Yu Weihai and Li Yuwei: Judgments of Foreign Communist Parties on the Current Stage and New Trends of Socialist Development
World socialism has undergone a historical progression from utopian to scientific, from theory to practice, and from practice within a single country to development across multiple nations. The collapse of the Soviet Union and the drastic changes in Eastern Europe in the early 1990s were major events in the history of world socialism, leading the world socialist movement into a "low ebb" and dealing a massive blow to Communist Parties in many capitalist countries. Since the 21st century, the international situation has undergone significant changes. Thus, "What is the current state of world socialism? It is well worth studying in depth." This is a major research subject proposed by Xi Jinping, grounded in the historical process and stages of world socialism, focused on the persistence and development of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era, and looking toward the future trends of world socialism; it is also a major question of the times concerning the developmental process of world socialism. Examining the historical positioning and perceptions of dynamic changes regarding the current stage of world socialism held by foreign Communist Parties is an important way to scientifically grasp the current process of world socialism and understand new trends in contemporary foreign Communist Parties and world socialism.
I. Foreign Communist Parties Generally Uphold the Judgment of the "Historical Era Indicated by Marxism"
On September 29, 2017, while presiding over the 43rd collective study session of the Political Bureau of the 18th CPC Central Committee, Xi Jinping pointed out: "Although the era we live in has undergone vast and profound changes compared to the era of Marx, from the grand perspective of the 500-year history of world socialism, we are still in the historical era indicated by Marxism." This judgment is based on the fundamental principles of historical materialism, revealing the essence and basic characteristics of the era through the unity of opposites between the productive forces and relations of production, and the economic base and the superstructure. It is a judgment made by surveying the historical development process and trends of human society from the perspective of the "Big View of History" [1]. Therefore, the "historical era" mentioned here refers to the "great historical era" in a broad sense, which according to the Marxist view, is the historical era of transition from capitalism to socialism. The Marxist discourse on the historical era is an accurate grasp of the essence and characteristics of the period, containing the inevitable law of human social development in which the socialist system replaces the capitalist system. Foreign Communist Parties largely base their judgment—that human society today remains in the historical era of transition from capitalism to socialism—on the inherent contradictions and realistic crises of capitalism, as well as the achievements, experiences, and lessons of socialism; they maintain the sublime conviction that the future belongs to socialism and communism.
Foreign Communist Parties generally believe that no matter what setbacks or failures world socialism has encountered to date, the only alternative to decadent, declining imperialism and monopoly capitalism can only be, and is, socialism. On July 8, 2022, the General Secretaries of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), the Communist Party of Mexico, the Communist Party of the Workers of Spain, and the Communist Party of Turkey held a four-way meeting and issued a joint statement on strengthening the united struggle and advancing the international communist movement under the current international situation. They maintained that the current external offensives and aggression of imperialism are concrete manifestations of monopoly capitalism in its most reactionary era and symptoms of capitalism in its highest stage; the current era is the era of transition from capitalism to socialist revolution. The new party program adopted by the Communist Party of Sweden in 2021 emphasizes: "The characteristic of our era is the transition from capitalism to socialism, and our goal is to build the organizations and political power of the working people themselves." Similarly, the new party program adopted by the Communist Party of Canada in 2019 maintains that despite setbacks in the revolutionary process, "this is the historical period of transition from capitalism to socialism on a global scale, and in this process, the working class plays an increasingly vital and central role in advancing democracy, progress, and revolutionary change." In October 2022, at the 22nd International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties (IMCWP), the Communist Party of Greece reiterated: "Our era is the era of transition from capitalism to socialism-communism. Counter-revolution does not change the essence of our era; on the contrary, it only confirms the exploitative and barbaric nature of capitalism." The Initiative of Communist and Workers' Parties of Europe issued a joint statement on the centenary of the October Revolution, emphasizing that the failure of the Soviet Union—the world’s first socialist state—was a temporary setback for the international communist movement and does not negate the fact that the current era is one of transition from capitalism to socialism. Reality instead proves that capitalism is obsolete, and the only alternative to it is the path and direction pointed out by the Russian October Revolution; the socialist revolution is irreversible. In August 2020, the Communist Party of Turkey emphasized in its 13th Congress report that socialist revolution is not only an urgent current goal but also the only realistic way to solve current problems. This is the strategic and historical mission of the Communist Party of Turkey.
II. Different Positionings of Foreign Communist Parties Regarding the Current Stage of World Socialism
Having gone through the collapse of the Soviet Union and the drastic changes in Eastern Europe, world socialism has also undergone significant changes and transformations over the past 30-plus years. Currently, the world is undergoing "changes unseen in a century" [2]; what developmental stage is the world socialist movement in? Communist Parties are the primary force of the world socialist movement, and the judgments made by foreign Communist Parties regarding the stages of development of world socialism provide important reference value. Generally speaking, the judgments of foreign Communist Parties can be divided into four perspectives: a major period of opportunity for revitalization and development; a period of anxious struggle attempting to emerge from the "low ebb"; a period of difficult development and hardship; and a "New Era of Hope" in which China becomes the leader of the world socialist movement.
(1) Some Communist Parties believe world socialism has entered a major period of opportunity for revitalization and development.
Some foreign Communist Parties base their judgment on the crisis and decline of capitalism, the construction achievements of socialist countries, and the development of socialist movements worldwide. They believe world socialism has ushered in a revolutionary upward phase, and the 21st century will be a century of major victories for world socialism. As early as its 13th Party Congress in 2008, the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (KPRF) regarded China as one of the leaders of the modern world; they noted that Vietnam's remarkable economic growth, the ongoing development of the Cuban Revolution, and the anti-imperialist fronts in Latin American countries like Venezuela all demonstrate the rising trend of socialist and anti-capitalist forces. At the same time, the 2008 financial crisis left the United States and the entire West facing their most serious problems since the Great Depression of 1929–1933. Consequently, they believe that "the decline of the world communist movement has ended." In November 2022, Gennady Zyuganov emphasized again at a plenary session of the Central Committee of the KPRF that the current crisis of capitalism is becoming increasingly prominent, the masses are losing trust in neoliberalism, voices demanding change are increasing, the overall global balance of power is shifting, and the cause of socialism is gaining new opportunities. The Communist Party of Sweden discussed its party program at its 37th Congress and pointed out from the perspective of current social productive forces: "The productive forces of our era have matured and developed to the point where an objective, direct transition to socialism is possible." At its 38th Congress, the Communist Party of Sweden again noted that the capitalist crisis caused by the pandemic is likely to make a sudden, unexpected, and almost unpredictable revolutionary situation appear. The Communist Party in Denmark (DKP) maintained in its "Socialist Denmark Manifesto" that the international working class and the broad masses, under the leadership of new Communist Parties guided by Marxism-Leninism, are preparing for a new wave of anti-imperialist and socialist revolutions. On one hand, the collective political consciousness of the working class is in a period of rapid ascent; on the other hand, the scale and strength of class struggle caused by the capitalist crisis worldwide are continuously expanding. Therefore, they believe the capitalist and imperialist systems have reached their limits of development, "the revolutionary transformation of the system is ripe," and "the 21st century may become the century of socialism, the century in which the working class successfully realizes socialism through socialist struggle."
(2) Some Communist Parties believe world socialism is in a period of anxious struggle, attempting to emerge from the "low ebb."
Some foreign Communist Parties, proceeding from the perspective of opportunities and challenges, positive trends, and realistic problems, believe world socialism is currently in a period of anxious struggle to emerge from its "low ebb." On one hand, following the 2008 financial crisis and the 2020 COVID-19 outbreak, the responses of capitalist countries were weak and ineffective, and various forms of resistance have become increasingly intense. Many Communist Parties have seen their best developmental trends since the collapse of the Soviet Union. For example, by the time of its 56th Congress in November 2021, the membership of the Communist Party of Britain had grown by nearly two-thirds compared to 2018, reaching 1,200. Joe Sims, co-chair of the Communist Party USA (CPUSA), cited data indicating that America has entered a "socialist moment," a full-scale socialist moment has arrived. In 2019, the CPUSA added 1,033 new members; in 2020, 2,152; and in 2021, another 2,800. In 2019, on the centenary of the founding of the Comintern and the eve of the centenary of the Communist Party of Turkey, the latter revealed its membership had increased by more than 30% in one year. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) explained that the pandemic and economic recession further deepened the crisis of capitalism, leading to an intensification of right-wing politics globally and an increase in revolutionary resistance. The development of socialist countries, especially China and Cuba, has once again proved the superiority of the socialist system, boosting the spirit and confidence of countries, parties, and organizations that still adhere to socialism under the global crisis. The Communist Party of Denmark believes that the economic and political strength of socialist countries, represented by China, is continuously growing, the superiority of the socialist system is becoming increasingly apparent, and the international balance of power has shifted in favor of socialism, peace, and international cooperation. Hanna Gharib, General Secretary of the Lebanese Communist Party, pointed out that in the context of economic crisis and the pandemic, imperialism has become increasingly aggressive, but a favorable situation for the development of socialism has emerged—namely, that U.S. world hegemony is in relative decline, while socialist China is making rapid progress in science, technology, and economy, and economic and political cooperation among emerging countries is further strengthening.
On the other hand, foreign Communist Parties believe that world socialism still faces many challenges. First, most Communist Party organizations are weak in strength with low political and social influence, and some even face existential crises. Despite increases in membership, most Communist Parties still face the dilemma of small numbers. The Communist Parties of Ukraine, Iraq, Kenya, and the New Communist Party of Yugoslavia have long suffered from blockades and suppression by their own governments and are in difficult straits. Second, sectarianism is a force of resistance tearing at the development of Communist Parties and the world socialist movement; the overall fragmentation of world socialism has not changed. A minority of parties, such as the KKE, prioritize "maintaining ideological orthodoxy" and frequently use "revisionism" and "opportunism" as weapons to attack other Communist Parties. The Communist Party of Chile emphasizes that while the direction of the international community remains uncertain, there is an urgent need for countries and peoples to strengthen ties and solidarity, which is particularly important in resisting imperialist aggression. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has called for opposition to the growth of right-wing and reactionary ideologies and populism, requiring strengthened cooperation among Communist Parties and progressive forces worldwide. Third, some Communist Parties have fallen into a dilemma of "swaying left and right" in theoretical construction. Some are trapped by historical baggage and theoretical rigidity, remaining conservative and hesitant in advancing the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism; others undertake "adaptive reforms," eager to erase traces of "revolutionization," "Stalinism," and "Leninism" to align with Western parties, causing ideological confusion within their ranks. It is in this sense that Luciana Santos, President of the Communist Party of Brazil, pointed out that for Communists, it is essential to develop Marxist cognitive categories along with new environments and recognize the new dilemmas brought by reality. Fourth, the class consciousness and revolutionary consciousness of the masses—the important relying force of the revolution—are insufficient. In many countries, the class base of Communist Parties is being courted or squeezed by far-right and other populist parties, further narrowing their space for development. The Communist Party of Turkey believes the biggest problem facing the socialist movement today is that many of the masses lack sufficient revolutionary consciousness and have deviated from the direction of socialist revolution in pursuit of concrete, immediate goals.
(3) Some Communist Parties believe world socialism is still in a period of hardship and difficult development.
One section of Communist Parties, represented by the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), proceeds from the reactionary nature of contemporary capitalism and the severe state of ideological struggle to argue that the international communist movement and the world socialist movement are currently in a difficult period of developmental predicament. Since 2009, the KKE has proposed similar views across four consecutive Party congresses. The political resolution of the 18th Congress of the KKE in 2009 suggested that the international workers' movement remains fragmented organizationally and ideologically, facing new risks at any time. In 2013, the 19th Congress of the KKE adopted a new Party program, pointing out that the international communist movement is still in a period of great recession, and the KKE remains trapped in an era of decline and crisis following the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the drastic changes in Eastern Europe [4]. The resolution of the 20th Congress of the KKE in 2017 stated: "The international communist movement is in decline and finds it difficult to react to the attacks of the class enemy." The 21st Congress in 2021 held that the "international communist movement is still in a profound crisis." On one hand, sharp ideological and political struggles persist between various Communist Parties, and most communists have not yet deeply studied the experiences and lessons of socialist construction in the Soviet Union and other socialist countries; on the other hand, as social revolutions unfold, the basic strategic choices of various bourgeois parties to resist socialism have increasingly converged. Aleksandar Banjanac, General Secretary of the New Communist Party of Yugoslavia (NKPJ), pointed out that contemporary imperialism, in its efforts to secure its economic and strategic positions, has implemented a policy of state terrorism. They further blockade all paths leading to national liberation, progress, and revolution, intensifying ethnic, religious, and border conflicts, and stimulating the birth of extreme reactionary forces, causing the struggle for socialist revolution to encounter serious difficulties.
(4) Some Communist Parties believe that world socialism has entered a "new era of hope" led by China's development.
Many Communist Parties highly affirm and praise the socialist cause and its great achievements under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), pointing out that Chinese-path modernization plays an exemplary and leading role in the process of revitalizing world socialism. In October 2022, at the 22nd International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties (IMCWP), "the participating Communist and Workers' Parties could not help but express their heartfelt admiration and desire to learn from the CPC and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era in their speeches." In an interview with Xinhua News Agency, Gennady Zyuganov highly praised the construction achievements of socialism with Chinese characteristics and its contribution to the innovative development of Marxism. He emphasized that since the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the heavy blow dealt to the international communist movement, China—by virtue of its decisive contribution to the world socialist movement—has become the "locomotive of the world historical process." Aleksei Sokol, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Belarus, believes that the CPC has become an unquenchable socialist lighthouse for the entire international communist and workers' movement. Oscar Figuera, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Venezuela, believes that the 20th National Congress of the CPC will have a huge positive impact on world communists, the workers' movement, and all of humanity. Vinicio Molina, President of the Communist Party of Australia, stated that since reform and opening up, China's achievements—including helping nearly 800 million people out of poverty, sharing knowledge and technology through the Belt and Road Initiative, and adopting advanced technologies to tackle the climate crisis—have set a shining example for the world: that is, to build a beautiful society that protects the interests of the people and the ecological environment under the guidance of socialism.
III. New Trends of Foreign Communist Parties Seeking to Develop and Revitalize Socialism
The understanding of the developmental stages of world socialism by foreign Communist Parties, based on the same judgment of the "historical era," reflects the unity of the era's essence and its characteristics. It is precisely through grasping the dialectical unity of these two that foreign Communist Parties have further strengthened their faith in socialism and communism. They have combined the pursuit of the transition from capitalism to socialism with new changes in party, national, and world conditions, launching a series of theoretical and practical reforms and struggles to revitalize socialism.
(1) Adhering to the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism, and innovatively developing socialist theories with national characteristics.
Without revolutionary theory, there can be no revolutionary movement. Combining the basic principles of Marxism with the specific realities of one's own country and innovatively developing localized and modernized Marxism is a basic principle of scientific socialism upheld by Communist Parties. It is a scientific truth summarized from the long-term struggle experience of the socialist movement and an effective means for many Communist Parties to advance the socialist cause today.
The communist parties of Vietnam, Cuba, Laos, and North Korea emphasize inheriting revolutionary traditions, adhering to and innovating revolutionary theory, and advancing the socialist cause. The 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) emphasized unswervingly applying and developing Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought, and adhering to the Party's path of renovation (Doi Moi). The Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) clearly states in its Party Constitution the need to inherit the radical revolutionary thought of the revolutionary leader José Martí, maintain the traditions of Raúl Castro and Fidel Castro in leading Cuba's struggle for national and social liberation, and achieve integration with the basic principles of Marxism-Leninism. The Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP), at its 11th National Congress, emphasized enriching and developing Kaysone Phomvihane Thought in combination with Lao reality and strengthening the Party's ideological and theoretical work. The 8th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) emphasized the "people-centered principle" (inmin-daejung-jeil-juui) and clarified that "Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism" is "an encyclopedia of revolution and construction based on and comprehensively systematized by the Juche idea, a revolutionary ideology whose truth and vitality have been scientifically verified in the practical struggle to realize the independence of the popular masses." It is the "eternal guiding ideology" of the WPK, and the Party's supreme program was announced as "transforming the whole of society according to Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism."
Communist Parties in other countries also place great emphasis on theoretical innovation in their direct confrontation with capitalism, proposing programs with distinct characteristics of the times and their own nations. First is the development and proposal of specific socialist and communist theoretical systems. In recent years, the French Communist Party (PCF) has focused on the "greening" of its own theories and agendas, proposing the theory of "eco-communism." In May 2018, the PCF held its first Communist Ecology Congress, where then-General Secretary Pierre Laurent clearly stated that "communism must be ecological." The PCF believes that in Europe and the world, the class issue is the root of the spread of inequality, and the deepening of this situation is always accompanied by environmental and ecological inequality. Therefore, social inequality and ecological inequality are intertwined; ecology is both the core of the class issue and the core of the communist struggle. In its new plan "Let's Build France Together" published in 2020, the PCF explicitly puts people and the planet first, injecting new content into "eco-communism" through the public health system, national education, basic living guarantees, maintaining employment, and transforming modes of production and life, striving to achieve social and ecological transition. Second, although some have not proposed a systematic new theory of socialism, they have added new temporal elements to Party theory. For example, the Communist Refoundation Party (PRC) in Italy and the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) have both absorbed eco-socialist concepts, highlighting "green" elements more prominently in their theoretical propositions. The Communist Party USA (CPUSA) proposed the "3P" principle (People and Planet Before Profits). The 21st Congress of the Communist Party of Spain (PCE) emphasized democracy and solidarity, determining that the strategic focus for the next four years would be to place labor, feminism, and environmentalism at the center, using "solidarity" as the basis for policy formulation. Domestically, they emphasize establishing a front of left-wing forces and promoting municipalism; internationally, they seek the broadest anti-imperialist alliance to promote the construction of a new multilateral order. Third is planning specific revolutionary paths within parliamentary politics. The Communist Party of Britain (CPB) updated its program "The British Road to Socialism" in 2020, proposing a "Left Wing Programme" (LWP) to implement an "Alternative Economic and Political Strategy" (AEPS) through a "three-step" action plan: the first step is to establish a mass democratic anti-monopoly alliance led by the labor movement to win broad support from the working class and the masses; the second step is to form a Left government based on achieving a parliamentary majority for the Labour Party, socialists, communists, and progressive forces; the third step is for the Left government to win support from an even broader mass movement, mobilizing the public to implement the advanced policies in the Left program, and thereby establish a socialist society.
(2) Orderly advancing socialist reforms and carrying out various forms of socialist movements.
Practice is the source of theory. Ruling parties in socialist countries explore socialist development paths suited to their national conditions through a continuous process of reform, trial and error, and summarizing experience; Communist Parties in other countries carry out various forms of socialist movements to strengthen revolutionary forces and expand their space for survival.
In recent years, the CPV has focused on developing and refining the socialist-oriented market economy system, emphasizing agricultural and rural modernization, state-owned enterprise reform, the development of the tertiary sector, and expanding opening-up. Regarding political structural renovation, it takes the development and refinement of a socialist rule-of-law state as the core task, emphasizing the reform of the legal, administrative, and judicial systems. The LPRP adheres to building a socialist-oriented market economy, focusing on solving problems of rural economic and social development and poverty. It formulated and implemented the 8th Five-Year National Development Plan, achieving rapid economic development. The LPRP has enhanced Party leadership by strengthening ideological and political education for members, emphasizing the building of the cadre contingent, improving Party conduct, punishing corruption, and strengthening primary-level organizations, providing a strong guarantee for the cause of socialist-oriented renovation. The PCC adheres to the idea of "updating" (actualización) the economic model, focusing on developing a multi-ownership economy, adjusting the relationship between the plan and the market, and promoting administrative reform and distribution system adjustments to maximize market vitality, solve national development difficulties, and break through the constraints imposed by US-led imperialism. In recent years, by implementing national economic development plans, the WPK has adhered to the strategic line of "concentrating all efforts on socialist economic construction," achieving certain economic results during the strategic shift from the "simultaneous development of nuclear forces and the economy" (Byungjin) to "economy-first politics."
Communist parties in other countries are actively launching various forms of socialist movements to expand their developmental space, manifested primarily in four areas: First, holding commemorative activities on major anniversaries to reflect on historical experiences and lessons. On one hand, Communist parties globally have utilized significant historical junctures—such as the 100th anniversary of the October Revolution, the 100th anniversary of the Communist International, and the 150th anniversary of the Paris Commune, as well as the bicentenaries of Marx and Engels and the 150th anniversary of Lenin—to organize party meetings and theoretical seminars. These events summarize the experiences of the revolutionary journey, emphasize the theoretical guidance of revolutionary leaders, and fortify revolutionary confidence in the future. On the other hand, the Communist Party USA, the Communist Party of Belgium, the French Communist Party, the Communist Party of Turkey, and the South African Communist Party integrated their centennial founding anniversaries into their schedules to hold major conferences, review party history, summarize the experience of struggle, emphasize fine traditions, and define the party’s historical tasks for the present and future. Second, convening new party congresses to analyze the world situation, strengthen party building, and deploy future work. Several Communist parties have used their recent congresses to provide profound analyses of current domestic and international conditions, specifically identifying the imperialist nature of capitalist countries and the global crises they cause, while reaffirming their commitment to socialist and communist ideals. Examples include the 23rd Congress of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the 21st Congress of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), and the 7th Congress of the New Communist Party of the Netherlands. Other congresses focused on resolving major practical problems facing the party and adjusting theory and policy, such as the 12th Congress of the Progressive Party of Working People in Cyprus (AKEL), the 38th Congress of the Communist Party of Sweden, and the 15th Congress of the Communist Party of Brazil. Third, participating in parliamentary politics to seek opportunities for political participation or governance. In recent years, Communist parties in many countries have actively engaged in parliamentary elections, hoping to secure more seats and gain opportunities to participate in or lead governments. The Communist Party of the Russian Federation, as the second-largest party in the State Duma, received 18.95% of the vote in the 2021 Duma elections, securing 57 seats—an increase of 15 over the previous term. In the 2019 European Parliament elections, the Workers' Party of Belgium, the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia, the Communist Party of Denmark, AKEL, the KKE, and the Communist Party of Spain all made gains. As the largest Communist organization on the African continent, the South African Communist Party has, since the first general election following the end of apartheid in 1994, remained part of a Tripartite Alliance with the African National Congress (ANC) and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), serving as one of the ruling parties of South Africa. Fourth, continuing to participate in and support mass social movements. The deepening crisis of capitalism has further intensified social contradictions, leading to waves of mass resistance in which Communist parties have provided leadership and participation. On October 18, 2022, the Workers World Party and the United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC) in the United States co-sponsored the protest "Back to the Streets! Say No to US Wars!" in cities like New York, Philadelphia, and Portland, condemning imperialist wars provoked worldwide and calling for unity in the anti-war movement.
(3) Internationalism Leading New International Alliances as a Highlight Engels pointed out: "Since the condition of the workers of all countries is the same, since their interests are the same, their enemies the same, they must also fight together, they must oppose the fraternity of the bourgeoisie of all nations with a fraternity of the workers of all nations." Adhering to proletarian internationalism and carrying out the international alliance of the proletariat is a fundamental principle for a proletarian party to persist in the struggle against capitalism, seize power, and ultimately realize communism. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, through more than 30 years of persistence and exploration, foreign Communist parties have carried out new forms of international alliance under the new international situation. This new posture of united struggle has become a highlight of the current international communist and world socialist movements, primarily forming four types of alliance mechanisms.
First is the organizational and networked alliance mechanism. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the dramatic changes in Eastern Europe [5], many new international or regional proletarian conferences and organizations emerged. These include the International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties (IMCWP, with 119 member parties), the International Coordination of Revolutionary Parties and Organizations (ICOR, with 62 member parties and organizations), and the Initiative of Communist and Workers' Parties (INITIATIVE, with 31 member parties). These have become the new institutional bodies for the international alliance of proletarian parties. The Communist parties belonging to these organizations explore actions at national, regional, and global levels; furthermore, a party may simultaneously belong to multiple conferences or organizations, creating an interlocking network of international alliances in terms of both geography and membership.
Second is the pluralistic and egalitarian inclusion mechanism. This is reflected in the diversity of the participating subjects, which include not only Communist parties that believe in scientific socialism but also other strands of Communist and Workers' parties, and even organizations that include Democratic parties adhering to other socialist traditions. Regardless of their size, these parties are equal in status, avoiding the "large-party chauvinism" [6] that characterized the period when the Soviet Union dominated international alliances.
Third is the issue-oriented and democratic consultation mechanism. Communist parties utilize these alliance platforms to convene important meetings, usually combining pressing global issues with the advancement of the international communist movement as conference themes. Participants can engage in full discussion and exchange to form, to the greatest extent possible, collective resolutions that are unanimously agreed upon and accepted, expressing the collective attitude of Communists. For example, the theme of the 22nd IMCWP held in Havana, Cuba, in 2022 was "Solidarity with Cuba and all struggling peoples. United in the anti-imperialist struggle, we are stronger with social and popular movements in the face of capitalism and its policies, the threat of fascism and war; defending peace, the environment, workers' rights, solidarity, and socialism." The participating parties formed a unified action plan and issued collective resolutions and statements in solidarity with Cuba.
Fourth is the diversified and coordinated activity mechanism. This is mainly manifested when Communist parties utilize alliance platforms to issue joint statements on current global issues, important historical milestones, or in support of the struggles of fraternal parties and oppressed regions and peoples. For instance, on the 150th anniversary of Lenin's birth (2020), 93 Communist parties and leftist organizations, led by the KKE, co-signed a joint statement titled "We pay tribute to the great revolutionary leader Lenin, we are committed to inheriting and developing his cause!" Furthermore, different alliance organizations and Communist parties demonstrate coordination and consistency in time and space when issuing statements or directly participating in social movements. For example, regarding anti-imperialist struggles in Cuba, Venezuela, and Sudan; situations in Iran and Afghanistan; and "Black Lives Matter" anti-racism protests in the U.S., many Communist parties have used various platforms to issue statements and organize solidarity activities simultaneously around the world.
(4) World Socialism Is in a Critical Period of Slow Revival The outbreak of the 2008 international financial crisis triggered a general crisis of the capitalist world. Less than 20 years after the dramatic changes in Eastern Europe, the "End of History" turned into the "institutional decay" of capitalism; after its "storm and stress" [7], capitalism has begun to show fatigue. During the period of deep economic globalization following the 2008 crisis, "anti-globalization" sentiments emerged in Western capitalist countries, indicating a significant decline in the developed capitalist world's ability to control and steer the globe. Health crises in capitalist countries further triggered a series of even more severe political, economic, social, and moral crises, leading to waves of anti-capitalist mass movements. Western hegemonic powers, led by the United States, have provoked wars in the outside world in an attempt to divert internal crises, thereby exacerbating global instability. Conversely, socialist countries—especially China—have held the banner of socialism high, continuously deepened reform, and achieved a series of historic accomplishments. The Communist Party of China insists on "standing on the right side of history and the side of human progress," proposing the building of a community with a shared future for humanity, promoting the shared values of all humanity, the Global Development Initiative, and the Global Security Initiative, thereby becoming an important force in promoting historical development and the progress of the times. In the contest between socialism and capitalism, Communists' confidence in socialism has become more resolute. Thus, since the 2008 financial crisis, the world situation has generally begun to shift in a direction favorable to socialism. The current global crisis and the concurrent general crisis in the capitalist world objectively present a more favorable practical opportunity. From a global perspective, socialism is currently in a critical period of struggle for revival. This critical period lies in whether Communists of all countries can "nurture new opportunities in the midst of crisis and open new horizons in the midst of change" [8], and how to facilitate a revolutionary transition of "socialism rising and capitalism declining" within the political shift of the "East rising and the West declining."
Xi Jinping pointed out: "Marxism is a theory that is constantly developing and open; only through localization can it take root, and only through adaptation to the times can it be full of vitality. Under the arduous exploration and joint efforts of Marxist parties in various countries, 21st-century Marxism has continuously opened new frontiers, presented new faces, and increasingly radiated new vitality." We must soberly realize that some foreign Communist parties still hesitate on the issues of localization and modernization (adaptation to the times). They one-sidedly emphasize proletarian internationalism while ignoring or even maliciously attacking the explorations of other Communists in modernization, localization, and nationalization. For example, at the 15th IMCWP, the KKE and others emphasized: "History proves that falling into the trap of 'various national models' and 'various roads to socialism' easily leads to errors and dangers, which will 'cancel revolutionary strategy in the name of different national conditions, replace the socialist struggle with reliance on governments, and formulate policies consistent with the bourgeoisie.'" In its 2021 manifesto, the Communist Party of the Workers of Spain stated clearly: "The Party is committed to organizing a new united revolutionary center, a new Communist International." These views remain an over-insistence on proletarian internationalism and an erroneous critique of the path of nationalization, and they have been refuted by the majority of Communist parties. For instance, the Communist Party of the Russian Federation believes that while guided by the principles of internationalism, one must fully consider national characteristics and coordinate the relationship between internationalism and nationalism, arguing that every nation and country should consider its own characteristics and historical experience to explore specific development models. The Communist Party of Canada believes that while strengthening international solidarity, one must respect the national and cultural diversity of the entire working class. The Communist Party of Brazil also argues that the building of socialism must follow the historical, economic, social, cultural, and national characteristics of each country; without drawing achievements and experience from national history, socialism will not achieve victory.
It is evident that there are differences among foreign Communist parties regarding the relationship between nationalism and internationalism. This is essentially a divergence over the strategy for carrying out the international communist movement under current conditions. Improper understanding and handling of this will be detrimental to the unity of the international communist movement and will have a negative impact on the revival of world socialism.
Foreign communist parties are the primary subjects advancing the cause of the international communist and world socialist movements. Researching how foreign communist parties historically position the current stage of world socialist development, and examining their various actions and new developmental trends, is a practical requirement for gaining a more comprehensive understanding of the actual conditions of the international communist and world socialist movements globally. Furthermore, it allows for a more objective understanding and judgment regarding the major historical and epochal question of the "status of socialist development." Judging from the differing historical positionings of world socialism by foreign communist parties, the realistic challenges currently facing the international communist and world socialist movements remain grave; in certain aspects, such as ideological conflict and the awakening of the masses’ revolutionary and subjective consciousness, the tasks are even more arduous. However, what is gratifying and encouraging is that the world’s communist parties hold a unified judgment regarding the historical orientation of the current era—viewing it as a transitional epoch from capitalism to socialism—and possess a relatively comprehensive perception of the urgent struggle tasks facing the current international communist and world socialist movements. It is precisely based on these premises that foreign communist parties have carried out a series of beneficial explorations in both theory and practice to deepen the development of the current movements, thereby enriching the experience of struggle.
Socialist China has now increasingly become the new hope recognized by the majority of foreign communist parties for the rejuvenation of the international communist and world socialist movements. Meanwhile, China is proving through the fact of its increasing proximity to the center of the world stage that "socialism with Chinese characteristics is becoming the banner of the development of scientific socialism in the 21st century and the mainstay [9] of the revitalization of world socialism." At present, through the great changes of the first decade of the New Era, socialism with Chinese characteristics has achieved the First Centenary Goal and embarked on the new journey toward the Second Centenary Goal [10]. The 20th National Congress of the CPC held high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics and made specific plans for the mission and tasks of the Communist Party of China on its new journey in the New Era. This means that China has sufficient confidence and capability to make even greater contributions to the development of world socialism.
(Institutional affiliation: Research Center for Foreign Marxist Parties, Central China Normal University) Online Editor: Zhang Jian Source: Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping Theory Studies, No. 3, 2023.