Address at the "China Social Sciences Forum (2013 · International Marxism) — Socialism and the Contemporary World & the 2nd Annual Editorial Board Meeting of International Critical Thought" on November 16, 2013
Address at the "China Social Science Forum (2013 · International Marxism) – Socialism and the Contemporary World & the 2nd Editorial Board Meeting of the Journal International Critical Thought," November 16, 2013.
Deng Chundun, Director and Party Column Secretary of the Institute of Marxism Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS).
Respected Vice President Li Jie, distinguished scholars, and guests:
The international academic symposium "Socialism and the Contemporary World & the 2nd Editorial Board Meeting of the Journal International Critical Thought," organized by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and hosted by the CASS Division of Marxist Studies and the Institute of Marxism Studies, convenes here today. On behalf of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, I would like to extend a warm welcome and heartfelt thanks to everyone for your attendance!
This conference brings together many influential and well-known scholars from various disciplines across the globe to focus on the theme of "Socialism and the Contemporary World." Together, we will explore the development of 21st-century Marxism and the new situation of socialism, elucidating advanced ideas in economy, politics, society, culture, ecology, and international relations. This is of great necessity against the backdrop of the contemporary global financial crisis.
Marxism has revealed the general laws of human social development. In a contemporary context characterized by many new features, it is an important responsibility of Marxist theoretical scholars to advance the study of the basic principles of Marxism and to earnestly research Marxist thought regarding the economy, politics, society, culture, ecology, and international relations, as well as its contemporary value.
Marxism is a theory that advances with the times. It has fully absorbed the outstanding achievements of human civilization while continuously acquiring new vitality alongside the development of that civilization. It always maintains a focus on the development of practice and the characteristics of the era, offering its own analysis and explanation of contemporary human existence and economic and social life. As is well known, the capitalist crisis that broke out in 2007 has yet to be overcome. How to re-understand the Marxist theory of economic crisis under new historical conditions—using a developing Marxism to gain a profound understanding of the current state and essence of the capitalist crisis, the changes within capitalism in the context of the financial crisis, and exploring the trends of capitalist development—is a task that contemporary Marxist scholars should perform well. Re-evaluating contemporary capitalism, researching the prospects for socialist development, and promoting the modernization of Marxism to the era are essential. Many of the scholars' papers at this conference will touch upon these issues, fully reflecting the theoretical consciousness [1] of contemporary Marxist researchers.
Marxism is a highly practical theory; it can only exert its power of truth and achieve its goal of transforming the world when integrated with the specific practices of various countries. The process of the Sinicization of Marxism is the process by which Chinese Marxists integrate the basic principles of Marxism with China’s specific reality. Through this integration, Chinese Communists achieved two historic leaps in the Sinicization of Marxism, establishing two major theoretical achievements: Mao Zedong Thought and the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Marxists outside of China have also conducted their own active explorations into the localization [2] of Marxism. At this conference, several scholars will discuss the experiences and problems of the localization of Marxism and explore various frontier issues in global Marxist research today. We believe these discussions will provide positive inspiration to all participants.
Over the past decades, the Communist Party of China has led the Chinese people in making great strides along the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, achieving accomplishments that have attracted worldwide attention. Socialism with Chinese characteristics is, in its essence, scientific socialism; it fully embodies the basic principles of scientific socialism while possessing strong Chinese characteristics. It belongs both to China and to the world. Earnestly studying the basic theory, basic line, basic program, basic experience, and basic requirements of socialism with Chinese characteristics is an important task for contemporary Chinese Marxists and is also an academic focal point of great interest to Marxists in various countries. There are diverse understandings and critiques of socialism with Chinese characteristics internationally. To this end, our conference has specifically established a session to exchange research results and insights regarding foreign perspectives on socialism with Chinese characteristics.
The development of Marxism requires the joint efforts of Marxists from all nations to form a collective wisdom and theoretical synergy. Based on this understanding, the CASS Division of Marxist Studies and the Institute of Marxism Studies founded the international English quarterly journal International Critical Thought (ICT). ICT was officially published and distributed globally by Routledge (Taylor & Francis Group) in March 2011. In the two and a half years since its founding, it has provided an important platform for dialogue within Marxist and left-wing intellectual circles, as well as between left-wing scholarship and other schools of thought. Its academic caliber and international influence continue to rise. During this conference, we will also hold the second editorial board meeting. We hope to take the opportunity of this symposium and board meeting to listen to the latest research results of various scholars and their valuable suggestions for running International Critical Thought effectively, with the aim of enabling this important global platform for left-wing academic thought to play an even better role.
Distinguished experts and scholars: the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee concluded just a few days ago. This plenary session reviewed and approved—and released in full last night—the Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Several Major Issues Concerning Comprehensively Deepening Reform. It makes overall arrangements for our country to comprehensively deepen reform from a new historical starting point and is a programmatic document for China’s comprehensive deepening of reform in the new period. It provides top-level design [3] and planning for the improvement of the systems and mechanisms of socialism with Chinese characteristics in all aspects, for the construction of a robust and mature national discourse system, and for ensuring the continuous and healthy development of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Moving forward, the whole Party and the people of all ethnic groups throughout the country will earnestly study and implement the spirit of the Plenum [4], rallying closely around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as General Secretary. We will forge ahead with determination, overcome difficulties, and write a new historical chapter for the great cause of reform and opening up, striving to finish building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, to continuously win new victories for socialism with Chinese characteristics, and to realize the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation! At such a historical moment, scholars from all over the world gathered together to discuss Marxism, socialism, and the contemporary world will surely produce significant theoretical value and positive practical significance.
For these reasons, as the host of the conference, we sincerely wish the conference complete success! At the same time, I wish all experts and scholars health and happiness during your stay in Beijing.
Thank you!