On October 10, Marek Hrubec, Director of the Centre of Global Studies at the Czech Academy of Sciences, Visited the Academy of Marxism for Academic Exchange
On the morning of October 10, 2019, Dr. Marek Hrubec, Director of the Centre of Global Studies at the Czech Academy of Sciences, delivered an academic report in Conference Room 1345 of the Institute of Marxism Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS). The report was chaired by Researcher Xin Xiangyang, Deputy Director of the Institute of Marxism Studies, and was attended by the entire staff of the Institute. Marek Hrubec shared his perspectives on the understanding of Chinese Marxism from the tradition of Central and Eastern European Marxism, covering topics such as the guiding principles of Reform and Opening-up, revolutionary reform and its stages, and understanding the success of Chinese reform from a European perspective.
I. Chinese Marxism and the Guiding Principles of Reform and Opening-up
Hrubec first pointed out that while there is the Sinicization of Marxism in China, and the Frankfurt School and Critical Theory in Europe, both share a common foundation. First, there is a deeper recognition of historical complexity; historical development is not linear. Second, there is a greater understanding of the complexity of social development compared to the early 19th century, and China possesses its own understanding of modernity.
The first guiding principle of China’s Reform and Opening-up is to seek truth from facts. This is not a principle of pragmatism, but rather one possessed of a vision for historical development. This fundamental principle, proposed by Mao Zedong and developed by Deng Xiaoping, is particularly embodied in his famous conclusion: "Emancipate the mind, seek truth from facts, and unite as one in looking to the future." The second principle is "crossing the river by feeling the stones" [1]. This is a principle applicable not only to the Reform and Opening-up since 1978, but also to guiding the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
II. Revolutionary Reform and Stages of Development
There are two modes of social development: one is revolutionary, violent revolution; the other is incremental, parliamentary reform. In the second half of the 20th century, complex social developments showed that these two modes are not the only ones that exist. We must also distinguish between two concepts: revolutionary transformation and transformative revolution. A revolutionary transformation is essentially a type of transformation, but it possesses revolutionary consequences. For example, China's Reform and Opening-up is a "second revolution" [2]; it is an incremental reform, yet it has produced massive revolutionary results. Therefore, we carry out reform to complete the economic and social development that the first revolution did not finish, while simultaneously maintaining high-level revolutionary goals. It is crucial that these two are organically unified.
III. Understanding the Success of Chinese Reform from a European Perspective
First, there is a distinction between capital and capitalism. We utilize capital to advance the developmental process of socialism, but we must also guard against the negative issues brought by capital and avoid moving toward capitalism. Second, under socialist conditions, the relationship between the plan and the market must be handled well. In China, in order to allow the market to develop more effectively, the market is constrained by the government.
Viewing this convergence of the West and China from the perspective of Critical Theory, the reason for the success of the transformation of the Chinese economic system lies in the adoption of a different political system. China did not open up to the world passively; the initiative taken in economic management during the process of opening up was a vital factor in the convergence between China and the West. Many countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America also opened up to the outside world but did not succeed. China has its own institutions and system, and thus successfully realized the confluence of China and the West.
China's success is due to two points. The first is the system of banking regulation, which allows returns to be used for the development of the economy, people's livelihoods, and infrastructure. The second is the "large country effect"; the massive economic volume and scale determine that its developmental path differs from that of countries like the "Four Asian Tigers" [3]. In the process of opening up and learning from the West, China transformed from a country of cheap labor into a major power in science and technology, which has led to issues such as China-US trade frictions and the Huawei incident.
Since 1978, China's Reform and Opening-up has achieved enormous successes. China has experienced three successful reforms: the first was the 1949 Revolution; the second was Reform and Opening-up; and it is currently undergoing a third reform, namely the proposal and implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative. Although it requires the recognition and cooperation of various countries along the route, this initiative represents the trend of future development.