Wu Haijiang: On the New Form of Scientific Socialism in the 21st Century
The development of human civilization has always been accompanied by the quest for a more rational social form. Since its birth in the mid-19th century, the theoretical forms and practical paths of scientific socialism have continuously evolved amidst the historical torrents of nearly two centuries, profoundly responding to the major questions posed by each era. Entering the 21st century, the global landscape has undergone profound transformations, and global development faces unprecedented opportunities and challenges. The internal contradictions of the capitalist system have become prominent in new forms, and the flaws of the Western modernization model have become increasingly apparent, calling for new developmental concepts and practical solutions. At the same time, China, as the world's largest socialist country, has demonstrated a unique path and powerful vitality in the magnificent process of Chinese-path modernization, injecting new substance and vigor into the contemporary development of scientific socialism. This new form of scientific socialism opened up by Chinese-path modernization possesses unique historical significance because it is based on the great construction achievements of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics developed thus far, aims to transcend contemporary capitalism, and faces the next stage of future socialism. Understanding the theoretical value contained within this great practice, examining its historical position in the genealogy of scientific socialism's development, and thereby exploring the construction of a brand-new theoretical narrative compatible with it, has become a research topic of great theoretical significance and epochal value.
I. Marxism as a Historical Science and the Historical Unfolding of Socialism
Understanding the new form of scientific socialism in the 21st century requires placing it within the historical context of Marxist theory and the development of socialist practice under its guidance. Marxism, as a historical science, "is a historical product, which at different times assumes very different forms, and, therewith, very different contents." Looking back at the nearly 200-year history of Marxist development, we can clearly see the historical characteristics of its theoretical evolution and practical unfolding, as well as the corresponding realistic forms that scientific socialism has assumed under different historical conditions. Together, they constitute a continuous spectrum of deepening understanding and practical innovation regarding the cause of human liberation. In this historical process, scientific socialism began with classical theoretical conceptions, proceeded through creative practices in backward Eastern countries, and finally manifested a powerful vitality and brand-new appearance in the great transformations of contemporary China.
1. Marxism is a "Historical Science"
Marx and Engels pointed out in The German Ideology: "We know only a single science, the science of history." Here, "historical science" refers both to the holistic grasp of history starting from human practice and to the historical grasp of the practice of "real individuals"—that is, social reality. After the Industrial Revolution, the greatest reality facing humanity was the reality of capitalism and the socialist reality that grew alongside it, carrying the significance of negating and transcending capitalism. "When serfdom was overthrown and 'free' capitalist society appeared in the world, it at once became apparent that this freedom meant a new system of oppression and exploitation of the working people. Various socialist doctrines immediately emerged as a reflection of and protest against this oppression." Marx and Engels took the 19th-century typical sample of world capitalism—the Western European sample—as their object of study. Inheriting the rational elements of utopian socialism, they profoundly analyzed and criticized the economic system then characterized by industrial capitalism and the political system characterized by the nation-state and liberal constitutionalism, revealing for the first time the essential logic of capitalist social operation. Under capitalist conditions, the "use-value of labor-power possesses the peculiar property of being a source of value," while the capitalist appropriates the surplus labor of workers without compensation, extending the "silent compulsion of economic relations [which] sets the seal on the domination of the capitalist over the worker" into control over the entire social and political structure. It was precisely through a thorough analysis of the internal contradictions of capitalist relations of production that Marx and Engels proved the historical transience of the capitalist system and scientifically predicted the historical inevitability of socialist society replacing capitalist society. Marxism, founded by Marx and Engels, proved that the victory of socialism "should not be invented out of the head, but discovered through the head in the ready-made material facts of production," thereby pointing out the road to freedom and liberation for the proletariat and all humanity, achieving the great leap of socialism from utopia to science.
Entering the 20th century, the political map of the world underwent fundamental changes, and capitalism exhibited the political and economic characteristics of imperialism. In this context, countries with relatively backward economies and cultures outside the major capitalist nations—first Russia, and then a series of Eastern countries including China—became the centers of world revolution. Proletarian parties and Marxists in this historical stage faced new historical tasks that Marx and Engels had not foreseen: In a social environment with a generally insufficient material base, low levels of modernization, complex class structures, and a large residue of pre-capitalist factors, and in the face of imperialist encirclement and blockades, how could scientific socialism truly take root? Confronting these tasks of the era, Lenin creatively developed the Marxist doctrines of proletarian revolution and the dictatorship of the proletariat, profoundly elucidated the law of uneven economic and political development in the era of imperialism, led the Russian Revolution to success, established the world's first socialist state, and initially explored the path of construction under capitalist encirclement. "The salvos of the October Revolution brought us Marxism-Leninism." [1] Chinese Communists, with Comrade Mao Zedong as their chief representative, integrated the basic principles of Marxism-Leninism with China's concrete realities, successfully explored a path of New Democratic Revolution with Chinese characteristics, won the victory of the Chinese Revolution, established the socialist system, and conducted arduous explorations into a path of socialist construction suited to China's national conditions. Chinese Communists, with Comrade Deng Xiaoping as their chief representative, based themselves on the new characteristics of the era and the reality of China's primary stage of socialism, scientifically answered the fundamental question of "what is socialism and how to build it," initiated the great historical process of reform and opening up, and created the path of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics. Under the guidance of Marxism—founded by Marx and Engels and continuously developed by their successors—"socialism turned from theory into reality, breaking the global pattern of capitalist dominance. After the end of World War II, a large number of socialist countries were born, and the founding of the People's Republic of China, in particular, greatly strengthened the forces of world socialism." This provided a powerful ideological weapon and guide for action for the struggles of oppressed nations worldwide against imperialism and feudalism in their pursuit of national independence, and offered important practical experience and alternative solutions for the vast number of developing countries exploring paths to modernization.
As human society enters the 21st century, what contemporary Marxism faces is an era characterized by the historical convergence of the accelerating "changes unseen in a century" [2] and the comprehensive unfolding of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. "A new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation is reconstructing the global innovation map and reshaping the global economic structure." Meanwhile, "unilateralism and protectionism are clearly on the rise, world economic recovery is sluggish, local conflicts and turbulence occur frequently, global problems are intensifying, and the world has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation." The internal contradictions of the capitalist system have manifested as "Western chaos" [3] in forms such as financial crises, social fractures, and governance dilemmas. Concurrently, China has become the most important socialist country in the world, and the development of socialism is inevitably and closely integrated with China's specific development. After long-term struggle, and especially since the rapid development following reform and opening up, China has embarked on a new journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist country. Therefore, regarding the historical mission and research object of 21st-century Marxism, the core lies in "answering the questions of China, the world, the people, and the times," and scientifically resolving fundamental questions concerning the future of China and human society—namely, how socialism can achieve the historical goal of transcending capitalism within a complex and uncertain global landscape. Specifically, it needs to profoundly elucidate, through the combination of theory and practice, how to adhere to and develop Socialism with Chinese Characteristics under contemporary conditions where the material base, cultural background, developmental momentum, and external environment have all undergone major changes. It must advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through Chinese-path modernization and, in this great process, explore the realistic paths, institutional advantages, and civilizational values of socialism's transcendence over capitalism. This will provide Chinese wisdom and Chinese solutions for solving the common problems facing humanity, thereby truly demonstrating the powerful vitality and vigorous life of scientific socialism in the 21st century.
2. Scientific Socialism is "By No Means an Unalterable Dogma"
A major difference between scientific socialism and utopian socialism lies in the fact that the former is not an unalterable dogma, but views socialism as a process of practice that is constantly being perfected and developed. In its developmental course, scientific socialism has presented significantly different forms based on different historical conditions and practical backgrounds. The Paris Commune revolution of 1871 was the first great attempt by the proletariat to establish political power. The practice of the Commune proved that the proletariat could overthrow the rule of the bourgeoisie and establish its own power through revolutionary means. However, viewed historically, scientific socialism as it originated in developed capitalist societies did not actually unfold in reality; nevertheless, its core conceptions are crucial for our understanding of the original logic of scientific socialism. The initial conceptions of Marx and Engels were built on a profound analysis of the reality of developed Western European capitalist countries at the time. Their core points can be summarized in three aspects. First, socialism was envisioned as something that could only be gestated within the most mature capitalist "womb" of human society. Socialism "only becomes possible, only becomes a historical necessity, when the material conditions for its realization have already been prepared." Second, the development of capitalism itself contains factors that negate it; no matter how long it lasts, it is a specific stage in the long river of human historical development. When the "centralization of the means of production and socialization of labor at last reach a point where they become incompatible with their capitalist integument. This integument is burst asunder." Capitalist development inevitably moves toward its own internal negation and is replaced by a higher social form. Third, the starting point of socialism is directly connected to the end point of capitalism. Socialism does not intend to completely discard all the achievements of the capitalist era—especially the massive accumulation of material wealth and the forms of socialized large-scale production—but rather to "sublate" (扬弃) and transcend them on the basis of capitalist accumulation. "This negation does not re-establish private property, but it does indeed establish individual property on the basis of the achievements of the capitalist era: namely, on co-operation and the possession in common of the land and the means of production which are themselves produced by labor." The task of socialism lies in solving the profound social problems caused by the fundamental contradictions of capitalism, overcoming the fundamental conflict between the private ownership of the means of production and the socialization of production, along with the resulting series of social contradictions and class antagonisms. It aims to establish a new society based on public ownership of the means of production, practicing planned production, and ultimately achieving the free and comprehensive development of the individual. Scientific socialism resolved the fundamental and principled questions of "what is socialism and why it is inevitable," providing scientific worldview and methodological guidance for subsequent practice.
The actual course of 20th-century world history did not unfold along the path originally envisioned by the theoretical conceptions of scientific socialism. Socialism, as the self-negation and sublation of capitalism, was not born in the developed heartlands of capitalism, but appeared in countries and regions with relatively backward economies and cultures, particularly in the Eastern world represented by China. Lenin pointed out that "unven economic and political development is an absolute law of capitalism"; therefore, "the victory of socialism is possible first in several or even in a single capitalist country taken separately." The reality of socialism’s unfolding in the 20th century did not emerge and mature from within the internal capitalist economic and political system, but rather outside of it—especially within the vast imperialist colonies and semi-colonies. It did not first appear in regions with highly developed productive forces, but took root in territories where the degree of economic modernization was low, the industrial base was weak, and even large amounts of pre-capitalist elements remained. It was no longer centered on the traditional capitalist countries of Western Europe and North America, but grew in non-Western countries located at the periphery of the capitalist system. The socialist revolutions in countries including Russia and China were not class struggles based on the industrial proletariat within developed capitalist nations, but were "revolutions led by the proletariat, of the masses of the people, against imperialism, feudalism, and bureaucrat-capitalism [4]." The practical modality of 20th-century scientific socialism profoundly changed the connotation of socialism, its specific modes of unfolding, and its inherent logic of development. It had to face and solve unique problems never before anticipated in the history of socialism—such as how to achieve rapid modernization in a backward country, how to establish and consolidate the foundations of a socialist system, and how to handle relations with a powerful world capitalist system—thereby causing socialist practice to present a series of new characteristics. In this sense, 20th-century scientific socialism in practice constituted a significant departure from 19th-century socialist practices, such as the Paris Commune, forming a new practical modality external to the developed capitalist matrix.
With the entry of socialism with Chinese characteristics into the New Era, the world landscape and China itself have undergone profound changes. Against the backdrop of the deepening advancement of the great practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics, a more constructive and developmental new modality of scientific socialism, initiated by Chinese-path modernization, is emerging and becoming increasingly clear. "The great social transformation of contemporary China is not a simple continuation of the master script of our country’s history and culture, not a simple application of the template envisioned by classical Marxist writers, not a reprint of other countries' socialist practices, and not a carbon copy of foreign modernization development [5]." Its core characteristic lies in both being external to the capitalist system and demonstrating the consciousness and capacity to actively transcend capitalism and shape its own path of development. Although the universal challenges faced by late-developing modernized nations still exist, and some regularized difficulties [6] in building socialism in backward countries have not completely disappeared, the continuous development of China's socialist construction—based on the sustained elevation of productive forces, the strengthening of technological innovation capabilities, the significant enhancement of comprehensive national strength, and all-around progress in various social fields—is systematically demonstrating the potential advantages of the socialist system over the capitalist system in the real world through its identity as a "socialist modernized country." This "means that scientific socialism has radiated powerful vitality in 21st-century China, and the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics is being held high in the world." Socialism exists not only as an ideal but is also capable of providing a social development model with practical superiority and a future-oriented outlook on a practical level. The new modality of 21st-century scientific socialism represents a new stage entered by the socialist movement after long exploration, characterized by an emphasis on socialism's own constructiveness, growth potential, and its enormous capacity and potential in solving the common development problems of humanity.
II. Chinese-path Modernization Initiates a New Modality of Scientific Socialism
As the latest major achievement of scientific socialism, Chinese-path modernization has initiated a new form of human civilization—namely, socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era. Chinese-path modernization has successfully created a new modality of the scientific socialist path, as well as new modalities of scientific socialist theory, systems, and culture. The assertion that Chinese-path modernization initiates a new modality of scientific socialism is not a mere declaration but a judgment based on profound realistic foundations.
1. Chinese-path modernization has solved major problems of scientific socialism
Since the October Revolution in Russia established the world’s first socialist country, the theory and practice of scientific socialism have faced a series of historical problems, such as how to position the relationship between socialism and capitalism, how to avoid the pitfalls of Western modernization, and how to consolidate the socialist system. The reason Chinese-path modernization can open a new modality of scientific socialism lies first in its creative resolution of several major problems that arose during the development of scientific socialism.
The first major problem is how the relationship between socialism and capitalism should be positioned in today's world landscape. In Soviet-style socialist practice, capitalism and socialism were always viewed as irreconcilable mortal enemies, requiring that socialism most resolutely break with the capitalist world and attempt to eliminate capitalism through direct confrontation. However, this either-or thinking model encountered serious practical challenges in the late 20th century due to the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the drastic changes in Eastern Europe. In contrast, as early as the 1990s, Deng Xiaoping proposed: "If socialism is to win the advantage over capitalism, it must boldly absorb and build upon all the achievements of civilization created by human society, and absorb and build upon all advanced forms of operation and management methods that reflect the laws of modern socialized production in all countries of the world today, including developed capitalist countries." Entering the New Era, with the major achievements made in the construction of socialism with Chinese characteristics, we can see that the new modality of scientific socialism has a complex relationship with capitalism—long-term coexistence, mutual competition, and mutual utilization, yet with essential differences from capitalism. On the one hand, China’s socialist system is open and inclusive; such socialism contains things that also exist in capitalist society, such as the market economy, stock exchanges, and labor-capital relations. On the other hand, socialism with Chinese characteristics highlights the importance of adhering to socialist goals. It is a socialism that is exogenous to capitalism, yet boldly utilizes everything that can be used from capitalism to gradually achieve a relative advantage over it. With the opening of the path of Chinese-path modernization, "the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics is becoming wider and wider, causing more people in the world to acknowledge and believe in Marxism and socialism, and causing a major shift in the historical evolution and contest between the two ideologies and two social systems worldwide in a direction favorable to Marxism and socialism."
The second major problem is how socialist modernization can effectively avoid the various maladies exposed during the process of capitalist modernization. Although capitalist modernization brought immense material wealth, it was accompanied by chronic ailments such as the polarization of wealth, severe ecological destruction, crises of materialistic spirit, external expansion and plunder, and serious internal social fractures. As the realization of socialist modernization inevitably became the goal of building scientific socialism in China, how to avoid these maladies became a problem that had to be solved on the road to building a new modality of scientific socialism. First, Chinese-path modernization is the modernization of a vast population. The massive scale of the population is not only a specific condition faced by Chinese-path modernization, but it also means that Chinese-path modernization is the modernization of the entire people. Second, Chinese-path modernization is the modernization of common prosperity for all, ensuring the sharing of development fruits through institutional arrangements, focusing on solving the income distribution gap, promoting common prosperity for all people, and resolutely preventing polarization. Third, Chinese-path modernization is the modernization of the coordination between material and spiritual civilizations, focusing on spiritual civilization and the well-rounded development of people while continuously developing the economy, thus transcending capitalist modernization which "sees things but not people" and prioritizes the material over the spiritual. Fourth, Chinese-path modernization is the modernization of harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature, emphasizing sustainable development and ecological civilization, no longer following the old path of "pollute first, treat later," and abandoning development models at the expense of the ecological environment. Fifth, Chinese-path modernization is the modernization of taking the path of peaceful development, adhering to a foreign policy of win-win cooperation, seeking its own development while resolutely safeguarding world peace and development, and better safeguarding world peace and development through its own development—fundamentally different from the old path of achieving modernization through expansion and plunder in capitalist history. "These unprecedented pioneering acts have solved many problems of human social development, abandoned the old Western path of capital-centered modernization, polarized modernization, materialistic-inflated modernization, and expansionist-plundering modernization, expanded the ways for developing countries to move toward modernization, and provided a Chinese solution for humanity's exploration of a better social system."
The third major problem is how to effectively deal with various risks and challenges on the road ahead and resolutely defend the socialist system. The cause of socialism cannot be plain sailing; the consolidation and development of the system face complex tests from both internal and external sources. The dissolution of the Soviet Union and the drastic changes in Eastern Europe in the second half of the 20th century highlighted the question of how to defend the socialist system. Ensuring the long-term stability and enduring vitality of socialist China is a fundamental issue concerning the future and destiny of the Party and the state. The key to solving this problem lies in adhering to the correct value stance and the methodology of national governance. First, adhering to a people-centered approach is the fundamental stance of building socialism. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "The country is its people; the people are the country. As the Communist Party of China has fought to establish and maintain its leadership of the country, it has in fact been fighting to earn and keep the people's support." All institutional designs, policy formulations, and measurements of development results are based on the fundamental standard of whether they enhance people's well-being, protect people's rights, and promote social fairness and justice, making the masses the subjects of development, participants in reform, and sharers of achievements. This is the source from which the socialist system wins the broadest support and obtains its deepest strength. Second, adhering to and strengthening the Party’s overall leadership is the most fundamental political guarantee for socialism. The Communist Party of China is the core of leadership for the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. "The most defining feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the leadership of the Communist Party of China; the greatest strength of the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the leadership of the Communist Party of China." Only by adhering to the Party's overall leadership can it be ensured that the country always advances in a socialist direction, effectively responds to major challenges, resists major risks, overcomes major obstacles, and resolves major contradictions. Third, reform and opening up is the only path to adhere to and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics and realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Reform and opening up is the crucial move that determines the fate of contemporary China, and it is also the crucial move for achieving the 'Two Centenary Goals' and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation." Only through continuously deepening reform, breaking down institutional barriers, releasing social creative vitality, and enhancing the adaptability and vitality of the system can the superiority of the socialist system be more fully realized, and can it be truly guaranteed that socialism does not change its nature or lose its color.
2. Chinese-path modernization responds to the new contemporary themes of scientific socialism
The reason scientific socialism can open a new modality is, more importantly, because it exists under brand-new historical conditions, such that it can constantly make transitions to adapt to these conditions. General Secretary Xi Jinping has accurately summarized the current historical orientation: "One is the strategic overall situation of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and the other is the world's great changes unseen in a century; these are the basic starting points for our planning." These two "overall situations" [7] do not exist in isolation but are constantly in a relationship of deep intertwining and mutual stimulation. On the one hand, the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, as the most critical "independent variable" affecting world development, its process profoundly influences the direction and trend of the world's great changes unseen in a century; on the other hand, the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is itself an important part of the world's great change and is a major "dependent variable" within it. At the same time, the accelerated evolution of the world's great changes unseen in a century directly and profoundly affects the historical process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, placing the entire world in a state of "uncertainty and instability." This contemporary characteristic defined by the intertwining of the "two overall situations" constitutes the brand-new historical context for the development of scientific socialism in the 21st century.
Within this specific historical context, China’s issues and global issues exhibit an unprecedentedly close correlation. Due to its massive scale and unique path of development, China’s internal issues possess world-historical significance, becoming key factors influencing the evolution of the global landscape. Simultaneously, global issues—such as the predicament of global governance, developmental imbalances, and security challenges—have been transformed into tasks that China must confront and resolve. It is precisely in the sense of this mutual transformation and interweaving of Chinese and global issues that "Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is contemporary Chinese Marxism and 21st-century Marxism." Under the guidance of "21st-century Marxism," China’s socialist construction, and especially its pioneering of the path of Chinese-path modernization, has created a new form of scientific socialism, embodying the principle that Marxism advances with the times and shares a common destiny with humanity.
At present, the epochal tasks faced by scientific socialism necessarily possess both a distinct Chinese dimension and a broad global dimension. From the Chinese dimension: entering the New Era, the Party Central Committee scientifically appraised the historical coordinates and the developmental situation, clearly noting that it must provide high-quality answers to the three major tasks of the "Questions of China": "What kind of socialism with Chinese characteristics should we uphold and develop in the New Era, and how should we uphold and develop it? What kind of great modern socialist country should we build, and how should we build it? What kind of long-term governing Marxist party should we build, and how should we build it?" These three major tasks focus profoundly on the fundamental issues of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the construction of a great modern socialist country, and the building of a Marxist governing party, embodying the bidirectional movement between the general principles of scientific socialism and the process of Chinese socialist modernization.
Simultaneously, we must better answer the "Questions of the People." The socialist movement is, in its essence, a cause for the liberation of all humanity. The new form of scientific socialism created by Chinese-path modernization consistently upholds the people-centered philosophy of development, taking the realization of the people’s aspirations for a better life as the starting point and goal of modernization. A series of pioneering theories and practices have systematically answered the fundamental questions of "for whom do we develop, upon whom do we rely for development, and by whom are the fruits of development shared?" On the level of practice, it has truly implemented the requirement that "the land is the people, and the people are the land" [8], manifesting the powerful truth-force of scientific socialism in the 21st century.
From the global dimension: scientific socialism must also attend to and resolve global tasks concerning the future of humanity—namely, the "Questions of the World" regarding "what is wrong with the world, and what should we do?" On this point, Chinese-path modernization profoundly grasps the epochal trend of the interweaving and interaction of the "Two Overalls" [9], systematically responding to the changes of the world, the changes of the times, and the changes of history. In the historical process of the long-term coexistence of socialism and capitalism, Chinese-path modernization demonstrates the institutional advantages of socialism with Chinese characteristics through its practical efficacy, profoundly revealing the internal contradictions and historical limitations of the capitalist system. It has "broken the myth that 'modernization equals Westernization' and presented a different picture of modernization." In short, Chinese-path modernization has always been committed to responding to and answering these major epochal tasks concerning China’s future and the future development of humanity; this is precisely why it has opened up a new form of scientific socialism.
3. Chinese-path modernization endows scientific socialism with new characteristics
Chinese-path modernization has not only resolved major difficulties and responded to epochal tasks, but has also infused scientific socialism with a series of distinctive new qualities through practical exploration. At the level of path innovation, Chinese-path modernization has, to an unprecedented degree, organically unified the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the realization of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and the upholding and development of socialism with Chinese characteristics into an indivisible whole. CPC leadership is the most defining feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the fundamental political guarantee for the great cause of national rejuvenation. Realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has been the greatest dream of the Chinese people since the beginning of modern times and is the goal of Chinese-path modernization. Upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics is the only correct path to realizing national rejuvenation. These three elements are interconnected and mutually reinforcing, constituting an internally unified logical whole. "The path of socialism with Chinese characteristics is a broad road [10] for contemporary China to catch up with the times in modern strides and lead the development of the era." The successful practice of this path proves that under the strong leadership of the Party, the cause of socialism and the great task of national rejuvenation can achieve a historic unity, injecting powerful confidence into the world socialist movement.
At the level of theoretical innovation, Chinese-path modernization has achieved an unprecedentedly deep integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with fine traditional Chinese culture. This integration is not a simple physical addition but a profound chemical reaction, endowing the Party's innovative theories with a distinct Chinese style and epochal character. The "First Integration" emphasizes that Marxism must be rooted in China's national conditions and specific practices, ensuring that the power of Marxist truth is verified in the concrete practice of solving Chinese problems, thereby ensuring the socialist cause always advances in the correct direction. The "Second Integration" breaks through traditional horizons by integrating the essence of Chinese civilization's wisdom into the Marxist theoretical system. This not only provides rich historical and cultural nourishment for the Party’s innovative theories, giving them a distinct Chinese style and Chinese ethos [11], but also activates the modern vitality of fine traditional Chinese culture. The organic unity of the two constructs the cultural form and theoretical foundation of Chinese-path modernization, manifesting the CPC's high degree of cultural self-awareness and theoretical self-confidence. The "Two Integrations" allow the truth-force of scientific socialism to gain new nourishment and forms of expression within the deep soil of Chinese civilization, greatly deepening our understanding of the laws governing the Communist Party's governance, the laws of socialist construction, and the laws of the development of human society, infusing scientific socialism with new epochal connotations and powerful vigor.
At the level of institutional innovation, Chinese-path modernization has successfully constructed a set of unique and effective socialist institutional systems. In the economic sphere, it has transcended the traditional binary opposition between the "free market" and "state planning," creatively establishing the socialist market economy system. The core of this system lies in upholding public ownership as the mainstay while allowing diverse forms of ownership to develop together, and upholding distribution according to work as the mainstay while allowing multiple modes of distribution to coexist. It gives full play to the decisive role of the market in resource allocation while better exerting the role of the government, effectively overcoming market failures, preventing the disorderly expansion of capital, and guiding the market to serve national development strategies and the people’s well-being. In the political sphere, it upholds the organic unity of Party leadership, the people’s position as masters of the country, and the law-based governance of the country. By developing whole-process people’s democracy, it has constructed a set of political institutional arrangements capable of ensuring long-term national stability, concentrating resources to accomplish major tasks, and effectively safeguarding the fundamental interests of the people. The system of socialism with Chinese characteristics "provides a powerful guarantee for liberating and developing the productive forces, liberating and enhancing social vitality, and ensuring the lasting vigor of the Party and the state; it provides a powerful guarantee for maintaining overall social stability, ensuring the people live and work in peace, and safeguarding national security; and it has established a vibrant institutional mechanism that allows all elements—labor, knowledge, technology, management, and capital—to burst forth with vitality, and all sources of social wealth to flow fully," thereby achieving a major institutional innovation in scientific socialism.
At the level of cultural innovation, Chinese-path modernization has created a "new cultural lifeform" through the "Second Integration." The "Second Integration" has activated the excellent genes of Chinese civilization, endowing it with new epochal vitality and consolidating cultural subjectivity, providing a solid cultural foundation and spiritual support for Chinese-path modernization. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that "the result of 'integration' is mutual fulfillment" and "the creation of an organically unified new cultural lifeform." This new cultural lifeform both adheres to the "soul-vein" [12] of Marxism and the "root-vein" [12] of fine traditional Chinese culture, while actively absorbing and drawing upon all beneficial achievements of human civilization. It exhibits the distinct characteristics of being open, inclusive, and upholding the fundamentals while breaking new ground. It is the concentrated expression in the cultural sphere of the new form of human civilization created by Chinese-path modernization, providing a cultural solution and value system embedded with Chinese wisdom for solving the common problems facing humanity. This has greatly enhanced the influence and appeal of Chinese civilization on the international stage and profoundly reflects the cultural characteristics of the new form of scientific socialism.
III. Constructing an Autonomous Knowledge System for 21st-Century Scientific Socialism
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "We must accelerate the construction of a Chinese discourse and Chinese narrative system, using Chinese theory to explain Chinese practice, and using Chinese practice to sublimate Chinese theory." According to the principles of general narratology and contemporary narratology, any construct that possesses the two elements of discourse expression (narration) and events can constitute a narrative. In terms of disciplinary development, narratology is a recent field; however, due to scientific socialism's self-defined mission of intervening in reality, reflection on narrative has permeated its development. Because of this, the narrative characteristics of scientific socialism coincide with the new findings of narratology. Narratology holds that the meaning of narrative lies not only in the form of the telling, but also in the fact that the value-identification brought by narrative can aggregate dispersed individual forces into an "incredible power" that influences social development. The "narrative" of scientific socialism refers to an intellectual practice that organizes experience, interprets reality, and constructs meaning through a specific discourse system. By setting core themes, logical frameworks, and value orientations, it ensures that theory possesses not only the cognitive function of explaining the world but also the normative function of mobilizing practice and shaping identity. In this sense, the narrative of scientific socialism possesses a dual significance: factual and normative. From the factual perspective, scientific socialism clarifies the inevitability of the outbreak of capitalist crises through an analysis of capitalist social forms: "Modern bourgeois society... a society that has conjured up such gigantic means of production and of exchange, is like the sorcerer, who is no longer able to control the powers of the nether world whom he has called up by his spells." From the normative perspective, scientific socialism does not understand history as a natural process devoid of subjects; rather, it profoundly elucidates the possibility of the proletariat, as the revolutionary subject, opening up the next stage of history. It advocates that the Communist Party should "form the proletariat into a class, overthrow the bourgeois supremacy, and effect the conquest of political power by the proletariat," ultimately establishing an "association of free individuals."
The era is the mother of thought. The entire new form of scientific socialism calls for a corresponding new narrative. The "factual-normative" narrative framework of scientific socialism constitutes the basic framework for the elaboration of its new narrative. However, "our position in discussing socialism today is not to simply return to Marx's original context and conditions to restate socialism, but to use the socialist position to ask how certain epochal changes in existing social existence can become conditions for social self-transformation." As previously stated, Chinese-path modernization has already exerted a fundamental influence on the world situation and the development of scientific socialism. Chinese-path modernization has become the primary "independent variable" in the world’s Great Changes Unseen in a Century [13]; the new form of scientific socialism opened up by Chinese-path modernization has become the newest main stem in the developmental lineage of scientific socialism. Therefore, the narrative development of scientific socialism needs to achieve a historic fusion with the self-narrative of Chinese-path modernization. The new narrative of scientific socialism needs to be concretized into the construction of China’s autonomous knowledge system for scientific socialism. In this sense, it is necessary to reflect on the various issues in advancing the construction of China’s autonomous knowledge system for scientific socialism—especially by conducting in-depth research into the specific context, specific methods, and main points of emphasis for constructing this system—to provide a better theoretical premise for the construction of China’s autonomous knowledge system.
1. The context for constructing China’s autonomous knowledge system for scientific socialism
In constructing China’s autonomous knowledge system for scientific socialism...
The 21st century possesses profound historical necessity and practical urgency. First, its necessity stems from the overall strategic requirement to construct the disciplinary, academic, and discourse systems of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: "The accelerated construction of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics, in the final analysis, is the construction of a Chinese independent knowledge system." As the core component of the Marxist theoretical system, the construction of an independent knowledge system for scientific socialism is the foundational link and key support point of this grand project. Without an independent knowledge system for the discipline of scientific socialism, the edifice of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics would find it difficult to stand firm. Second, the internal laws of disciplinary development also impose urgent requirements. In recent years, important first-level disciplines [14] in the domestic fields of philosophy and social sciences—such as economics, political science, law, and sociology—have taken the lead in exploring and constructing their own independent knowledge systems. This trend of advancing from individual points to the whole ensures that the research and construction of an independent knowledge system for scientific socialism, as a major pillar of Marxist theory, appears particularly necessary and urgent. Only by establishing original concepts, categories, theories, and discourse systems for scientific socialism that are rooted in Chinese practice can we more effectively explicate the Chinese path, interpret Chinese practice, and disseminate Chinese experience, thereby breaking free from excessive dependence on Western academic paradigms and firmly grasping the right to speak and the power of initiative in the ideological sphere.
The construction of a Chinese independent knowledge system for scientific socialism is not only necessary but also possesses an unprecedentedly solid foundation and mature conditions in contemporary China. On one hand, since its founding over 170 years ago, scientific socialism has undergone a process of exploration from theory to practice and from one country to many, accumulating extremely precious theoretical achievements and practical experiences, which provide deep academic resources for knowledge innovation. On the other hand—and more fundamentally—is the brand-new situation created by socialism with Chinese characteristics entering the New Era. The great achievements of the New Era eloquently prove the significant advantages of the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics. China has successfully forged a new path to modernization that differs from the Western model. This practical innovation, the most grand and unique in human history, provides an inexhaustible source and powerful momentum for theoretical creation. One could say that a new form of scientific socialism, successfully rooted in Chinese soil and demonstrating strong vitality, has formed and is increasingly maturing. This vivid and successful practice of socialism provides the most solid and richest realistic basis and theoretical growth points for us to construct a Chinese independent knowledge system of scientific socialism with Chinese characteristics, Chinese style, and Chinese ethos. This gives us full confidence and ability to fulfill the mission of theoretical construction bestowed by the times.
2. Basic Methods for Constructing a Chinese Independent Knowledge System of Scientific Socialism
In constructing a Chinese independent knowledge system of scientific socialism, we must adhere to and apply scientific methodological principles. This construction process is not a simple theoretical transplantation or discourse conversion; rather, it requires following the basic methods of unifying critique and construction, upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground, and balancing subjectivity with openness. These methods embody the Marxist standpoint, viewpoint, and method, and serve as important guidelines for promoting theoretical innovation.
Adhering to the unity of critique and construction means properly handling the relationship between "breaking" and "building." On one hand, we must uphold the Marxist spirit of critique, profoundly analyzing the deep contradictions and structural crises of contemporary capitalism, maintaining a clear understanding of the theoretical flaws and practical harms of neoliberalism, and effectively identifying and dismantling the ideological traps and narrative hegemonies hidden within Western discourse systems. On the other hand, we must persist in prioritizing "building," placing the emphasis on constructive work. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "We must be adept at refining diagnostic concepts and creating new concepts, categories, and expressions that are easily understood and accepted by the international community." The independent knowledge system of scientific socialism must strive to build a systematic and academic discourse system capable of clearly explaining the Chinese path, Chinese theory, Chinese system, and Chinese culture, using Chinese theory to interpret Chinese practice and Chinese discourse to tell China’s story.
Adhering to the unity of upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground means properly handling the relationship between inheritance and development. Upholding the fundamentals means unswervingly adhering to the basic principles of scientific socialism, remaining unequivocal in the Party's comprehensive leadership, and refusing to change the fundamental socialist system. This is the radical prerequisite and political orientation for constructing the independent knowledge system of scientific socialism. Breaking new ground means advancing with the times and daring to promote theoretical and practical innovation. We must focus on innovation in concepts, categories, paradigms, and modes of expression, continuously enriching and developing the theoretical connotations and forms of manifestation of scientific socialism. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "We must persist in liberating the mind, seeking truth from facts, and upholding the fundamentals while breaking new ground, better unifying the persistence in Marxism with the development of Marxism." We must maintain the correct direction while upholding the fundamentals and achieve theoretical breakthroughs while breaking new ground, ensuring that the knowledge system of scientific socialism retains its Marxist theoretical character while remaining full of the spirit of the times and innovative vitality.
Adhering to the unity of subjectivity and openness means properly handling the relationship between Chinese characteristics and a global vision. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "We must focus on the major issues facing the development of our country and the world, striving to propose concepts, propositions, and solutions that embody Chinese standpoints, Chinese wisdom, and Chinese values." Constructing the independent knowledge system of scientific socialism must adhere to a subjective standpoint, taking Chinese reality as the footing, focusing on Chinese problems, summarizing Chinese experience, and forming theoretical achievements with Chinese characteristics, Chinese style, and Chinese ethos. At the same time, we must possess an open and inclusive mind, actively participating in international academic dialogues, proactively setting agendas, and being adept at raising China's voice and contributing Chinese wisdom in global institutional discussions. Especially in the process of promoting the implementation of the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, and the Global Governance Initiative, we should strengthen theoretical research and discourse construction from the perspective of scientific socialism, enhancing the persuasiveness and influence of the Chinese narrative through mutual learning and exchange.
3. Focus Points for Constructing a Chinese Independent Knowledge System of Scientific Socialism
In constructing a Chinese independent knowledge system of scientific socialism, we must conduct in-depth research centered on the key areas and frontier issues affecting the development of contemporary socialism. The focus should be on three aspects.
First, we need to focus research on the new space and possibilities for the development of scientific socialism opened up by the great practice of Chinese-path modernization. "Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, and especially since the start of reform and opening up, profound changes have taken place in China. Chinese people, being situated within this historical transformation, are more qualified and capable of revealing the historical experience and laws of development contained therein, making original Chinese contributions to the development of Marxism." The successful advancement of Chinese-path modernization is one of the largest and most unique social practices in human history. The historical achievements it has attained, the precious experiences it has accumulated, the systemic advantages it has demonstrated, and the new concepts of the path to modernization it contains have all injected strong vitality and energy into the development of scientific socialism in the 21st century. "Chinese-path modernization is deeply rooted in fine traditional Chinese culture, embodies the advanced nature of scientific socialism, draws upon and absorbs all outstanding achievements of human civilization, represents the developmental direction of human progress, and presents a new picture different from the Western modernization model." Constructing an independent knowledge system of scientific socialism must systematically explain how Chinese-path modernization, through its unique practical logic, answers the historical question of how socialism achieves modernization in a large developing country, how it overcomes the inherent flaws of capitalist modernization, and how it successfully opens up a new realm of socialist development under conditions of relative economic and cultural backwardness. The new breakthroughs, experiences, and concepts that Chinese-path modernization brings to scientific socialism in both theory and practice are the most direct, richest, and most most persuasive realistic sources for constructing an independent knowledge system. Deeply researching these new possibilities is of decisive significance for enriching and developing the theory of scientific socialism and enhancing its explanatory and guiding power.
Second, we need to pay close attention to the profound transformations and social impacts brought about by the revolution in science and technology. The new round of technological revolution, represented by digital productive forces and artificial intelligence, is reshaping labor methods, relations of production, social structures, national governance models, and the ideological sphere in an all-encompassing way. Facing these profound changes, the construction of an independent knowledge system for scientific socialism must answer a core question: under the socialist system, how can we effectively guide technological development to serve the well-rounded development of the person and social progress? The report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC clearly required "maintaining the core position of innovation in the overall modernization drive of our country." The independent knowledge system of scientific socialism should deeply explore how to develop technology while effectively avoiding the negative effects it may bring—for example, bridging the "digital divide" between different groups, preventing technologies such as algorithmic recommendations from forming new forms of social control and power monopolies, and ensuring that the fruits of technological progress benefit all people. This involves putting into practice the socialist value orientation of technology serving the people, ensuring that technological innovation achievements are ultimately used to meet the people's ever-growing needs for a better life.
Third, we need to continue in-depth analysis of the new changes and characteristics occurring in contemporary capitalism. "The global landscape is in a historical process of accelerated evolution, giving rise to a large number of profound and complex realistic problems and posing many theoretical tasks that urgently need answering. This requires us to strengthen our research on contemporary capitalism, analyze and grasp the various changes that have appeared and their essence, and deepen our understanding of the laws governing the profound and complex changes in capitalism and international political and economic relations." Currently, capitalism exhibits the characteristic of "financialization," marked by the excessive expansion of financial capital and a serious decoupling of the virtual economy from the real economy. The process of economic globalization is deepening while simultaneously encountering "reversal" forces such as protectionism and unilateralism. The unfair distribution of social wealth continues to intensify, social contradictions are sharpening, and populist trends are rising. The effectiveness of traditional governance models is waning, state capacity is declining, and systemic crises occur frequently. The construction of an independent knowledge system for scientific socialism must profoundly reveal what these new changes mean for the capitalist system and for the world socialist movement. At the same time, we must scientifically analyze the sense of powerlessness in the capitalist system when dealing with common challenges such as global climate change and economic or financial crises, as well as the hypocrisy of its policy propositions. This will provide a powerful critical basis for a "new narrative" of scientific socialism and highlight the contemporary value of socialism in its commitment to the peaceful development of humanity and the promotion of the construction of a community with a shared future for humanity.
Conclusion
General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "The success of scientific socialism in China is of great significance to Marxism and scientific socialism, and to world socialism." For over a century, the Chinese Communists, through generations of pioneering and enterprising efforts, have achieved the most extensive and profound social transformation in Chinese history, forming the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and creating a new form of scientific socialism. This new form both provides a new version of modern human civilization and represents a major revolution in the science of human history. This requires us to profoundly grasp the spatial and temporal orientation of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era, and to fully recognize the historical significance of comprehensively promoting the construction of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation through Chinese-path modernization. By actively responding to the questions of China, the world, the people, and the times, we shall forge a "Chinese model" of scientific socialism for the 21st century, making it the mainstay of human liberation and civilizational progress.
Source: Marxist Studies (Marxisim's Research), Issue 1, 2026. Editor: Huihui