Dong Hui: Original Contributions of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to the Historical Materialism
The historical materialist conception of history, which can also be termed historical materialism, is the science concerning human society and the laws of its evolution and development; it is an entirely new historical outlook and methodology for grasping the world and history. General Secretary Xi Jinping has explicitly pointed out: "Both history and reality demonstrate that only by upholding historical materialism can we continually raise our understanding of the laws of socialism with Chinese characteristics to a new level and continuously open up new frontiers in the development of contemporary Chinese Marxism." This important judgment profoundly reveals the fundamental ideological method by which our Party has always been able to maintain historical initiative [1] and lead the times. It is precisely based on the consistent adherence to this principle that "our Party has always viewed the history of the Chinese nation from the standpoint, viewpoint, and method of historical materialism," drawing wisdom and strength to continue advancing through the profound summation of historical experience and the exploration of historical laws. Centering on historical laws, historical trends, historical momentum, historical direction, historical experience, and historical confidence, General Secretary Xi Jinping has proposed a series of new viewpoints, judgments, and ideas. These demonstrate his scientific attitude in adhering to the guidance of historical materialism, standing at the height of the development of human civilization, accurately grasping the laws of human social development, and comprehensively understanding the path forward for Chinese-path modernization. The publication of important works such as the fifth volume of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China has further deepened and expanded these original viewpoints, systematically presenting the profound historical materialist connotations of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Facing contemporary society and penetrating deep into the overall social structure and its underlying operational logic, this Thought manifests the contemporary vitality of the historical materialist conception of history. It has achieved innovative development of historical materialism in terms of systematization and adaptation to the times, making original contributions to historical materialism.
I. Origins of Research, Problem Domains, and Major Significance
The historical materialist conception of history is a scientific outlook on history, a scientific worldview, and, moreover, a system of thought and method regarding social science. As the core theory of Marxism, historical materialism reveals the general laws of human social development. In essence, it is Marxist philosophy rather than a philosophy of history or an empirical science, and it certainly cannot be regarded as a mere application of dialectical materialism to the field of human social history. As world history enters the 21st century, the contradictions of capitalist society have undergone profound changes, the technological revolution is reshaping human modes of production, and human civilization is facing profound transformations. The historical materialist conception of history needs innovative development in light of new era changes and historical conditions. General Secretary Xi Jinping, grounded in Chinese practice and responding to the questions of the times, upholds historical materialism to scientifically, comprehensively, and dialectically recognize and grasp the laws governing the evolution of human society and the changes of the era. By applying historical materialism to the governance of socialism with Chinese characteristics, he has made valuable innovations to the historical materialist conception of history. Conducting in-depth research into the original contributions of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to historical materialism can profoundly reveal its leading significance for the development of Marxism. At the same time, it manifests the contemporary vitality of historical materialism across the dual dimensions of theory and practice, promoting the transformation of the power of Marxist truth into a practical force for achieving national rejuvenation and human progress.
At the level of problem domains, the original contributions of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to historical materialism focus on core issues such as the development and trends of social history, the drivers and laws of social development, and the status and role of historical subjects. It has achieved a categorical expansion, theoretical extension, practical innovation, and value deepening of the historical materialist conception of history, causing historical materialism to present an all-around expansion from its theoretical core to its field of practice. This expansion did not arise out of thin air; its root lies in General Secretary Xi Jinping’s grounding in practice, his adherence to the longitudinal thinking and global perspective of historical materialism to grasp the laws of human social development, and his conscious use of dialectics to bridge the outlooks on history and civilization, organically unifying the objective laws of historical development with the internal logic of the evolution of civilization. As a systematic exposition of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the fifth volume of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China provides a vivid text for our understanding of the aforementioned expansions. For example, regarding the topic of social-historical development and trends, the theory of Chinese-path modernization breaks through the single narrative of the Western modernization model, applies and develops the core principles of historical materialism, and establishes the principle of diversity in modernization paths. Regarding the drivers and laws of social development, the further comprehensive deepening of reform and the development of new quality productive forces according to local conditions reveal the innovative momentum within the movement of the basic social contradictions [2], deepening the understanding of the mechanisms driving historical development. Regarding the subjective consciousness and agency in history, the important discourse that "advancing the Party's self-revolution is the important magic weapon [3] for escaping the historical cycle of rise and fall" profoundly reflects the conscious shaping of a political party's own practice based on its grasp of laws, deepening the understanding of the mechanism of the historical subject's role. These major concepts and practices together constitute the original contributions of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to historical materialism across the dimensions of modernization paths, development drivers, forms of civilization, and Party building. They not only expand the theoretical boundaries of historical materialism but also inject it with new era connotations and practical value.
The innovations made by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to historical materialism possess multi-layered and systemic significance. They are a profound exposition of the laws of social-historical development and future prospects based on the practice of the New Era, revealing the dialectical movement of New Era history itself and reflecting the logic of historical progress. They also provide a theory and method of universal significance for us to observe and understand the relationship between individuals and society, China and the world, and the developmental process of human society in the New Era. From a theoretical perspective, Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is rooted in Chinese soil. Taking Chinese reality as the starting point of research, it has systematically deepened "the understanding of the laws of the Communist Party’s governance, the laws of socialist construction, and the laws of human social development." In the process of the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism, it has constructed a contemporary interpretive system for the historical materialist conception of history, representing an active attempt and beneficial result of the theoretical construction of China's independent knowledge system. From a practical perspective, the reason why China's economic and social development has been able to achieve major accomplishments lies in General Secretary Xi Jinping's creative application of historical materialism. Standing on Chinese practice and grasping the trends of the times, he "clarified that the principal contradiction in Chinese society is the contradiction between the people’s ever-growing need for a better life and unbalanced and inadequate development, and focused closely on this principal contradiction to advance all work." Relying on the people to promote reform and development profoundly demonstrates the truth-power of historical materialism in facing practice and leading the times. From a spiritual perspective, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "Our Party, with a great sense of historical initiative, has continuously transformed those aspects of the relations of production and productive forces, and the superstructure and economic base, that are not adapted to one another." He advocates "respecting the people’s pioneering spirit" and "contributing to the development of Marxism with a more active sense of historical responsibility and creative spirit." This fully demonstrates that historical development requires not only a profound recognition of and respect for the objective laws governing the movement of basic social contradictions but also a high degree of historical initiative to seize historical opportunities, act in accordance with the trends, and resolutely advance the great process of Chinese-path modernization and national rejuvenation.
II. The Historical Materialist Conception of History is an Important Form of the Marxist Worldview and Methodology
If one wishes to collate the original contributions of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to historical materialism, one cannot do so without researching the basic viewpoints and methods of historical materialism, including the fundamental process of historical materialist thinking.
The historical materialist conception of history is an important manifestation of the Marxist worldview and methodology. Its creation was both a great transformation in the history of human thought and cognition and a great transformation in Marxist philosophy. It was the process through which Marx critiqued capitalist society and revealed its secrets to seek the path to complete liberation, and it was also the scientific demonstration of the proletariat fulfilling its historical mission of establishing its own theory. The establishment of this scientific outlook on history showed that Marx focused on social existence based on natural existence, on human practice, and the real world created thereby. This indicates that if humans hope to reach a deep internal cognition of their own social history, they require a broad historical vision. The reason history chose Marx was precisely because he possessed such a historical vision, truly read and grasped the questions posed by the times, penetrated into the interior of human society and the depths of history, revealed the secrets contained within objective historical facts, and found the general laws of historical development.
From the perspective of texts, Marx and Engels provided many concentrated explanations of the standpoint, viewpoint, and method of historical materialism. For example, in the Preface to a Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy, Marx clearly explained why he investigated the capitalist economic system and what theory he used to guide his research, as well as why he turned to the study of political economy; this is our basic thread for understanding historical materialism. In Socialism: Utopian and Scientific, Engels discussed the basic principles of historical materialism and its significance as a worldview and methodology for the scientific understanding of socialism. In The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State, through research into the history of primitive society, he provided an authoritative exposition of the origins of classes, the state, and human civilization, further enriching the theoretical connotations of historical materialism.
Regarding its fundamental content, historical materialism mainly includes six aspects. First, social existence and historical laws. The basic question of historical materialism is that social existence determines social consciousness. This most fundamental principle maintains that one must proceed from human practice to analyze problems, penetrate the depths of human history, and discern the laws of historical development. Second, basic social contradictions and social momentum. The contradictions between the productive forces and relations of production, and between the economic base and the superstructure, constitute the basic contradictions of human society. The movement of these basic contradictions is the driver of human social development. Third, social structure and social organism. Society is based on human practical activity; its holistic existence and operation constitute the content of social-historical development. Fourth, the class viewpoint and class analysis. In class society, class struggle drives social development; class is a socio-historical phenomenon with a temporary and historical nature, and the essence of class can only be explained by looking at changes in social-economic relations. Fifth, the masses and historical subjects. Historical materialism clarifies the subject of history and provides an objective analysis and evaluation of the masses and heroic figures. The masses, engaged in material productive labor, are the subjects of social practice, the decisive force in creating history and transforming society, and the bearers of the historical mission. Sixth, world history and human civilization. World history is an objective, material historical process in which various nations break through their respective states of isolation, achieving increasingly close interaction and contact. World history shapes human civilization, and human civilization tends toward more universal and regular interactive connections.
III. The Innovative Development of the Historical Materialist Conception of History by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era
General Secretary Xi Jinping attaches great importance to the historical materialist conception of history, repeatedly emphasizing the need to uphold it and making a series of important discourses:
"Adhere to using historical materialism to understand and record history, establishing historical conclusions on the dual basis of detailed and accurate historical data and in-depth, meticulous research and analysis"; "The whole Party must uphold historical materialism and a correct outlook on Party history"; "The purpose of vigorously promoting investigation and research is to drive leading cadres at all levels to firmly establish a historical materialist outlook"; "The historical materialist viewpoint that the masses are the true heroes must not be lost"; "We must adhere to the basic historical materialist viewpoint that the people are the fundamental driving force for creating history"; "There is no end to the development of practice, no end to the emancipation of the mind, and no end to reform and opening up; reform and opening up is always in the making and never finished—this is the attitude of historical materialism"; "Only by persistently applying dialectical materialism and historical materialism can we correctly answer the major questions posed by the times and practice." These important discourses profoundly demonstrate that General Secretary Xi Jinping regards historical materialism—this scientific worldview and methodology—as the ideological key to discerning the laws of historical development and grasping the pulse of the times, and as a powerful ideological weapon for advancing various undertakings. The scientific nature of historical materialism lies in the fact that its people-centered practical character is always internally unified with historical development, providing guidance on laws and spiritual momentum for social transformation. General Secretary Xi Jinping has proposed a series of new ideas and judgments regarding methodological principles of historical research, historical subjects and social development, and the progress of civilization, achieving the innovative development of the historical materialist conception of history. Specifically, this is reflected in the following aspects:
1. Continually deepening the understanding of the laws regarding the methodological principles of historical research
General Secretary Xi Jinping upholds historical materialism and consciously applies it to the concrete realities of contemporary China. He conducts scientific analyses of the problems arising in the construction of contemporary Chinese-path modernization, accounting for the specific historical, cultural, and social contexts of historical events while remaining attentive to the progression of the contemporary world landscape. He profoundly recognizes that history is a process of inheritance and continuity, yet he also focuses on historical transformation, forming rules and methods for investigating socio-historical phenomena characterized by the innovations of the New Era.
First, he innovatively proposed the "firm establishment of a Great View of History." The "firm establishment of a Great View of History" is an innovative viewpoint proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping and a summation of the historical experience of the Communist Party of China's (CPC) struggle over more than a century. It reflects the methodological premise for the CPC's scientific, concrete, and innovative application of historical materialism in the New Era. This innovative viewpoint emphasizes "grasping the developmental pulse and correct direction of world history with a broader vision and a longer-term perspective," advocating for the "analysis of evolutionary mechanisms and the investigation of historical laws amidst the long river of history, the great tides of the times, and the shifting clouds of global affairs." This methodology breaks through the limitations of past approaches that viewed historical events in relative isolation, forming a more holistic framework for historical cognition. Its core lies in placing the CPC’s century-plus struggle within the grand coordinate system of the history of the Chinese nation's development, the history of the development of world socialism, and the history of the progress of human civilization. On the basis of clearly recognizing the "macro-logic" and "macro-trends" of our domestic social development and the development of human society, it systematically grasps the historical evolution and practical requirements of Chinese-path modernization. Firmly establishing a Great View of History requires us to "deepen our regular understanding [4] of promoting high-quality development and constructing the new development pattern within the context of the new round of technological revolution, the macro-landscape of global economic development, and the stage-specific characteristics of our country's development; and to deepen our regular understanding of the strategic thought on the Party's self-revolution amidst the comparison of the fates of Marxist parties worldwide and the realistic ordeals facing our Party's long-term governance." The innovation of firmly establishing a Great View of History lies in establishing new principles for historical research centered on macro-vision, systemic thinking, and a law-oriented approach. It emphasizes proceeding from a holistic perspective of the long river of history, the evolution of civilizations, and global interactions, transcending the cognitive limitations of stage-specific or localized views, thereby demonstrating the methodological vitality of historical materialism as a historical science.
Second, he employs the method of analyzing basic social contradictions to analyze major issues in China's development in the New Era. General Secretary Xi Jinping creatively proposed: "Only by observing the contradictory movement of the productive forces and relations of production in combination with the contradictory movement of the economic base and the superstructure, and by observing the basic social contradictions as a whole, can we comprehensively grasp the basic face and developmental direction of the entire society." Logically, the "only... then..." construction signifies a relationship of necessary conditions. This profoundly reveals the need to view the movement of basic social contradictions from a holistic and totalizing perspective, providing the methodological foundation for our scientific understanding of comprehensively deepening reform. First, this methodological innovation is fully reflected in the analysis of major issues in the New Era. It points to the historical necessity and continuity of comprehensively deepening reform. The essence of reform is the conscious adjustment of the relations of production and the superstructure based on basic social contradictions. Since the movement of basic social contradictions is a constantly changing, holistic process, reform is a continuous and deepening dynamic process: "We must further comprehensively deepen reform and opening up, continuously liberating and developing social productive forces, and liberating and strengthening social vitality." Second, this methodological innovation provides scientific guidance for identifying the point of application for reform. The holistic nature of basic social contradictions requires that reform be advanced systematically, yet it also necessitates "accurately identifying the primary contradiction and the principal aspect of the contradiction [5] one faces, and formulating concrete reform measures that suit reality." This reflects the dialectical thinking of grasping the particularity within universal contradictions and seizing key links within the holistic reform. Third, this methodological innovation profoundly reveals the internal consistency between comprehensively deepening reform, adapting to changes in the principal social contradiction, and promoting high-quality development. High-quality development is a profound response to the characteristics of the movement of basic social contradictions in the new historical stage; it is the "urgent need to better adapt to the changes in our country's principal social contradiction." Problems arising in development are a "reflection of the changes in the principal social contradiction" and must be resolved through comprehensively deepening reform at the level of systems and mechanisms. This means that high-quality development is a systemic transformation encompassing the leap of productive forces, the optimization of the relations of production, and the perfection of the superstructure. It profoundly embodies the internal requirement for the various links in the movement of basic social contradictions to mutually promote one another and advance as a whole.
- Continuously Deepening the Regular Understanding of Historical Subjects and Social Development
Historical materialism scientifically reveals the subjective and objective categories of human socio-historical development. From the dimension of the unity of epistemology and methodology, it provides a theoretical paradigm for understanding the laws of the evolution and development of human society through the combination of theory and practice. The question of the subject of historical development is the question of how to treat the people. In this regard, General Secretary Xi Jinping proposed upholding the principle of "putting the people above all else" (人民至上). This is both an important developmental concept and the value-based foundation of Chinese-path modernization, fully embodied within the institutional arrangements of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The basic laws of historical evolution are, in essence, practical issues based on the laws of the contradictory movement between productive forces and relations of production. General Secretary Xi Jinping's proposal of the new development philosophy and new quality productive forces stems precisely from the philosophical heights of "social existence determines social consciousness," fundamentally identifying the key forces driving contemporary China's development.
First, he innovatively proposed that "we must persist in putting the people above all else." This is a significant theoretical innovation in Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, as well as a contemporary development of the fundamental viewpoint in historical materialism that the people are the creators of history. This concept elevates the Marxist mass view of history into the Party’s ideal, belief, and spiritual banner, explicitly stating that "only the people are the force that creates world history." On this basis, it emphasizes "adhering to the concept of putting the people above all else and highlighting the people-oriented nature of the direction of modernization," underscoring the subjective status of the people as the creators of history and the fundamental driving force of modernization. At the theoretical level, it creatively applies the mass line to state governance from the perspective of the unity of epistemology, axiology, and the view of history, deepening and expanding the Party's mass line. "We must persist in the basic viewpoint of historical materialism that the people are the fundamental force creating history, and persist in the principal status of the people." This both internalizes the people's aspiration for a better life into the strategic planning of national development and adopts the service of the people's interests and the promotion of well-rounded human development as the highest value orientation. At the practical level, putting the people above all else is not only a consistent fundamental stance but is also continuously transformed into operational institutional practices within forms such as "developing whole-process people's democracy and ensuring that the people run the country." This ensures that the people as masters of the country is translated from a value concept into governance efficacy, vividly demonstrating that "the people are the creators of history and are the solidest foundation and the deepest strength for advancing modernization." These innovative viewpoints mark a systemic leap for the idea of the people's subjectivity from a philosophical concept to a statecraft strategy.
Second, he innovatively proposed the new development philosophy and new quality productive forces. The innovation of the theories of the new development philosophy and new quality productive forces in terms of historical materialism is primarily manifested in a profound grasp of the characteristics and requirements of the movement of basic social contradictions in the New Era. They systematically answer the major epochal question of "how to achieve high-quality development," realizing an important expansion of Marxist theories of productive forces and social development. "Implementing the new development philosophy is the inevitable path for our country's development and growth in the New Era." The "new development philosophy of innovation, coordination, green development, openness, and sharing" not only provides the fundamental guidance for economic and social development but also highlights the deepening of the Party's understanding of the laws of modernization. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, "we have fully implemented the new development philosophy, continuously deepened our understanding of the stage-specific characteristics and laws of our country's economic development, and placed greater emphasis on the high quality of development." "Implementing the new development philosophy, constructing the new development pattern, promoting high-quality development, comprehensively advancing reform and opening up, continuously improving the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and advancing the modernization of the state governance system and governance capacity" are precisely the systemic strategies proposed based on a profound insight into the contradictory movements between productive forces and relations of production, and between the economic base and the superstructure. The new development philosophy did not emerge out of thin air but is rooted in the great practice of reform and opening up. "The new development philosophy was formed during reform, and the conceptual and institutional barriers hindering high-quality development are broken through during reform." The new development philosophy provides scientific guidance for the new stage of development from multiple dimensions, including value orientation, developmental modes, and institutional construction. "Developing new quality productive forces is the internal requirement and an important point of application for promoting high-quality development." New quality productive forces represent a "state of advanced productive forces that conforms to the new development philosophy." Their essence is driven by technological innovation as the core, achieving a qualitative leap in productive forces through the innovative allocation of production factors and the deep transformation and upgrading of industries. The proposal of this concept originates from the Party's theoretical summation of China's practice of innovative development, realizing a contemporary development of Marxist productive force theory. The theory of new quality productive forces explicitly requires placing innovation in the leading position, pushing the development model from being "factor-driven" to "innovation-driven," highlighting the critical role of science and technology in modern social production. In practice, "fully implementing the new development philosophy, continuously deepening reform and opening up, vigorously developing industries with unique advantages, and developing new quality productive forces according to local conditions" is a vivid manifestation of stimulating the potential of productive forces by adjusting the relations of production and promoting high-quality development through the state of advanced productive forces. Developing new quality productive forces requires breaking down institutional and mechanistic obstacles that constrain innovation and establishing new relations of production that adapt to the development of new quality productive forces, thereby solidifying the material and technical foundation for Chinese-path modernization and "continuously opening up new fields and new tracks for development, and shaping new drivers and new advantages for development."
- Continuously Deepening the Regular Understanding of Civilizational Progress
Historical materialism holds that the transformation of the mode of production is the fundamental driving force of social development, propelling profound changes in social structures and human relations. In a civilizational sense, such transformations constitute the practical basis for civilizational progress, prompting the continuous evolution of civilizational forms. Human civilizations display rich and diverse characteristics in terms of modes of production, social organization, and value concepts, reflecting the unique wisdom of different civilizations in responding to nature and society. Therefore, historical development can be viewed as the process of forming different civilizational development paths and value systems shaped by civilizational difference and diversity. The relevant assertions proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping enrich and deepen the connotations of historical materialism, reveal civilizational diversity in the process of modernization, and provide a new theoretical paradigm for the progress of human civilization.
First, he innovatively proposed the "Five-Sphere Integrated Plan" and the "Four Comprehensives" strategic layout. The report to the 20th CPC National Congress explicitly stated that one of the great changes of the first decade of the New Era was the formation of a "scientific and complete strategic deployment," which oversees the "Four Greats" [6] and "clarifies the 'Five-Sphere Integrated Plan' and the 'Four Comprehensives' strategic layout," continuously enriching and developing the new form of human civilization. This strategic deployment is a major strategic innovation made by General Secretary Xi Jinping based on historical materialism, with a profound grasp of the basic laws and new starting point of China's economic and social development, and with an eye toward the overall situation of Chinese-path modernization and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. It realizes an innovation in the theories of social structure and social organism within historical materialism.
"Coordinating the advancement of the 'Five-Sphere Integrated Plan' and the coordinated advancement of the 'Four Comprehensives' strategic layout" is the fundamental basis for "planning the further comprehensive deepening of reform." Chinese-path modernization is a modernization of all-around development. "The further comprehensive deepening of reform must also be all-encompassing"; it "highlights the content of economic system reform while also comprehensively covering institutional and mechanistic innovations in sectors such as democracy, the rule of law, culture, society, ecological civilization, national security, national defense, and the military, as well as the reform of the Party building system." Its goal is systemic optimization and collaborative efficiency—that is, "forming holistic efficacy, where one cannot act in isolation or neglect one aspect for another." The "Five-Sphere Integrated Plan" treats the economy, politics, culture, society, and ecology as an organic whole, expanding the dimensions of the connotation of civilizational progress and constructing a new paradigm of modernization with coordinated elements. The "Four Comprehensives" strategic layout, through institutional arrangements such as comprehensively governing the country according to law and comprehensively and strictly governing the Party, strengthens the active role of the superstructure in relation to the economic base, providing a solid institutional guarantee for development. The coordinated advancement of the two innovates the driving mechanism of civilizational development and profoundly reflects the institutional advantages and governance wisdom of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
Second, he has innovatively proposed Xi Jinping Thought on Culture. Building upon the inheritance of historical materialism and rooted in the new trends of contemporary development and civilian evolution, Xi Jinping Thought on Culture has creatively expanded the theory regarding the relationship between culture and social development, providing a brand-new perspective and theoretical support for understanding the process of human civilization. This thought emphasizes the Party's leadership over culture, deepening the principles of historical materialism concerning the leading role played by a political party within the realm of ideology. It proposes "upholding the fundamental system for the guiding position of Marxism in the ideological field" to consolidate the foundations in the realms of thought, spirit, and the soul. It advocates "extensively practicing the core socialist values," thus innovatively developing the theory of culture’s reaction [7] upon the economic base within historical dialectics.
The innovativeness of this thought is centrally manifested in its deepening of the theory regarding the reaction of social consciousness and its systematic exposition of cultural confidence and its fundamental source. Cultural confidence is the more basic, broader, and deeper confidence among the "Four Confidences." General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out that "cultural confidence comes from our cultural subjectivity," emphasizing that "the creation of the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is the most powerful expression of this cultural subjectivity," and "with cultural subjectivity, one possesses a firm 'self' in the cultural sense, providing a fundamental pillar for cultural confidence." Cultural subjectivity not only constitutes the foundation of cultural confidence but further embodies the "Five Prominent Characteristics" [8] possessed by Chinese civilization, fully verifying that "Chinese civilization possesses a cultural subjectivity and exuberant vitality characterized by self-development, responding to challenges, and opening up new frontiers."
General Secretary Xi Jinping proposed the new concept of "upholding exchange and mutual learning among civilizations," requiring the Communist Party of China to "commit to promoting exchange and mutual learning among civilizations and fostering the progress of human civilization." By grasping the laws of civilizational interaction from the height of world history, he has broken through the traditional ruts of the "clash of civilizations" theory, reshaped the theoretical framework and practical logic for deepening civilizational diversity within historical materialism, and innovatively developed the Marxist view of civilization. Such discourses as "the coordinated development of material and spiritual civilizations" and "the 'Second Combination' [9] provides the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics with a more expansive and profound historical depth, expanding the cultural foundations of the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics" have perfected the dialectical relationship between culture and social development. They demonstrate that the relationship between culture and social development is not a unidirectional one of determination and being determined, but rather creates a new form of human civilization [10] characterized by subjectivity and vitality.
IV. The Theoretical Basis and Practical Logic of the Innovative Development of Historical Materialism by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era
The aforementioned discourses demonstrate the rich and significant innovative developments that Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era has contributed to historical materialism. To explore why it is able to make such contributions—that is, how these contents constitute original contributions—one must approach from the dual dimensions of theory and practice. We must both deeply excavate its inheritance and development of the basic principles of historical materialism, exploring how it achieves theoretical breakthroughs based on the questions of the times, and attend to the dimension of practice, examining the unique logic formed in the process of solving the actual problems of contemporary China.
1. The theoretical basis and practical logic of continuously deepening the understanding of the laws and methodological principles of historical research
The reason Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era has achieved original development in the methodological principles of historical research lies in General Secretary Xi Jinping’s profound grasp of the dialectical laws of historical development and the practical requirements of the New Era.
The firm establishment of a "big picture view of history" (大历史观) is a major theoretical innovation proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping, guided by Marxist historical dialectics and based on a profound grasp of historical laws. Its essence lies in breaking through the temporal and spatial limitations of traditional historical research, examining historical events within broad historical periods and long historical cycles, and scientifically recognizing the dialectical unity of historical necessity and contingency. In evaluating historical events, it both fully considers the constraints of specific historical conditions and deeply reveals the objective laws of historical development, demonstrating a grand historical vision and a high degree of historical consciousness. This innovative method analyzes the mechanisms of historical evolution through the unification of multi-dimensional perspectives—the long river of history, the tides of the times, and global winds and clouds—constructing a scientific and systematic system of historical cognition that links the past to the future through dialectical thinking. From the dimension of practice, the formation of the big picture view of history is based on the practical needs of governance in the New Era. Facing the overall strategy of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the world’s major changes unseen in a century, the big picture view of history provides scientific guidance for grasping historical trends and planning developmental strategies. Firmly establishing this view both adheres to the basic principles of historical materialism and embodies new contemporary connotations and practical requirements.
"Chinese Communists are not historical nihilists or cultural nihilists," but are historical materialists who always uphold the high unity of Party spirit, scientific rigor, and the people-centered nature. This position is centrally reflected in the resistance against historical nihilism [11], providing a fundamental guideline for us to strengthen our historical confidence and theoretical armament. This teaches us that to discern historical laws, we must "seek the source and clear the stream" (正本清源), learning from history and grasping the truth through the continuous strengthening of ideological leadership and the enhancement of theoretical discernment.
The innovative development in the analytical method of the basic contradictions of society stems from a profound understanding of historical materialism. On one hand, it accurately understands the core essence of the Marxist law of the movement of the basic contradictions of society, recognizing the internal unity between the two pairs of contradictions: the productive forces and the relations of production, and the economic base and the superstructure. On the other hand, based on the reform requirements of the New Era, it reveals the profound law that "reform is always on the road." This innovation provides a systematic method for understanding the transformation of the relations of production and the adjustment of the superstructure triggered by the development of productive forces, guiding the comprehensive deepening of reform to continuously promote institutional improvement. The problems faced by development in the New Era are characterized by greater complexity and uncertainty, necessitating a breakthrough beyond the cognitive limitations of viewing contradictions in isolation. At the same time, achieving high-quality development requires the establishment of a more coordinated institutional system, which in turn requires grasping the interactive relationship of the basic contradictions of society as a whole. This innovation provides a scientific basis for understanding the systemic and continuous nature of reform.
2. The theoretical basis and practical logic of continuously deepening the understanding of the laws of historical subjects and social development
The formation of the original contributions of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era regarding historical subjects and social development possesses a deep theoretical basis and practical logic. It stems from the creative application of the basic principles of historical materialism and is rooted in the vivid practice of China’s development in the New Era.
From the perspective of theoretical foundations, the originality of these innovative achievements is reflected in the historical expansion and paradigmatic innovation of historical materialism. General Secretary Xi Jinping has not only profoundly grasped the essential essence of such basic principles of historical materialism as "the people are the creators of history" and "productive forces determine the relations of production," but has also achieved major breakthroughs in theory and practice. He has creatively transformed the classical idea of the subjectivity of the people into a governance system with Chinese characteristics, and revolutionarily developed traditional theory of productive forces into a future-oriented theory of new quality productive forces. This theoretical character of achieving breakthroughs through inheritance and upholding the fundamentals while breaking new ground allows historical materialism to demonstrate new theoretical heights and practical depths.
From the perspective of practical sources, these innovative achievements stem from the regular understanding, essential insight, and systematic extraction of the practice of China's development in the New Era. Based on the rich practice of Chinese-path modernization, General Secretary Xi Jinping has sublimated the fundamental position of "upholding the supremacy of the people" from the modernization journey of the Party leading the people through revolution, construction, and reform. He has extracted the New Development Philosophy from the practical exploration of solving the problem of unbalanced and inadequate development, and condensed the theory of new quality productive forces from the developmental practice of achieving holistic breakthroughs and historical leaps in social productive forces. This theoretical innovation, which originates from Chinese practice, solves Chinese problems, and guides Chinese development, both embodies the practical character of Marxism and highlights the original value of the theory.
From the perspective of contemporary value, these innovative achievements stem from the precise grasp of the historical coordinates and the strategic leadership over future development. The concept of "the supremacy of the people" (人民至上) is a core governing philosophy sublimated and condensed by General Secretary Xi Jinping by drawing wisdom from the creative practice of the masses based on China’s national conditions and contemporary characteristics, following the inheritance of the Marxist view of mass history. The New Development Philosophy serves as a strategic guide for responding to development challenges, while new quality productive forces represent a key focus for achieving high-quality development based on the historical opportunities of the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation. These theoretical innovations have both accurately grasped the historical coordinates of the New Era and forward-lookingly guided the future path of development, manifesting General Secretary Xi Jinping’s historical insight and strategic foresight.
3. The theoretical basis and practical logic of continuously deepening the understanding of the laws of civilizational progress
There are three main reasons why the theoretical innovations of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era regarding civilizational progress constitute original contributions.
First is the creative development at the level of social structure and social organism theory. The "Five-Sphere Integrated Plan" and the "Four Comprehensives" strategic layout are rooted in the basic principles of historical materialism concerning the social structure as the inevitable product of the modes of production and exchange, profoundly grasping the dynamic laws of the interaction of internal elements within the social organism. The "Five-Sphere Integrated Plan" innovatively develops the Marxist theory of the social organism, particularly by incorporating the construction of ecological civilization as an important dimension of social development. This expands the connotation of traditional social structure theory and forms a more complete and systematic theoretical framework for modern social development. The "Four Comprehensives" strategic layout constructs a systematic plan for promoting the healthy development of the social organism from four key dimensions: the phased goals of the social organism's development, the internal mechanism of the social organism's self-improvement, the institutional guarantee for the social organism’s operation, and ensuring the correct direction of the social organism's development. This expands and innovates the theory of the social organism in the dimension of practice. Together, they have both constructed a theoretical paradigm for social development with Chinese characteristics and developed it from a theoretical analytical framework into an operable practical system, answering the question of the times regarding how a socialist country promotes the coordinated development of the social organism.
Second is the paradigmatic transcendence at the level of civilizational development theory. To begin with, Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era has achieved an important breakthrough in cultural ontology, making innovative judgments on "cultural confidence" and "cultural subjectivity." It elucidates that cultural subjectivity is the foundation of cultural confidence, emphasizing the persistence and consciousness of one’s own cultural roots and core values against the backdrop of an era of multicultural exchange and collision. It points out that only by establishing cultural subjectivity can one profoundly recognize the value and vitality of one's own culture and form a spiritual steadfastness based on the laws of cultural development. This new understanding of the status and role of culture innovatively develops the theoretical connotation of Marxism regarding the reaction of culture. Next, Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era has achieved a paradigm shift in the view of civilizational development. The concept of "exchange and mutual learning among civilizations" fundamentally breaks through the limitations of "clash of civilizations" thinking, profoundly clarifying that civilizational diversity is the driving force of human progress, and that equal dialogue and mutual learning between different civilizations are inevitable requirements for the historical development of human society. This innovation both adheres to the basic position of historical materialism and expands the scope and content of civilizational interaction within the Marxist vision. Furthermore, the Thought has achieved theoretical innovation in the dynamic mechanism of cultural development, systematically revealing the composite role of culture as a developmental momentum at the spiritual, practical, and innovative levels, adding new contemporary content to the principle of cultural reaction in historical materialism. Finally, it has achieved major innovations in the strategy of cultural development. General Secretary Xi Jinping has "excavated the points of value convergence between different civilizations" and proposed the important discourse of the "Two Combinations," which "establishes the relationship of subjective status and intersubjectivity between Marxism and fine traditional Chinese culture, achieving an organic connection between the traditional and the modern." This has formed a scientific methodology for the innovative development of culture, providing a fundamental guideline for the formulation of our cultural development strategy. Xi Jinping Thought on Culture has pushed historical materialism to demonstrate new explanatory power and practical vitality in the cultural field, constituting an original contribution of Marxist cultural theory in the 21st century.
Third is the leading innovation at the practical level of the "new form of human civilization." This is mainly reflected in: establishing a new paradigm for the path of modernization, using the practice of Chinese-path modernization to break the...
The myth of "modernization = Westernization" has been shattered, ushering in a new development model characterized by the coordination of material and spiritual civilizations [12] and the harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature. This approach has created the "two miracles" of rapid economic development and long-term social stability, successfully avoiding the dilemmas of polarization and ecological crisis inherent in the Western modernization process. In terms of civilizational development, it has opened a new path. Through concrete practices such as the "Belt and Road" initiative, it promotes the building of a community with a shared future for humanity, forming a new paradigm of civilizational interaction based on win-win cooperation and reshaping a pattern of civilizational exchange characterized by equal dialogue and mutual learning between different civilizations. In terms of global governance, it contributes new solutions. Through the global governance concept of "extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits," it promotes the development of the international order in a more just and reasonable direction, demonstrating the powerful vitality of a new type of international relations. These original new explorations have expanded the frontiers of socialist practice, reshaped the coordinate system of human civilizational development, and injected powerful vitality into the development of 21st-century Marxism.
Conclusion
Historical materialism is a scientific theoretical system extracted and refined from the observation and study of human history; it is a grasp of the general laws governing the development of human society. The original contributions of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to historical materialism possess significant epochal meaning for our understanding of the general trend of China's development, our comprehension of the laws of historical development, and our ability to write a new chapter of contemporary Chinese historical materialism. These contributions inspire us, first, to pay further attention to the human world and the existence of real individuals [13], to profoundly understand that social life is essentially practical, to bring the historical horizon back to the horizon of real individuals, and to continuously deepen humanity's historical cognition of its own development and the development of society. Second, they inspire us to take China's actual conditions as the starting point for research, to deepen our understanding, grasp laws, and actively apply these laws within social practice. We must cultivate a keen problem-awareness and a high degree of concern for reality. We must continuously strengthen historical thinking, enhance historical initiative, maintain historical patience [14], bolster historical confidence, and draw upon historical experience and wisdom. In the process of practical exploration, we must continuously confirm and expand the significant value of historical materialism, actively promoting new developments in all undertakings of the Party and the state.
Author Profile: Dong Hui is a professor and doctoral supervisor at the School of Marxism, Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Source: Marxism Studies (Mǎkèsīzhǔyì Yánjiū), Issue 12, 2025. Editor: Hui Hui.