Kang Xiaoqiang: Deeply Understanding the Original Development of the Theory of Socialist Stages of Development in the New Era
A major difference between scientific socialism and utopian socialism lies in the fact that the former is not a collection of immutable dogmas, but rather views socialism as a practical process of continuous improvement and development. Developing socialism is not only a long-term historical process, but a process that must be divided into different historical stages. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, based on the historic transformation of the principal contradiction in society [1], General Secretary Xi Jinping has creatively put forward major conclusions such as "Socialism with Chinese Characteristics has entered a New Era; this is a new historical orientation for our country's development" and "our country has entered a new stage of development." These statements scientifically elucidate the new epochal coordinates of the primary stage of socialism, enriching and developing the theory of the stages of socialist development. A profound understanding of the original developments in the theory of the stages of socialist development in the New Era is of great practical and far-reaching historical significance for comprehensively grasping the new characteristics and trends of contemporary Chinese development, and for strengthening political, ideological, and behavioral consciousness in implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.
Realizing a "Revolution in Terminology" Through the Refinement of Identifiable Concepts
Engels pointed out in the preface to the English edition of the first volume of Capital: "Every new aspect of a science involves a revolution in the technical terms of that science." As products of rational thought, terms are the basic elements of theoretical construction and essential requirements for theoretical creation; they originate from human activities of production and social intercourse, and they inevitably undergo corresponding revolutions as these activities transform. Breakthroughs in theory and original developments in thought usually rely upon and are largely concentrated in a "revolution in terminology." Consequently, terminology presented in the form of identifiable concepts provides a new perspective, dimension, and entry point for understanding and grasping the original developments of the theory of socialist development stages in the New Era.
The New Era of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics is an identifiable concept of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. The category of "New Era" was used by classical Marxist writers in various contexts. For instance, when elucidating social progress from the dimension of technological transformation, they noted that the self-acting mule "opened a new era of the automatic system"; from the dimension of changes in social formations, they noted that the Italian poet Dante was "at once the last poet of the Middle Ages and the first poet of the new era"; and so on. In 1883, the Social Democratic Party of Germany founded the theoretical journal Die Neue Zeit (The New Era: Review of Spiritual and Social Life); Engels published many articles in this magazine and frequently offered advice to help the editorial board maintain the correct direction of the publication. However, explicitly linking the "New Era" with socialism, and specifically with Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, is an original contribution of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. General Secretary Xi Jinping profoundly pointed out: "This New Era is the New Era of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, and not any other kind of New Era." This demonstrates that the New Era is one defined by the qualitative stipulations of socialism; the words "Socialism with Chinese Characteristics" preceding "New Era" are not optional modifiers, but a profound qualification and accurate positioning of this "New Era."
Original theories are often formed and developed through the process of combining and deepening concepts. The New Era of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics is an integration and composite of the "New Era" and "Socialism with Chinese Characteristics"—an organic unity encompassing both temporal scales and spatial constraints. Socialism with Chinese Characteristics is the "matrix" for the practical development of the New Era, stipulating its nature and orientation; the New Era is a specific growth period for Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, constraining the breadth and depth of its development as well as the new historical mission it carries. To speak of the New Era apart from Socialism with Chinese Characteristics would be to lose one’s "roots" and "soul," becoming like a tree without roots or water without a source; one would lose direction and momentum for moving forward. To speak of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics apart from the New Era would lack the temporal dimension of development and easily become detached from reality. Thus, the concept of the New Era of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics both upholds the basic principles of scientific socialism and clarifies the historical orientation for the development of contemporary China, providing a framework for action. The scientific system of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era—constituted by the organic unity and internal consistency of the "Ten Clarifications," the "Fourteen Commitments," the "Achievements in Thirteen Areas," the "Two Combinations," [2] and the "Six Must-Upholds" [3]—was comprehensively expanded and systematically constructed on this very basis.
This identifiable concept of the New Era of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics did not emerge from thin air; rather, it reflects a historic leap that occurred when economic and social development reached a certain stage. It possesses rich and profound scientific connotations and a clear, progressively advancing strategic arrangement, embodying the organic unity of the abstract and the concrete. Concepts are both highly abstract and highly grounded in reality. In The German Ideology, Marx and Engels penetratingly noted: "Language is the immediate reality of thought." The revolutionary role of terminology is concentrated in its status as a reflection of "immediate reality" with intellectual depth. On the basis of the 19th National Congress, the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee further refined the scientific summary of the New Era of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, emphasizing: "The New Era of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics is an era of building on past successes to further advance our cause, and of continuing to win great victories for Socialism with Chinese Characteristics under new historical conditions; it is an era of securing a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and then moving on to all-round efforts to build a great modern socialist country; it is an era for the people of all ethnic groups to work together and create a better life for themselves and eventually achieve common prosperity for all; it is an era for all Chinese people to strive with one heart and mind to realize the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation; and it is an era for China to move closer to center stage and make greater contributions to humanity." These "Five Is-es" precisely grasp the new historical orientation of our country's socialist development from the five perspectives of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, socialist modernization, the Chinese people, the Chinese nation, and human development, and from the dimension of the organic combination of history and reality, theory and practice, and domestic and international factors. This deepens and expands our understanding of "what" the New Era of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics is from an epistemological height. Simultaneously, General Secretary Xi Jinping’s report to the 19th National Congress explicitly proposed the strategic arrangement for the development of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era—from "building a moderately prosperous society in all respects to fundamentally realizing modernization, and then to comprehensively building a great modern socialist country"—scientifically delineating the blueprint of "what kind of" development the New Era of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics represents from the dimension of modernization goals.
From the proposal of the identifiable concept to the refinement of its scientific connotations, and then to the planning of strategic arrangements, it is fully demonstrated that the New Era of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics possesses both abstract essential stipulations and concrete realistic content. Our understanding and grasp of it must continue to deepen as practice develops.
Defining the New Orientation of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics Based on Historical Analysis
"To distinguish the orientation is to be correct" [4]. Historical orientation refers to the forward direction and current position of things within the historical process. Correctly understanding the historical orientation of the development of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics is a fundamental issue concerning the development of the cause of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, and it is also an important basis for realizing the original development of the theory of socialist development stages. The proposal of the identifiable concept of the New Era of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics is a deepened understanding of this new historical orientation. By lengthening the temporal scale and expanding the historical depth—viewing it from the dimension of the profound history of socialist thought and the magnificent history of world socialist development—this can be grasped more comprehensively and profoundly.
Since its founding over 170 years ago, scientific socialism, as a "living theory of action," has always maintained vigorous vitality through diverse practices. An important reason for this is that it always makes innovative responses imbued with the spirit of the times to the basic issues it addresses, based on the advancement and expansion of practice. Among these, the division and description of the stages of social development is a fundamental question in the history of socialist thought. In the history of socialist thought, utopian socialism was the first to explore the stages of future social development. For example, the French utopian socialist Saint-Simon viewed the process of human history's development as a mathematical "sequence" and various historical stages as the "terms" constituting that sequence; the French utopian socialist Fourier divided human social development into 4 stages and 32 periods. Unlike utopian socialism, Marx and Engels did not rely on the "accidental discovery of some genius mind" to "conjure up a social system as perfect as possible" out of thin air; rather, they started from the "hardest facts." In Critique of the Gotha Programme, Marx divided the progression from capitalist society to communist society into three developmental stages that are both distinct and interconnected: the transition period between capitalist and communist society, the first phase of communist society, and the higher phase of communist society. Marx and Engels provided important epistemological guidance and methodological reference for scientifically grasping the stages of socialist development. However, because they did not experience the practice of comprehensively governing a socialist state, their divisions of the future society's stages were primarily predictive. The issue of the developmental stages of a socialist society is more a brand-new task posed by socialist practice. Today, the changes of the times and the breadth and depth of our country’s development far exceed what the classical Marxist writers imagined at the time. Real-world practice is the source of the original development of scientific theory. Based on the development of the practice of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, General Secretary Xi Jinping made the major political conclusion at the 19th National Congress for the first time that "Socialism with Chinese Characteristics has entered a New Era," making an objective and clear judgment on the new orientation of the development of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, and providing an epochal answer to this basic question of the history of socialist thought regarding developmental stages.
From the perspective of the historical evolution of world socialism, one can more deeply understand the historical orientation of the New Era of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and its theoretical and practical significance. In January 2013, at the opening ceremony of a study session for newly elected members and alternate members of the Central Committee, General Secretary Xi Jinping analyzed the historical process of socialist thought from its inception to the present through six periods: the emergence and development of utopian socialism; Marx and Engels’ creation of the theoretical system of scientific socialism; Lenin’s leadership in the victory of the October Revolution and the practice of socialism; the gradual formation of the Soviet model; our Party’s exploration and practice of socialism after the founding of New China; and our Party’s historic decision to implement reform and opening up and the initiation and development of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics. On this basis, in January 2018, General Secretary Xi Jinping offered a profound exposition on the developmental journey of socialism from utopia to science, from theory to practice, and from one country to multiple countries. This not only deepened the understanding of the historical necessity of socialism but also expanded the rational cognition of the evolutionary trends of socialism. The great success of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in China demonstrates that socialism has not perished, will not perish, and is indeed radiating vigorous vitality. The historical evolution and contest between two ideologies and two social systems on a global scale have undergone a profound shift in favor of Marxism and socialism. Socialism with Chinese Characteristics has written a magnificent chapter in the historical development of world socialism, becoming the banner of the development of scientific socialism in the 21st century. It is in this sense that General Secretary Xi Jinping profoundly pointed out: "The success of scientific socialism in China is of immense significance to Marxism, to scientific socialism, and to world socialism."
Only by understanding the question of "where socialism came from" can one have a clear grasp and orientation regarding where it stands and where it is going. The beginning and unfolding of the New Era of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics marks the developmental form of scientific socialism under a new spatio-temporal structure and new historical conditions, labeling a new stage in the development of world socialism.
Deepening the Understanding of the Internal Laws of Motion of the Primary Stage of Socialism
The primary stage of socialism is the basic national condition and the greatest reality of contemporary China’s development. On the basis of previous understandings, the 13th National Congress of the CPC systematically expounded the theory of the primary stage of socialism and fully summarized the Party's basic line for this stage. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping, rooted in new historical conditions and practical development, has conducted profound reflection and summary regarding the theory and practice of the primary stage of socialism. General Secretary Xi Jinping’s enrichment and development of the theory of the primary stage of socialism have deepened our understanding of the internal laws of motion of this stage.
The understanding of the dialectical unity between the "changes" and the "invariants" of the primary stage of socialism has been deepened. General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized, on the one hand, the need to "firmly grasp the basic national condition of the primary stage of socialism and firmly base ourselves on the greatest reality of the primary stage of socialism," while on the other hand clearly proposing to "more accurately grasp the constantly changing characteristics of China’s primary stage of socialism." Understanding the principal contradiction in society is the "key" to grasping the stage of social development. The 19th CPC National Congress provided a new summary of the change in our country's principal contradiction [5], requiring us to focus on solving the problem of unbalanced and inadequate development on the basis of continued promotion of development, so as to better promote all-around human development and overall social progress. At the same time, we must soberly realize that the primary stage of socialism is a long historical process. The change in the principal contradiction is merely a change occurring within the historical stage of the primary stage of socialism; it has not changed our judgment regarding the historical stage of our country's socialism. The basic national condition that our country is still in, and will long remain in, the primary stage of socialism has not changed, and our country's international status as the world's largest developing country has not changed.
To grasp the basic national condition of the primary stage of socialism, one must also fully recognize the historical necessity and the staged nature of development within this primary stage. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "The primary stage of socialism is not a static, immutable, or stagnant stage, nor is it a spontaneous, passive stage that can be naturally crossed without much effort. Rather, it is a dynamic, proactive process brimming with vigor and vitality. It is a process of step-by-step progression, continuous development and progress, and the accumulation of quantitative changes leading toward a qualitative leap." This important thesis provides a profound exposition of the dialectical unity between the long-term nature and the staged characteristics, quantitative and qualitative changes, and the conformity to objective laws and purposiveness [6] of the primary stage of socialism. It demonstrates that the primary stage of socialism is a real movement and process, containing "change" within "invariance." Not only is the socialism of the primary stage different from the socialism of other stages, but it also exhibits different characteristics and features at different points in its own development. This reveals that the development of socialism in its primary stage will also undergo staged qualitative leaps through the accumulation of quantitative changes.
The concrete understanding of the specific developmental stages within the primary stage of socialism has been deepened. From late 1959 to early 1960, while reading the Soviet Union's Textbook of Political Economy, Comrade Mao Zedong divided socialist society into two successive stages of development: "undeveloped" and "comparatively developed." As to the structural manifestations of these two stages or where the boundary between them lay, these questions were not elaborated upon specifically due to the constraints of objective conditions at the time. In 1987, Comrade Deng Xiaoping stated: "Socialism itself is the primary stage of communism, and we in China are in the primary stage of socialism, which is the undeveloped stage. Everything must proceed from this reality, and plans must be formulated according to this reality." The construction and development of the primary stage of socialism is an evolutionary process that unfolds gradually and matures over time. In this process, different stages of development will emerge and different developmental vistas will be displayed. However, how to demarcate the various developmental stages within the primary stage of socialism was difficult to define clearly before the practical process had sufficiently unfolded. As practice has advanced and expanded, our understanding and grasp of it have also gradually deepened.
The major judgment that socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a New Era is of profound significance and implication; the primary stage of socialism now has a clearer historical positioning and a more focused strategic direction. Simultaneously, there is a more profound grasp of the characteristics of the new changes in the primary stage of socialism. The entry of socialism with Chinese characteristics into a New Era means that the Chinese nation, which has endured many tribulations since the beginning of modern times, has ushered in a great leap from standing up and becoming prosperous to becoming strong, and has welcomed the bright prospects of national rejuvenation. It means that scientific socialism is radiating great vitality in 21st-century China, and the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics is being held high in the world. It means that the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics have continued to develop, expanding the route for developing countries toward modernization, providing a brand-new choice for those countries and nations in the world that wish to speed up their development while maintaining their independence, and contributing Chinese wisdom and Chinese solutions to solving the problems facing humanity.
The new understanding of the internal laws of motion of the primary stage of socialism is also reflected in the analysis and judgment regarding the basic characteristics, primary basis, essential core, major significance, historical mission, timeframe, and roadmap of the "new development stage." The Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee proposed that after completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects and achieving the First Centenary Goal [7], we must build on this momentum to embark on a new journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist country and march toward the Second Centenary Goal. This marks China's entry into a new development stage. This important thesis defines the historical coordinates and goal orientation of the new development stage from the dimension of modernization stages. At the same time, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "The new development stage we are in today is a stage within the primary stage of socialism, and it is a stage that has reached a new starting point after decades of accumulation." This clarifies the relationship between the new development stage and the primary stage of socialism, indicating that the new development stage still falls within the scope of the primary stage of socialism rather than being a stage external to it.
It is worth noting that both the "New Era" and the "new development stage" are historical stages prefixed with "new" and possess an internal consistency. Their principal social contradictions and struggle goals have commonalities, and their timeframes overlap, but the two are not entirely identical. In summary, the differences are mainly reflected in the following two aspects: First, the historical starting point of the New Era is earlier than that of the new development stage. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Beginning from the 18th National Congress of the Party, socialism with Chinese characteristics entered a New Era." This clarifies that the historical starting point of the New Era is the 18th National Congress [2016]. In January 2021, at the opening of a seminar for provincial and ministerial-level leading officials, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "The next 30 years will be our new development stage for fulfilling this great historical aspiration." The new development stage began after the comprehensive completion of a moderately prosperous society and the achievement of the First Centenary Goal. Therefore, in terms of timeframe, the New Era encompasses the new development stage. Figuratively speaking, if the New Era is a large "staircase," then the new development stage is a smaller "step" within it. Second, from the perspective of the historical mission they carry, the New Era is to complete the goals of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and building a great modern socialist country in all respects, while the new development stage focuses specifically on the goal of building a great modern socialist country in all respects.
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "We must strive to avoid any tendency to transcend reality or transcend stages in a rush for success, and we must resolutely correct any concepts or practices that lag behind reality, ignore profoundly changing objective facts, or remain stuck in old ways and self-seclusion." Accurately grasping and precisely evaluating the stage of socialist development and its historical positioning is the basic premise and realistic foundation for effectively carrying out socialist construction. Whenever the evaluation of the stage of socialist development conforms to objective reality, the cause of socialism tends toward prosperity and vitality; whenever the judgment of the stage transcends or lags behind objective reality, the cause of socialism suffers setbacks and takes detours. Entering the New Era of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has based itself on the new historical coordinates of China’s development. Based on a profound summary of historical experience and a scientific analysis of national conditions, it has proposed many innovative theses regarding the stages of socialist development. These theses neither lag behind reality nor transcend the current stage; they realize the original development of the theory of socialist stages in the New Era. They provide the fundamental basis for us to clarify the Party's central task on the new journey of the New Era and open up a broader space for the development of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.