Li Chunhua: A Successful Paradigm for the Innovative Development of Chinese Philosophy and Social Sciences
In his speech at the Symposium on Work in Philosophy and Social Sciences, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that philosophy and social science workers in our country "must consciously integrate the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics throughout the entire process of research and teaching." Regarding the future development of philosophy and social sciences in China, he pointed out: "An important task for China's philosophy and social sciences is to continue promoting the Sinicization, modernization, and popularization of Marxism, and to continue developing 21st-century Marxism and contemporary Chinese Marxism."
Innovation in the philosophy and social sciences is, of course, an organic whole comprising innovation in disciplinary systems, academic perspectives, research methods, and institutional mechanisms for research management. However, given the guiding position held by the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics within the field of Chinese philosophy and social sciences, the overall hallmark of its innovative development should be manifested as the unity of a "scientific theoretical system," "distinctive national characteristics," and "enormous practical achievements." It should manifest as the originality and uniqueness of the Chinese path, Chinese theory, and the Chinese system, as the unity of scientific content and national form, and as the unity of the theoretical system and practical results.
I. The Uniqueness and Originality of the Theoretical System
In his speech, General Secretary Xi Jinping highly summarized three characteristics that philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics should possess: "First, inheritance and nationality; second, originality and timeliness; and third, systematicity and professionalism." The formation of a theoretical system with unique connotations and brand-new content is the primary hallmark of innovation in the philosophy and social sciences. The theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is an ideological and theoretical system formed in the process of resolving China's unique problems. It both adheres to the basic positions, methods, and principles of Marxist theory and possesses the innovativeness that enriches and develops Marxist theory. It has its own unique connotations and brand-new content; it is a unity of maintaining a continuous lineage and advancing with the times, a unity of theoretical foundations and theoretical innovation, and a unity of "the Ancestors" [1] and "New Frontiers."
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "This is an era that needs theory and is certainly capable of producing theory; this is an era that needs thought and is certainly capable of producing thought." Unique practice produces unique theory; in solving Chinese problems, theory with Chinese characteristics is produced. The essence of theoretical innovation lies in the resolution of problems. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Since the beginning of reform and opening up, we have persisted in theoretical innovation and correctly answered major questions such as what is socialism and how to build socialism, what kind of Party to build and how to build it, and what kind of development to achieve and how to achieve it. We have continuously introduced new theories based on new practices, providing scientific guidance for formulating various principles and policies and promoting various tasks." The theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics possesses unique theoretical connotations. It is closely linked to the destiny of the Chinese nation, takes major historical national tasks as its theme, and explores the path to achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. It is a scientific theory formed and developed by contemporary Chinese Communists through combining the basic principles of Marxism with China's actual conditions, exploring the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and improving the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Based on the general laws of human development revealed by Marxism, the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics analyzes the historical conditions and development trends of China's socialist construction. Through exploration, it reveals the specific laws of China's socialist construction and has found a development path consistent with its own national conditions. The theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics has deepened our understanding of the laws of the Communist Party’s governance, the laws of socialist construction, and the laws of the development of human society [2] with a brand-new perspective. Every category and viewpoint within it is an unfolding and concretization of the theme of building socialism with Chinese characteristics. From different levels and facets, they systematically answer the fundamental question of what kind of socialism to build and how to build it in an Eastern power with a large population and a weak foundation [3]. It is the great contribution of contemporary Chinese Communists to Marxist theory and human civilization.
II. The Systematicity and Rigor of the Theoretical System
The theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is a complete ideological and theoretical system. From a theoretical perspective, it is a scientific system that takes the ideological line of "emancipating the mind, seeking truth from facts, and advancing with the times" as its logical starting point; it takes "socialism with Chinese characteristics" as its theme and main thread; it takes the basic line of the primary stage of socialism [4] as its core content and program of action; it takes reform and development as its basic content; and it covers economic, political, cultural, social, and Party-building aspects in a relatively complete and mature manner. From the perspective of its generation and development process, the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics includes major theoretical achievements such as Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Theory of Three Represents, the Scientific Outlook on Development, and the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s series of important speeches.
Since the 18th National Congress [5], General Secretary Xi Jinping’s series of important speeches has creatively answered a series of major theoretical and practical questions concerning the development of the Party and the country under new historical conditions, forming a series of new thoughts, new perspectives, and new judgments, which have greatly enriched and developed the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The major theoretical achievements contained within the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics are interconnected, integrated, and progressively deeper. They both follow a continuous lineage and advance with the times; they are distinct yet inherently linked. They are all products of the great practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics and all revolve closely around the theme of socialism with Chinese characteristics. They answer a series of related basic questions systematically rather than fragmentarily; they answer fundamental questions rather than trivial ones; and they address a series of basic questions rather than isolated ones. They scientifically answer the new contradictions and problems faced in different periods and stages of development, and systematically answer the primary basic question of "what is socialism and how to build socialism" from different levels and dimensions. Possessing theoretical comprehensiveness and integrity, they constitute a rigorous and complete scientific system. This system both adheres to the basic principles of scientific socialism and possesses distinctive Chinese characteristics and the features of the times. It is the theoretical crystallization formed by our Party using Marxist positions, viewpoints, and methods to observe and analyze the general trends of world development, the actual conditions of the Chinese nation, and the fundamental requirements of the Chinese people, in order to solve the development and national rejuvenation problems faced by the Party during the period of reform and opening up. With great theoretical and political courage, it has opened a new stage and a new frontier in the history of the development of Marxism.
III. The Heredity and Nationality of the Theoretical System
The theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is both an inheritance and a transcendence of traditional Chinese culture, possessing distinctive national characteristics. Distinctive and rich national character is an important hallmark of the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics. As Sinicized Marxism with "Chinese characteristics, Chinese style, and Chinese flavor," it is deeply rooted in the excellent culture of the Chinese nation and deeply fused into the nation's vitality, creativity, and cohesion, possessing distinctive national features.
The distinctive national characteristics of the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics are mainly manifested in two aspects: First, in terms of content, the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is consistent with the nation’s value identity, closely linked to the nation’s destiny, and connected to the major task of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation; it possesses a strong national consciousness and spirit of patriotism. Whether it is the theory of the stages of socialist development, the theory of socialist development strategy, the theory of reform and opening up, the theory of the essence of socialism, the theory of the socialist market economy, the theory of building the governing party, the theory of national reunification, or the political, economic, cultural, and social aspects of socialism with Chinese characteristics, all possess extreme national character. The theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics firmly grasps the major historical issues concerning the survival of the Chinese nation and revolves around the contemporary task of how to build, consolidate, and develop socialism in China—a country that was economically and culturally backward—reflecting the national character of the theory’s essence. The distinctive national character is also reflected in the uniqueness of the path and model of building socialism, namely the "characteristics" displayed by China's socialist construction. "Socialism with Chinese characteristics" is socialism that fits China's national conditions and features; it reflects the essential characteristics of socialism while possessing its own traits, representing the unity of the basic principles of scientific socialism and China's reality. Second, in terms of the expression of the theoretical system, the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is consistent with national traditions, national psychology, and modes of thinking. It absorbs the ideological resources of the excellent traditional culture of the Chinese nation over thousands of years and employs the modes of expression, narration, and demonstration of traditional Chinese culture. It appropriately uses metaphors, symbols, analogies, and numerical forms, converting ideological theories with profound connotations into forms that the Chinese people enjoy and find easy to understand, thereby effectively expressing its scientific nature. For example, "seeking truth from facts," "development is the absolute principle," "one country, two systems," "advancing with the times," "moderately prosperous society" [6], "harmonious society," "the Ancestors and New Frontiers," "grasping with both hands and being tough with both hands" [7], "the three favorables" [8], "the Three Represents," "the Four Comprehensives," and "the Five Major Concepts" [9], etc.—this series of expressions both reveals the scientific meaning of the theoretical system in a concise manner and enhances the sense of affinity and intimacy of the theoretical system, such that the masses find it easy to understand and are happy to accept it, facilitating their accurate grasp of the spiritual essence of the theoretical system.
IV. The Practicality and Exemplarity of the Theoretical System
The theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics has guided China's practice to achieve world-renowned success and provides a reference for other socialist countries. That theory guides practice to achieve great success is a concrete manifestation of practice as the test of truth. Of course, the criterion of practice is dialectical; it must be correctly understood and grasped from the perspective of the long-term, global, and developmental nature of practice. The practicality of Marxist theory—guiding practice and transforming the world—is its important feature. Marx once said: "The degree to which theory is realized in a country depends on the degree to which theory satisfies the needs of that country." The theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics emerged from the practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics and simultaneously guides that practice; this is a process of interaction between theory and practice.
The scientific nature and truth of the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics must be tested by practice. Over the nearly 40 years of China's reform and opening up, the practice of building socialism with Chinese characteristics has achieved glorious successes recognized by the world. China's politics, economy, culture, and society have developed comprehensively, its comprehensive national strength has continuously improved, the people’s living standards have continuously risen, and its international status has continuously grown. All of this is the result of the guidance of the banner of the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Under the guidance of this system, China's reform and development have explored a unique developmental path and created a unique developmental model. This includes an economic model characterized by the socialist market economy, a cultural model with the socialist core value system as its main content, and a political model that integrates the leadership of the Party, the people being masters of the country, and the rule of law. Its essence is that the Chinese nation, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, has combined the principles of scientific socialism with contemporary China's national conditions and the characteristics of the times to explore a completely new path to modernization. Only that which is national can be global; only that which is global can be national. As a great achievement of the development of human civilization in the contemporary era, socialism with Chinese characteristics belongs not only to China but also to the world. On the one hand, it differs from both the traditional planned economy model and is clearly distinguished from Western, Latin American, and East Asian models; it is a unique development model and path suited to China's national conditions. On the other hand, it is a development concept with universal significance. It not only provides valuable experience for countries engaged in socialist construction but also offers important enlightenment for the construction of non-socialist countries and has had a profound impact on the development of human society as a whole, enriching and developing world development models and constituting a contribution to human civilization.
Socialism with Chinese characteristics is another milestone in the Sinicization of Marxism, making a prominent contribution to enriching and developing the treasure house of human ideological and theoretical thought. History moves forward continuously, human understanding of the world never ends, and the practice of world socialist revolution and construction will continue to deepen. History has bestowed upon contemporary Chinese Communists a difficult and glorious mission: to continue deeply exploring the internal laws of socialist practice, to work unremittingly to improve and develop the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and to further promote the innovative development of Marxist theory.
(Author's affiliation: Institute of Marxism Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences) Source: Learning Monthly (学习月刊), Issue 16, 2016