Xin Xiangyang: Perceiving and Grasping Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era from the Height of Worldview and Methodology
The worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era constitute the philosophical essence of this thought and are the concentrated expression of its core content. This worldview and methodology consistently emphasize the adherence to and application of the Marxist worldview and methodology; the adherence to and application of the worldview and methodology of Mao Zedong Thought and the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics; and the innovation and development of the Marxist worldview and methodology. This worldview and methodology are centrally embodied in the "Six Upholds," which encompass both a fundamental stance and a series of important viewpoints and methods.
The report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) systematically expounded upon the important proposition of the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. The report stated: "To continue advancing theoretical innovation based on practice, we must first grasp the worldview and methodology of the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and adhere to and apply the stance, viewpoints, and methods running through it." [1] This emphasizes not only worldview and methodology but also the "stance, viewpoints, and methods," which holds great significance in the history of Marxist development and in the process of the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism. On October 17, 2022, while participating in a discussion with the Guangxi delegation to the 20th National Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "To study and implement the Party's innovative theories, one must understand and grasp their worldview and methodology, and adhere to and apply the stance, viewpoints, and methods running through them." [2] We must profoundly comprehend the rich content contained therein; this assertion will have an increasingly profound impact on the development of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era.
I. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era Consistently Emphasizes Adhering to the Marxist Worldview and Methodology
(1) Adhering to the worldview and methodology of dialectical materialism and historical materialism is an inevitable requirement for recognizing and grasping the stage-specific characteristics of China's social development.
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "To recognize and grasp the stage-specific characteristics of our country's social development, we must adhere to the methodology of dialectical materialism and historical materialism." [3] Adhering to the principle of the primacy of matter and the method of analyzing basic social contradictions requires us to firmly grasp the primary national condition and greatest reality—that China is in the primary stage of socialism—and to more accurately grasp the constantly changing characteristics of this stage. By mastering the worldview and methodology of dialectical materialism and historical materialism, one will realize that the realization of communism is a historical process achieved through incremental, stage-by-stage goals. This is a long historical process moving from the transition period of socialism through the first stage of communism and then into the higher stage. The primary stage of socialism is the initial phase of the first stage of communism; it is not a stage divorced from communism. This stage is both the starting point for the march toward communism and a period in which communist elements grow and develop. The lofty ideal of communism has already been planted as a seed in this stage, and this seed is growing tenaciously and continuously.
By mastering the worldview and methodology of dialectical materialism and historical materialism, we will profoundly recognize that the century-long historical process of the primary stage of socialism can also be divided into several sub-stages with distinct characteristics. During the forty-plus years of reform and opening up, we have successively seen the "new period, new stage" and the "new century, new stage"; we have now entered the "new stage of the New Era." In 1992, Jiang Zemin stated in the report to the 14th National Congress that "marked by Comrade Deng Xiaoping's talks and the plenary meeting of the Central Committee Politburo this March, the cause of our country's reform, opening up, and modernization has entered a new stage." [4] This was the "new period, new stage," which proposed the strategic task of establishing and improving the socialist market economy and clarified the direction of reform. Regarding the "new century, new stage," Hu Jintao summarized it from eight aspects in a February 2005 speech at a seminar for provincial and ministerial-level leading officials. Subsequently, in October 2005 at the Second Plenary Session of the 16th CPC Central Committee, Hu Jintao further expounded on "important stage-specific characteristics" from ten aspects. The report to the 17th National Congress pointed out that as China entered the new century and a new stage, its development exhibited a series of new stage-specific characteristics, including: in terms of economic strength, the coexistence of significant enhancement with an overall level that remains low; in terms of the socialist market economy system, the coexistence of its preliminary establishment with the persistence of institutional obstacles affecting development; in terms of people's lives, the coexistence of reaching a moderately prosperous level in overall terms with a widening trend in income distribution gaps; and in terms of coordinated development, the coexistence of remarkable achievements with a weak agricultural foundation, among others. [5] This tightly grasped the characteristics of the new century's new stage, making our formulated policies better suited to reality and more capable of solving China's practical problems.
Following the 18th National Congress, socialism with Chinese characteristics entered a New Era. Furthermore, we emphasize having entered a "new stage of development." Where does the new stage of development sit within the primary stage of socialism? General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out the "two is-nots" and "two is's" of the primary stage of socialism: the primary stage of socialism is not a static, immutable, or stagnant stage; the movement of basic social contradictions, especially the development of productive forces, pushes the primary stage forward continuously. The primary stage is not a spontaneous or passive stage that can be crossed naturally without great effort; rather, it requires solving countless difficult problems and fully exerting subjective initiative—it "is a dynamic, proactive process brimming with exuberant vigor and vitality." [6] This is a scientific conclusion reached by fully applying the worldview and methodology of dialectical materialism and historical materialism, and it serves as a theoretical guide for our understanding of the changes in China's basic national conditions and the emergence of new stage-specific characteristics.
Without the worldview and methodology of dialectical materialism and historical materialism, it is impossible to clearly recognize the historical trajectory of the primary stage of socialism, and especially impossible to clearly understand the connotation of the new stage of development. The new period of reform and opening up was the stage in which the Chinese nation realized "becoming rich"; the new stage of development is the stage in which the Chinese nation realizes "becoming strong." General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "The new stage of development is a new stage in which our Party leads the people to usher in a historical leap from standing up and becoming rich to becoming strong." [7] The new stage of development is a period imbued with immense creativity. On one hand, the quantitative accumulation formed by incremental progress and continuous development in numerous fields is increasingly approaching a qualitative leap, bringing enormous creative power—for example, the advancement of China's "new type of industrialization" is moving China from a manufacturing giant toward a manufacturing power. On the other hand, China has begun to take a leading position in the world in many industrial and technological fields, bringing countless innovation opportunities. Many industries are positioned at the "forefront of the wind" [1], brimming with the vitality for upgrading, and "bottleneck" [2] technologies will increasingly be resolved. The new stage of development is not just a sub-stage within the primary stage of socialism; it is a stage reached after decades of accumulation, moving from start-up to twists and turns, and from restarting to standing at a new starting point. This stage must not only realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation but also build China into a modern powerful country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful, leading in comprehensive national strength and international influence.
(2) Adhering to the worldview and methodology of dialectical materialism and historical materialism is an inevitable requirement for comprehensively deepening reform and correctly handling the relationship between reform, development, and stability.
General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized that China is a large country and must never commit "subversive errors" on fundamental issues. The prerequisite for not committing subversive errors is adhering to the worldview and methodology of dialectical materialism and historical materialism. This worldview and methodology require us, in the process of reform, to combine the strengthening of Party leadership with respect for the people's pioneering spirit; to combine "crossing the river by feeling the stones" [3] with grasping objective laws; to combine grassroots exploration with top-level design; to unify a problem-oriented approach with a goal-oriented approach; and to promote both pilot programs and comprehensive advancement. It requires us to master the fundamental method of materialist dialectics, to be adept at handling various complex relationships, to weigh pros and cons to maximize benefits and minimize harm, to make the most advantageous strategic choices, and to highlight the systematic, holistic, and synergistic nature of reform.
Highlighting the systematic, holistic, and synergistic nature of reform emphasizes three points: first, the interconnection and mutual promotion between various major reforms, preventing a situation where "you do your reform and I do mine"; second, that all reforms must attend to the relationship between short-term, medium-term, and long-term effects, preventing the "composition fallacy" where long-term goals are truncated into short-term ones; third, paying attention to mutual constraints between reforms—some reforms may be positive for a specific field but could be negative for others, generating numerous side effects. In November 2018, in a speech at a symposium on private enterprises, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Whenever a policy is introduced, no matter how good the original intention, one must consider possible negative impacts, the difference between actual execution and the original intent, and whether there is an overlapping effect with other policies, so as to continuously improve the level of policymaking." [8] If policies cancel each other out, reform will struggle to achieve the desired results, and work may stagnate.
II. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era Consistently Applies the Marxist Worldview and Methodology in Practice
(1) Practicing and applying the worldview and methodology of dialectical materialism and historical materialism has scientifically summarized the major achievements and historical experience of the Party's century-long struggle, as well as the great changes of the extraordinary five years since the 19th National Congress and the ten years of the New Era.
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "The Central Committee believes that in summarizing the major achievements and historical experience of the Party's century-long struggle, we must adhere to the methodology of dialectical materialism and historical materialism, and view the Party's history from a perspective that is concretely historical, objective and comprehensive, and connective and developmental." [9] This is reflected in: practicing and applying the methodology of dialectical materialism and historical materialism to continuously reveal the laws of Communist Party governance, the laws of socialist construction, and the laws of the development of human society through an objective view of historical events, processes, and tasks; resisting various fallacies of historical nihilism and promoting the continuous growth of the Party's cause. By adhering to this methodology, the "Ten Upholds" [4] of historical experience were summarized. These experiences form an interconnected and complementary whole, vividly embodying the requirements of dialectical materialism for concrete historical, objective, holistic, and connective developmental views, effectively preventing an abstract, subjective, fragmented, or isolated understanding of history.
Whether summarizing the Party's centenary or the decade of the New Era, we have adhered to and applied the worldview and methodology of dialectical materialism and historical materialism. The report to the 20th National Congress clearly stated: "The five years since the 19th National Congress have been five years of great unusualness and extraordinariness," while also noting: "The great changes in the decade of the New Era hold landmark significance in the history of the Party, the history of New China, the history of reform and opening up, the history of socialist development, and the history of the development of the Chinese nation." [10] These conclusions not only conform to objective reality but also greatly enhance the "historical confidence" of the entire Party and the Chinese people.
(2) Practicing and applying the worldview and methodology of dialectical materialism and historical materialism to accurately recognize and grasp the principal contradiction in society and determine the central task, while closely focusing on the principal contradiction in the New Era.
For over a hundred years, our Party has profoundly grasped that the primary contradiction of modern Chinese society was the contradiction between imperialism and the Chinese nation, and between feudalism and the broad masses of the people. Characterized by a firm stance against imperialism and feudalism, the Party eventually toppled the "three great mountains" [5] and achieved victory in the New Democratic Revolution. We grasped that during the period of socialist revolution, the primary domestic contradiction was between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie, subsequently completing the tasks of socialist transformation and establishing socialism. After the basic completion of socialist transformation, we grasped that the primary domestic contradiction was the contradiction between the people’s need for rapid economic and cultural development and the inability of the existing economy and culture to meet those needs, thus advancing the cause of socialist construction. In the new period of reform and opening up, we grasped the contradiction between the people’s ever-growing material and cultural needs and backward social production, emphasizing the need to hold fast to the central task [6] and resolve this contradiction effectively. In the New Era, we grasp that the principal contradiction in society is the contradiction between the people’s ever-growing needs for a better life and unbalanced and inadequate development, emphasizing the need to enhance the systematic nature of resolving these problems. As noted, "To promote the resolution of these problems, we must adhere to the worldview and methodology of dialectical materialism and historical materialism" [15]. Divorced from the worldview and methodology of dialectical materialism and historical materialism, it would be impossible to determine what the principal social contradiction is in different historical periods, impossible to truly clarify its scientific connotation, impossible to grasp its principal and secondary aspects, impossible to realize the demands raised by the people at different stages of history, and impossible to satisfy the people’s aspirations for a better life in the New Era.
(3) Practicing and applying the worldview and methodology of dialectical materialism and historical materialism to profoundly understand the history and characteristics of Chinese civilization
In September 2020, during the 23rd collective study session of the Political Bureau of the 19th CPC Central Committee, General Secretary Xi Jinping clearly pointed out that we must adhere to dialectical materialism and historical materialism, conduct in-depth theoretical exploration, and enhance the influence and discourse power of Chinese archaeology in the international community. In May 2022, during the 39th collective study session, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that our Party has always viewed the history of the Chinese nation from the standpoint, viewpoints, and methods of historical materialism, inheriting and promoting fine traditional Chinese culture. A popular judgment in Western academia regarding the signs of a civilization’s formation is the "three elements": metallurgy, writing, and cities. These were summarized based on the Mesopotamian civilization in Western Asia and the ancient Egyptian civilization in North Africa. Some Western scholars use this as a standard to judge that Chinese civilization has only 3,500 years of history. Guided by historical materialism, the "Project to Trace the Origins of Chinese Civilization" [7]—based on archaeological findings of early civilizations across China and through multi-disciplinary joint research—argues that the formation of Chinese civilization has its own special laws. It proposed standards for judging whether a society has entered civilization that fit the characteristics of Chinese civilization, namely: the development of productive forces, population growth, and the emergence of cities; the emergence of social division of labor, class stratification, and the appearance of classes; and the emergence of royal power and the state. Measured by these standards, Chinese civilization has at least 5,000 years of history. With historical materialism as scientific guidance, we have not only clarified the 5,000-year history of Chinese civilization but also identified the basic laws of its development and transformation.
III. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era Adheres to and Applies the Worldview and Methodology of Sinicized Marxism
(1) Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era adheres to and applies the worldview and methodology of Mao Zedong Thought
Mao Zedong Thought adheres to and develops the Marxist worldview and methodology. The standpoint, viewpoints, and methods running through it have three basic aspects: seeking truth from facts, the mass line, and independence. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era adheres to and applies these. Mao Zedong said: "'Facts' (shí shì) are all the things that exist objectively; 'truth' (shì) is the internal links of objective things, namely, their laws; and 'to seek' (qiú) means we go and study them" [16]. General Secretary Xi Jinping has greatly enriched the connotation of seeking truth from facts. Adhering to seeking truth from facts requires accurately grasping objective reality: finding the truth of things from various complex illusions, discovering the inevitable internal links from disordered phenomena, finding the essential elements from cluttered appearances, and formulating policies based on the laws of existence and development of objective things. Adhering to seeking truth from facts requires following its basic principles in promoting the healthy development of inner-Party political life, discovering and correcting deviations in ideological understanding in a timely manner so that thoughts align with objective reality, while simultaneously correcting errors in decision-making and shortcomings in work. Adhering to seeking truth from facts requires opposing dogmatism and continuously promoting theoretical innovation based on practice. Mao Zedong Thought emphasized that the mass line is the lifeblood and fundamental working line of our PartyTarget; in essence, it embodies the basic Marxist principle that the masses of the people are the creators of history. General Secretary Xi Jinping developed this thought, proposing: adhering to the mass line means adhering to the principle that the people are the fundamental force determining our future and destiny, and adhering to the fundamental purpose of serving the people whole-heartedly; adhering to the mass line means truly letting the people judge our work—the times are the paper-setter, we are the examinees, and the people are the markers; adhering to the mass line means adhering to the supremacy of the people.
(2) Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era adheres to and applies the worldview and methodology of the Theoretical System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics
After the start of reform and opening up, we promoted the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism, forming the Theoretical System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics [8]. While adhering to the Marxist worldview and methodology, this theoretical system enriched and developed them, putting forward concepts such as "crossing the river by feeling the stones," advancing with the times, and being realistic and pragmatic. Deng Xiaoping always insisted on "crossing the river by feeling the stones" as a method of reform. He emphasized, "What we are doing is a completely new undertaking" [17], "Reform and opening up is a great experiment" [18], and "In reform and opening up, we must be bolder and dare to experiment; we must not act like a woman with bound feet. When we are sure of something, we should boldly try it" [19]. The Theory of Three Represents emphasized that in promoting the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, we should adhere to and apply the Marxist worldview and methodology. The Scientific Outlook on Development is a concentrated expression of the Marxist worldview and methodology regarding development. In January 2004, Hu Jintao gave a scientific Marxist explanation of being realistic and pragmatic (qiú zhēn wù shí) in his speech at the third plenary session of the 16th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection: "Being realistic and pragmatic is the consistent scientific spirit of dialectical materialism and historical materialism" [20]. What is meant by being realistic and pragmatic? The Scientific Outlook on Development emphasizes that this includes "four seekings and four practices": seeking the truth (qiú zhēn) of the basic national conditions of the primary stage of socialism, truly grasping the objective status and trends of these conditions, and the practice (wù shí) of adhering to long-term arduous struggle to develop socialism with Chinese characteristics through hard work; seeking the truth of the laws of socialist construction and the laws of the development of human society, grasping their rich connotations and multi-faceted requirements, and the practice of focusing on development as the Party's top priority in governing and rejuvenating the country; seeking the truth of the historical status and role of the masses, grasping their historical initiative, and the practice of developing the fundamental interests of the broadest masses of the people so they can obtain the most direct and realistic benefits; seeking the truth of the laws of the Communist Party’s governance, clarifying the purity and advanced nature of a Party that must not have its own special interests, and the practice of comprehensively strengthening and improving Party building. These understandings represent the Sinicization and modernization of the Marxist worldview and methodology.
Regarding methods such as "crossing the river by feeling the stones," advancing with the times, and being realistic and pragmatic—which embody the requirements of the Marxist worldview and ideological line—General Secretary Xi Jinping has inherited and developed their essence. In December 2012, during the second collective study session of the Political Bureau of the 18th CPC Central Committee, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Crossing the river by feeling the stones is a method of reform full of Chinese characteristics and in line with China's national conditions. Crossing the river by feeling the stones means feeling out the laws" [21]. He said that today we "must adopt the method of pilot exploration and 'throwing a stone to ask the way' [9]; once experience is gained, consensus is formed, and the judgment is accurate and the rollout feels stable, only then do we spread it, accumulating small victories into a great victory" [22]. New practices also prompt people to continuously deepen their understanding of reform. The Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee proposed "combining the strengthening of top-level design with crossing the river by feeling the stones" [23]. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Crossing the river by feeling the stones and strengthening top-level design are a dialectical unity" [24]. From this, it can be seen that crossing the river by feeling the stones, as an important method of reform, is not just about summarizing experience, but more importantly, about grasping laws. At the same time, General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized the importance of advancing with the times and being realistic and pragmatic. He emphasized the need to develop the system of people’s congresses in an era-appropriate way, to comprehensively deepen reform in an era-appropriate way, to ensure the inner-Party supervision system advances with the times, and that global economic governance must advance with the times and change with the circumstances.
IV. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era Consistently Develops the Marxist Worldview and Methodology Through Innovation
(1) The "Six Musts" clearly embody the standpoint, viewpoints, and methods of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era
Putting the people first emphasizes that the people-centered nature is the essential attribute of Marxism. The Report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC pointed out: "We must stand firm on the people’s position, grasp the people’s aspirations, respect the people’s creativity, and concentrate the people’s wisdom to form a theory that is loved, recognized, and owned by the people" [25]. Putting the people first includes: the masses are the markers of the Party’s answers to the questions of the times, the setters of the standards for judging those answers, and the judges of whether the answers are excellent or merely passing; all aspects of work must always reflect the requirement of being people-centered, which must be reflected in comprehensively deepening reform so that every result of reform benefits the broadest masses of the people, especially reflecting the supremacy of the people in the improvement of the ownership system and maintaining the dominant position of public ownership; reflecting the supremacy of the people in the improvement of the distribution system and maintaining the dominant position of "to each according to their work"; and the masses are the practical source of theoretical innovation—they raise questions and provide exploratory experience in practice, providing a rich practical basis for theoretical development.
Maintaining confidence and self-reliance emphasizes confidence in our path, theory, system, and culture, as well as confidence in our history and the Party, emphasizing independence and self-reliance. Confidence and self-reliance require that China's problems must start from China's basic national conditions and the reality of the primary stage of socialism, and must be answered by the Chinese themselves. It emphasizes that China's affairs are decided and handled by the Chinese people themselves, resolutely opposing the preachings of those "condescending lecturers." It emphasizes that China's future is planned by the Chinese people themselves; the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics we adhere to was opened by ourselves, and the grand blueprint for comprehensively building a modern socialist surrogate power was drawn by ourselves. It emphasizes that China's theory is created by Chinese Communists themselves.
Upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground emphasizes both adhering to the correct direction and keeping pace with the times and practice. Upholding the fundamentals means unswervingly adhering to the basic principles of Marxism and the basic principles of scientific socialism, removing various mists, attachments, and dogmas; unswervingly adhering to the Party’s overall leadership, and resolutely struggling against various trends of thought that attempt to weaken or even deny the Party’s leadership; and unswervingly adhering to socialism with Chinese characteristics, not only strengthening the "Four Confidences" [10] but also ensuring the banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics flies high. Breaking new ground means treating all new things with great enthusiasm, daring to say new words that predecessors have not said, and daring to do things that predecessors have not done.
Uphold a problem-oriented approach and emphasize the enhancement of problem-consciousness. The report to the 20th CPC National Congress pointed out: "We must focus on new problems encountered in practice, deep-seated problems in reform, development, and stability, the urgent anxieties and expectations of the people, major problems in the changing international landscape, and prominent problems facing Party building. we must continuously propose new ideas, new thinking, and new methods that truly solve these problems." [32] To uphold a problem-oriented approach, we must strengthen our problem-consciousness. So-called "problem-consciousness" is a conscious and proactive awareness and grasp of existing problems; it is a conscious and proactive attitude of proceeding from problems when handling matters and conducting work. This primarily includes two points: (1) Problem conception, which means constantly reflecting on what major problems exist in reality that require resolution. The report to the 20th CPC National Congress analyzed five major categories of problems: First, new problems encountered in practice, such as the management of ideology on the internet and the issue of regulating and guiding capital. Second, deep-seated problems in reform, development, and stability, such as the issue of endogenous momentum and reliability of the domestic "great circulation," the resilience and safety of industrial and supply chains, and the enhancement of endogenous development momentum in areas and among populations lifted out of poverty. Third, the urgent anxieties and expectations of the people, such as the high-quality balanced development of compulsory education and urban-rural integration, unreasonable restrictions and employment discrimination affecting equal employment, the expansion and balanced regional distribution of high-quality medical resources, and reducing the costs of childbirth, parenting, and education. Fourth, major problems in the changing international landscape, such as "building walls and barriers," "decoupling and severing chains," unilateral sanctions, and maximum pressure. Fifth, prominent problems facing Party building, such as the "four tests" and "four dangers" [11]. (2) Problem thinking, which means constantly reflecting on the difficulties we will encounter in future development. In his speech at the Second Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee on October 23, 2014, General Secretary Xi Jinping posed three questions directed toward the future: How should the road be traveled after the comprehensive transition to a moderately prosperous society? How can we leap out of the "historical cycle" [12] and achieve long-term governance? How can we achieve the long-term stability and security of the Party and the state? Clear answers have been provided for all three questions. Regarding how to travel the road after the comprehensive transition to a moderately prosperous society: follow the "two-step" strategy—the first step being the basic realization of socialist modernization by 2035, and the second step being the comprehensive buildup of a great modern socialist country by the middle of this century. Regarding how to leap out of the "historical cycle" and achieve long-term governance: there are "two answers." In the "Cave Dwelling Dialogue" [13], Mao Zedong gave the first answer: let the people supervise the government. After a century of struggle, and especially through new practices since the 18th CPC National Congress, our Party has given the second answer: self-revolution. Regarding how to achieve long-term stability and security for the Party and the state: uphold and strengthen the overall leadership of the Party, ensuring the Party's leadership is reflected in all processes, fields, and links of China’s socialist modernization cause; uphold socialism with Chinese characteristics and take the "broad avenue" (kāngzhuāng dàdào) [14], refusing to take the "old road" (of rigid isolation), the "evil road" (of changing our banner), the "wrong road," or the "winding road"; uphold the people-centered development philosophy, giving full play to the principal role of the masses in economic, political, cultural, social, and ecological civilization construction; uphold reform and opening up, "gnawing on hard bones" [15] and "wading through dangerous shoals"; and uphold the spirit of struggle, resolutely struggling against all erroneous thoughts, concepts, and behaviors that endanger the cause of the Party and the state.
Uphold a systemic concept, emphasizing that the systemic concept is a foundational method for thought and work. The report to the 20th CPC National Congress pointed out: "We must continuously improve our capacity for strategic thinking, historical thinking, dialectical thinking, systemic thinking, innovative thinking, rule-of-law thinking, and bottom-line thinking, providing scientific ideological methods for forward-looking thinking, overall planning, and the holistic advancement of various undertakings of the Party and the state." [33] Strategic thinking means considering problems from an overall and long-term perspective; historical thinking means viewing problems through the dimension of "Great History"; dialectical thinking means grasping problems within the unity of opposites; systemic thinking means considering problems as a whole; innovative thinking means daring to break through one’s own cognitive limitations; rule-of-law thinking means thinking about and handling problems within the framework of the rule of law; and bottom-line thinking means having a sense of potential hardship and crisis. The mutual promotion and interaction of these modes of thinking allow the advancement of our various tasks to be both logical and methodical. General Secretary Xi Jinping also pointed out: "The systemic concept is a foundational ideological and working method." [34] This methodology vividly embodies the Marxist view of the universal connection of things; furthermore, it theoretically sublimates the practice of the systemic, holistic, and synergistic nature of reform. It is also a contemporary expression of the holistic viewpoint in fine traditional Chinese culture and a philosophical transformation of systems theory from the natural sciences. The formation of the systemic concept has foundations in history and culture, in the practice of reform, and in Marxist philosophy and natural science. In applying this concept, one must resolutely prevent such metaphysical practices as "blind men touching an elephant," "the man from Zheng buying shoes," "looking at the sky from the bottom of a well," "plugging one's ears while stealing a bell," "pulling up seedlings to help them grow," "cutting the feet to fit the shoes," or "drawing a snake and adding feet" [16]. One must view problems through dialectical and systemic thinking. To apply this concept, one must consider the positive utility of major policies alongside potential negative elements in long-term practice, paying attention to the synergy between short-, medium-, and long-term policy effects. To apply this concept, one must have forward-looking thinking, accurately grasping the major trends and directions of economic and social development, and accurately judging the great tides and currents of world development—grasping both the themes of the times and strategic opportunities. To apply this concept, one must have overall planning, coordinating the strategic overall situation of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with the world’s "unseen changes in a century" [17]. One must always possess a sense of the whole, considering problems and formulating policies from the perspective of the overall interests of the Party, the state, the nation, and the people. To apply this concept, one must insist on "holistic advancement," grasping the relationship between the whole and the part, the present and the long-term, the macro and the micro, the primary and secondary contradictions, and the special and the general. One must handle the relations between the government and the market, between independence and opening up, between material and spiritual civilization, between the Party and the law, between man and nature, between epidemic prevention and economic development, between national rejuvenation and human progress, and between social revolution and self-revolution.
Maintain a global perspective (literally "keep the whole world in mind"), emphasizing the planning of our development from a global field of vision. The report to the 20th CPC National Congress pointed out: "We must expand our world vision, gain profound insight into the trends of human development and progress, and actively respond to the universal concerns of people in all countries." [35] This basic viewpoint stems from our Party's century-long historical experience; the Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party over the Past Century adopted at the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee pointed out the need to "maintain a global perspective" [36]. This viewpoint also stems from our profound grasp of the laws of human social development. Our Party has always believed that the development of a nation cannot be separated from its connections with other countries. If a country drifts outside of world development, it will either be "expelled from the Earth" (qiújí) [18] or become stuck in its old ways.
"The people above all" is the distinct political stance of our Party; "self-confidence and self-reliance" are basic requirements for exerting the spirit of historical initiative and creating great historical undertakings; "upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground" is the fundamental attitude for adhering to the correct path and leading the era; a "problem-oriented approach" is an important path to realizing the fundamental tasks of theory; the "systemic concept" is a scientific ideological method for forward-looking thinking, overall planning, and the holistic advancement of the Party and state's undertakings; and "maintaining a global perspective" is a distinct character trait of staying true to our original aspiration and founding mission and caring for the future and destiny of humanity. These "Six Upholds" are an interconnected whole; they are tightly linked and mutually indispensable, collectively constituting the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.
(2) Distinctive Characteristics of the Worldview and Methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era
A worldview is the reflection of social existence in social consciousness; it is the general outlook and fundamental viewpoint people hold regarding the entire world and the relationship between humans and the world. Behind such a worldview, there often exists a cognition of historical processes and historical laws. The worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era are based on a profound "Big History" perspective and historical thinking.
First, a worldview and methodology integrated with the "Big History" perspective (dà lìshǐguān). The worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era are based on a Big History perspective, which is a worldview and methodology in a very distinct sense of historical philosophy. At the Mobilization Meeting for Party History Learning and Education, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Establish a Big History perspective to analyze evolutionary mechanisms and explore historical laws from the long river of history, the tides of the times, and the global winds and clouds." [37] By grasping the laws and trends of historical development, we can better understand the irreversible general trends of human social development, better understand the changes occurring in the external world we inhabit, seize opportunities for historical transformation, act in accordance with the trends, and master the historical initiative in the development of the Party and the state's cause.
Second, a worldview and methodology integrated with historical thinking. General Secretary Xi Jinping places particular emphasis on historical thinking, which is the ideological method of using historical analysis to understand history and grasp reality. Applying this thinking, General Secretary Xi Jinping proposed that socialism with Chinese characteristics has its foundations in the history of reform and opening up, the history of the People's Republic of China, the modern history of the Chinese nation, and the 5,000-year civilization of the Chinese nation. Those 5,000 years, 180 years, 70 years, 40 years, and the 10 years of the New Era fully demonstrate that the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics has seen both the gathering of historical clouds and the battering of historical winds and rain; it has had its historical ups and downs as well as its historical surges. Applying this thinking, General Secretary Xi Jinping elucidated the theme and great undertaking of the Chinese Communist Party's 100-year history. This historical analysis allows us to deeply feel the great miracles our Party has led the people in creating over the past 100 years, to feel the smoke of history and the historical turbulence of "wind passing through the long forest" [19], and even more so, to feel the firm pace and irresistible strength of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era are a creative development of the Marxist worldview and methodology; they are the concentrated summary and essential core of this thought, playing a key role in promoting the entire Party's use of this thinking to "consolidate the soul and forge the spirit."
The core issue of uphold the fundamentals and break new ground [20] lies in the organic unification of the "fundamentals" and the "innovations." To "uphold the fundamentals" means that we must steadfastly maintain the guiding role of Marxism, the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and the foundational requirements of the socialist system. To "break new ground" means we must base ourselves on the new historical starting point of the New Era, correctly comprehending and responding to the new demands of practice, the new expectations of the people, and the new changes in the world. We must actively promote innovations in theory, practice, systems, and culture. We cannot lose the "fundamentals," as doing so would lead us towards the "evil path" of changing our banner and colors [21]; nor can we fail to "break new ground," as doing so would cause us to stall and stagnate, falling into the "rigid path."
Following the principle of problem-orientation, we must deepen our understanding and grasp of the scientific nature of Xi Jinping's thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era. Adhering to problem-orientation is a distinct characteristic of Marxist theory and a prominent feature of the worldview and methodology of the New Era. General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized: "The revolutionary mission of the proletariat is not to fulfill some abstract ideal, but to solve the problems that objectively exist in life." To adhere to problem-orientation, we must constantly identify and focus on the fundamental issues that are decisive for the overall situation of the Party and the state. We must discover problems in a timely manner, study them deeply, and solve them effectively. In the New Era, the major challenges facing the Party and the state—such as how to achieve high-quality development, how to effectively advance Chinese-path modernization, how to achieve common prosperity, and how to advance the "Great New Project" of comprehensively and strictly governing the Party [22]—all require us to respond with new theoretical innovations and practical breakthroughs.
Following the principle of the system-concept, we must deepen our understanding and grasp of the systematic nature of Xi Jinping's thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era. The system-concept is a fundamental cognitive and working method of dialectical materialism. To adhere to the system-concept, we must handle the relationships between the parts and the whole, the current and the long-term, the key and the general, and the internal and the external. We must strengthen forward-thinking, holistic planning, strategic layout, and overall advancement. Only by placing every task within the overall framework of the Five-Sphere Integrated Plan and the Four Comprehensives coordination can we ensure that all undertakings of the Party and the state move forward in a coordinated and efficient manner.
Following the principle of maintaining a global perspective, we must deepen our understanding and grasp of the world-historical significance of Xi Jinping's thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era. Marxism has always viewed the development of human society from the perspective of "universal history." In the New Era, China's development is inextricably linked to the world, and the world's development is increasingly dependent on China. To maintain a global perspective, we must hold high the banner of peace, development, cooperation, and mutual benefit, actively promoting the building of a community with a shared future for humanity. We must use the China's "New Development" to provide new opportunities for the world, and provide the "China Solution" [23] and "China Wisdom" for the reform of the global governance system and for addressing the common challenges facing mankind.
[46] Xi Jinping. Speech at the Mobilization Meeting for the Study and Education of Party History [M]. Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 2021: 14. (The author is the Secretary of the Party Committee of the Institute of Marxism Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences) Web Editor: Lianyu Source: Journal of the Party School of the Central Committee of the CPC (National Academy of Governance), No. 6, 2022.