Zhang Xiaoming and Tian Maonong: The Theoretical Logic of the Step-by-Step Progression of Chinese-Style Modernization
The Second Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee clearly pointed out: “Realizing socialist modernization is a historical process of step-by-step progression, continuous development, and progress, requiring unremitting efforts and接续奋斗 (successive struggle).” This important thesis profoundly reveals the inherent laws of development in Chinese-path modernization, demonstrating our Party’s clear cognition, strategic resolve, and historical consciousness regarding modernization construction. It serves as an important follow-on for basing our work in the new stage of development, responding to new challenges and tests, and advancing the Great Cause. The multidimensional interpretation of the step-by-step progression of Chinese-path modernization is both a theoretical summary of historical experience and a strategic guide for marching toward the future. In the historical dimension, it displays the political resolve of “drawing one blueprint to the end” and working hard term after term; in the theoretical dimension, it highlights a developmental philosophy of “practice at the height of principles” [1]; in the global dimension, it contributes a Chinese solution for creating a new form of human civilization. These three dimensions support one another, together forming a complete picture of the step-by-step progression of Chinese-path modernization.
Historical Dimension: The Logical Trajectory of Step-by-Step Progression
The historical dimension of step-by-step progression is first reflected in the clear thread of the historical process. From the First Five-Year Plan to the 15th Five-Year Plan, our Party has led the people step-by-step, writing miracles of development through successive struggle. This historical trajectory is not a mechanical linear repetition, but a dialectical movement of spiral ascent, maintaining strategic resolve while adjusting tactics according to the time and situation. From the initial focus on the sphere of material production, it gradually expanded to the multidimensional space of politics, economy, and culture, then further expanded to cover the Five-Sphere Integrated Plan (politics, economy, culture, society, and ecology), until today’s all-round layout encompassing politics, economy, culture, society, ecology, security, and Party building. The substance of Chinese-path modernization has been continuously enriched, and its extension continuously broadened. This historical evolution profoundly responds to the transformation of the principal contradiction in society [2]—moving from meeting material and cultural needs to pursuing the need for a better life. Consequently, the developmental concept has shifted from taking economic construction as the center toward high-quality development, achieving a fundamental change in the mode of development.
The historical logic of step-by-step progression stems from the Communist Party of China’s profound grasp of China’s national conditions. Our Party has always based itself on the fundamental reality of a massive population; in the process of advancing modernization, it is neither overly ambitious nor stuck in old ways, maintaining historical patience and adhering to the principle of seeking progress while maintaining stability. This historical process involves both the accumulation of quantity and, more importantly, the elevation of quality. From solving the problem of food and clothing to realizing a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and from a comprehensive well-off society to common prosperity, the goal-setting of each stage both transcends the previous stage and lays the foundation for the next. Historical experience proves that it is precisely this step-by-step arrangement that has allowed China to avoid the violent social shocks and fractured development seen in the modernization processes of certain late-developing countries. Step-by-step progression is a concentrated expression of the CPC’s spirit of historical initiative; it is not a passive adaptation to environmental changes, but an active grasping of the general trend of history, exerting subjective initiative on the basis of respecting objective laws to achieve a dialectical unity of historical necessity and subjective choice.
The advancement of Chinese-path modernization presents the distinct characteristics of step-by-step progression. This process is rooted in Chinese soil, conforms to Chinese reality, and demonstrates an irreversible historical trend and irresistible practical force. The reason it possesses such internal momentum is that the Party, in leading the people through long-term exploration, has grasped the laws of development, converged extensive consensus, and formed a powerful synergy for continuous struggle. Step-by-step progression is not only the practical path of Chinese-path modernization but has also become a hallmark concept and an important achievement of theoretical innovation, reflecting a profound grasp of the laws of modernization and a conscious construction of an independent knowledge system. This progressive process is not a simple stacking of stages but a systemic leap and holistic transformation, containing a two-way interaction between theory and practice. Through continuous deepening, Chinese-path modernization is gradually achieving systematized construction and academic interpretation, presenting the process of constructing an independent knowledge system for Chinese-path modernization.
Theoretical Dimension: The Height of Principles in Step-by-Step Progression
The theoretical dimension of step-by-step progression is first reflected in the creative application of Marxist developmental philosophy. In the “Introduction to the Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right,” Marx once asked: “Can Germany attain a practice at the height of principles [3], that is, a revolution which will raise it not only to the official level of modern nations, but to the height of humanity which will be the near future of those nations?” The step-by-step progression of Chinese-path modernization is precisely a contemporary response to this thought. It is not a simple replication of the Western modernization path, but rather, within the dialectical unity of “making up for missed lessons” and transcendence, it explores a new path of civilization possessing the height of principles.
Theoretical innovation in step-by-step progression is reflected in the profound reconstruction of developmental modes. It breaks through the single logic of Western modernization, organically unifying high-quality development, high-quality life, and high-efficiency governance, achieving coordination between the effective elevation of quality and the reasonable growth of quantity. This theoretical height is not a castle in the air; it originates from a profound summary of developmental domestic and international experiences and lessons. Our Party drew lessons from the collapse of the Soviet Union to avoid the social tearing caused by radical transition; summarized the predicament of dependent development in Latin American countries to persist on a path of independent development; and reflected on the ecological crises and social divisions that appeared in the process of Western modernization. It emphasizes the coordination of material and spiritual civilizations and the harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature. Step-by-step progression is a theoretical creation of the CPC based on Chinese reality and responding to the questions of the times. It is neither a simple imitation of Western theory nor a mechanical repetition of traditional dogmas, but an original achievement of combining the basic principles of Marxism with China’s specific realities and excellent traditional Chinese culture.
The theoretical innovation of step-by-step progression transcends the single pursuit of economic growth found in traditional developmental theories, taking the well-rounded development of the person, the comprehensive progress of society, and the comprehensive elevation of civilization as core goals, representing a new direction for the development of human civilization. This theoretical consciousness allows Chinese-path modernization to be rooted in Chinese soil while responding to common human concerns, continuously enriching and perfecting itself in the dialectical interaction between theory and practice. The step-by-step progression of Chinese-path modernization follows the common values of all humanity and creates a new form of human civilization. Chinese-path modernization is not an ordinary practice but a “practice at the height of principles.” Only by understanding Chinese-path modernization as a civilizational practice at the height of principles can one understand its civilizational role and world-historical significance in the global context.
World Dimension: The Civilizational Pattern of Step-by-Step Progression
The world dimension of step-by-step progression is first reflected in the continuous expansion of vision. From national rejuvenation to a new form of human civilization, Chinese-path modernization increasingly demonstrates its world-historical significance. This expansion of vision is not a deduction of abstract concepts but the inevitable result of the interaction between China and the world. The CPC has always considered and planned the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation within the context of the world’s Great Changes Unseen in a Century [4], basing itself on the domestic situation while keeping the global trend in mind. The Chinese path of step-by-step progression has broken the basic pattern of the international order since modern times, in which “the East was subordinated to the West,” providing late-developing countries with a new choice for non-dependent development. It proves that the path to modernization is not a one-way street; every country has the right to choose a developmental path suited to its own national conditions. The global significance of the step-by-step progression of Chinese-path modernization lies in its redefinition of the civilizational substance of modernization, taking sovereign equality, universal benefit and sharing, and opposition to center-periphery dependency as basic principles of the international order, speaking with a Chinese voice for the progress of human civilization.
The global contribution of step-by-step progression is reflected in providing Chinese solutions to global development dilemmas. Currently, human society faces severe challenges from the deficits in peace, development, security, and governance, and the limitations of the Western modernization model are increasingly apparent. While solving its own development problems, Chinese-path modernization has transformed the concept of step-by-step development into international cooperation practices. Following the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, it helps countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative achieve connectivity in infrastructure, trade, finance, and people-to-people ties. Based on the systemic thinking of step-by-step progression, China has proposed four major initiatives—the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, and the Global Governance Initiative—contributing Chinese solutions to the improvement of global governance. This contribution is not a one-way export but an equal and mutual learning process; it learns from all the excellent achievements of human civilization while integrating the Chinese civilizational concepts of harmony and the “All-under-Heaven” [5] sentiment into global governance, promoting the building of a community with a shared future for humanity. The step-by-step progression of Chinese-path modernization has enabled China to gradually transform from a participant in global governance to a contributor and leader. This change in role is not a quest for hegemony but the assumption of international responsibilities commensurate with its own capabilities, demonstrating the responsibility of a major power that cares for the world.
The civilizational significance of step-by-step progression lies even more in the historical consciousness of creating a new form of human civilization. The CPC has always closely linked its own mission with human progress. Step-by-step progression is not only a strategic arrangement for realizing national rejuvenation but also a practical path for creating a new form of human civilization. This new form of civilization aims to transcend the inherent contradictions of capitalist civilization, achieving the coordination of material and spiritual civilizations, the harmonious coexistence of humanity and nature, and the unification of peaceful development with mutual benefit and win-win results. It is not a simple replacement of Western civilization, but a creative transcendence achieved through civilizational exchange and mutual learning.