Lü Xinbin: Five Dimensions of Understanding and Advancing the Adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese Context and the Needs of the Times | Marxism Research Network

Lü Xinbin, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and President of the Hebei Provincial Academy of Social Sciences, elucidates the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism from five dimensions: history, the world, national rejuvenation, philosophy and social sciences, and local practice. From the historical dimension, this is a grand epic of continuous struggle; Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era has achieved a new leap ^[1] in the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism, representing a landmark and epoch-making theoretical achievement. From the world dimension, this important thought contributes Chinese wisdom and solutions to addressing global challenges, falsifies the "end of history" ^[2] and "failure of socialism" theses, and proposes concepts such as building a community with a shared future for humanity, demonstrating the global significance of 21st-century Marxism. From the dimension of national rejuvenation, this important thought sets the direction and draws the blueprint for Chinese-path modernization, clarifying key elements such as political guarantees and path selections; it serves as the ideological guidance and action manual for realizing national rejuvenation. From the dimension of philosophy and social sciences, deepening the theory requires systematized and academic sublimation ^[3]; the social science circles in Hebei are currently empowering theoretical interpretation, dissemination, and practice through the "Four Major Projects" ^[4]. From the dimension of local practice, Zhengding ^[5], Hebei was the "earliest place of germination" for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era; the developmental practice of Hebei manifests the power of truth and the great practical strength of this important thought.

Notes

↩ [1] 飞跃 (fēiyuè): A "leap" in the context of Chinese Marxist epistemology (influenced by Mao Zedong’s "On Practice") refers to a qualitative transformation in knowledge. The "new leap" signifies that Xi Jinping Thought is categorized as the latest milestone in the developmental stages of Sinicized Marxism, following Mao Zedong Thought and Deng Xiaoping Theory.

↩ [2] 历史终结论 (lìshǐ zhōngjié lùn): This refers to Francis Fukuyama’s "The End of History and the Last Man," which argued that Western liberal democracy is the final form of human government. Chinese theorists frequently cite the "falsification" of this thesis to assert the viability and superiority of the socialist path.

↩ [3] 学理化 (xuélǐhuà): "Academization" or "scholarly sublimation." In recent CPC discourse, this refers to the process of transforming political slogans and policy directives into rigorous academic frameworks and social science systems that can be taught and researched at a university level.

↩ [4] 四大工程 (sì dà gōngchéng): The "Four Major Projects" typically refer to specific regional academic initiatives in Hebei aimed at the "innovation of Marxist theory," "construction of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics," "development of a new type of think tank," and "the promotion of excellent traditional culture."

↩ [5] 正定 (Zhèngdìng): A county in Hebei Province where Xi Jinping served as Deputy Secretary and then Secretary of the CPC County Committee from 1982 to 1985. It is officially regarded as the place where many of his later governance philosophies, particularly regarding rural reform and the mass line, were first practiced and developed.