Zhang Dengwen and Liu Shaoqin: The Logic of Party Leadership in Chinese-style Modernization
Modernization serves as a vital engine for human social progress and civilized development, profoundly revealing the universal characteristics of modern society and the trends of the times. Due to variations in the historical contexts and actual developmental conditions of different countries, the logic of initiating modernization and the selection of paths vary across the world. The path of Chinese-path modernization was explored and forged by the Communist Party of China (CPC) leading the Chinese people through countless hardships. The CPC’s leadership over Chinese-path modernization imbues it with a unique logic of party leadership. The report to the 20th CPC National Congress pointed out: "Chinese-path modernization is socialist modernization led by the Communist Party of China." The Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee further emphasized: "The leadership of the Party is the fundamental guarantee for further comprehensively deepening reform and advancing Chinese-path modernization." It is evident that Chinese-path modernization cannot be separated from the leadership of the CPC; only the CPC can coalesce the strength of the people, thereby gathering a powerful synergy to build a modern socialist country in all respects. On the new historical journey, to comprehensively advance Chinese-path modernization and properly resolve the various contradictions and problems arising in the process of modernization construction, we must consistently and unequivocally persist in the Party’s comprehensive leadership without wavering.
From a global perspective, whether in early-developing endogenous modernization or late-developing exogenous modernization, political parties are important forces driving national modernization. Although the magnitude and direction of a party's role vary by time and place, its promotional or dominant role in modernization is irreplaceable. In early-developing endogenous modernization countries, although political parties were products of national modernization transformations, they played an irreplaceable role in promoting the modernization of national governance—particularly by fulfilling functions such as interest coordination, representation of public opinion, and social integration to promote the democratization and rule of law in national governance. In late-developing exogenous modernization countries, political parties are often the builders of the modern state and the key force in organizing and driving national modernization. Consequently, the modernization of late-developing exogenous countries often follows a logic of institutional change under a "party-state" system.
Chinese-path modernization exhibits "party-led characteristics." The CPC organically combines its original aspiration and founding mission with modernization goals, leading Chinese-path modernization to "start during exploration, develop through reform, and improve through innovation," successfully carving out a modernization path suited to China’s national conditions. The successful practice of Chinese-path modernization provides new material and observational perspectives for the study of modernization theory: namely, when studying the process of global modernization—particularly the modernization paths of late-developing countries—the political party must be treated as a key variable. One must deeply examine its unique role in political mobilization, resource integration, and state-building. In light of this, based on an examination of the theoretical, historical, and practical logics of the CPC leading Chinese-path modernization, this article summarizes the basic experience of the CPC's leadership, analyzes the manners in which the CPC leads and ensures the smooth progress of Chinese-path modernization, and discusses path choices for the CPC's leadership on the new journey, aiming to provide academic support and practical guidance for the steady and long-term progress of Chinese-path modernization.
I. Adhering to the Leadership of the CPC is the Basic Experience and Fundamental Follow-up for Advancing Chinese-path Modernization
Party-centered modernization theory reveals the central position and core role of political parties in the modernization process of late-developing countries—that is, the leadership of a strong political party is the key factor for late-developing countries to achieve modernization. Chinese-path modernization is not a spontaneous process; rather, it was initiated by the CPC leading the people to give full play to their historical initiative through arduous exploration. Guided by Marxist theory, the CPC seized opportunities for historical change, grasped the developmental characteristics of China as a late-developing modernization country, continuously planned the layout for Chinese-path modernization construction, implemented strategic deployments for modernization step-by-step, and propelled Chinese-path modernization construction to achieve brilliant successes. Adhering to the Party's leadership is both a consistent principle upheld by Marxist political parties and a valuable experience from over a century of exploring Chinese-path modernization; it is also a scientific synthesis of the laws governing the success or failure of modernization construction in other countries.
(1) Adhering to the CPC's leadership over Chinese-path modernization is the inheritance and development of Marxist party theory and construction experience
The Marxist theory of proletarian party leadership serves as the theoretical foundation for the proletariat to lead socialist revolution, construction, and reform, providing a scientific theoretical guide for the CPC to lead the construction of a modern socialist country. Engels pointed out: "Where history begins, the train of thought must also begin." Marxist party theory emerged from the political struggle of the proletariat against the bourgeoisie, providing powerful theoretical guidance for the proletarian party and the proletarian revolution it leads. Marx and Engels believed that proletarian revolution and dictatorship are inseparable from the leadership of the proletarian party. In the Rules of the Communist League, they clearly stipulated the organizational setup and operational rules of the League, emphasizing that all branches and districts must accept the unified command and leadership of the Central Committee. Addressing the problem of loose connections between certain districts/branches and the Central Committee, Marx and Engels explicitly stated that every branch and district must maintain close contact with the Central Committee, "because revolutionary activity can only exert its full strength under conditions of centralization." In the 1860s, the erroneous ideas of "branch autonomy" and "free association" advocated by anarchists represented by Bakunin misled the international proletarian movement. Engels severely criticized these erroneous thoughts, noting that those who oppose the leadership and authority of the proletarian party "are only revolutionaries in words" and have no idea what revolution is. If the proletarian revolution lacks a strong party to lead it, even with powerful socio-political forces, it would be difficult to complete the arduous revolutionary tasks. Acts and words that emphasize full autonomy for branches and "describe the principle of autonomy as something absolutely good" would only lead the proletarian revolution into a dangerous state of failure. Just as an orchestra requires a conductor, the deployment of revolutionary forces requires unified leadership: "To ensure the success of the revolution, there must be unity of thought and action," while "the Paris Commune perished precisely due to a lack of centralization and authority."
Inheriting the Marxist-Engelsian theory of the proletarian party, Lenin conducted in-depth theoretical and practical explorations into the issue of proletarian party leadership based on the requirements of the era and the reality of Soviet Russia. After the victory of the October Revolution, the fledgling Soviet regime faced an extremely severe domestic and international environment. Lenin pointed out that the Communist Party "should be built according to the principle of democratic centralism [1]." If the proletarian party "also lacks a sufficiently prestigious and powerful leading center" to unify the will and action of the people, the socialist construction of Soviet Russia would be unable to move forward by even a single step. Lenin believed that strict party discipline is a powerful weapon for maintaining the Party's leadership. Only when the Party’s line, principles, and policies are guaranteed by strict discipline can they remain undistorted and undeformed throughout every stage of implementation. He proposed that "iron discipline, similar to military discipline, must be implemented within the Party" to unify thought, will, and action. Lenin resolutely opposed acts that challenged party authority, such as factional activities and decentralism, stating that "any factional activity is harmful and impermissible" and must be strictly punished. During the process of socialist construction in Soviet Russia, Lenin emphasized that the whole Party must unconditionally obey the unified will of the Party Central Committee: "the will of tens and hundreds of thousands of people can be embodied by a single person," and "to completely eliminate the state of destruction, it is necessary to implement centralism and abandon purely local interests." In other words, only under the unified leadership and command of the Party could the socialist construction of Soviet Russia proceed in an orderly manner.
Since its founding, the CPC has attached great importance to the issue of leadership, combining the Marxist-Leninist theory of party leadership with the realities of China’s revolution, construction, and reform, thereby forming a theory of party leadership with Chinese characteristics. Mao Zedong pioneered the important principle of "establishing Party branches at the company level [2]," clarifying the vital significance of Party leadership in commanding the military. To strengthen the Party’s centralized and unified leadership, Mao Zedong resolutely opposed "subjectivism," "sectarianism," "mountain-stronghold-ism [3]," and "decentralism." During the Long March, the Party Central Committee represented by Mao Zedong resolutely opposed Zhang Guotao's attempt to establish a separate "Central Committee." At the Sixth Plenary Session of the Sixth CPC Central Committee, Mao Zedong proposed political discipline for the Party centered on the "Four Subordinations [4]." After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Party Central Committee further refined the institutional design of Party leadership; Mao Zedong emphasized: "Among the seven sectors—industry, agriculture, commerce, education, the military, government, and the Party—the Party leads everything." After the reform and opening up, Comrade Deng Xiaoping explicitly proposed "improving the system of Party leadership" and strengthening the Party's leadership over national and social life. In the 1990s, amidst a changing international landscape and heavy domestic tasks of reform and construction, Comrade Jiang Zemin emphasized strengthening Party building by "reforming and improving the Party’s leadership style and governing style." Entering the 21st century, Comrade Hu Jintao closely linked Party building with Party leadership, emphasizing the strengthening of the Party's governing capacity and its advanced nature. Since the 18th National Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized strengthening the Party’s leadership, requiring the entire Party to resolutely achieve the "Two Upholds," and explicitly pointing out that "adhering to the Party's leadership is a matter of direction" and must never be shaken in the slightest.
In summary, Marxist theory regarding the authority and centralized, unified leadership of the Party Central Committee profoundly elucidates the major historical mission shouldered by the proletarian party. It provides a solid theoretical foundation and scientific guide for action for the proletarian party to lead the people in socialist revolution and modernization construction. Looking back at over a century of history, adhering to the CPC's leadership over Chinese-path modernization is both the inheritance and development of Marxist party theory and a core component of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important discourses on China’s new-type party system and Chinese-path modernization.
(2) Adhering to the CPC's leadership over Chinese-path modernization is a theoretical summary of the experience of China’s modernization construction since modern times
Building China into a powerful modern country has been the diligent pursuit of the Chinese nation since the beginning of modern history. In a sense, the century-long history of struggle by the CPC is a history of modernization exploration and construction in which the Party led the people to brave the winds and waves and forge ahead. Generation after generation of Chinese communists have continued to explore the path of Chinese-path modernization through a journey intertwined with hardship and glory, striving unceasingly for national prosperity and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. It is precisely under the Party’s strong leadership that China’s modernization construction has achieved remarkable successes from theory to practice, creating a brand-new paradigm distinct from the Western modernization path.
Chinese-path modernization was initially a passive modernization, "starting under the era background of 'external aggression—internal response'." As a late-developing exogenous modernization country, before the founding of the CPC, modern China's exploration of modernization was a passive or even forced behavior. Whether in terms of initial stimulus, demonstration effects, or the methods and paths of modernization, it was influenced by the external world. The modernization schemes proposed by the landlord class, the peasantry, and the bourgeoisie for saving the country and people mostly took the imitation of Western countries as their blueprint, focusing on learning from Western artifacts, systems, and ideology/culture; however, these schemes all ended in failure. In 1921, the birth of the CPC provided China's modernization with a strong leadership core, and "the Chinese people turned from being passive to active in spirit." Since its birth, the CPC has never stopped exploring the path of modernization, opening the way for Chinese-path modernization by leading revolutionary movements and creating proletarian political power. In 1938, Mao Zedong used the term "modernization" for the first time, explicitly stating that "the reform of the military system cannot be separated from modernization." As the revolutionary situation became increasingly clear, the Second Plenary Session of the Seventh CPC Central Committee proposed the strategic goal of "steadily transforming China from an agricultural country into an industrial country," establishing a modernization path for our country’s transition from a backward agricultural nation to an advanced industrial one. In short, during the New Democratic Revolution period, in the process of leading the struggle for national independence and people's liberation, the CPC gradually realized that China had been swept into the global wave of modernization. To thoroughly rid the country of political oppression and economic exploitation and build China into a prosperous, powerful, free, and democratic advanced nation, it was necessary to follow the trend of the times and take the path of modernization transformation. The CPC combined the democratic revolution with the advancement of national modernization, driving our country's modernization from—
Shifting from "passive response" to "active pursuit of change" has accumulated valuable experience for the Communist Party of China (CPC) in finding the correct path to modernization.
During the period of socialist revolution and construction, the CPC’s strategic vision for Chinese modernization focused on industrialization and aimed at achieving the "Four Modernizations." Starting in 1953, guided by the General Line for the Transition Period [5], the CPC initiated large-scale industrial construction. In 1957, the First Five-Year Plan was over-fulfilled, resulting in rapid growth of the national economy and significant achievements in industrialization. A large number of major projects and key engineering works were completed, raising industrial production capacity and technical levels to a new height. The exploration of industrialization during this period laid an important foundation for the strategic concept of the "Four Modernizations." In 1957, Mao Zedong first explored the issue of "Three Modernizations," namely modern industry, modern agriculture, and modern science and culture. Subsequently, due to drastic changes in the international situation, the CPC made a new assessment of the national security landscape, and Mao Zedong added "modernization of national defense" to the initial three. In 1964, Zhou Enlai explicitly proposed the construction tasks of the "Four Modernizations" and elevated them to the strategic height of socialist construction, proposing a "two-step" approach to fully realize them. In 1975, Zhou Enlai made specific chronological arrangements for the "two-step" strategy and called upon the people of the whole country to strive for the comprehensive realization of the "Four Modernizations" within the 20th century. From modernization in general to socialist modernization, from "one industrialization" to the "four modernizations," and from a backward agrarian country to an industrial country with a complete industrial system, the goals of modernization led by the CPC became increasingly concrete, gradually carving out a path for modernization suited to China’s realities.
During the new period of reform, opening up, and socialist modernization, the CPC led the people in forging a Chinese-path modernization. After the start of reform and opening up, Chinese communists, represented by Comrade Deng Xiaoping, integrated reform and opening up with socialist modernization, driving China’s modernization to achievements that attracted worldwide attention. In 1979, at a theoretical work conference [6], Deng Xiaoping pointed out that China’s modernization could not blindly copy Western models but must proceed from reality to "blaze a trail for Chinese-path modernization." To vividly and profoundly explain the unique connotation of this path, Deng emphasized that Chinese-path modernization was not like that of the West, but was rather a "house of moderate prosperity" (xiaokang zhijia [7]). Xiaokang represents the deep yearning and pursuit of the Chinese nation since ancient times for an ideal society characterized by affluence, well-being, fairness, and justice. Deng Xiaoping’s use of the expression "house of moderate prosperity" to interpret the path of Chinese-path modernization was not only easy to understand but also reflected its distinctive characteristics. As the modernization process advanced, the CPC realized that "the tasks of modernization are manifold, and all aspects require comprehensive balance." While the "Four Modernizations" spoke more to the material and technical levels, for a large developing country like China, realizing modernization also required emphasizing the building of spiritual civilization. Entering the 21st century, China successfully achieved overall moderate prosperity (xiaokang), and the phased goals of modernization were basically completed. However, the moderate prosperity achieved at that time was still at a low level, incomplete, and very unevenly developed. Against this background, the Party Central Committee proposed the strategic goal of "building a moderately prosperous society in all respects" and clearly planned the steps to advance from overall moderate prosperity to comprehensive moderate prosperity. At this point, the requirements for China’s modernization "began to move from reaching standards toward high-quality development."
In the New Era, the CPC has led the people in pushing Chinese-path modernization forward through struggle and enhancement. The construction of Chinese-path modernization has entered a new stage, shifting from growth in material levels to comprehensive advancement and high-quality development across all fields. Under the Party’s comprehensive leadership, China’s comprehensive national strength has steadily increased, common prosperity for all people has been steadily advanced, the socialist system has become more mature and finalized, and Chinese-path modernization has developed in depth. The 20th CPC National Congress drew up a grand blueprint for building a modern socialist country in all respects, and the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee specifically studied the issue of "further comprehensively deepening reform and advancing Chinese-path modernization," pointing the way forward.
The road is broad and the future is bright. For over a century, the CPC has always observed development trends with a profound historical perspective and grasped the pulse of the times with expansive strategic thinking. By forging ahead while carrying on the cause, the Party has driven Chinese-path modernization to continuous historical breakthroughs. The successful exploration of Chinese-path modernization demonstrates to the world through irrefutable facts: the fundamental reason Chinese-path modernization has achieved such world-renowned glory lies in the strong leadership of the CPC.
(3) Upholding CPC Leadership over Chinese-path Modernization is a Theoretical Reflection on the Experiences and Lessons of Other Countries’ Modernization
History is the best sobering agent. Summing up the experiences and lessons of other countries’ modernization provides an important mirror for the CPC’s leadership of Chinese-path modernization. The Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) was once one of the most powerful political parties in the world. Lenin led the Bolshevik Party to establish the world's first socialist state, fundamentally changing the direction of human social development. Established in 1922, the Soviet Union saw the CPSU begin implementing "Five-Year Plans," relying on a highly centralized planned economic system to effectively mobilize the nation's human, material, and financial resources for industrialization and modernization. In just over a decade, this enabled the Soviet Union to transform from an agrarian country to an industrial one, rapidly becoming the world's second-largest industrial power. At its peak, the Soviet Union demonstrated formidable strength in economy, science and technology, military, and education, engaging in fierce competition and confrontation with the United States globally, at one point overwhelming the US in strategic posture. However, even for a socialist state as powerful as the Soviet Union, as the CPSU’s governing capacity weakened, its ideology became "Westernized," and it drifted away from the masses, its modernization ultimately fell into the predicament of institutional rigidity and developmental stagnation. During the Gorbachev period, the CPSU gradually lost its core leadership position during the so-called "New Thinking" reforms, eventually leading to the collapse of the world's first large socialist country and the abrupt end of its modernization process. This historical tragedy serves as a profound warning: the modernization of a socialist country must always uphold and strengthen Party leadership; any practice that weakens it will bring disastrous consequences.
For late-developing countries, whether they possess the leadership of a strong political party is key to determining if they can effectively respond to complex internal and external environments and achieve modernization. "Strong party leadership is a basic experience of modernization in late-developing countries." Looking at the modernization processes of some developing countries, an important reason they stagnate at certain stages or fall into the "middle-income trap" is the lack of leadership from a strong political party. As Huntington stated, "Those modernizing countries which have achieved or may be considered to have achieved high levels of political stability possess at least one strong political party." After World War II, some developing countries failed to achieve national strength and prosperity during their modernization; instead, they fell into the trap of political turmoil and social disorder by blindly copying Western democratic models. Fundamentally, these countries generally lacked a modern political party with strong political leadership and long-term strategic vision. This profound lesson confirms from the negative side the extreme importance of a strong party’s leadership for national modernization. Thus, upholding CPC leadership over Chinese-path modernization is both a basic experience of our own modernization and a theoretical summary of the experiences and lessons of late-developing countries.
II. Party Leadership Provides the Fundamental Guarantee for Advancing Chinese-path Modernization
Modern politics is party politics, and political parties are important forces driving the modernization process. In the process of China’s state-building, the CPC possesses the dual identity of both the leading party and the governing party. The Party’s leadership, creativity, and governing capacity are key to determining the steady advancement and high quality development of Chinese-path modernization. The CPC is the highest force for political leadership in Chinese-path modernization. Party leadership is the greatest source of confidence and the fundamental guarantee that Chinese-path modernization can always maintain the correct direction, consolidate China’s strength, and proceed in an orderly manner within a stable and harmonious environment. Under the leadership of the CPC, Chinese-path modernization exhibits a logic of "proactive, stagewise, and incremental" expansion, reflecting the distinct characteristics of party guidance.
(1) Party Leadership Ensures the Steady Advancement of Strategic Planning for Chinese-path Modernization
In leading the construction of Chinese-path modernization, the CPC has demonstrated exceptional strategic planning capabilities and a sense of historical responsibility. This is the crux of why China has successfully forged a modernization path suited to its own national conditions. By formulating strategic plans, the CPC organically combines the long-term nature of modernization with phased development, driving socialist modernization to continuously open new horizons. For a large developing country like China to realize modernization, there are no precedents to follow or ready-made paths to take. Without the CPC’s scientific strategic planning and guidance, neither the construction of Chinese-path modernization nor the country’s long-term development goals could be smoothly realized.
From a global perspective, only China’s modernization possesses stable and continuous strategic planning. This is both a distinctive feature and a significant advantage of Chinese-path modernization. Reviewing its history, as the navigator and backbone of Chinese-path modernization, the CPC has always formulated strategic plans with reasonable time spans, comprehensive coverage, and scientifically structured components. These plans have ensured that China’s cause of modernization advances through reform and improves through development. From "industrialization" to the "Four Modernizations," from the "three-step" strategy [8] to the "new three-step" strategy and then the "two-step" strategy, the concepts of Chinese-path modernization have become more comprehensive and its strategies more clear. The strategic arrangements made by the CPC are not only magnificent in scale but also rare in their historical span, reflecting the long-term vision and grand spirit of the Party in accurately grasping historical trends and the pulse of the era.
Entering the New Era, the CPC has based itself on the present while looking to the future, making a series of new strategic deployments and plans. The Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee initiated a new journey of comprehensively deepening reform, proposing for the first time the major proposition of "modernizing the state governance system and capacity." The 19th CPC National Congress painted a grand blueprint for socialist modernization, proposing strategic plans regarding a "period of historical convergence" and two "fifteen-year" stages. The Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, combining the new characteristics of modernization, emphasized the synchronized development of the "New Four Modernizations" and made their realization one of the long-range objectives for basically achieving socialist modernization by 2035. The 20th CPC National Congress systematically planned the central tasks of the Party and the country for the coming period, explicitly proposing to "comprehensively advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization." The Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee made specific plans for further comprehensively deepening reform and advancing Chinese-path modernization, providing a basic framework and guide for action in building a modern socialist country in all respects. These strategic deployments and plans, interconnected and mutually supporting, form a systematic and complete strategic planning system, fully reflecting the CPC’s profound grasp of the laws of modernization and demonstrating the significant advantages of Party leadership and the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
(2) Party Leadership Ensures that Chinese-path Modernization Always Advances Along the Socialist Road
The choice of a path toward modernization has long been a difficult problem troubling countries worldwide, particularly late-developing nations; it is a fundamental issue concerning the future of the state, the destiny of the nation, and the well-being of the people. Fundamentally, the selection and formation of a country's modernization path are decided by its historical traditions and actual national conditions. The differences in historical traditions and real-world development across the globe dictate the diversity of developmental paths toward modernization. In the historical narrative of global modernization, Western countries followed a path of hegemony and predation. Utilizing the first-mover advantage of economic globalization and modernization to continuously engage in colonial conquest and resource plunder against other nations was the key to the success of modernization in those old imperialist states. However, the modernization path of Western countries is non-reproducible; for late-developing nations pursuing paths of autonomy, endogeneity, and peaceful development, it offers little in terms of reference. Historical experience demonstrates that choosing a modernization path suited to national conditions can propel a country's rapid development, whereas blindly imitating other countries and adopting a strategy of "taker-ism" [9] will lead a nation into a development crisis.
Chinese-path modernization possesses distinct characteristics of Party leadership; without the leadership of the Party, Chinese-path modernization would lose its backbone and deviate from the correct direction. The fundamental reason why Chinese-path modernization has been able to continuously open new horizons, write new chapters, and embark on new journeys is that the Communist Party of China (CPC) has consistently adhered to the socialist road while leading and advancing the process of Chinese-path modernization. First, as a mission-driven party, the CPC closely integrates its original aspiration and founding mission with the missions of national prosperity and ethnic rejuvenation, becoming the dominant force in modern state-building and in leading national modernization. In the developmental process of China’s transition from a traditional to a modern society, the CPC not only led the people in completing the New Democratic Revolution—enabling Chinese-path modernization to realize the shift from imitating Western paths to an autonomous exploration of its own path—but also integrated Marxist theory with the realities of Chinese construction and reform, opening a new path for Chinese-path modernization characterized by its socialist nature and Chinese features. Second, as a development-and-reform-oriented party, the CPC is capable of reforming policies and systems that do not adapt to the developments of the times based on the actual conditions of state governance and changes in the social environment. It formulates new strategies and policies that meet the expectations of the masses in accordance with the characteristics of the era. From reform to comprehensively deepening reform, and further to further comprehensively deepening reform, the CPC has taken proactive initiative, leading the people to "gnaw on hard bones," [10] "wade through dangerous shoals," [11] and venture to "perform surgery" on chronic institutional ailments. It resolutely removes all institutional and mechanistic obstacles hindering the smooth advancement of Chinese-path modernization, driving that modernization to continuously achieve new breakthroughs on the socialist road. Finally, as a vanguard party, the CPC ensures that Chinese-path modernization always highlights a people-centered value orientation. It provides scientific guidance for the path of Chinese-path modernization through the theoretical achievements of the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism, effectively resisting the ideological infiltration and "color revolution" attempts of Western countries, ensuring that the socialist nature of Chinese-path modernization does not change and its direction does not shift.
(3) Party Leadership Coalesces Chinese Strength to Advance Chinese-path Modernization
As the core component of the modern political system, political parties are the singular subjects for integrating social forces and coalescing the synergy for modernization. The fundamental reason why some developing countries stagnate in the process of modernization and find it difficult to escape the "middle-income trap" lies in the lack of a powerful party to carry out political and social integration. In essence, for late-developing nations, the exercise of a party's integration function is one of the important ways to promote national modernization. "China is undergoing a 'compressed modernization'; in this short and intense process," [12] how to make various social groups and organizations strive toward a common goal is a major issue that Chinese-path modernization must resolve. In a populous country like China, bringing together the wisdom and strength of over 1.4 billion people to carry out modernization is a great undertaking without precedent. Without a powerful party characterized by organization, discipline, and the ability to truly represent the interests of the people as the leadership core to integrate social forces, the goals of Chinese-path modernization would be impossible to achieve. The CPC is the highest and only leadership force in the construction of Chinese-path modernization, possessing powerful organizational capacity, mobilizing power, and cohesion, capable of coalescing the wisdom and strength of all Chinese people in the process of building Chinese-path modernization.
Unlike political parties in Western countries that adhere to "capital-centrism" and represent the interests of specific groups, the CPC is a party that adheres to a people-centered approach and represents the fundamental interests of all people. Looking back at history, in the process of China’s transformation from a backward agricultural country into a modern state, the reason we have been able to continuously overcome various difficulties and challenges is that the CPC has been able to unite and coalesce the majestic strength of the people of all ethnic groups across the country. Entering the New Era, the CPC has anchored itself in the changes of the principal contradiction in Chinese society. [13] Taking the comprehensive building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects and the comprehensive deepening of reform as points of departure, the Party actively resolves social contradictions and coordinates the interests of all parties, providing a powerful guarantee for coalescing strength and overcoming difficulties on the new journey of Chinese-path modernization. Currently, China's modernization is advancing at an unprecedented speed. If there were no CPC to "take a strategic perspective and manage the overall situation" [14], "concentrate energy on major affairs," and "coordinate all parties to gather strength," the cause of Chinese-path modernization would not proceed smoothly. In a word, only by upholding Party leadership can the wisdom and strength of over 1.4 billion people be gathered into an invincible force, fully stimulating all sons and daughters of the Chinese nation to use a "giant brush" [15] soaked in the lifeblood of struggle to continue writing the magnificent chapters of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on the new journey.
(4) Party Leadership Provides Security Guarantees for Advancing Chinese-path Modernization
Whether the pace of a country's journey toward modernization is steady and whether its construction goals can be smoothly achieved depends to a large extent on whether it possesses a secure and stable development environment. If national security is not guaranteed, social progress is impossible, and the blueprint for modernization cannot even be discussed. Only by building a solid defense line for national security and creating a stable and harmonious social atmosphere can a wide path be opened for modernization. The Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee pointed out: "National security is an important foundation for the steady and long-term progress of Chinese-path modernization." This important thesis profoundly reveals the relationship between Chinese-path modernization and national security. The world today is in an era of unprecedented great change; the international and domestic situations are complex and multifaceted. Chinese-path modernization faces unprecedented opportunities but is also accompanied by many challenges. From the international perspective, the momentum for world economic growth is waning, globalization is encountering counter-currents, unilateralism and hegemonism are rising, "Cold War" thinking persists, undercurrents of "color revolutions" are surging, and various traditional and non-traditional security factors are emerging. The world order is entering a historical process of great upheaval, division, and reorganization, and international security faces major challenges. From the domestic perspective, as the global economic environment changes, the internal and external economic situations have become increasingly complex, and the tasks of comprehensively deepening reform are arduous. How to better advance Chinese-path modernization, promote coordinated development between urban and rural areas and regions, foster the coordinated development of material and spiritual civilizations, and achieve common prosperity for all people is an exceptionally difficult task and challenge. To fully advance Chinese-path modernization while "accurately identifying changes, scientifically responding to changes, and proactively seeking changes," an environment of security and stability is indispensable. Facing complex domestic and international situations, the CPC consistently combines risk prevention with risk mitigation, creating a favorable security environment for Chinese-path modernization.
Entering the New Era, the Party Central Committee has continuously strengthened centralized and unified leadership over national security work. On the basis of accurately grasping new opportunities and challenges, and with a keen eye for observing the new situations and changes in national security and development, it creatively proposed the Holistic Approach to National Security, continuously promoting the modernization of the national security system and capacity. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized the need to coordinate the two major issues of development and security, "integrating secure development throughout all areas and the entire process of national development." Under the strong leadership of the Party, the institutional mechanisms in the field of China's national security have been continuously refined. A scientifically complete national security governance system covering fields such as political security and territorial security has been gradually established, creating a stable and orderly social environment and providing an indestructible security guarantee for the comprehensive advancement of Chinese-path modernization, serving as a solid backing for the steady progress of modernization.
III. Path Choices for Upholding CPC Leadership over Chinese-path Modernization on the New Journey
The CPC is a mission-driven party, fundamentally different from those political parties in Western countries born as tools for elections. From the day of its birth, the CPC shouldered the dual mission of national independence and national rejuvenation. It had to lead the Chinese people not only in completing a political revolution amidst the historical background of interwoven internal and external crises but also in modern state-building and national modernization. In this sense, the leadership of the CPC is the prerequisite for initiating and advancing Chinese-path modernization. Chinese-path modernization cannot exist without the leadership of the CPC; for every step forward in Party building, the pace of constructing Chinese-path modernization follows suit. On the new journey, only by implementing Party leadership in all fields, aspects, and links of modernization, and consciously implementing the Central Committee's decisions and deployments regarding modernization, can we better advance Chinese-path modernization to a new level.
(1) Upholding the Centralized and Unified Leadership of the Party, and Playing the Core Leadership Role of the Party in Chinese-path Modernization
"While affairs are in the four quarters, the essential lies in the center"; [16] "upholding the centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee is the highest political principle." In advancing Chinese-path modernization, if the Party Central Committee does not have an authority that "settles as the final word," [17] the Party's organizational system will face the risk of fragmentation and disorder, the Party's leadership power will be greatly diminished, and the grand blueprint for building a modern socialist country will be difficult to realize. On the new journey, to continue writing this "great article" of Chinese-path modernization, we must fundamentally rely on the Party's centralized leadership and unified command, giving full play to the Party's role as the core of leadership throughout the entire process of comprehensively advancing Chinese-path modernization. Only thus can we maintain the correct direction and plan for the overall situation of Chinese-path modernization.
Upholding the Party's leadership over Chinese-path modernization fundamentally means upholding the Party Central Committee's centralized and unified leadership over it. This requires that all Party comrades must firmly establish the "Four Consciousnesses" [18] and resolutely achieve the "Two Upholds," remaining clear-headed in the face of major issues of right and wrong, maintaining focus in the face of temptations and challenges, and moving in the same direction as the Party Central Committee. First, we must resolutely implement the major decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee regarding Chinese-path modernization. Party organizations at all levels, from the central to the local, must assume primary responsibility for various modernization tasks, continuously strengthening the sense of responsibility among Party members and cadres in socialist modernization, so that the entire Party remains highly consistent with the Party Central Committee in the actions to build a modern socialist country in all respects. Second, we must strictly enforce the Party's political discipline and political rules, maintain a rigorous political life within the Party, persistently purify the political ecosystem, and ensure that supervision, discipline enforcement, and accountability are detailed and substantive, thereby guaranteeing the smooth advancement of Chinese-path modernization. Finally, we must adhere to democratic centralism. To better uphold the authority and centralized, unified leadership of the Party Central Committee, democratic centralism must be implemented throughout the entire process of building a modern socialist country. We must give full play to the advantages of democracy to solicit suggestions and pool wisdom for Chinese-path modernization, while also giving full play to the advantages of centralism to unify thinking and concentrate strength, providing an efficiency guarantee for the effective implementation of various modernization policies.
(2) Refining the System of Party Leadership, and Transforming the Advantages of Party Leadership into Effective Action in the Construction of Chinese-path Modernization
"Governing the country depends on the compass and square; stabilizing the state relies on the yardstick." [19] National governance must rely on clear systems and standards; the smooth advancement of Chinese-path modernization is no different. The system of Party leadership is the fundamental leadership system of our country, occupying the central axis of the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics. It possesses unique advantages in maintaining political stability, coalescing social consensus, maintaining close ties with the masses, overseeing the overall situation, and coordinating all parties; it is an important institutional guarantee for maintaining the unity of vitality and order in Chinese-path modernization. Therefore, to better advance Chinese-path modernization, it is necessary to continuously refine the system of Party leadership, making it more mature and well-defined, and better transforming the advantages of Party leadership into effective outcomes for building a modern socialist country.
First, we must enhance the interconnectedness and synergy of the construction of the system of Party leadership, continuously refining specific systems for the Party's leadership over various undertakings of Chinese-path modernization. The rule of law is the way the Party leads the building of a socialist modern country...
is an effective method, serves as an important vehicle through which the advantages of Party leadership are transformed into state-building efficacy. To this end, we must ensure the organic unity of Party leadership and the rule of law, ensuring that every specific institution can stand firm, remain viable, and function effectively in the practice of modernization. Simultaneously, we must integrate the system of Party leadership into the construction of the legal and regulatory system in a led, planned, and step-by-step manner, making the system of Party leadership better adapted to the new situations and requirements of comprehensively building a modern socialist country.
Second, we must strictly implement the system of Party leadership and fully release its institutional efficacy. The vitality of an institution lies in its implementation; if a good system is not grasped and implemented, it becomes a "hollow shell" or a "fancy facade" [20], which not only fails to produce institutional efficacy but also damages institutional credibility. Only by implementing the system of Party leadership in every aspect of modernization can its institutional efficacy be manifested. On the one hand, implementing the system of Party leadership must be placed in a prominent position. The entire Party must firmly establish an institutional consciousness, consciously comply with the system of Party leadership, and defend the Party's leading authority, ensuring that Party organizations at all levels are interconnected and act in unison, so that the system of Party leadership takes root in the construction of socialist modernization. On the other hand, supervision over the execution of the system of Party leadership must be strengthened to promote its vigorous implementation and ensure that it effectively plays its role in the modernization process.
(3) Improving the methods of Party leadership and integrating Party leadership throughout the entire process of Chinese-path modernization
The Communist Party of China is the backbone, the planner, and the promoter of Chinese-path modernization. The Party's leadership over Chinese-path modernization is characterized by its overarching, penetrating, and comprehensive nature. It is a leadership over all directions, all fields, and the entire process—not over a single link or aspect. Whether the methods of Party leadership are scientific or not directly relates to the success or failure of modernization. Improving methods of leadership and raising the level of leadership does not mean placing the Party's leadership outside the modernization system; rather, it means integrating Party leadership as an endogenous force into every field and the entire process of Chinese-path modernization.
To continuously improve the Party's level of leadership over Chinese-path modernization, we need to constantly improve the Party's methods of leadership and governance, making Party leadership more adaptable to the practical requirements of Chinese-path modernization. First, we must persist in governance in accordance with the Constitution and the law, focusing on the optimization and synergy of Party and government functions, to continuously strengthen the Party's leadership capacity and improve the government's execution capacity. For issues involving overall deployment, comprehensive planning, and major principles in modernization, we must persist in collective discussion and decision-making by Party committees. For specific, routine work in modernization, government departments should manage and implement them according to their scope of functions and powers. Second, we must vigorously develop intra-Party democracy to promote the democratization and scientific rigor of major decision-making [21] in the Party’s leadership of comprehensively building a modern socialist country. On the one hand, we must further improve the intra-Party discussion and decision-making mechanisms to promote scientific, democratic, and law-based decision-making. Any major matter in modernization must undergo full democratic deliberation and extensive consultation, and decisions must be made in strict observance of the principles of collective leadership, democratic centralism, individual preparation, and meeting-based determination. On the other hand, we must construct a scientific, standardized, and effective decision-making supervision mechanism, giving full play to the supervisory role of the broad masses of Party members, officials, and the people in major decisions involving the construction of a modern socialist country.
(4) Promoting the Party's self-revolution to enhance its power to lead the comprehensive advancement of Chinese-path modernization
The Communist Party of China is a mission-oriented party, and the courage to engage in self-revolution is its most distinctive character. Since its founding, the Party has linked the prosperity or decline of the nation with modernization, consciously shouldering the historical mission of promoting Chinese-path modernization. Party building and the construction of Chinese-path modernization have always moved in the same direction. The Party's self-revolution is a process of continuous self-purification, self-perfection, and self-renewal; it is also a process of the Party constantly responding to the epochal questions of Chinese-path modernization and driving China's transformation from a "latecomer" to an "overtaker" in modernization.
In different historical periods, Chinese-path modernization faces various difficult problems, and conducting self-revolution is the Party's important "magic weapon" [22] for solving them. Entering the New Era, we are marching toward the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with an unstoppable pace, and we have more confidence and capability than at any time in the past to build China into a great modern country. The closer we are to the goal and the more complex the situation becomes, the more it objectively requires our Party to make good use of the weapon of self-revolution to continuously inject vigor and vitality into the cause of Chinese-path modernization. On the new journey, facing new historical missions and tasks, the CPC leads social revolution through its own self-revolution, constantly opening new horizons for Chinese-path modernization to ensure the Party can maintain its leading and driving power over Chinese-path modernization over the long term.
Conclusion
As a new form of human civilization, Chinese-path modernization follows the general laws of modernization while possessing a specific logic of political party dominance based on a particular historical background and realistic national conditions. The domestic and international crises faced by modern China objectively determined that Chinese-path modernization must follow the historical development logic of "the entry of an advanced political party, to the leadership of the revolutionary movement, to the guidance of modernization." In this developmental logic, the CPC is not only the pioneer of the path of Chinese-path modernization but also its leader. Its strong leadership has become the distinctive feature and significant advantage of Chinese-path modernization, giving China's modernization path a unique "Chinese-style" meaning. With the tenacity of continuous struggle and long-term strategic planning and deployment, the CPC guides Chinese-path modernization to make breakthroughs through exploration and develop through innovation, creating a modernization path suited to China's national conditions. History and reality fully demonstrate that every leap in Chinese-path modernization is inseparable from the Party's strong leadership. Implementing Party leadership throughout the entire process of modernization is the key to the success of Chinese-path modernization. On the new journey of comprehensively advancing Chinese-path modernization, we need to persist in Party leadership more consistently than ever before, and we need to give full play to the greatest institutional advantage of Party leadership to ensure that socialist modernization moves steadily and far, braving the winds and waves in the new tides of the era. Therefore, deeply summarizing the valuable experience of the CPC's leadership over Chinese-path modernization and systematically explaining the fundamental guaranteed role of Party leadership is of great and far-reaching significance for the Party to unite and lead the people in turning the grand blueprint of comprehensively building a great modern socialist country into a beautiful reality.
"Chinese-path modernization is a major innovation in the theory and practice of world modernization." It abandons the old path of Western countries achieving modernization through armed expansion and colonial plunder, providing a brand-new choice for late-developing modernization countries to explore an independent modernization path through peaceful development. This modernization path has dual significance—both ethnic/national and global—making a huge contribution to the progress of human civilization. In short, the new path of Chinese-path modernization led by the CPC not only factually dispels the myth that "modernization = Westernization" but also theoretically constructs a new paradigm that transcends Western modernization theory, contributing unique Chinese wisdom to the civilizational progress and modernization process of human society.