and the reform and improvement of the global governance system.
Current academic research on Chinese-path modernization has already achieved prolific theoretical results within the horizon of historical materialism, centering on core issues such as its scientific connotation, value implications, internal logic, practical significance, and the requirements of the times. By introducing the perspective of the Global South, this article explores the innovative logic of the theoretical system of Chinese-path modernization and its enlightenment for Global South countries. It aims to further excavate the practical effects of Chinese-path modernization, enhance its important status in the global landscape of modernization, and provide Chinese wisdom for promoting the construction of a community with a shared future for humanity and the development of a new form of human civilization.
I. The Historical Evolution and Practical Tensions of the Global South Discourse
As a concept with distinct political coloring, the connotation of the "Global South" transcends traditional geographical divisions. In the sense of a political entity, it represents a collective of emerging markets and developing countries, essentially serving as the integral continuation of the camp of developing nations. In the sense of a conceptual subject, it can be understood as a "site of knowledge production," representing a collective will for decolonization and de-dependence, as well as a mode of discourse reproduction characterized by "autonomous awakening" and "fairness and justice." At present, the understanding of this concept in foreign academic circles has not yet fully broken free from the binary logic of "South-North" opposition, and there remains a significant bias in the grasp of the Global South. Some scholars view the rise of the Global South as a potential emancipatory force that will bring about a more democratic and just model of global governance. However, others argue that the rise of the Global South is essentially the result of alternative forces and the rise of great powers. Facing these cognitive differences, it is necessary to further clarify the discursive evolution of the Global South concept and the practical tensions it faces as a political entity, so as to improve our objective cognition and scientific grasp of this concept.
1. The Discursive Evolution of the Global South Concept
The concept of the Global South can be traced back to 1969, proposed by the American left-wing political activist Carl Oglesby. Prior to this, the term "South" was used in various contexts to describe a marginalized position. With the end of the Cold War, the rise of globalization discourse, and the interplay of diverse social ideological trends, the word "South" was given the prefix "Global." As an international political concept, the Global South has occupied an increasingly important position in the international discourse system. As a dynamically developing concept itself, the Global South has undergone the following three shifts.
First, the shift from a "geo-spatial" to a "geo-historical" dimension. Although "South" does not specifically refer to the Southern Hemisphere in a geographical sense, it still leans toward a "non-Northern" space in a geospatial sense. At the theoretical level, the "South" concept draws on Gramsci's discourse on the "Southern Question" [2] in Italy, emphasizing the inequality of development between North and South and the issue of Northern exploitation of the South. At the practical level, the anti-war movements that emerged in American society during the Cold War, the anti-colonial struggles of Third World countries, and national liberation movements together constituted the ideological foundation of the Global South concept—namely, its distinct "non-Northern" political character. However, unlike the "allied" relationship of Northern countries, which share relatively similar development levels, political systems, and values, the Global South is not an internally consistent, coherent, and homogenized whole, nor is it a utopia free of conflict and interest divergence. Therefore, whether from the perspective of academic analysis or political stance, the connotation of the Global South concept should be re-examined. As some scholars have suggested, if the Global South is interpreted solely from a "geo-spatial" dimension, it is easy to fall back into the old tracks of developing-country studies, oversimplifying countries and collectives that were originally diverse and complex.
Since the world order is a historical system of production, the concept of the Global South should encompass a historical dimension on the basis of space, excavating the generative logic behind the North-South gap. Currently, the Northern countries' exploitation of the Global South does not only stop at unequal trade agreements and financial means at the level of distribution. More importantly, Northern countries still continue the "production-exploitation" logic of the colonial era. Through a series of knowledge monopolies, platform technology advantages, and discursive hegemony, they continuously accumulate productive capital and treat Global South countries as rule-takers under the Northern-dominated model. In this sense, the Global South is precisely a historical correspondence and practical response to the hegemonic structure of Northern countries. Its concept is both a transcendence of the traditional spatial order and is rooted in the historical division of labor brought about by economic globalization, reflecting the historical influence of Northern countries across multiple aspects such as colonial rule and development paths behind the inequality of North-South development.
Second, the shift from passive dependence to active participation. Early discourse viewed Global South countries as marginalized groups within the network of imperialist global expansion, emphasizing their low per capita GDP economically and their peripheral status within the international political and economic system. Thus, it carried metaphors of passivity and dependence. The proposal of the "Brandt Line" [3] in 1977 further categorized North and South countries based on their modernization levels, pointing out common problems faced by Global South countries such as low per capita income, economic reliance on primary industries, high population density, and weak infrastructure. Following the collective rise of Global South countries since the 21st century and the profound changes in the international order and global governance system, the Global South has evolved from the dependent nations of the past into a collective of emerging market economies, gradually becoming a backbone force in world economic development. South-South cooperation and regional integration processes have also become important channels for Global South countries to reshape cooperation frameworks and expand their collective influence. Today, the Global South concept pays more attention to the explicit narrative logic of the right to discursive decision-making. By promoting the union of multiple forces at the economic, political, and cultural levels, they actively participate in the reform and practice of the global economic governance system, continuously enhancing the discourse power of countries in historically subordinate positions and promoting the rebalancing of the global power structure. Independent political foundations, the historical mission of development and revitalization, and common propositions of fairness and justice enable Global South countries to unite and cooperate, becoming key forces in the transformation of the international order.
Third, the decolonial discourse shift from single developmental characteristics to pluralistic identity Recognition. As a term that has entered international political reality, the Global South has to a large extent developed the Cold War-era concept of the "Third World." Since the adoption of the Declaration on the Establishment of a New International Economic Order in 1974, the Global South discourse has reflected a collective vision for establishing a fairer global governance system, representing the voice of post-colonial and developing countries standing in solidarity within the world political landscape, yearning to break free from Western dominance. At the same time, due to the significant heterogeneity within the Global South—where modernization paths and political orientations differ across countries—the concept of the Global South is increasingly transcending the narrow economic attributes and developmental characteristics associated with "developing countries" or the "Third World," becoming a richer new concept in international politics. By including countries with contested identities such as Turkey, Argentina, and Russia into this collective, the Global South concept emphasizes the pursuit of subjectivity and a decolonial discursive shift. In short, the Global South represents a group of nations based on a shared colonial history, a shared mission for modernization, and shared international interests; the identity recognition among its members is multi-layered and pluralistic.
In summary, the concept of the Global South is a further development of the "Third World" concept. It refers to a collective of emerging markets and developing countries that, in the past within the framework of the capitalist world system, were long in a structural peripheral position due to the historical legacy of colonialism and discursive hegemony. Today, with the reorganization of the global order and the decline of traditional hegemony, these countries are witnessing a collective rise. Unlike the dominance of the Northern countries' discourse system, the exploitative nature of their production, and the homogeneity of their modernization, the Global South serves as a "symbol" of political resistance. It represents a critique of the international order dominated by Northern countries, as well as a critique of colonialism and neoliberal capitalism, possessing distinct anti-dependence and decolonial characteristics. By deepening mechanisms such as South-South cooperation, Global South countries are actively participating in the reform and practice of the global economic governance system, uniting to oppose hegemonism and unilateralism, and promoting the rebalancing of the global power structure. The Global South is becoming a community of development characterized by mutual respect and recognition, embodying the demands of progressive world forces for peaceful development, fairness, and justice.
2. The Practical Tensions of Global South Development
As a nascent collective force, the Global South not only carries the collective vision of resisting dependency and pursuing autonomous development but has also become an indispensable political force in the process of transforming the contemporary international order. However, as a category covering a vast range of countries, the Global South is not a monolithic block; rather, it is intermeshed with Northern countries in the political and economic relations of the global system. Therefore, in its process of dynamic development, it does not always exhibit a homogeneous political will or set of interests. On the contrary, the heterogeneity among nations and the complexity of the external environment hinder the identity recognition and intersubjective acknowledgment of the Global South, causing its collective discursive expression and practice to face numerous practical tensions.
From the perspective of internal heterogeneity, first, there are significant differences in development concepts and paths among Global South countries. Taking Latin American countries as an example, regional political development in recent years has shown a clear trend of differentiation. Left-wing governments, represented by countries like Bolivia, Venezuela, and Colombia, emphasize the leading role of the state in resource distribution and social welfare, attempting to break free from the dominance of the Western capitalist system through a series of socialist ideas and practices, while actively exploring development paths different from the neoliberal model. In contrast, Argentina, dominated by neoliberal logic, has chosen to strengthen its alignment with the international financial system, implementing market-led policies such as privatization and fiscal austerity, and has declined to join the BRICS. This divergence in ideology and policy orientation actually maps the different trade-offs made by Global South countries between independent development and dependence on global capital; it also reflects differences in social structure, history of dependency, and colonial epistemology within their domestic governance. In this context, how to seek consensus on values and promote institutional coordination among Southern countries without papering over differences has become an urgent issue for the common development of the Global South.
Second, there are significant differences in geopolitical orientations among Global South countries. Some countries emphasize a decolonial narrative, but constrained by their weak discourse power and the desire for rapid development, they find themselves forced to depend on Western hegemony. Other countries maintain a high degree of dependence on Western nations in areas such as strategic security and science and technology, making it difficult for them to completely detach from hegemonic logic in global governance issues. Some countries remain important components of the U.S. alliance system, relying on the leading power’s security treaties to deter regional conflicts. Nevertheless, when facing the system of global inequality—especially regarding multilateralism, climate justice, food security, the energy crisis, and financial system reform—these same countries express identification with the political propositions of the Global South. This structural contradiction of simultaneous dependence and resistance causes the Global South to constantly oscillate between strategic alliances and value demands, making it full of uncertainty in constructing a collective identity and taking collective action.
From the perspective of the external environment, facing the growing collective discourse power of the Global South, the Western-dominated discourse system often attempts to...
Strategies of "de-valorization" and "de-historicalization" are employed to weaken the consciousness of resistance against imperialism and colonialism inherent in the concept of the Global South, thereby dissolving its critical force. Within the UN framework for sustainable development, comprising 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 specific targets, issues related to the Global South are often reduced to "de-politicized" neutral goals—such as eradicating extreme poverty, protecting the environment, and achieving gender equality. This obscures the logic of imperialist and colonial exploitation and hegemony that underpins economic, social, and environmental sustainability. Furthermore, the US and the West have concocted narratives like the "Chinese debt trap," deliberately sowing discord between China and other developing nations, treating the term "Global South" as a discourse trap to divide the developing world. The actual tensions surrounding the Global South are not accidental phenomena, but rather a contradictory structure inherent to its status as a historical political subject and body of discourse. From internal heterogeneity to external discursive challenges, the term "Global South" remains in a dynamic process of continuous construction. As a key member of the Global South, China’s path of Chinese-path modernization and its innovations in discourse systems not only provide a modernization paradigm for Global South countries to reference, but also promote the construction of collective identity and subjective value for the Global South at the levels of both discourse and practice.
II. Theoretical Innovations of Chinese-path Modernization from the Perspective of the Global South
The report to the 20th CPC National Congress explicitly stated: "Chinese-path modernization is socialist modernization led by the Communist Party of China. It contains elements that are common to the modernization processes of all countries, but it is more characterized by features that are unique to the Chinese context." This vital exposition highlights the essential requirements and Chinese characteristics of Chinese-path modernization. Specifically, at the political, economic, ecological, cultural, and social levels, Chinese-path modernization transcends the singular logic of capital found in Western modernization and innovates a theoretical system of modern development from the perspective of the Global South.
1. The Political Dimension: Socialist Modernization Led by a Marxist Party
The leadership of the Communist Party of China determines the fundamental nature of Chinese-path modernization. The nature and purpose of the Party, its original aspiration and founding mission, its beliefs and convictions, and its policy propositions determine that Chinese-path modernization is socialist modernization, rather than any other form of modernization. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: "The Party's leadership is directly related to the fundamental direction, future destiny, and ultimate success or failure of Chinese-path modernization." As the world's largest Marxist governing party, the CPC adheres to Marxist concepts regarding modern development. On one hand, the CPC maintains the standpoint, viewpoint, and methodology of historical materialism, examining Chinese-path modernization within the process of global modernization. Marx’s research on Eastern societies proved that capitalism is by no means the only path to modernization, nor is it a mandatory stage on the way to a communist society; it cannot encompass the entire historical process of modern development. Because the actual conditions of various countries—such as their nature, history, culture, and level of productive forces—differ, the paths to modernization must necessarily be diverse. On this basis, Marx proposed the hypothesis of "leaping over the Caudine Forks" [4]. By bypassing the modern development models of "endogenous-dominant" and "exogenous-dependent" types under the logic of capital, China has broken the path-dependency of modernization on the capitalist system. On the other hand, the CPC adheres to the Marxist people-centered political standpoint, emphasizing that the essence of modernization is the modernization of the person. The free and comprehensive development of the individual is an intrinsic requirement of Marxism. Through the realization of a dialectical unity between man and nature, man and society, and man and the self, Chinese-path modernization drives society toward the leap from the "kingdom of necessity" to the "kingdom of freedom," truly achieving the free and comprehensive development of the human being.
Western competitive democracy relies on a binary-opposition electoral mechanism; this competitive democracy severs the integrity of popular sovereignty at its source, seriously harming the interests of the masses. Some Global South countries, deeply influenced by colonial history, have continued or emulated Western parliamentary systems at the institutional level in an attempt to shorten their modernization process. This has led to a mismatch or even a systemic rejection between the democratic operating system and actual national conditions. As General Secretary Xi Jinping said: "Does adopting Western ways make one freer, more democratic, and more stable? What happened to some developing countries that copied Western political and party system models? Many fell into political turmoil and social unrest, with people displaced." Unlike Western competitive democracy, China's political system gathers the hearts and strength of the people for the construction of Chinese-path modernization, coordinating all forces to participate actively. Through the mechanism of "concentrating resources to accomplish great tasks," China can mobilize social resources in a short time to effectively promote the implementation of major projects. On one hand, China's system avoids the policy inconsistency and weakening of execution caused by changes in ruling parties, allowing the state to achieve long-term strategic planning. On the other hand, by relying on the government’s centralized decision-making and coordination mechanisms, it can quickly overcome uneven resource distribution and conflicts of local interest, ensuring the steady progress of modernization.
2. The Economic Dimension: Building a High-Level Socialist Market Economy System
The socialist market economy system is a major theoretical and practical innovation of socialism with Chinese characteristics and an important guarantee for Chinese-path modernization. By building a high-level socialist market economy system, insisting on and improving the basic socialist economic system on the basis of high-quality development of productive forces, and correctly handling the relationship between the government and the market, Chinese-path modernization has greatly stimulated economic vitality and promoted a dynamic balance between efficiency and equity.
First, it persists in and improves the basic socialist economic system. The adaptation of the relations of production to the level of development of productive forces is a fundamental law that socialist economic construction must follow. Unlike the institutional arrangements of Western capitalist countries—which are based on private ownership and emphasize resource allocation and profit maximization through free markets—the implementation of a basic economic system in the primary stage of socialism, where public ownership is the mainstay and multiple forms of ownership develop together, is a crucial component of the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics. It is also an inevitable requirement for improving the socialist market economy system. General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized the need to "persist in and improve the basic socialist economic system, unswervingly consolidate and develop the public sector, and unswervingly encourage, support, and guide the development of the non-public sector." This system has a dual functional positioning. In terms of its foundational status, it provides the basic institutional guarantee for a distribution system where distribution according to work is the mainstay alongside multiple modes of distribution, and for the construction of the socialist market economy. In terms of its overarching status, this institutional arrangement is characterized by clarity and consistency, deepening alongside the elevation of productive forces. This fits the practical requirements of accelerating the development of new quality productive forces at the current stage, reflects the superiority of the socialist system, and provides the fundamental support for building a modern economic system and continuously advancing Chinese-path modernization.
Second, it persists in and implements the scientific combination of an effective market and a capable government. The market plays a decisive role in resource allocation and a primary role in areas such as innovation-driven growth and industrial upgrading; it is the main force driving high-quality economic development. Under the economic system of Chinese-path modernization, the market can not only effectively promote the optimal allocation of resources but also stimulate the innovative vitality of enterprises and other social subjects, driving industrial restructuring. However, Global South countries generally face problems such as backward technology, weak industrial foundations, insufficient capacity for independent innovation, and capital shortages. They cannot rely solely on free market mechanisms to promote industrial upgrading and modern development. Therefore, the state is also required to use macro-control, policy guidance, and regulatory mechanisms to drive the market to play a more efficient role in every link of economic operation. Specifically, on the one hand, the government guides the flow of capital toward high-tech, green industries, and strategic emerging industries through scientific strategic planning, institutional guarantees, and policy support. This ensures the correct direction and stability of economic development while promoting rapid growth in emerging technological fields. On the other hand, the government incorporates all types of financial activities into regulation according to law, protects intellectual property rights, cracks down on unfair competition, ensures fairness and justice in the market environment, and firmly maintains the bottom line of preventing systemic risks, further guiding the healthy development of capital.
By persisting in and improving the basic socialist economic system and fully coordinating the relationship between an effective market and a capable government, Chinese-path modernization continuously perfects the socialist market economy system, promoting social fairness and justice while achieving rapid economic and technological development. This theoretical and practical innovation, which transcends the limitations of capitalist "market supremacy," offers significant lessons for the high-quality economic development of Global South countries.
3. The Ecological Dimension: Building a Beautiful China through Green Development
Building a Beautiful China is a national development strategy of Chinese-path modernization and a major goal in comprehensively building a modern socialist country. The 18th CPC National Congress established the overall layout of the Five-Sphere Integrated Plan for socialist modernization, integrating ecological civilization construction into the entire process of economic, political, cultural, and social construction. For the first time, "Beautiful China" was proposed as a governing philosophy and objective, making it clear that efforts must be made to build a Beautiful China to achieve the sustainable development of the Chinese nation. The 19th CPC National Congress added "Beautiful" to the goals for becoming a great modern power, better aligning the construction goals of a modern socialist country with the Five-Sphere Integrated Plan. It proposed a "two-step" strategic goal: basically realizing the goal of a Beautiful China by 2035, and building a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful by the middle of the 21st century. The proposal of building a Beautiful China clarified the fundamental direction of high-quality development for Chinese-path modernization. This shift from a "high-pollution, high-energy-consumption" model to a "low-carbon, green, and sustainable" model provides a modernization path for Global South countries.
From the perspective of specific practice, Chinese-path modernization places green development in a position of prominence. Green development is a distinct hallmark of modernization in the New Era. The proposal of this concept is rooted in two practical backgrounds. First, against the backdrop of increasingly prominent global climate change and environmental issues, pursuing a path of green development is both a practical requirement for Chinese-path modernization to achieve "harmony between humanity and nature" and a demonstration of China’s responsibility as a major power in driving the global green and low-carbon transition. Compared to Western developed countries, Global South countries generally lack the infrastructure to respond to climate change and have weaker adaptive capacities. As they pursue economic growth and modernization, they face immense pressure to reduce emissions. Second, the world is currently undergoing a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, with green economic models rising rapidly. Meanwhile, Global South countries collectively face multiple challenges, including insufficient momentum in traditional manufacturing, hindered independent innovation, and intensified international competition. Given these two contexts, promoting industrial transformation and upgrading and forming green development methods are sound strategies for dealing with the current development situation.
The green development approach practiced by Chinese-path modernization is primarily reflected in three aspects: first, industrial transformation and upgrading. Taking the development of new quality productive forces as the focal point, it promotes the transition of industries from low added-value to high added-value, from extensive growth to intensive development, and from factor-driven to innovation-driven. Second, leveraging the role of innovation. Guided by technological innovation, it organically combines building a manufacturing powerhouse with the development of the digital economy and industrial informatization to promote industrial upgrading, structural optimization, and high-quality economic development. Third, practicing a green lifestyle. It vigorously promotes energy conservation, emission reduction, and environmental protection concepts throughout society. These theoretical and practical innovations provide useful experiences for Global South countries to achieve the coordinated development of resources, environment, and economy during their modernization processes, and to accelerate a comprehensive green transition through high-quality development.
4. The Cultural Dimension: The Unique View of Civilization Inherent in Chinese-path Modernization
At the opening ceremony of the workshop for principal officials at the provincial and ministerial levels to study and implement the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping elucidated "Six Views" inherent in Chinese-path modernization: "The unique worldviews, values, views of history, views of civilization, views of democracy, and views of ecology inherent in Chinese-path modernization, as well as its great practices, constitute a major innovation in global modernization theory and practice." Among these, the view of civilization inherent in Chinese-path modernization is both rooted in fine traditional Chinese culture and fully inclusive of the Marxist view of civilization. It manifests new connotations for the development of human civilization and provides a Chinese solution to lead the modernization of Global South countries.
First, the view of civilization inherent in Chinese-path modernization emphasizes the coordinated development of material and spiritual civilizations. Material civilization serves as the foundation of modern civilization and the prerequisite for achieving the spiritual wealth of the masses. Spiritual civilization, meanwhile, is a vital characteristic of the socialist form of civilization and a necessary condition for promoting the common prosperity of the spiritual life of all people and well-rounded human development. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping has attached great importance to the coordinated development of material and spiritual civilizations, emphasizing the need to persist in and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics. He has underscored the promotion of coordinated development across material, political, spiritual, social, and ecological civilizations to create a new form of human civilization. On one hand, these "five civilizations" represent a concrete elaboration of the "two civilizations" (material and spiritual), respectively corresponding to the goals of building a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful. On one hand, these "five civilizations" promote and complement one another, collectively creating the "Five-Sphere Integrated Plan" for the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
Second, the view of civilization inherent in Chinese-path modernization emphasizes the organic integration of traditional and modern civilizations. Chinese-path modernization does not blindly copy Western models of modernization; instead, it draws upon the unique humanistic spirit, ideological concepts, and moral norms of fine traditional Chinese culture [9]. In accordance with the dynamic requirements of modern development, it innovatively refines the contemporary connotations and spiritual signifiers of the subjectivity of Chinese culture, ensuring that culture with Chinese characteristics maintains its vitality throughout the modernization process. Global South nations possess rich and diverse traditional cultures, but in their modernization processes, they have encountered the predicament of historical interruption due to the cultural hegemony and suppression of the US-led West. The view of civilization inherent in Chinese-path modernization provides important inspiration for Global South nations to shed the influence of Western colonialist culture, re-examine the value of their indigenous cultures, and strengthen their cultural identity during the process of modernization.
Finally, the view of civilization inherent in Chinese-path modernization emphasizes exchange and mutual learning between Chinese civilization and world civilizations. Unlike the homogeneity and coerciveness of Western modern civilization, the view of civilization in Chinese-path modernization is characterized by equality, mutual learning, inclusiveness, and dialogue. It respects the diversity of world civilizations, promotes the flourishing of diverse human cultures, and contributes significantly to the modernization process of human society by promoting the construction of a community with a shared future for humanity to address global risks and challenges. At the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting, General Secretary Xi Jinping proposed the Global Civilization Initiative for the first time, noting: "As the futures of all countries are closely linked today, the inclusive coexistence, exchange, and mutual learning of different civilizations play an irreplaceable role in advancing the modernization process of human society and flourishing the garden of world civilizations." The Global Civilization Initiative advocates for respecting the diversity of world civilizations, promoting the common values of humanity, valuing the inheritance and innovation of civilizations, and strengthening international people-to-people exchanges and cooperation. These "four advocacies" serve as theoretical guidance for Global South nations to persist in developing their indigenous civilizations and promoting the shared development of diverse cultures.
5. The Social Dimension: Promoting Common Prosperity through a People-Centered Approach
Common prosperity is a vital value-based goal for achieving social fairness and justice and is an essential requirement of socialism. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out in the report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC: "Chinese-path modernization is the modernization of common prosperity for all. Common prosperity is an essential requirement of socialism with Chinese characteristics and is also a long-term historical process." This important judgment accurately summarizes the universal, holistic, and long-term characteristics of common prosperity, profoundly reflecting the CPC's people-centered development philosophy and fundamentally defining the distinction between Chinese-path modernization and Western modernization.
Chinese-path modernization emphasizes common prosperity for all people. All people are both the creators of modernization and the sharers of its fruits. At every stage and level, the development of Chinese-path modernization reflects a clear pro-people stance. In his speech at the national summit to review the fight against poverty and award model workers, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that promoting common prosperity for all people must be placed in a more prominent position to "promote well-rounded human development and all-around social progress, so that the people’s sense of gain, happiness, and security is more substantial, better protected, and more sustainable." On one hand, common prosperity for all affirms the enthusiasm, initiative, and creativity of the masses in the modernization process, consolidating a consensus for reform from the practices of the broadest segments of the population and providing a fundamental driver for further comprehensively deepening reform. On the other hand, common prosperity for all emphasizes that development is for the people, relies on the people, and its fruits are shared by the people, ensuring that the achievements of modernization benefit all people more extensively and fairly. This experience is crucial for developing countries to achieve sustainable and just development.
Chinese-path modernization emphasizes holistic common prosperity. Proceeding from the principal contradiction [10] in Chinese society at the current stage, and while generally raising the material living standards of the masses, Chinese-path modernization is committed to promoting balanced and sufficient development across multiple fields, including public services, social security, culture, education, and environmental governance. Simultaneously, based on the reality of regional development disparities in China, it strives to promote common prosperity in a multi-layered and multi-dimensional spatial pattern of "coastal-inland" and "urban-rural" integration. By coordinating the "Five-Sphere Integrated Plan" and the "Four Comprehensives" strategic layout, Chinese-path modernization has holistically anchored the goals and practical paths of common prosperity across the economic, political, cultural, social, and ecological spheres. The lever for resolving social contradictions has shifted from the singular "increasing productive forces" of the past to "holistic improvement," realizing a leap for the masses from "being able to get by" to "living a good life."
Chinese-path modernization emphasizes long-term common prosperity. General Secretary Xi Jinping noted: "Common prosperity is a long-term goal that requires a process; it cannot be achieved overnight, and its long-term, arduous, and complex nature must be fully estimated." Looking at the global modernization process, developing countries in Latin America have fallen into the "middle-income trap," characterized by stagnant economic growth, widening wealth gaps, and social unrest. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the balance, coordination, and sustainability of China’s economic development have significantly increased, yet the problem of unbalanced and inadequate development remains very prominent. These issues will persist for a long time and change dynamically alongside modernization. Through a series of measures such as deepening reform, innovation-driven development, and industrial upgrading, Chinese-path modernization vigorously develops new quality productive forces. On the basis of "making the cake bigger," it aims to "divide the cake well" by constantly improving the distribution system. This demonstrates a resolve and action to achieve the goal of common prosperity through solid, steady progress, providing a reference for other developing countries to leap over the "middle-income trap."
III. The Inspiration of Chinese-path Modernization for Global South Modernization
The monumental achievements of Chinese-path modernization have not only tremendously propelled China's own economic and social development but have also provided vital theoretical inspiration and practical experience for the modernization of the Global South. At the theoretical level, Chinese-path modernization has broken the discourse monopoly of Western modernization and innovated the discourse system for the modernization of the Global South. At the practical level, China provides the Global South with comprehensive and multi-field cooperation opportunities, assisting Global South nations in striving for a greater voice in the global governance system through the joint construction and sharing of modernization results. Specifically, Chinese-path modernization has the following three realistic effects:
1. Chinese-path modernization enriches the choice of modernization paths for the Global South
Historically, Global South nations were long subject to Western imperialist and colonialist systems, suffering from economic exploitation, political suppression, cultural hegemony, and resource plunder. The economic development of these countries often depended on Western capital, knowledge, and technology, with their resource development and industrial upgrading mostly controlled by foreign capital, ultimately resulting in a situation of dependent development. This history of dependency has greatly hindered their modernization processes. Many countries, while hoping to accelerate the development of productive forces, have often chosen to directly copy Western modernization models under pressure from developed Western nations. However, these models have not brought true independence or prosperity; instead, they have widened the North-South development gap and spawned a series of systemic crises, including deepening external dependence, monolithic economic structures, severe social inequality, and ecological degradation, fully exposing the exclusivity and limitations of the Western modernization path.
Chinese-path modernization shatters the myth that "modernization = Westernization," presenting an alternative vision of modernization and providing Global South nations with the possibility of breaking through the dependent development model. China did not simply follow the modernization path of Western capitalist countries; rather, based on its own historical background and actual conditions, it gradually formed a socialist modernization path with Chinese characteristics. This is a scientific application of the laws of social development found in the materialist conception of history.
Chinese-path modernization assists the Global South in better achieving the organic unity of economic growth and social fairness and justice. On one hand, China has always persisted in a path of modernization characterized by self-reliance and self-strengthening, correctly handling the relationship between domestic and international circulation [11], striving for strategic initiative in open development, and keeping the fate and initiative of national progress firmly in its own hands. The construction of the new development pattern [12] is of significant reference value for Global South nations to avoid the middle-income trap and achieve a virtuous cycle of efficiency and fairness. Through initiatives such as building cooperation belts for high-quality development with all parties and aiding agricultural and industrial modernization plans for less developed nations, Chinese-path modernization provides a rich platform for project cooperation to put the modernization cause of the Global South on the "fast track" and implement the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. On the other hand, by actively building high-quality partnerships with developed countries, Chinese-path modernization promotes North-South cooperation, encourages developed nations to fulfill their obligations, and works to build a global development partnership that is united, equal, balanced, and inclusive, creating a more fair and just external environment for the modernization of the Global South.
Chinese-path modernization helps Global South nations better promote sustainable development and cultivate growth momentum through green innovation. Under the long-term influence of Western modernization, many Global South countries face severe ecological degradation, such as illegal logging in the Amazon rainforest, over-reclamation of land, and the predatory extraction of resource enclaves. In fact, the deep-seated cause of ecological destruction is the logic of "capital-above-all" inherent in Western modernization. Chinese-path modernization adheres to the concept of sustainable development, which, at both theoretical and practical levels, helps Global South nations better coordinate the relationship between economic development and ecological protection, promoting the development of a global green economy. China’s wind power and photovoltaic products assist countries in obtaining clean, reliable, and affordable energy, making significant contributions to the global response to climate change.
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "The people of a country have the most say in what kind of modernization suits them best. Developing countries have the right and the ability to independently explore modernization paths with their own characteristics based on their own national conditions." Global South nations should uphold the principle of independence, continuously resolving the historical legacies of Western colonialism and new risks and challenges in political, economic, and cultural fields. On the basis of following the general laws of modernization, they should keep the fate of national development and progress firmly in their own hands.
2. Chinese-path modernization empowers the Global South through joint construction and sharing
General Secretary Xi Jinping attaches great importance to strengthening unity and cooperation with Global South nations, repeatedly clarifying the fact that China is a member of the developing world and the Global South, and pledging to share the same breath and destiny with other developing countries. While advancing its own modernization, China also builds new mechanisms for South-South cooperation through a series of measures, inviting Global South nations to board the "train" of Chinese-path modernization, working together to address global development issues, and continuously promoting the joint construction and sharing of modernization fruits among Global South nations.
Chinese-path modernization consistently promotes joint construction through its own high-quality development...
Common prosperity for the nations of the "Belt and Road" means unswervingly following a path of economic globalization that is people-centered, characterized by more balanced development, and offers more equal opportunities. Centered on implementing the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, China is comprehensively advancing cooperation with "Belt and Road" partner countries in areas such as poverty reduction, health, transportation logistics, and infrastructure construction, ensuring that the fruits of development better benefit different countries, different social strata, and different groups of people. For example, by actively promoting cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the World Food Programme (WFP), China is working to address fundamental modernization issues such as global poverty reduction, food security, and sustainable agricultural development. It shares its experience in poverty alleviation and the total eradication of poverty with developing countries involved in the "Belt and Road" Initiative, thereby promoting common prosperity for the Global South. Regarding infrastructure, China actively engages in third-party market cooperation with partner countries to ensure that infrastructure construction and economic activities are environmentally friendly, promoting ecological restoration and sustainable economic development. The "Belt and Road" Initiative proposed by China allows the spirit of win-win cooperation to take root in the Global South, utilizing South-South cooperation to continuously help Global South countries keep pace with the times, cultivate new drivers for high-quality development, seize development opportunities amidst global changes, and share in the fruits of development.
At the same time, Chinese-path modernization is committed to developing multilateral dialogue. Relying on major multilateral cooperation platforms such as the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, the China-CELAC Forum, the China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development and Cooperation Forum, China-CEEC Cooperation, the World Economic Forum, the Boao Forum for Asia, and the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-level Summit, China continues to deepen pragmatic South-South cooperation. It works hand-in-hand to build bilateral communities with a shared future—represented by those between China-Laos and China-Pakistan—as well as multilateral communities with a shared future, such as those with Africa, Arab states, Latin America and the Caribbean, ASEAN, Central Asia, and Pacific Island countries. In addition, China has established the Global South Research Center and the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, and is implementing the Global Development Initiative Tripartite Cooperation Demonstration Center to fully support the economic and social development of Global South countries. China has also taken the lead in establishing the Global South Think Tank Network to promote people-to-people exchanges and the mutual learning of experiences in state governance [13] among Global South nations. To date, more than 200 universities and think tanks from China and other emerging markets and developing countries have expressed their intention to join the network. This cooperation mechanism gathers collective wisdom and conducts joint research on the global challenges faced by Global South countries in their modernization processes, providing professional and scientific intellectual support to promote ideological innovation, respond to real development needs, enhance policy communication, and consolidate the foundation of cooperation within the Global South.
3. Chinese-path Modernization Promotes the Enhancement of Value Identity in the Global South
Chinese-path modernization possesses unique theoretical connotations and discourse expressions. On one hand, it has broken the Western monopoly over the interpretation, definition, and evaluation of modernization, constructing an autonomous discourse system for modernization with Chinese characteristics. On the other hand, Chinese-path modernization has greatly encouraged Global South nations to break free from the discourse hegemony of Western knowledge production, enhancing the value identity of Global South countries through a decolonial turn in their theoretical systems.
Constructing an autonomous discourse system helps enhance the international communication effectiveness of Chinese-path modernization, allowing the international community to evaluate the theory and practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics more objectively and fairly. In fact, current perceptions of Chinese-path modernization in the international community and academia show a clear trend of polarization. Much of the international community highly recognizes the achievements of Chinese-path modernization and praises China’s important role in the development of the Global South. However, influenced by West-centrism, the US-led West—and even some countries in the Global South—harbor various prejudices. These misunderstandings, rooted in Western positions, are underpinned by the deep logic of Western discourse hegemony, aimed at creating antagonism between China and other Global South nations. In this sense, the autonomous discourse system constructed by Chinese-path modernization emphasizes equality and pluralism in development, breaking through the monopoly of the monistic and exclusionary Western discourse on modernization, thereby improving the correct understanding of China and its modernization efforts among Global South countries.
Chinese-path modernization facilitates a decolonial turn in the modernization of the Global South and strengthens value identity between nations. The modernization of Western countries is characterized by a typical West-centrism, which regards the logic of capitalist modernization as the sole truth while excluding or even undermining the right of other countries to define their own modernization. Arturo Escobar [14] used the Western "concept of underdevelopment" to illustrate this West-centric exclusivity: "The early models had an implicit template, namely the prosperous, developed countries... the concept of underdevelopment of development economists thus occupied the discourse space, excluding the possibility of other discourses. The vicious cycle of low productivity, lack of capital, and insufficient industrialization became the hallmark of the underdeveloped economy." However, the so-called Western "developed" concept was built upon the continuous exploitation and colonization of "underdeveloped" regions. Donald Ramotar, former President of Guyana, pointed out that the West pursues a "dominance-control" global strategy, the essence of which is a monopoly over the world's resources and economic systems. It often ignores or even disdains the cultures and norms of various countries, aiming to impose Western systems and values globally, subsequently seeking hegemony through sanctions, blockades, or even war. In contrast, China upholds a view of global governance based on mutual benefit and cooperation, respecting cultural differences, and committing to enhancing mutual understanding and promoting peace and friendship between civilizations. The increasing global influence of the autonomous discourse system of Chinese-path modernization has changed the pattern where modernization theory was "strong in the West and weak in the East" or "strong in the North and weak in the South." It has also bolstered the theoretical confidence and value identity of Global South countries, providing a major impetus for the decolonial turn in their theoretical systems.
Conclusion
General Secretary Xi Jinping has profoundly noted: "The collective rise of the 'Global South' is a prominent sign of the great changes unseen in a century." [15] Currently, the contribution of Global South countries to global economic growth continues to rise, and they are finding a stronger voice in multilateral mechanisms. These countries are moving together toward diverse and rich paths of modernization, which both pushes the international order in a more fair and equitable direction and contributes significantly to the progress of human civilization. China is a member of the Global South camp. The narrative of Chinese-path modernization, with its unique theoretical innovations and practical experience, provides a new paradigm and institutional experience for Global South countries to break through the shackles of Western colonial development and move toward modernization paths suited to their own national conditions. The community with a shared future between China and the Global South is deepening; the future landscape of global governance will increasingly highlight the collective will and strategic status of the Global South. In this process, the advantages of the path and theoretical innovations of Chinese-path modernization will continue to contribute Chinese wisdom and Chinese solutions to the modernization of the Global South, working together with Global South nations to build a community with a shared future for humanity and lead human society toward a bright future.