Marxism Research Network
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Modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity

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The modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity is a major conceptual innovation within Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and a key expression in the discourse system of Chinese characteristics in the New Era. Deeply researching the significant advantages of the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the national governance system, and summarizing the great governance achievements and theories produced during China's modernization construction and its practice of a path to modernization since the founding of the PRC, is necessary for seeking theoretical support to strengthen the "Four Confidences" [1]. It is also an active response to the problems and challenges facing our country's economic and social development in the New Era. This represents both a self-transformation of the governance system based on a problem-oriented approach and a realistic choice that conforms to the requirements of the times, reflects the will of the people, and better constructs the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

The modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity is an inherent requirement for achieving socialist modernization. National governance capacity is the "master switch" determining whether a country can remain prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, beautiful, and stable. It is a major benchmark for measuring the degree of civilization of a political system, a comprehensive manifestation of a country's core competitiveness, and the lifeline for a major power’s enduring foundation. To successfully research the major subject of modernizing the national governance system and governance capacity, one must "clear the source and rectify the root" (zhèngběn-qīngyuán) [2] of national governance, critiquing and guarding against various erroneous views of governance. It is necessary to ground oneself in the basic position of Marxism and the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. From the perspective of the national governance system and governance capacity, one must investigate new situations, solve new problems, enrich new content, and refine new viewpoints. This provides suggestions for the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity, researching how to construct a national governance system with Chinese characteristics, how to build efficient governance platforms, and how to contribute wisdom to the optimization of global governance.

Author Biography

Liu Xukuan, PhD in Law, born August 1973, is an Associate Research Fellow in the Department of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) Institute of Marxism Studies. He is a participating expert in major commissioned projects of the Central "Marxist Theoretical Research and Construction Project" (Marxist Project) [3] regarding "Research on the Modernization of National Governance System and Governance Capacity" and "Research on World Socialism and the Future Destiny of Capitalism and the Contemporary International Situation." He is also a participating expert in the "Research on Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era" project chaired by President Xie Fuzhan. He primarily engages in research on ethics, political philosophy, the theory of socialism with Chinese characteristics, public services, and social construction. He has undertaken and completed numerous projects assigned by the State Council Policy Research Office, the Central Propaganda Department, and other ministries. He is the author of five monographs, including Research on Plato's Ethical Thought, The Internal Drive of National Governance, The Organic Link Between Traditional Characteristics and Modern Governance Laws: China’s Characteristic National and Social Governance Model, and Without Sincerity, No Integrity; Without Trust, No Standing. He has co-edited 27 Most Influential Ethical Classics in History and served as Executive Deputy Editor or Deputy Editor for a series of eight Blue Books on Public Services. He has published over 40 papers in journals such as Marxism Studies, Journal of Beijing Normal University, Philosophical Trends, Economic Daily, Chinese Social Sciences Today, and Ethics Studies. He has delivered over 50 lectures and presentations at units including Peking University and the Ministry of Commerce International Trade Center group.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Serving the People is the Essential Attribute of the System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics I. Serving the people stems from the disinterestedness of the Communist Party of China II. Serving the people stems from the truth and supreme moral standing of the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics III. Serving the people stems from the interconnectedness of the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the national governance system IV. How the people’s system and the people’s banner always uphold serving the people

Chapter 1: Review of Basic Concepts I. What is governance II. The governance system III. Governance capacity IV. Social governance

Chapter 2: The Underlying Character of Chinese National Governance I. Governance modernization must guard against "pseudo-modernization" induced by Western "color revolutions" [4]

  1. The claim that political system reform and democratic political construction are lagging is a false proposition
  2. The methodology of socialist national governance and democratic political construction must be followed
  3. China has provided a better governance solution than Western democracy II. Cherishing the nourishment of excellent traditional governance resources; guarding against "Feilai Peak" governance [5]
  4. Deeply rooting in excellent traditional culture to draw upon traditional governance resources
  5. Unique traditions determine the spiritual coordinates of Chinese governance
  6. Unique basic national conditions mold the soul of Chinese governance III. Modernization of governance that is people-centered rather than for a minority of elites
  7. Betraying the socialist road is betraying the people
  8. Betraying the dictatorship of the proletariat is straying from the people's democratic dictatorship [6]
  9. Being public servants of the people: Improving the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity IV. Must persist in Party leadership while selectively drawing on modern Western governance experience
  10. Preventing fragmented and out-of-context interpretations of the national governance system and governance capacity
  11. The questions of "who governs, how to govern, and what to govern" concern the banner of governance
  12. Must ensure national governance remains under the leadership of the Communist Party of China

Chapter 3: Building the Chinese Governance System I. Unity of conformity to laws, conformity to the people's will, and conformity to purpose

  1. National governance with Chinese characteristics is necessarily "good governance" that conforms to the interests of the broadest masses of the people
  2. Optimal governance must align with the optimal needs of human historical development II. Coordination of top-level design, medium-level practice, and micro-level exploration
  3. A scientifically designed framework of top-level design from a high vantage point
  4. A practical path of working hard to revitalize the country
  5. Encouraging the grassroots to "cross the river by feeling the stones" [7], practicing boldly while verifying carefully III. Mutual watchfulness between China, neighboring countries, and the world
  6. New Era, new dimension: China moves toward the world
  7. New Era, new trend: The world embraces China IV. Mutual support between management, governance, and service
  8. Governance is impossible without management functions
  9. Governance is the choice of the managers' self-revolution
  10. Service-oriented government reflects the refinement of governance

Chapter 4: How to Realize the Modernization of the Governance System and Governance Capacity I. The value dimension of the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity

  1. Always persisting in a people-oriented value orientation
  2. Persisting in the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity under the guidance of Marxism
  3. Common prosperity is an important value pursuit of the modernization of China’s national governance system and governance capacity
  4. Modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity is the path to maximizing fairness and justice II. The institutional dimension of the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity
  5. Modernization of the governance system and governance capacity within institutional optimization
  6. The modernization of the Party’s governance is key
  7. The rule of law is key to the modernization of national governance
  8. Innovating social governance is a tough battle for governance modernization III. The coordination dimension of the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity
  9. The coordination principle of governance
  10. Improving the coordination mechanism for interests
  11. Optimizing the overall linkage efficiency and self-regulation capacity of the modernization of national governance IV. Modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity adapted to the transformation of the principal contradiction in society [8]
  12. Better liberating the productive forces through optimized governance
  13. Solving the problem of unbalanced development through optimizing the governance structure
  14. Optimizing the balance of urban and rural governance, implementing targeted poverty alleviation and feedback strategies
  15. Meeting the people's ever-growing needs for a better life
  16. Turning the transformation of the principal contradiction in society into a new driver for realizing governance modernization

Chapter 5: Toward Global Governance I. Global crises call for global governance

  1. Modernization of global governance must confront global risks head-on
  2. Governance modernization must prevent the internationalization of risks
  3. World risks require global governance for their solution II. The unavoidable community with a shared future in cyberspace in the information age
  4. The internet is changing the way the world exists
  5. Constructing a community with a shared future in cyberspace with all countries of the world based on bottom lines III. Ultimately moving toward an association of free individuals
  6. China answers the difficult problem of the future destiny of humanity with a "Tianxia" (all-under-heaven) [9] vision of community
  7. Jointly building a community with a shared future is a way of paving the road toward the ultimate goal of an "association of free individuals" [10]