Marxism Research Network
Unofficial English Translation

New Development Philosophy

Action must be guided by concepts. The development of a nation, in particular, requires the guidance of a correct development concept that is commensurate with the stage of social development. At present, the world is undergoing profound changes and adjustments unseen in a century [1], and the Chinese economy has entered a New Normal [2]. In the New Era, Socialism with Chinese Characteristics faces the "question of the century": "What is happening to the world, and what should we do?" At the end of October 2015, the New Development Concept—adapted to the needs of actual social development in the New Era—was first formally proposed in the Recommendations for the 13th Five-Year Plan deliberated and adopted at the Fifth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee. Focused on the goals of innovation, coordination, green development, openness, and sharing, this concept launched a great transformation of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics with significant and far-reaching implications.

This book provides a systematic synthesis and comprehensive exposition of the New Development Concept, covering the historical background and requirements of the times that led to its proposal, its scientific connotation and logic, its practical significance and value, and its theoretical significance and value. The book strives to accurately and deeply understand and grasp this major theoretical innovation of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era. It describes the vivid, systematic, and comprehensive concrete practices undertaken in this new stage of reform and opening up from a Marxist standpoint, viewpoint, and method. Furthermore, it looks forward to China's future development prospects under the guidance of the New Development Concept, as well as the prominent theoretical contributions that an open China may provide for the construction of a community with a shared future for humanity.

The development of civilization involves both phenomena and substance; the innovation of concepts is both grand and concrete. This book is an attempt to achieve a comprehensive understanding of such innovation.

About the Author

Ren Limei (female, born June 1973) holds a PhD in Philosophy. She is an Associate Research Fellow in the Research Office of Ideology and Social Trends at the Institute of Marxism Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and a member of the Communist Party of China. Her primary research interests include innovation theory, social development theory and strategy, and cultural philosophy.

Table of Contents

Introduction

  1. The Historical Background of the New Development Concept (1) The modern predicament of Western free-market economic theory and its development concepts (2) Developmental problems existing within various countries (3) The need for new development theory to guide practice in the New Era
  2. The Practical Necessity of the New Development Concept (1) Adapting to and leading the New Normal of China's economic development (2) Responding to the new expectations of the masses for development (3) Aligning with the realization of new goals for the "13th Five-Year Plan" period
  3. The Substance of the New Development Concept (1) The New Development Concept as our Party's new understanding of the laws of economic and social development (2) The New Development Concept as the latest achievement of contemporary Marxist political economy (3) The New Development Concept as a complete system of developmental ideas for Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era

Chapter 1: Historical Background and Requirements of the Times for the New Development Concept Section 1: Historical Background

  1. The pattern of the world system in the process of global integration
  2. Reconstructing the international economic system after the financial crisis
  3. China's rise amidst adversity Section 2: Requirements of the Times
  4. Inflection points facing China's future development and traps to be crossed [3]
  5. Shortcomings to be addressed in China's modernization [4]
  6. The developmental "chessboard" [5] to be broken through in China's modernization transition
  7. Historical experience of China's rise

Chapter 2: Scientific Connotation, Practical Orientation, and Scientific Logic of the New Development Concept Section 1: Innovative Development

  1. Cultural heritage and Marxist connotation of the concept of innovation
  2. Internal and external environments of China's innovation practice
  3. "Innovation" as a New Development Concept
  4. Practical paths for innovative development Section 2: Coordinated Development
  5. Historical evolution of the concept of coordinated development
  6. Background of the proposal of coordinated development
  7. Internal logic of coordinated development
  8. Paths to coordinated development
  9. Major practical significance of coordinated development Section 3: Green Development
  10. Development of the meaning of the "green" concept and the Marxist view of nature
  11. Background of the proposal of green development
  12. Connotation of the green development concept
  13. Practical paths for green concepts
  14. Green development as reflected in comprehensive innovation in the national governance system and governance capacity Section 4: Open Development
  15. Connotation of openness and Marxist understanding
  16. Historical practice of China's opening up
  17. Open development concepts and strategies in the New Era
  18. Planning for open development Section 5: Shared Development
  19. Basic connotation of the concept of sharing and the Marxist viewpoint
  20. Historical process of shared development
  21. Requirements of the times and basic connotation of the shared development concept in the New Era
  22. Concrete planning for shared development

Chapter 3: Practical Significance and Practical Value of the New Development Concept Section 1: Practical Significance

  1. Grasping the essence of development
  2. Resolving development difficulties
  3. Cultivating development advantages Section 2: Practical Value
  4. Making new judgments and providing new methods for the practice of socialist reform
  5. Providing scientific guidance and value leadership for China's economic and social development
  6. Providing systematic and comprehensive top-level design for the enhancement of China's overall strength

Chapter 4: Theoretical Significance and Theoretical Value of the New Development Concept Section 1: Theoretical Background of the New Development Concept

  1. Theoretical reflections on the process of social development in the modern West
  2. Core Marxist viewpoints on development Section 2: Historical Logic and Practical Laws of the Emergence of the New Development Concept
  3. The hierarchy of national development concepts in different stages of development
  4. Historical logic of the emergence of the New Development Concept
  5. Practical laws reflected by the "New Development Concept" Section 3: Inheritance and Development of Marxism by the "New Development Concept"
  6. Inheriting the Marxist view of development
  7. Launching systematic and comprehensive new practices based on Marxist standpoint, viewpoint, and method Section 4: Value and Significance of the New Development Concept
  8. Constructing a new path for endogenous modernization in developing countries
  9. Forming a preliminary ideological system for the realization of the Chinese Dream
  10. Establishing an open and equal community with a shared future for humanity

Conclusion: Guiding China's Future Concrete Practice with the New Development Concept

  1. Leading the New Normal with the New Development Concept
  2. Guiding the New Layout [6] with the New Development Concept
  3. Building a moderately prosperous society in all respects [7] with the New Development Concept

References