[Italy] Marco Rizzo and Alberto Lombardo, trans. Li Kaixuan: Some Reflections on Xi Jinping's Important Speech at the Symposium on Cultural Inheritance and Development
On June 2, 2023, Xi Jinping inspected the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and, while attending the Symposium on Cultural Inheritance and Development, emphasized: "Continuing to promote cultural prosperity, building a culturally powerful nation, and developing a modern Chinese civilization from a new starting point is our new cultural mission in the New Era." [1] The best way to inherit history is to create new history; the highest tribute to human civilization is to create a new form of human civilization. Chinese-path modernization is a modernization in which material and spiritual civilizations are coordinated. This prompts us, as communists in Western countries, to look inward and reflect on the values of contemporary Western capitalist civilization and the current predicament of European nation-states such as Italy.
I. The Coordinated Development of Modern Chinese Civilization and the Degeneration of Contemporary Western Capitalist Civilization
Clearly, without the development of material civilization, without an increase in the accessible supply of goods and services for the people, and without the liberation of the broad masses from the urgent material needs that enslave them and the daily struggle for survival, grand talk of developing spiritual civilization is merely unrealistic wishful thinking. Without socialist material civilization as a foundation, spiritual civilization would degenerate into a privilege for the few social strata who can afford it. If socialism is not "common poverty," it first and foremost means the development of the productive forces. As China strides into the New Era as a great nation and the Chinese people have historicaly escaped absolute poverty, the social vision once described by Marx—the transition from the realm of necessity to the realm of freedom—has become concrete, possible, and necessary. Had it not been for the immense efforts of Chinese communists over more than 40 years to eliminate poverty, lifting nearly 800 million people out of absolute poverty, international statistics on impoverished populations would inevitably have increased sharply over the past three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, rather than decreased.
Today, the competition pushing the world onto a high-tension track manifests in the West primarily as a deformed economic competition. It emphasizes quantity over quality and objects over human beings. The capitalist-dominated economic system systematically distorts the rules of the game, abusing economic dominance and sometimes even military policy. Whenever they need to break down the self-protection of weaker countries, Western capitalist states use the "mortars" of the "free market"; however, when they find themselves lagging far behind in efficiency, they transform overnight into the most conservative and backward protectionists. This is what we see happening in the world: capitalist countries led by the United States use the most shameless lies—from "human rights" to "ecological" rules abused solely according to their interests—to obstruct the development of trade and damage the vigorous growth of the Chinese economy. Recently, the West has even gone so far as to incite the outbreak of war, bringing the world to the brink of generalized nuclear conflict.
The extremely distorted competition within Western countries is accompanied not only by a decline in the material conditions of the vast majority but also by a spiritual degeneration caused by intersectional conflicts—inequality, oppression, and clashes involving class, generation, race, religion, and sex—which is pushing society to the edge of collapse.
Compared to the "jungle in the rest of the world," the harsh conditions of the metropolitan suburbs in Western capitalist countries, the degradation of workers' social and wage rights, the privatization of service industries, and the deprivation of the welfare acquired by the lower classes in the decades following World War II constitute the bleak reality of the so-called "garden." [2] This increasingly resembles the most terrifying nightmares of dystopian science fiction films.
In the West, even scientific and technological research tends toward maximizing economic profits rather than maximizing the satisfaction of people's needs. Various monopolies and complexes have become increasingly aggressive in their pursuit of profit. As we see across Western nations, the bio-pharmaceutical complex is also subject to the logic of profit maximization, bringing disaster to their own people even at the height of the COVID-19 crisis—the Western managerial response was nonsensical. In the Western world, the rules of civilized coexistence and harmony have been broken, and material and spiritual disorder have become dominant.
II. The Independence and Autonomy of Modern Chinese Civilization and the Subordination of Contemporary European Civilization
There is a fundamental difference between Chinese-path modernization led by the Communist Party of China and Western modernization, which is inseparable from the relevant theoretical consciousness and clear understanding of the CPC. As Xi Jinping pointed out: "To continue promoting cultural prosperity, building a culturally powerful nation, and developing a modern Chinese civilization at a new historical starting point, we must strengthen cultural confidence, persist in following our own path, base ourselves on the great historical and contemporary practices of the Chinese nation, use Chinese logic to summarize Chinese experience, elevate Chinese experience into Chinese theory, and achieve spiritual independence and autonomy." [3] "If one does not understand China from the perspective of its long historical continuity, it is impossible to understand ancient China, even more impossible to understand modern China, and let alone understand future China." [4] Without a clear understanding of one's own national history and a profound grasp of one's own national culture, it is impossible to guarantee the independence of the people and national sovereignty, which is the necessary foundation for establishing friendships and cooperative relations with the people of other countries.
When the European people embarked on the path of strengthening their national cultural foundations, humanity fell into a great historical catastrophe—the First World War. Later it became even worse: various forms of fascism emerged, leading to the Second World War. What ideas, then, played a key role in nationalist ideology? The answer is so-called "patriotism." The "patriotism" promoted by the bourgeoisie is based on narrow nationalism; it carries the lies of an upper superstructure filled with the desire for domination and oppression; it is false and distorted, and certainly does not contain the goal of friendly openness toward people of other countries. Thus, colonialism and imperialism were successively condensed into this false ideology of so-called "patriotism," dragging humanity into the abyss of war. In Italy, for example, the fascist "reproduction" of the luxury and pomp of ancient Rome was nothing more than a cover for the immense exploitation of the working class and the ruling class's desire for a share of colonial territory in Africa.
However, the end of European bourgeois nationalism did not occur in an era of peace and stability, but during the Cold War. Since the beginning of the Cold War, nationalism has been replaced by another poison. This poison—cosmopolitanism—is more in line with the will of the new rulers across the Atlantic today. The cultural traditions of European peoples have been weakened and replaced by harmful models devoid of any moral value, destined to homogenize the entire world market, to homogenize the tastes of all "consumers," and to reduce the people of different countries to a uniform mass of consumers. Cosmopolitanism and nationalism are not two opposites, but two complementary sides of the same class oppression. This is opposed by internationalism, which has always been the lifeblood of the glorious European labor movement.
By comparing the paths of these two great nations, China and Italy, over the past two centuries, we find that after the founding of the New China, the Chinese people, under the leadership of the CPC, completely restored their capacity to choose their own path. Meanwhile, although Italy possesses a similar background and strong industrial capacity and cultural heritage, it has not similarly restored its capacity for independent choice. This is mainly because, since the beginning of the Cold War, the status of the defeated party has placed Italy in a subordinate position. This has led to a continuous military occupation of Italy, a situation that worsens every year. The United States has established military bases in Italy and many other parts of the world that are not under local control. Through these armed or controlled systems, the U.S. brings imperialist wars to all corners of the globe, and the protest movements of local residents are often suppressed by force or ignored. In Italy specifically, this de facto occupation falls entirely outside the scope of the Italian Constitution. It should be noted that many articles of the Constitution of the Italian Republic make it one of the most "pacifist" fundamental laws in the world. Yet the acquiescence to this occupation—or more precisely, Italy's subordinate behavior—has never received parliamentary approval. This completely violates the most basic rules of the "democratic" states that the West prides itself on.
If we look at Italy in a broader sense, the situation is no better. If Europe ever possessed autonomy, it has now completely abandoned any autonomous role. The leadership of the European Commission is institutionally not elected by anyone and has now degenerated into an appendage of NATO—a political structure subordinate to a military structure. How tragic!
It is hoped that more Italian and even European people will hear and truly take to heart President Xi Jinping’s words: "Use Chinese logic to summarize Chinese experience, elevate Chinese experience into Chinese theory, and achieve spiritual independence and autonomy." [5] This may inspire and encourage them to pull the history of their own national development back onto the track of autonomy.
III. The Inclusivity of Modern Chinese Civilization and the Narrowness of Western Capitalist Civilization
Let us look again at Xi Jinping’s words: "We must uphold openness and inclusivity, persist in the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism, inherit and develop the fine traditional Chinese culture, promote the localization of foreign cultures, and continuously nurture and create the culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era." [6] This is fundamentally different from the narrow nationalism and cosmopolitanism of the Western bourgeoisie.
First: Openness and Inclusivity. When the people of a nation have a good understanding of and affection for their own history and culture, they are able to open their hearts to study and absorb, in an original way, all the beautiful achievements of civilization created by other nations.
Second: Localization. From an economic perspective, localization means adapting a product or service to the "look and feel" requirements of a specific language, culture, or target population. This is not the ability to forcibly impose a model, but the ability to absorb and metabolize things from the outside to enrich one's own theory, accumulation of experience, and practice without subverting the recipient.
Xi Jinping emphasizes the importance of combining the basic tenets of Marxism with fine traditional Chinese culture. What exactly is this combination? As is well known, Marxism originated from European utopian socialism, German classical philosophy, and British classical political economy. The important discoveries of Marx and Engels tell us what the engine of historical development is. This does not include individual personalities—though rulers such as emperors are also important—nor does it include abstract ideas, especially if these ideas cannot be disseminated by the people. The masses of the people are the engine that drives history forward; it is the masses who create history. Therefore, a visionary ruler must respect the people rather than standing in opposition to them.
Marxism teaches us that nationalism and cosmopolitanism are responses to the interests of the ruling class, while internationalism and patriotism are responses to the interests of the oppressed classes. Xi Jinping emphasizes that Chinese civilization possesses continuity, innovation, unity, inclusivity, and peacefulness. The prominent significance of these five major characteristics goes far beyond the boundaries of China and its millennia-old civilization.
Italian culture and civilization are also rooted in thousands of years of history. This has been emphasized in all high-level meetings between Chinese and Italian authorities, including recent ones. In terms of language (from Latin to Italian), law (from Roman law to modern codes), and art, Italian civilization also possesses continuity and unique innovation. Italy's political unification was only achieved in the 19th century, but cultural unity has always existed. On the one hand, during the Roman Empire, the rulers of the empire were attracted to Greek culture and, together with the ancient Roman people, created a higher level of ancient Roman culture based on the absorption of Greek culture. On the other hand, in the centuries that followed, different cultures emerged and developed from ancient Roman culture.
Unfortunately, however, peace has not been the protagonist of Italian history. The Roman Empire was imposed on other peoples through force. Subsequently, Italy was first torn apart by foreign powers that turned the Apennine Peninsula into a battlefield. After national unification, Italy was always permeated by a desire for pointless revenge. Therefore, in all circumstances, Italy has always been part of a European continent characterized by the bloodiest and most violent conflicts, never having enjoyed true stability and peace. The false peace Italy experienced after World War II was actually formed under the shadow of an intrusive "protector." This "protector" constantly imposed its rule, cutting off various development possibilities that Italy could have had. For instance, consider the phase in the 1960s and 1970s known as the "Italian miracle" and the destruction of the mixed economy and state governance. This led to scientific achievements in electronics, information, and chemicals being wasted by an entrepreneurial class that was incompetent in its national mission.
Today, even when Italy attempts to sign simple trade agreements, we encounter interference from countries that claim to be our allies—interference that is not limited to the energy sector. Examples include signing the "Belt and Road" Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China or trade agreements with Russia. The United States, in particular, forces us to abandon our autonomy and fruitful development. After signing the aforementioned agreements, Italy faced exclusion by the U.S. Today, the renewal and continuation of these agreements face extreme uncertainty. It is not only the working people of Italy who are deeply dissatisfied, but also the most dynamic entrepreneurs. Due to the pursuit of extremely short-sighted financial profits, Italy has abandoned the promotion of port trade development and the revitalization of related production activities, sacrificing all of this on the altar of "Atlantic loyalty." However, this "loyalty" is one-way. When the U.S. deems it necessary, it does not hesitate to break the so-called rules of "loyalty."
Yet, Italian public opinion, like that of the entire West, is subject to imperialism and portrays China as a threat to Italy's independence. The Communist Party of China's ability to lead the people—and all the development, construction, and creation currently being achieved—has become the target of woven lies and innuendo. When the games imposed on the world by imperialists are surpassed in one field or another, they tear off their disguise as advocates of the "free market" and are the first to trample these slogans underfoot—a classic double standard. This ranges from economy to politics, and from defending the sovereignty of "friendly" countries (which are actually colonies) to subverting the sovereignty of countries placed on "blacklists." When it suits imperialist interests, they use "the defense of human rights" to ignore atrocities committed by allies, even obstructing corresponding United Nations resolutions.
IV. The Modern Civilization of the Chinese Nation Points the Way Toward Multipolar Development for the World
Currently, the world faces a struggle between two major directions for development. On one hand is unipolarity dominated by the United States. One need only look at the series of wars launched by the U.S. in recent decades, and the exploitation and oppression it has imposed on the world, to recognize its essence. As Lenin warned, Kautsky's illusions regarding "ultra-imperialism" [7] have proven futile. In such illusions, it was thought that conflicts between monopoly capitals could find a solution, eventually resolving competitive conflicts until military conflict was eliminated. The reality is that the system dominated by capitalism not only fails to resolve conflicts but actively fuels them. On the other hand is the vision of a multipolar world. It is not a dialectical opposite of the former in a binary sense, because it is not a totalitarian system like the former. Multipolarity is a completely different way of leading the world. Multilateralism is a system unrelated to unipolarity. Xi Jinping has proposed five characteristics of Chinese civilization [8] which, in our view, are precisely the five basic principles of a multipolar system: continuity, innovativeness, unity, inclusiveness, and peacefulness. This demonstrates that the modern civilization of the Chinese nation, comprehensively rejuvenated under the leadership of the CPC and the guidance of Marxism, can make a greater contribution to today’s world. Multilateralism points the way for the world rather than seeking to control or rule it. Chinese-path modernization is an opportunity for the world. Through cooperation, every country can benefit from China's development achievements.
For the construction of a multipolar world, the five principles proposed by Xi Jinping specifically mean: first, respecting the culture and history of the people of different countries; non-interference and respect for the systems chosen by these peoples themselves. Second, the ability to continuously improve and achieve win-win results for the benefit of all and the people concerned. Third, that the people of every country continue their own history. Fourth, the ability to absorb and draw on the best cultures of other nations. Fifth, maintaining peace—the most important prerequisite for the survival and development of the world's people—without it being destroyed by war.
We see that these five principles are all being undermined by U.S.-led unipolarity. "Exporting democracy" is the primary element in the unipolar totalitarian system. According to the double-standard rule of "different measures for different countries," when a country does not submit to the will of imperialism, the latter brandishes the cudgel of public opinion and finds the most embarrassing excuses to attack it. Yet when its allies do the same or even worse, it justifies these actions and silently ignores or minimizes them in the name of "realpolitik." The social system dominated by capitalism is essentially "cannibalistic" in nature. It has lost all capacity to bring positive results to humanity. Long ago, Marx, Engels, and Lenin predicted the tragedies occurring today in their most violent forms. Capitalist profit is achieved at the expense of its citizens and all lower classes; the financialization of Western countries reached unsustainable levels long ago. These bubbles, about to burst, are suffocating, and their evil consequences will be transmitted beyond the core imperialist circles.
Capitalist innovation, which was highly praised in the past and even seen as proof of the superiority of the capitalist system, is today an illusory fairy tale. The impact of every scientific and technological advance feels like an absurdist drama to the laboring masses. Instead of freeing up time for a few workers to enjoy life, they are enslaved, with surplus value squeezed to the extreme. Millions of unemployed or underemployed people live lives of misery. For 500 years, colonialism enriched the material life of the First World at the expense of the Third World. But today, colonialism has truly dragged the world to the brink of collapse. The history of the African continent is symbolic. Since the beginning of the modern era, it has been at the center of European colonialism. The collapse of colonialism after World War II opened a great era for African people to resist oppression and strive for independence, but imperialism and neo-colonialism opposed African independence, exerting every effort to create chaos to maintain their political rule. The unfortunate decline of European socialism coincided with the "Great Reset" of colonialism. African people are constantly under attack or threat. When a new subject enters this continent—primarily socialist China—it is viewed as a thorn in the side of imperialist colonialists. For those accustomed to strangulation through plunder and financial means, infrastructure construction, the granting of loans not predicated on the seizure of property, and fair and convenient bilateral trade are all deemed "unfair competition."
Even Europe is faring no better. The price paid by European society under the iron fist of U.S. rule is enslavement, with the roots of its own cultural and social development being uprooted. A people who have lost their connection to their ancestral history, culture, and traditions are left at the mercy of fashions and follies from across the Atlantic.
The unipolar world is also one-way: expanding from the imperialist center to the periphery. Language, customs, lifestyles, and ways of thinking—everything is homogenized and unidirectional. Imperialism has never reached such a level of pervasive oppression.
Whether direct or launched by proxies, imperialist wars bring immense destruction and suffering that find their balance in the profits obtained by the executioners. The executioners first destroy, then "rebuild" at the expense of the conquered people. Even Italian speculators have joined these horrific banquets. Those who benefit are the narrow financial elites closely linked to the Atlantic alliance. They are already bickering and attacking each other over sharing the fruits of Ukraine's "reconstruction."
V. Chinese Civilization, which Stresses "Harmony as the Most Precious," is a Fortress for Maintaining World Peace
Compared to China, the U.S. is essentially dual in nature: a cowardly aggressor and a desperate beggar. On one hand, the U.S. "paper tiger" interferes in China's internal affairs, fuels separatism, and sends reconnaissance planes, aircraft carriers, and warships to the South China Sea; on the other hand, due to its terrible debt problems and receding economy, it acts as if it needs China's help.
What exactly do the imperialists want? Cooperation or conflict? Dialogue or confrontation? For China, the three principles of China-U.S. relations are: mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation.
Recently, during a meeting with U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen, Premier Li Qiang of the State Council emphasized that Chinese civilization has always valued harmony as the most precious [9] and opposed hegemony and bullying. He expressed hope that the U.S. would uphold a rational and pragmatic attitude and work with China to bring China-U.S. relations back on track as soon as possible. Yellen stated that the U.S. does not seek "decoupling" (in fact, U.S. deindustrialization is so severe that it is very difficult to "decouple" from China—Author’s note), has no intention of hindering China's modernization process, and is willing to work with China to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state at the Bali meeting, strengthen communication, avoid misunderstandings caused by differences, and strengthen cooperation in stabilizing the macroeconomy and addressing global challenges to seek mutual economic benefit. However, the U.S. soon imposed unilateral sanctions on Chinese companies again, creating "entity lists" in an attempt to weaken China's development.
There are only two possible reasons for such a phenomenon. Either the U.S. chain of command has no unified direction at all, or they believe they are dealing with fools. If the former is the case, it indicates that the divisions and conflicts within the imperialist center are not shrinking but expanding. The conflict of interests within the U.S. bourgeoisie makes this ship rock back and forth. But neither the left nor the right will triumph; internal struggles are destined to prolong the agony of the Stars and Stripes empire, bringing increasing danger to all humanity. The second case is unlikely to exist independently but is overlaid with the first. This is nothing new for Western diplomacy. Speaking with a "forked tongue" is their specialty. They still have not learned their lesson from these despicable methods; they do not benefit from them, and it is detrimental to world development. This is like the period before World War II, when European politicians employed diplomatic maneuvers in the face of Hitler's rise. Although socialist China is a completely different, peace-loving country, these Western politicians are still playing with fire.
Currently, the madness of Western imperialism will not stop spontaneously. The greatest fortress in the world capable of resisting these mad and criminal acts is China. This is because this country possesses a heroic and fearless people, the CPC which has established Comrade Xi Jinping’s core status on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole (the Two Establishments), and the People's Liberation Army, which is loyal to its country and people under the leadership of the CPC.