Marxism Research Network
Unofficial English Translation

The New Era of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics

Recommended Works

Abstract

This book is a popular theoretical work consisting of five parts: the "great changes unseen in a century" and China's New Era; the distinct characteristics of the New Era of socialism with Chinese characteristics; the New Era as an epoch of Chinese development guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era; the persistence and improvement of the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity in the New Era; and the Party's self-revolution and the "great struggle" in the New Era. This work is intended to help the broad masses of Party members and leading cadres correctly understand the major political judgment that socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a New Era, strengthen their ideals and convictions in socialism with Chinese characteristics, and contribute their strength to winning new victories for socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era.

About the Author

Xin Xiangyang is currently the Secretary of the Party Committee and Vice President of the Institute of Marxism Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS). He also serves as the Dean of the School of Marxism at the University of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Deputy Director of the Research Center for the Theoretical System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, Executive Deputy Director of the Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and Deputy Director of the World Socialism Research Center. A second-grade researcher and doctoral supervisor, he was awarded the State Council Special Government Allowance in 2012. In 2015, he was selected for the "Four Batons" talent program [1] of the Central Propaganda Department’s cultural and publicity system, the "Ten Thousand Talents Program" leadership talent of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, and serves as a judge for the National Social Science Fund and the National Publication Fund. He has published 20 monographs, edited or co-authored over 30 books, and published more than 400 articles in newspapers and journals such as the People's Daily, Guangming Daily, Marxist Studies, and Studies on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics. He has presided over or participated in more than 50 national and provincial-level research projects and received over 10 national and provincial-level awards.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Great Changes Unseen in a Century and China’s New Era Section 1: Socialism with Chinese Characteristics Enters a New Era

  1. The Chinese Nation Has Welcomed a Great Leap from Standing Up and Getting Rich to Becoming Strong
  2. Contemporary China Increasingly Approaches the Center of the World Stage
  3. Changes in the Principal Contradiction [2] of Our Society Represent a Historic Shift Affecting the Overall Situation Section 2: Deeply Grasping the Rich Connotations and Major Significance of the New Era
  4. Viewing the New Era of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics from the Historical Dimension of the Great Rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation
  5. Viewing the New Era of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics from the Theoretical Dimension of the Basic Principles of Scientific Socialism Section 3: Viewing the New Era from the Perspective of a Century of Competition Between Two Systems
  6. The Struggle Between Socialism and Capitalism Has Never Ceased for a Century
  7. What Advantages Does Contemporary China Possess Under the Pattern of "One Globe, Two Systems"?
  8. Winning the Comparative Advantage over Capitalism through Competition in the New Era of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics Section 4: Viewing the New Era from the Perspective of Institutional Maturity and Formalization
  9. Promoting High-Quality Development, Building a Modern Economic System, and Meeting the Higher Material and Cultural Needs of the Masses
  10. Realizing the People's Sense of Gain, Happiness, and Security through Scientific Institutional Construction
  11. Meeting the People's New Demands for Democracy, Rule of Law, Fairness, Justice, Security, and the Environment through Effective Institutional System Building
  12. Promoting the Establishment and Improvement of the National Basic Public Service System to Achieve Nurturing in Childhood, Education in Youth, Income from Labor, Medical Care for the Ill, Support in Old Age, Housing for Residents, and Assistance for the Weak [3], Constantly Advancing Toward Common Prosperity for All People
  13. Realizing the People's New Expectations Through a Comprehensive and Systematic Institutional and Governance System

Chapter 2: Distinct Characteristics of the New Era of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics Section 1: An Era of Continuously Turning Socialist Ideals into Reality

  1. Viewing the New Era from the Perspective of 500 Years of World Socialism
  2. Viewing the New Era from the 100-Year Historical Process of the Primary Stage of Socialism
  3. Viewing the New Era from the Historical Process of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics
  4. Viewing the New Era from the Historical Process in which the Consolidation and Development of Socialism Requires Several, Dozens, or even Scores of Generations Section 2: An Era of Organically Combining Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and Chinese Civilization
  5. Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era Emerged from 5,000 Years of Chinese Civilizational History
  6. Chinese Civilization Glows with New Vitality on the Path of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era Section 3: An Era of Continuously Responding to the Questions of the World
  7. Answering the "Wittfogel Question" [4]
  8. Answering the "Fukuyama Question" [5]
  9. Answering the Logical Question that "A Strong Power Must Seek Hegemony" [6]

Chapter 3: The New Era is an Era of Chinese Development Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era Section 1: The Historical-Philosophical Nature of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era

  1. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era Always Emphasizes Adhering to Historical Materialism
  2. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era Always Reflects on History and Reality from the Height of Historical Philosophy
  3. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era Always Opposes Historical Nihilism [7] Section 2: The Profound Academic Logic of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era
  4. The "Two Never-Will-Happens" [8] and the "Three Whys" [9]
  5. The "Three Zones" [10] in the Field of Ideology and Public Opinion and Strengthening the Construction of Socialist Ideology Section 3: The Principle of Upholding the Fundamentals and Breaking New Ground in Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era
  6. Profound Changes Domestically and Internationally Highlight the Principle of Upholding the Fundamentals and Breaking New Ground in Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era
  7. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era Adheres to the Correct Line and the Correct Direction
  8. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era Continuously Advances Innovation in Theory, Practice, and Institutions

Chapter 4: Improving and Advancing the System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and the National Governance System in the New Era Section 1: Construction of National Capacity over the 70 Years of the New China

  1. The Period from the Founding of New China to the Third Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee Laid the Basic Institutional Foundation for the Democratic Nature and Stability of Contemporary China's State Capacity
  2. The New Period of Reform and Opening Up Laid the Foundation of the Institutional Mechanisms for the Vitality and Sociality of Contemporary China's State Capacity
  3. The New Era is Laying the Institutional System Foundation for the Organic Nature and Justice of China's State Capacity Section 2: The System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and the National Governance System under the Marxist Horizon
  4. Guided by Marxism, the System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and the National Governance System Develop Continuously on the Basis of Following Objective Laws
  5. Guided by Marxism, the System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and the National Governance System are Gradually Perfected Section 3: The Theoretical Logic of the System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in "Concentrating Resources to Accomplish Major Undertakings"
  6. This is a System for Carrying Out Major Tasks via a Relay, Ensuring Governance Continues from One Generation to the Next
  7. This is a System for Accomplishing Major Tasks by Pooling the Will, Wisdom, and Strength of the People, Allowing All Difficulties and Challenges to Be Resolved

Chapter 5: The Party's Self-Revolution and Great Struggle in the New Era Section 1: The Theoretical Construction of the Party's Promotion of Self-Revolution

  1. To Carry Out Self-Revolution, One Must Strengthen Ideals and Convictions
  2. To Carry Out Self-Revolution, One Must Strengthen Cultivation of Party Spirit
  3. To Carry Out Self-Revolution, One Must Comprehensively and Strictly Govern the Party and Solemnize Internal Party Political Life
  4. To Carry Out Self-Revolution, One Must Adhere to the Combination of Regular Education and Concentrated Education
  5. To Carry Out Self-Revolution, One Must Have the Courage to Conduct Criticism and Self-Criticism
  6. To Carry Out Self-Revolution, One Must Strengthen Internal Party Supervision and Accept Supervision by the People
  7. To Carry Out Self-Revolution, One Must Maintain the Advanced Nature and Purity of Communists Section 2: The "Four Unifications" for Promoting the Party's Self-Revolution
  8. Persisting in the Unification of Strengthening the Party's Centralized, Unified Leadership and Resolving Internal Party Problems
  9. Persisting in the Unification of Upholding the Fundamentals and Breaking New Ground
  10. Persisting in the Unification of Strict Management and Earnest Care
  11. Persisting in the Unification of Organizational Promotion and Individual Initiative Section 3: Resolutely Winning the Great Struggle with Many New Historical Characteristics
  12. Why We Must Prepare to Engage in a Great Struggle
  13. The Rich Connotations of the Great Struggle Section 4: Enhancing the Art of Struggle in the New Era
  14. The Importance of Enhancing the Art of Struggle in the New Era
  15. Methods and Ways to Enhance the Art of Struggle in the New Era

References / 210

Preface

In his important speech at the Symposium on Work in Philosophy and Social Sciences, General Secretary Xi Jinping, while analyzing the development status of our national philosophy and social sciences, clearly pointed out: "Our country is a major power in philosophy and social sciences; our research teams, number of papers, and government investment are among the highest in the world. However, at present, our capacity and level regarding academic propositions, academic thought, academic perspectives, academic standards, and academic discourse do not yet match our comprehensive national strength and international status." At the same time, he emphasized the need to focus on building philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics. The foundation of building philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics lies in constructing a disciplinary system, an academic system, and a discourse system; the key lies in building the discourse system, and the core lies in the refinement of "identifying concepts" (标识性概念) and categories. Only by refining identifying concepts and categories from the great practice of China's revolution, construction, and reform can we form our own discourse and discourse system; only by building a systematic and scientific discourse system can we properly construct the corresponding disciplinary and academic systems; and only with well-constructed disciplinary, academic, and discourse systems can we build philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics that embody Chinese characteristics, Chinese style, and Chinese ethos.

There is a close relationship between concepts, disciplinary construction, and theoretical development—a relationship akin to that between cells and life. Without identifying concepts or a system thereof, it is difficult for scientific theory to form, and there is no basis for constructing a disciplinary system. Identifying concepts are both the foundation for the development of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics and, more importantly, a sign of our Party's theoretical maturity. The more specific the orientation of a concept in practice, the more thorough the theoretical edifice it supports becomes, and the greater the explanatory power of the theory. Marxist epistemology holds that the proposal of a mature concept is an essential stage for theoretical innovation to move from the abstract to the concrete. That is to say, theoretical innovation must first involve the refinement or innovation of concepts. Only when continuously refined concepts gain recognition and acceptance can they possess vitality, thereby making the theory clear and achieving its logicization, systematization, and scientization.

Although we have the greatest right to speak in interpreting Chinese practice and constructing Chinese theory, because identifying concepts and categories that can be recognized at home and abroad are still lacking and unsystematic, the international voice of our country's philosophy and social sciences remains relatively small. We are still in a situation where we have the truth but cannot express it, or where it is expressed but fails to spread. It is an urgent task for building our discourse system, and even our disciplinary and academic systems, to be adept at refining identifying concepts and creating new concepts, categories, and expressions that are easily understood and accepted by the international community.

In the great practice of achieving brilliant successes in revolution, construction, and reform, our Party has followed the laws of human social development, conformed to the characteristics of the times, and given full play to its innovative capacity. Successively, we have formed Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Theory of Three Represents, and the Scientific Outlook on Development, while simultaneously refining many identifying concepts that support these theories. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has systematically answered the major question of our times—"what kind of socialism with Chinese characteristics should be maintained and developed in the New Era, and how to maintain and develop it"—from a combination of theory and practice. With a brand-new perspective, the Party has deepened its understanding of the laws of the Communist Party’s governance, the laws of socialist construction, and the laws of the development of human society. Through arduous theoretical exploration, it has achieved major theoretical innovation and formed [Xi Jinping] Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Since the 18th National Congress, many new identifying concepts that conform to the characteristics of the times have been refined. Because of their scientific nature, these concepts have not only become the solid foundation stones of the theoretical edifice of the New Thought, but have also increasingly gained universal recognition domestically and internationally. For example, in May 2016, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out in his speech at the Symposium on Work in Philosophy and Social Sciences: Promoting the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity; developing the socialist market economy; developing socialist democratic politics; developing socialist consultative democracy; building a system of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics; developing advanced socialist culture; cultivating and practicing core socialist values; building a socialist harmonious society; building ecological civilization; building a new system for an open economy; implementing a holistic approach to national security; building a community with a shared future for humanity; promoting the Belt and Road Initiative; adhering to a correct outlook on righteousness and interests [11]; strengthening the Party's governance capacity; and following the path of building a strong military with Chinese characteristics to achieve the Party's goal of a strong military in the new situation—all of these are original, epochal concepts and theories proposed by us.

The Think Tank for Marxist Theoretical Innovation of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences intends to extract some of the most important and core identifying concepts from the Party's innovative theories since the 18th National Congress for theoretical and academic interpretation, forming the research series "Identifying Concepts of New Thoughts in the New Era." In selecting and interpreting these concepts, several basic requirements were followed: First, they must embody both academic and political nature, achieving an organic combination of the two. Second, they must embody both theoretical and practical value. These concepts are abstracted, refined, and sublimated from practice, possessing major practical and theoretical value; simultaneously, they offer guiding value for advancing practice. Third, they must be based on embodying "Chinese characteristics" while also absorbing useful external experiences and theories. Fourth, they must be based in China while looking out at the world. Fifth, they must adhere to Marxism while embodying excellent traditional Chinese culture, achieving an organic integration of the two.

This think tank, in cooperation with the People’s Daily Press, has already published the first set of eight books in the "Identifying Concepts of New Thoughts in the New Era Series." We are now publishing the second set of eight new books. We hope this series will help the broad masses of Party members and cadres study and grasp the new thoughts of the New Era.

Editorial Board of the Think Tank for Marxist Theoretical Innovation, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Web Editor: Xinran