Zhou Miao, Song Lidan, and Kang Yanru: A Study on World Left-Wing Trends and Movements Amidst Unprecedented Changes in a Century
Overview of Foreign Left-wing Thought Research in 2019
The world today is undergoing great changes unseen in a century, and the basic contradictions of capitalism are manifesting new shifts. Addressing the numerous challenges and urgent tasks currently facing the world, foreign left-wing scholars in 2019 sought to answer hot-button issues to demonstrate the contemporary value and vitality of Marxism.
I. Latest Developments in Research on Foreign Left-wing Thought
In 2019, foreign left-wing scholars published extensive research on Marx himself and the contemporary value of his thought, conducting in-depth critiques of contemporary capitalism, neoliberalism, and imperialism. 2019 also marked the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Foreign left-wing circles paid increasing attention to the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, engaging in broad discussions regarding its value, significance, and particularly its positive influence on world socialism. Simultaneously, the domestic [Chinese] academic community assessed the current development of foreign Marxism in the 21st century, translating and discussing the latest research findings of foreign left-wing scholars on digital capitalism, financial capitalism, and capitalist crises.
In June 2019, the Left Forum was held in Brooklyn, New York, under the theme "What’s Left?". The Socialism Conference has become an important gathering place for the current American left. In July, the Socialism Conference convened in Chicago, primarily focusing on themes such as the dilemmas and crises of capitalism, how to use Marxism to respond to practical problems, and the struggles and strategies in seeking alternatives to capitalism. Meanwhile, "Marxism Festival" was held in London, hosted by the Socialist Workers Party (UK), with the theme "A Festival of Socialist Ideas." In October, the organization "Socialist Appeal" held "Revolution Festival 2019" in London to commemorate British revolutionary history—from the 19th-century Chartist Movement to the 1926 General Strike and the ongoing political struggles—while discussing current events, history, philosophy, and economics. In November, the 10th World Socialism Forum, hosted by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, was held in Beijing. Participating Chinese and foreign scholars engaged in heated discussions focused on the forum's theme: "Seventy Years of New China and World Socialism." On November 5, the 6th National Forum on Foreign Marxist Research was held at the China University of Mining and Technology, where experts conducted extensive exchanges on the theme "70 Years of Foreign Marxist Research."
II. Research on Important Theories and Hotspots in Foreign Left-wing Thought
1. Research and Discussion on the Problem of Imperialism The problem of imperialism has remained a research hotspot in Western left-wing theoretical circles throughout the 21st century. In recent years, scholars such as David Harvey and John Smith have debated the contemporary applicability and development of Lenin's theory of imperialism. Smith argues that finance capital is highly correlated with industrial capital and state power, and that finance capital can shift class contradictions into geographical contradictions. As profits fall and international competition intensifies, the risk of war in the present era is greater than in previous decades. US scholars Intan Suwandi, R. Jeyaretnam, and John Bellamy Foster analyzed "new imperialism" from the perspective of global commodity chains. They argue that 21st-century capitalist production is no longer a simple collection of national economies; instead, all countries are deeply embedded within global commodity chains. Monopoly finance capital has established a new imperialist international division of labor; to dissect the essence of contemporary imperialism, one must leave the sphere of exchange—where free trade predominates—and enter the sphere of production, where extremely high rates of exploitation exist. Globalized exploitation is primarily hidden within labor-value commodity chains and the global labor arbitrage mechanism behind them [1]. Foster pointed out that the world today is in the late imperialist period—a period of monopolistic finance capital globalization, economic stagnation, the decline of US hegemony, and intensifying world conflict, signaling either a planetary catastrophe or the beginning of a new revolution. A broader human struggle must be built upon the sustained revolutionary resistance of the peoples of the Global South [2]. Xie Fusheng and others introduced the latest debates among foreign scholars on imperialism, arguing that while the essence of imperialism has not changed, its forms of expression have shifted, exhibiting stage-specific characteristics [3].
2. In-depth Analysis and Critique of Neoliberalism The analysis and critique of neoliberalism is a topic of constant focus for foreign left-wing scholars. Foster pointed out that neoliberalism is a comprehensive project of political-ideological construction carried out by the ruling class. It is linked to the rise of monopoly finance capital, and its primary strategic goal is to embed the state within capitalist market relations to forge an absolute capitalist system, thereby placing contemporary human survival and ecology in a more dangerous position [4]. Indian scholars Prabhat Patnaik and others argue that neoliberal capitalism has reached a dead end, primarily due to global overproduction and asset price bubbles. The failure of neoliberalism is also prominently manifested in the world economy being hard hit by the US internet and real estate bubbles, the essential end of the era where the Third World drove economic growth by increasing exports, balance of payments imbalances sweeping the Third World, and the global resurgence of fascism [5]. Sitaram Yechury, General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), pointed out that neoliberalism is the root of the contemporary capitalist crisis. This crisis has caused a rightward shift in capitalist politics, intensified imperialist military and political aggression, and heightened internal contradictions among imperialist powers, though resistance to the rise of right-wing political forces has increased in many regions globally [6].
3. Discussion on Contemporary Capitalism and Its New Changes Foster provided a profound discourse on the current capitalist crisis and its development prospects. He noted that less than 20 years into the 21st century, capitalism has failed as a social system, with fascism, racism, imperialism, and war resurgent. The solution to the immediate crisis is both social and ecological [7]. Addressing the 2019 global climate movement, Suzanne Jeffrey pointed out that global imperialism has made no progress in reducing fossil fuel use due to national and capital interests; only the mobilization of working-class power can push for a resolution to these issues [8]. Digital capitalism has been a hot topic in recent years. German scholars Philipp Staab and Oliver Nachtwey, from the perspective of control over markets and labor, proposed that digitalization has become a meta-trend for analyzing contemporary capitalism. While some post-capitalist theorists argue that information technology makes the abolition of work possible and frees labor from the shackles of rationalization and control, Staab and Nachtwey argue (through an analysis of Amazon) that the rationalization of the labor process is currently central to corporate competitive strategy. The expansion of digital control and the organizational structures adopted by digital economy firms are evidence of the expansion of capitalist labor rather than its reduction [9]. Lan Jiang reviewed the thoughts of foreign scholars on digital capitalism. He argued that digitally alienated labor is becoming a new form of abstract domination. To break this digitally alienated labor, humanity must achieve data sharing and re-examine the hope of communism proposed by Marx from a data perspective [10].
4. Research on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and Its World Significance Egon Krenz, former General Secretary of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany and Chairman of the State Council of the GDR, spoke highly of the positive significance of socialism with Chinese characteristics for world socialism and for human peace and development. He pointed out that China’s development experience shows that anyone who truly wants to follow the socialist path cannot bypass the Chinese experience. The role of the pioneer of human progress was held by the French Revolution of 1789 in the 18th century and the Russian October Revolution in the 20th century; in the 21st century, this role will be assumed by China [11]. Russian scholars such as N.A. Sluka argue that China’s success in finding a development path suited to itself and combining internal and external factors of economic growth is the key to China’s rapid economic prosperity [12]. Toma Ivan, former First Secretary of the Union of Communist Youth of Romania, believes that the numerous achievements in economic, social, and political life reflected by China’s universal prosperity will become a very attractive and inspiring model for some regions of the world. For regions outside China, its realities and development prospects serve as a reference for norms of action [13].
5. Assessment and Reflection on Foreign Left-wing Thought Some scholars introduced new progress in basic theory within foreign Marxist political economy in 2018, covering core topics including value theory, surplus value theory, exploitation, the rate of profit, and macroeconomic dynamics accompanying capital accumulation [14]. Other scholars explored the critique of modernity within contemporary Western left-wing trends of thought, arguing that the shift in interest from "capitalist alternatives" to the "critique of modernity" contains a major dilemma: while they appear increasingly radical in theoretical appearance, they have actually retreated politically [15]. Some scholars also introduced discussions on communism reopened by "Western radical left theorists" under the practices of the New Era, analyzing the background, theoretical connotations, significance, and historical limitations of the Western "new communism" trend that formed after the international financial crisis [16]. Furthermore, some scholars assessed the overall state of current foreign Marxist research, suggesting that while it appears prosperous, its development is actually sluggish, and it faces the risk of continued marginalization within the Western academic system. Prosperity refers to the quantity of works, while development refers to the emergence of new theoretical paradigms, schools, and academic viewpoints and their substantive influence [17]. Although these are individual judgments, they point out problems and challenges in the development of foreign Marxism.
III. Research on the Current Status of the Development of the Foreign Left
1. Left-wing Research in North America and Europe Since the financial crisis, left-wing trends of thought and movements in the United States have become gradually active. Some scholars believe that although the theoretical dominance and policy practices of US neoliberalism have caused a backlog of dissatisfaction among the populace regarding production, life, and political participation—directly leading to the resurgence of left-wing movements—these movements struggle to exert lasting influence due to subjective and objective reasons. To break through this predicament, the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) proposed the slogan "Back to the Working Class," advocating for deep engagement with labor groups to consolidate their developmental base. The activities of the DSA have brought new possibilities for the development of the US left-wing movement [18]. Some scholars wrote analyses of the development status of the European left-wing camp, suggesting that it will undergo changes: moderate Social Democratic parties will significantly decline, while extreme left-wing parties will increasingly find favor with voters. Among extreme left-wing parties, populist parties will rise significantly and may even replace Social Democratic parties as the main parties in the left-wing camp [19]. Other scholars pointed out the challenges facing European left-wing parties, arguing that in the face of the financial crisis, center-left parties seeking equality did not see a window of opportunity but instead encountered the most serious setbacks and crises since their founding. In 2018, out of 28 EU member states, the number of governments led by center-left parties dropped from 13 to just one. Today’s center-left parties in Europe are part of the ruling elite, with goals and values far removed from the past [20]. Additionally, some scholars introduced the current development of the Left Party (Die Linke) in Germany, suggesting it has escaped its former predicament and transformed into a "Pan-German party," filling the "political vacuum" left by the left-wing of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and establishing a "dual-leadership system." However, it still faces various difficulties such as weak leadership, a lack of collective identity in the organization, and ideological ambiguity [21]. In May 2019, the European Parliament elections were held; center-left and center-right parties remained the two largest political groups but lost their absolute majority. The Workers' Party of Belgium has grown rapidly in recent years; in 2019, it entered the European Parliament for the first time with one elected member. In 2018, the "Yellow Vest" movement broke out in France. In February 2019...
In May, the left-wing General Confederation of Labour (CGT) [22] and the "Yellow Vests" united for the first time to hold nationwide demonstrations protesting the French government's pension reform plan. Alain Badiou, the renowned French scholar and leading figure of the "New Communism," argues that the Yellow Vests movement is an unorganized movement of the broad middle class; while they do not seek to establish a new order through revolutionary means, they may generate a more organized and powerful force in the future.
2. Research on the Left in Russia, the Middle East, and Africa
Some scholars have pointed out that contemporary Russian Marxist research takes the "21st Century Socialist Revival Movement" as its ideological consensus. Against the backdrop of the globalization of the logic of capital, these researchers explore the theoretical and practical propositions for a transition to socialism, forming a unique research trajectory. This primarily includes: returning to the basic positions and methods of Marx’s historical materialism to deeply reflect on Soviet socialist practice and the historical experience of the Russianization of Marxism; analyzing the power dynamics and contradiction transformations between the contemporary capitalist world-system and left-wing socialist movements, while launching a critical analysis of the "peripheral capitalist" dilemma following Russia’s national transition; and actively exploring the feasibility of a transition to socialism by integrating Marxism with the specific historical path of the nation-state. [43] Other scholars have noted that the rebound in favorable evaluations of Stalin and the Soviet Union under his leadership among the Russian populace represents a trend toward a revival of socialist conviction, reflecting the deep-seated requirements for the progress and development of human society. [44]
Scholars have also introduced the issue of cooperation among left-wing parties in the Middle East. Driven by a critique of the current international system, the need to respond to neoliberal challenges, and the motivation to improve the theoretical legitimacy of their parties, Middle Eastern left-wing parties have actively engaged in international exchange and cooperation. However, due to the influence of the international situation, the limitations of this international exchange and cooperation remain apparent. [45] Left-wing parties are an important political force in Algeria. The Algerian government has provided a certain space for left-wing parties to conduct political activities within the system, ensuring their institutionalized political participation does not impact the regime. Yet, constrained by historical, national, and other factors, these left-wing parties lack mass support and remain insufficiently effective. [46]
3. Research on the Left in Latin America
In 2019, new changes appeared in the Latin American Left. In Bolivia, military police and right-wing extremists launched a coup, forcing the president to resign and flee to Mexico for asylum. Regarding the current state of development for the Latin American Left, Yuan Dongzhen argues that the effect of "the retreat of the Left and the advance of the Right" continues to ferment, with left-wing governing parties facing an increasing number of difficult problems, and the practical exploration of "21st-century socialism" encountering new setbacks. Nevertheless, the influence of left-wing political forces in Latin America should not be underestimated; some left-wing governments that remain in power are constantly adjusting their economic and social policies, with their governing agendas trending toward moderation and pragmatism. [47]
Some scholars argue that the "neo-developmentalism" and "21st-century socialism" of left-wing Latin American governments represented both a correction of the neoliberal model and the "Washington Consensus," as well as a beneficial exploration of a new developmental model. However, because these left-wing governments primarily relied on revenue from the commodities boom, the foundation of their policy adjustments remained weak and unstable, failing to establish a sustainable new developmental model that could truly serve as an alternative to neoliberalism. [48] In recent years, after holding governing power in many Latin American countries for over a decade, the Left has gradually shown a weakening trend.
IV. Reflections and Suggestions on Research Concerning the Foreign Left
In 2019, the uncertainties and instabilities facing world peace and development increased significantly. At this juncture of great global development, transformation, and adjustment, the topics of concern for foreign left-wing scholars and organizations have been extremely broad, fully reflecting the global vision and humanistic concern of Marxism. This demonstrates that although the development of foreign left-wing thought and movements faces many challenges and problems, as long as the contradictions and crises of capitalism persist, foreign left-wing thought and movements will continue to welcome development and progress—provided they continuously strengthen their "problem consciousness," respond to the demands of the era, and comprehensively manifest the research positions and traditions of Marxism.
At the same time, regarding the domestic study of foreign left-wing thought, as some scholars have pointed out, the seventy-year history of foreign Marxist research has formed a fine tradition of emphasizing textual research, which has been well-inherited in contemporary foreign Marxist studies. However, it must be understood that "too much is as bad as too little" (过犹不及) [23]; the goal of research is not the text itself, but the thought therein and its transformation for contemporary China. [38] The research by foreign left-wing scholars on Marxism and capitalism—particularly their research on new changes in contemporary financial monopoly capitalism, neoliberalism, and imperialism—provides important intellectual resources for developing 21st-century Marxism and contemporary Chinese Marxism. We urgently need to scientifically absorb and draw lessons from these aforementioned research results while accelerating the construction of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics.
In recent years, many universities and research institutions have hosted the World Socialist Forum and the World Congress on Marxism, attracting many foreign left-wing scholars and organizations, which is of great significance. It is precisely because of the innovation and development found in the Sinicization of Marxism that socialism with Chinese characteristics has achieved such immense success. The domestic academic community should clarify its historical mission and responsibility, strengthening cooperation and exchange with foreign left-wing scholars and Marxist researchers to jointly respond to the major theoretical and practical issues facing human peace and development, thereby promoting the continuous development of foreign Marxist research.