Tao Wenzhao: 21st Century Marxism from the Perspective of the International Communist Movement
The Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee proposed: "Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is the Marxism of contemporary China and of the 21st century..." Understanding "21st-century Marxism" is essential for grasping the historical status of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Departing from the perspectives of the international communist movement and the history of Marxist development, this article provides a specific analysis of the temporal domain of the "21st century," the spatial domain of the "world," and the foundational nature of "Marxism," in order to grasp the major responsibility of the Communist Party of China in developing Marxism in the 21st century.
I. An Analysis of the Temporal Domain of 21st-Century Marxism
In the concept of "21st-century Marxism," the "21st century" is a chronological concept pointing toward the "epochalization" (时代化) of Marxism. Therefore, one must first possess a basic understanding of the "era" within the context of Marxist epochalization.
First is the understanding of the era itself. "Era" is an extensively used term. For example, people usually divide history into specific eras based on persons, objects, or events and name them accordingly. The "era" discussed in this article differs from general historical periods. This is an era capable of serving as the "mother of thought," an era capable of impelling stage-like changes and innovative developments in Marxism. On one hand, an era is inseparable from time.
Viewed intuitively, the English term "times" is the plural of "time"; time is a necessary factor of an era, and the accumulation of a certain amount of time forms an era. Within a certain span of time, the linkage between the productive forces and relations of production, and between the economic base and the superstructure, causes changes in ideology, from which theoretical innovation arises. Since the birth of Marxism over 170 years ago, its development has spanned several important eras and undergone multiple innovative leaps. On the other hand, an era is not equivalent to natural time. The transition from one era to another signifies not only a change in time but a historic change in society. Such historic changes are reflected in all aspects; from a Marxist perspective, they manifest as changes in the situation, conditions, and tasks for fulfilling the historical mission of the proletariat. For instance, changes occur in the themes of the era, the subjects of revolution, social contradictions, and revolutionary tasks. It is precisely the transformation of these factors that necessitates theoretical innovation; meanwhile, the new reflections by the subjects of social action on new situations and problems further propel such innovation.
Second is the qualitative understanding of the "21st century" as an era. In the history of Marxist development, eras were previously generally denoted by terms with substantive orientations. For example, we generally say that Marxism was born in the 19th-century era of free-market capitalism, Leninism was born in the early 20th-century era of imperialism, Mao Zedong Thought was born in the 20th-century era of war and revolution, and Deng Xiaoping Theory was born in the late 20th-century era of peace and development. "Free-market capitalism," "imperialism," "war and revolution," and "peace and development" are all terms with substantive meanings, not merely chronological markers. This leads to the following question: If Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is 21st-century Marxism, what kind of era exactly is this "21st century"? Beyond its chronological reference, it requires a substantive descriptive term. Regarding domestic and international development trends, socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a New Era, and the world is undergoing major changes unseen in a century. Can we summarize the substantive orientation of this era more concisely? Some scholars believe that 21st-century Marxism possesses the character of a "process." It is a concept distinctly linked to temporal consciousness, belonging to a temporal dimension—that is, inheriting the past, grounding itself in the present, and facing the future, dedicated to bringing the development of Marxism to a new realm required by the era and the development of practice in the 21st century. The "21st century" is used here as a historical stage in the sense of historical materialism and epochal morphology.
The epochal characteristics of the "21st century" involve judgments in three areas: First, what era is Western capitalism currently in? Is it the era of state monopoly capitalism, globalized capitalism, financial capitalism, or information capitalism? Second, what era is socialism currently in? In today's world, where the two systems of capitalism and socialism coexist, it is insufficient to measure the era solely by the developmental stages of capitalism; socialist factors must also be considered. Expressions such as "China is in and will long remain in the primary stage of socialism," "socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a New Era," and "China has embarked on a new journey to build a modern socialist country in all respects" are all articulations of historical positioning from different angles. Besides China, there are other socialist countries in the world that must also be considered. Third, what era is the "relationship between the two systems" in? What is the status of the coexistence and competition between the "two systems"? The international communist movement must judge the stage it occupies from the perspective of realizing the historical mission of the proletariat. The developmental course and trends of world socialism—from utopia to science, from theory to practice, from one country to multiple countries, and from setbacks to revitalization—are factors to be considered when measuring and judging epochal characteristics. Therefore, a comprehensive analysis and concise summary of the substantive positioning of the "21st century" are required.
Third is the understanding of the "21st century" on a large time scale. The scale of a century and the scale of an era do not correspond perfectly; one cannot say that the 19th century was one era, the 20th century another, and the 21st century yet another. In fact, a single century may encompass multiple eras, and different theories may emerge in different eras. For example, the 20th century alone produced Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, and Deng Xiaoping Theory. Conversely, it is possible for a century or several centuries to pass without an epochal evolution. For instance, ancient Chinese society developed slowly; as the saying goes, "if Heaven does not change, the Way (Dao) does not change" [1]—meaning that although much time passed, no substantive changes occurred in society. Eras are not distributed uniformly, nor do they flow at a constant speed; not every century witnesses equally drastic epochal shifts. Temporal nodes and historical nodes do not always coincide; a node in natural time is not necessarily a node in historical time, and a historical transition does not inevitably occur simply because of the turn of a century.
Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is 21st-century Marxism, and we must fully understand the profound significance contained therein. First, this implies epochal change, meaning a higher degree of theoretical innovation. 21st-century Marxism naturally refers to Marxism formed and developed in the 21st century. However, it does not belong to the category of mere annals; rather, it refers to the landmark innovation of theory. Precisely because various "changes" exist in the development of Marxism, there is a "newness" in Marxist theory as it responds to the era. 21st-century Marxism essentially refers to the Marxism that addresses the new themes of the 21st century, resolves the new contradictions of the 21st century, utilizes the new forces of the 21st century, and fulfills the new missions of the 21st century. Second, it guides the direction of the 21st century. As we are currently in the early 21st century, naming a theory after the "21st century" seizes the high ground and creates a preemptive effect, demonstrating the developmental trends of Marxism. Over twenty years of the 21st century have passed; socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a New Era, China has completed the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and has embarked on a new journey to build a modern socialist country in all respects. The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has entered an irreversible historical process. Since the start of the 21st century, a series of far-reaching international events have occurred, including the September 11 attacks, the 2008 international financial crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Ukraine crisis. These have highlighted the major changes of the 21st century and revealed significant historical trends. Naming the Party's innovative theory after the "21st century" reveals major innovations in both theory and practice. Of course, with more than 70 years remaining in the 21st century, many new changes will occur and numerous new theories will appear, which also requires comprehensive consideration. Third, the "21st century" tallies with the "century" in the "major changes unseen in a century." "A hundred years" (百年) and "century" (世纪) are equivalent in terms of time scale; using them is natural, and expressing the era through the "21st century" carries greater epochal appeal and historical penetration.
II. The Spatial Orientation of 21st-Century Marxism
Literally speaking, the concept of "21st-century Marxism" possesses time but lacks space. In reality, "the world" is the "default value"; 21st-century Marxism refers to 21st-century world Marxism. This corresponds to "contemporary Chinese Marxism," where "contemporary" corresponds to the "21st century" and "China" corresponds to the "world." Therefore, 21st-century Marxism must be understood from a global perspective.
First, Marxism inherently possesses a global vision. The liberation of the proletariat is the cause of all humanity; the proletariat must unite to struggle. The final sentence of the Manifesto of the Communist Party, which marked the birth of Marxism, is "Working Men of All Countries, Unite!" The slogan passed down through the international communist movement is: "Proletarians of the world, unite with the oppressed nations and peoples!" and "Long live the great unity of the people of the world!" "The proletariat can thus only exist world-historically, just as communism, its activity, can only have a 'world-historical' existence." Regarding the historical mission of the proletariat, proletarian struggle requires a global vision, socialist revolution requires a global vision, socialist construction requires a global vision, and communism requires the ultimate global vision even more so. As the theory of proletarian liberation, Marxism was not only a product of Marx and Engels' homeland, Germany, or of Western Europe where they primarily resided; it was also a product "from Siberia to California," and from developed capitalist countries to the remote and heavily populated backward countries of the East. "In his later years, Marx continued to pay close attention to new trends in world development and new situations in the workers' movement, striving to think about the development of human society from an even broader perspective." Marxism has profoundly influenced the general process of world history. For Marxism to function, it must be combined with the actual conditions of various countries, but this does not mean turning Marxism into the theory of any specific nation; rather, it means combining universality with particularity, so that universal truth is manifested through adaptation to the national conditions of various countries. Clearly, 21st-century Marxism is not a Marxism confined to any specific country, but a Marxism with its eyes on the entire globe.
Second, globalization is an irreversible trend. The global vision of Marxism is rooted in the internal laws of world development and the increasingly apparent new trends of world history. In the Manifesto of the Communist Party, Marx and Engels described the picture of world intercourse: "The bourgeoisie has through its exploitation of the world market given a cosmopolitan character to production and consumption in every country... In place of the old local and national seclusion and self-sufficiency, we have intercourse in every direction, universal inter-dependence of nations." In Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism, Lenin discussed the global expansion of imperialism and explored the path for the victory of socialism. Currently, driven by the development of productive forces, progress in science and technology, and the market economy, globalization has become the great trend of the era. Particularly after the end of the Cold War, based on the rapid advancement of economic globalization, the connections between humans have become closer than at any time before. Although there have been various interludes and even the phenomenon of "de-globalization," an interlude is not the main theme, and an eddy is not the tide; the great trend of globalization will not be reversed. The 21st century is a century of closer global connections, a century of more prominent global problems, and a century that requires an answer to the "questions of the world" even more urgently.
Third, there is the new state of competition between the "two systems" on a global scale. In Marxism, the "world" does not primarily refer to a geographical or demographic world, but to the world of the international communist movement. In the 1980s and 90s, the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe underwent drastic changes [2], and the world socialist movement suffered a massive setback. Following the end of the Cold War, the bipolar structure collapsed, leaving the United States as the sole superpower. The balance of power between the capitalist and socialist systems tilted heavily, forcing many developing countries onto the Western-led path of so-called liberal democracy and market economies. Francis Fukuyama promoted the "end of history." However, after entering the 21st century, China’s rapid development and its securing of the position as the world's second-largest economy weakened the relative advantage of the United States, making China-U.S. relations the global focal point. The competition between the "two systems" has manifested as "the East is rising and the West is declining" [3] and "the West is strong while China is weak." The rise of the East and decline of the West is a trend, marked by China's rapid development and the relative decline of the United States; the West being strong and China being weak is the reality, mainly reflected in the fact that U.S. comprehensive national power will remain greater than China's for a considerable period. From economy to military, from hard power to soft power, China still has a long way to go. Overall, although socialism experienced a low ebb after the "drastic changes" [4], the great success of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the daily exposure of capitalism's problems are causing the contest between the two paths and two systems to undergo profound changes in favor of socialism.
Fourth, there are new trends in the themes of the era. In the history of the international communist movement, during the era of war and revolution, the Russian and Chinese revolutions grasped the general trend of world development and seized victory. In the late 20th century, Deng Xiaoping grasped new trends in the era's development and the theme of the era—peace and development—accelerating reform and opening up and socialist modernization in China, achieving new breakthroughs and leaps in socialist theory and practice. Since reform and opening up, China has long adhered to the advocacy of political multipolarity, economic globalization, the informatization of society, and cultural diversity. In recent years, as the world's changes unseen in a century [5] have accelerated, China has sized up the situation and persisted in grand development, grand change, and grand adjustment. Some scholars argue that the characteristics of the 21st century can be briefly summarized as the intertwined interaction of the "two overall situations" [6] and the resulting uncertainty and restructuring. Looking at the world today, difficulties and problems are piling up; deficits in governance, trust, peace, and development are emerging one after another. However, the cause of socialism has always been forged through hardships and dangers. We must accurately judge international trends, seek opportunities within crises, resolve common problems facing humanity, and promote the innovative development of 21st-century Marxism.
III. The Historical Tasks of 21st-Century Marxism
The theoretical nature of 21st-century Marxism is Marxism itself. The problems facing the 21st-century world are many and complex; it is neither possible nor necessary for Marxism to be a panacea for all ills. Various problems must certainly be answered and governed from different aspects, but this does not mean Marxism must answer questions at every level and in every field—that would be a generalization of Marxism. 21st-century Marxism answers the most critical and core issues concerning Marxism. Therefore, one must grasp this major proposition by examining how the historical mission of Marxism can be realized in the 21st century.
"Philosophers have only interpreted the world in various ways; the point is to change it." Marxism is the theory of human liberation, and the innovative development of Marxism revolves around this historical mission. The process of human liberation includes many links, such as socialist revolution, construction, reform, and the ultimate realization of communism. For over 170 years since the birth of Marxism, the international communist movement has been continuously solving these problems. Today, we have preliminarily solved many problems, but many remain unsolved, and we face many new ones. To evade these problems would be to cease being mainstream Marxism or even genuine Marxism. Xi Jinping has pointed out: "Marxism is the root of the towering tree of our Party and people's cause, and the source of the ten-thousand-mile river of our Party and people's continuous advancement." Developing 21st-century Marxism requires continuing to solve these fundamental problems.
First, there are problems regarding revolution. The "Two Inevitabilities" [7] constitute the objective law of social development. The first step in realizing the "Two Inevitabilities" is seizing victory in the socialist revolution. Under the guidance of Marxist-Leninist revolutionary theory, the Russian October Revolution and the Chinese Revolution were victorious, and other countries subsequently achieved socialist revolutions. This shows that the problem of revolution has successful precedents in both theory and practice. At the same time, we must see that problems such as how to achieve victory in socialist revolutions in developed countries, how to achieve victory under new circumstances, and how to achieve victory through a peaceful path remain unsolved, with no successful precedents. Socialist revolution has not yet succeeded in most countries in the world. In some developed capitalist countries, the strength of Marxist parties remains very weak. The question of revolution remains a major issue necessitating continued exploration in the 21st century.
Second, there are problems regarding construction. The Soviet socialist practice lasted over 70 years and achieved great successes in socialist construction; its ultimate failure also left profound lessons for the international communist movement. Additionally, other socialist countries have conducted various explorations. Since the founding of New China over 70 years ago, the Communist Party of China has led the Chinese people in creating two miracles rarely seen in the world: rapid economic development and long-term social stability. In a once economically and culturally backward China, we have successfully forged a Chinese path to modernization and created a new form of human civilization. "These unprecedented pioneering undertakings have solved many difficult problems in the development of human society, abandoned the old Western path of modernization that is capital-centered, polarized, materialistically bloated, and characterized by external expansion and plunder. They have expanded the channels for developing countries to achieve modernization and provided a Chinese solution for humanity's exploration of a better social system." At the same time, we profoundly recognize that China is still in the primary stage of socialism, and our level of economic and social development still has a large gap compared to developed countries. We must continue to explore major contemporary themes such as how to uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics, how to build a great modern socialist country, and how to build a Marxist governing party that exercises long-term governance. As Xi Jinping said: "Whether we Chinese Communists can fight wars has already been proven by the founding of New China; whether we Chinese Communists can engage in construction and development has already been proven by the promotion of reform and opening up; however, whether we Chinese Communists can persist in the Party’s leadership and persist in and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics in an increasingly complex international and domestic environment—this still requires generation after generation of Communists to continue providing the answer." For socialism to defeat capitalism, it must rely on creating productive forces at a higher level than those of capitalism; this is the underlying logic of historical materialism. For socialism to surpass Western capitalist countries in development is the historical task of the 21st-century international communist movement and the historical project that 21st-century Marxism must solve.
Third, there are problems regarding the international sphere. After the victory of the socialist revolution, socialism must co-exist with capitalism for a considerable period, and must do so while its own strength is relatively weak. The coexistence and competition between the capitalist and socialist systems is a major issue and a major test for socialism. The final disappearance of capitalism and the final victory of socialism on a global scale will by no means be achieved overnight; this historical process will inevitably be full of contradictions and struggles, and there will inevitably be twists and turns. Although capitalism has undergone many changes in the 21st century, its basic contradictions have not changed, nor has the reactionary nature of imperialism’s hostility toward socialism. Given that socialist countries are still in the minority and socialist forces are still relatively weak, how to handle relations with capitalism and with countries practicing other systems is a matter of life and death for socialism. Historically, the Soviet Union engaged in a Cold War with the United States, and the socialist and capitalist camps were in long-term opposition, eventually leading to the collapse of the Soviet Union. In the 21st-century trends of economic globalization and social informatization, how socialism can coexist and compete with capitalism, how it can grow and strengthen itself, and how it can integrate with the laws of human social development to ultimately realize communism are major, urgent problems to be solved.
Marxism needs to resolve many historical tasks in the 21st century. Xi Jinping pointed out: "Although the era we live in has undergone tremendous and profound changes compared to the era of Marx, from the broad perspective of the 500-year history of world socialism, we are still in the historical era specified by Marxism." These tasks include those that were basically solved in the past but now require further resolution, as well as new problems emerging in the new stage and problems oriented toward the future. Correcting, answering, and solving these problems will undoubtedly propel Marxist theory and the international communist movement forward by a large step.
IV. China's Responsibility for 21st-Century Marxism
Whoever can solve the problems faced in the 21st century will be the one to develop Marxism in the 21st century. Marxist theoretical innovation is not the result of deep meditation in isolation, but the result of exploration based on social practice. "Practice is the source of theory": the richer the practice, the richer the theory; the greater the practice, the more great theory is needed and easily generated; the more representative the practice, the more likely the generation of representative theory.
China possesses the most superior objective conditions for theoretical innovation. In the history of Marxist development, wherever the center of the world socialist movement shifts, the center of Marxist theoretical innovation follows. In the history of the international communist movement, the Social Democratic Party of Germany was the first working-class party established within a nation-state, so for a period, Germany was the center of the labor movement and the center for the formation and development of socialist theory. Lenin led the victory of the Russian October Revolution, establishing the world's first socialist country and helping many countries establish communist parties through the Third International; the Soviet Union was thus the center of the world socialist movement for a long time. "In the 21st century, wherever the greatest story of humanity occurs, wherever the center of world socialism shifts, that place is the investigative sample most favored by Marxism, that place is the pivotal center of Marxist research, the Communist Party of that country is the advanced party leading the innovative development of world Marxism, and the latest form of Marxism in that country is the subjective form of 21st-century Marxism." China is today the world's largest socialist country, the Communist Party of China is the world's largest Marxist governing party, and China is conducting the richest socialist practice in human history. Through reform and development, China has achieved the historical transformation from catching up with the times to leading the development of the times. Beyond doubt, China is at the center and forefront of developing 21st-century Marxism.
China possesses the most active subjective conditions for theoretical innovation. Theoretical innovation is not generated spontaneously but is the product of the active efforts of the subjects of theoretical innovation. The CPC possesses a high degree of consciousness regarding theoretical innovation and persists in it. The CPC insists on taking Marxism as the fundamental guiding ideology for building and strengthening the Party and the country. We "persist in combining the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with China’s fine traditional culture [8], persist in practice as the sole criterion for testing truth, persist in proceeding from reality in all things, answer the questions of the era and the people in a timely manner, and continuously promote the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism." This process created Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Theory of Three Represents, and the Scientific Outlook on Development. As socialism with Chinese characteristics entered the New Era, the CPC has exercised even more conscious historical initiative to carry out theoretical innovation, establishing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Xi Jinping has pointed out: "The great social transformation in contemporary China is not a simple continuation of the masterplate of our country’s history and culture, nor a simple mechanical application of the templates envisioned by the classical Marxist writers, nor a reprint of other countries' socialist practices, nor a carbon copy of foreign modernization development." As long as we are courageous enough to advance theoretical innovation based on new practice and adept at using new theories to guide new practice, we will surely enable Marxism to display even more powerful and convincing truth-force on the soil of China.
The objective and subjective conditions for China to undertake theoretical innovation are both highly favorable. For China to establish 21st-century Marxism is both a natural progression and an inescapable responsibility. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era advances with the times, actively responding to the "questions of the era." It offers profound reflections on major contemporary issues, such as how to uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era, how to build a great modern socialist power, and how to build a Marxist governing party that maintains long-term governance. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era maintains a "concern for the world" [9], actively responding to the "questions of the world." It "correctly understands and handles relations with the external world by situating them within the great currents of human development, the major shifts in the global landscape, and the grand history of China's development." It seeks progress for humanity and "Great Unity" [10] for the world, contributing Chinese wisdom, Chinese solutions, and Chinese strength to solve the major problems facing mankind.
The "Ten Clarifications," "Fourteen Upholds," and "Thirteen Areas of Achievement" proposed at the 19th National Congress and the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee summarize the main contents of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Proceeding from the developments and changes in contemporary China and the world today, this Thought posits that we must adhere to the principle of putting the people first, maintain self-confidence and self-reliance, uphold the fundamentals and break new ground, remain problem-oriented, apply systems thinking, and maintain a concern for the world. This has endowed the Marxist worldview and methodology with new connotations of the era. By proposing the integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the fine traditional Chinese culture, it summarizes the method for the theoretical innovation of Marxism. By proposing that the principal contradiction in Chinese society has changed in the New Era, it has developed the Marxist theory of social contradictions. By proposing the new development philosophy of innovation, coordination, green development, openness, and sharing, it has developed Marxist productivity theory. By proposing the maintenance and improvement of the basic socialist economic system, ensuring the market plays a decisive role in resource allocation while better exerting the role of the government, it has developed Marxist economic theory. By proposing the use of Chinese-path modernization to comprehensively advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, it has developed Marxist modernization theory. By proposing to uphold and strengthen the party's overall leadership and to lead social revolution through the Party's self-revolution, it has developed the Marxist theory of party building. By proposing the construction of a community with a shared future for humanity, it has developed the Marxist theory of world history—and so on. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era unifies the upholding of Marxism with its development. It has neither abandoned the "ancestors" [11] nor failed to speak "new words." It has made many major fundamental innovations in Marxist philosophy, political economy, and scientific socialism, making pioneering, comprehensive, and historical contributions to the great development of Marxism in the contemporary age. These major contributions are important hallmarks of contemporary Chinese Marxism and of 21st-century Marxism.
V. The Theoretical Status of 21st-Century Marxism
Marxism is an open theory that undergoes constant development. Since its founding, diverse theoretical achievements of Marxism have emerged in different periods and countries. Specifically for China, the main thread of the Marxist theoretical system includes: the Marxism founded by Marx and Engels, the Leninism founded by Lenin, and Sinicized Marxism (including Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Theory of Three Represents, the Scientific Outlook on Development, and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era). Additionally, Communist parties in other countries have also proposed some theoretical innovations.
In the history of Marxist development, every new and major theoretical achievement should be evaluated within the Marxist system. Leninism is the inheritance and development of Marxism. In 1924, Stalin systematically expounded on Leninism in his book Foundations of Leninism and defined it as: "Leninism is Marxism of the era of imperialism and the proletarian revolution," bringing Marxist theory to a new stage. Mao Zedong Thought pioneered the Sinicization of Marxism. In 1945, the 7th National Congress of the Party officially established Mao Zedong Thought as the Party's guiding ideology and wrote it into the Party Constitution, noting: "Mao Zedong Thought is the thought that unifies the theory of Marxism-Leninism with the practice of the Chinese revolution; it is Chinese communism, Chinese Marxism." It further stated: "Mao Zedong Thought is the continued development of Marxism in the national-democratic revolution of colonial, semi-colonial, and semi-feudal countries in the present era, and is an outstanding example of the nationalization of Marxism." Regarding Deng Xiaoping Theory, the 15th National Congress pointed out: "Deng Xiaoping Theory, as the inheritance and development of Mao Zedong Thought, is the correct theory guiding the Chinese people to successfully achieve socialist modernization during reform and opening up... it is contemporary Chinese Marxism, a new stage of the development of Marxism in China." Regarding the Theory of Three Represents, the 16th National Congress noted: "The Theory of Three Represents is the inheritance and development of Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, and Deng Xiaoping Theory... To implement the Theory of Three Represents, the whole Party must maintain a mental state of advancing with the times and constantly open up new realms for the development of Marxist theory." Regarding the Scientific Outlook on Development, the 18th National Congress noted: "The Scientific Outlook on Development is the product of the combination of Marxism with contemporary Chinese reality and the characteristics of the era, a concentrated expression of the Marxist worldview and methodology regarding development... opening up a new realm for the development of contemporary Chinese Marxism."
From the history of Marxist development, we can see that compared to previous evaluations of theoretical innovations as entering a "new era," "new stage," or "new realm," calling Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era "Contemporary Chinese Marxism and 21st-Century Marxism" is a newer expression and an extremely high evaluation.
When we say Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is 21st-century Marxism, we are not suggesting that other countries or parties in the 21st century have no theoretical innovations, or that their innovations have no value. All explorations in the International Communist Movement have unique value and offer unique contributions to Marxism. In his congratulatory letter to the CPC and World Marxist Political Parties Forum, Xi Jinping pointed out: "Under the arduous exploration and joint efforts of Marxist political parties in various countries, the Marxism of the twenty-first century is constantly opening up new realms and presenting a new atmosphere, increasingly radiating new vitality." It should be noted that Xi Jinping used the phrase "the Marxism of the twenty-first century" (二十一世纪的马克思主义) rather than "21st-century Marxism" (二十一世纪马克思主义). We can understand it this way: "21st-century Marxism" is a proper noun referring specifically to Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era; whereas "the Marxism of the twenty-first century" refers to the various Marxist theories existing in the 21st century. This is a distinction that must be rigorously maintained when discussing the issue. Confusing these different concepts leads to logical disorder.
Is "the Marxism of the 21st century" singular or plural? Since its founding, Marxism has continuously developed and spread; many forms of Marxism have appeared in different countries and eras, making Marxism increasingly rich. That is to say, Marxism is plural, and the Marxism of the 21st century should also be plural. On one hand, different periods within the 21st century will have their own Marxism. For example, the 20th century had Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, and so on. Only 20-odd years of the 21st century have passed, with more than 70 years still to go. Theoretical innovations have already been produced in these first 20 years, and there will surely be more in the remaining 70. On the other hand, many countries, parties, and scholars in the 21st century are still exploring Marxism. There is Chinese Marxism, and there is Marxism outside of China; there is Marxism dedicated to exploring the laws of construction, and there is Marxism dedicated to exploring the laws of revolution. For socialism to triumph in different countries, nations, and fields, it depends on the unique explorations of Marxists in each country, which then converge into the torrent of 21st-century Marxism. The forms of 21st-century Marxism will be diverse and colorful.
Within pluralistic Marxism, there is a mainstream; within complex Marxism, there are representatives. Those with the greatest strength and the most advanced exploration serve as these representatives. China is the mainstay of the contemporary world socialist movement and stands at the forefront of the competition between socialism and capitalism. Chinese Marxism is the most representative and occupies the most important position on the global map of Marxism. It should also be noted that while there are various Marxist schools and thoughts abroad, some of which are not lacking in profundity, they are ultimately mostly ideas and scholarship within the "study room" [12]. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is the guiding ideology of the governing party of a major world power. It answers the questions of "what is it" and "why," as well as "what to do" and "how to do it," achieving a high degree of unity between theory and practice. The 21st-century Marxist achievements created by China include theoretical achievements, practical achievements, and institutional achievements. In short, they are a synthesis of achievements, representing the most complete and richest form of Marxism.
21st-century Marxism requires commensurately grand historical contributions. Solving problems that were already solved or basically solved in theory and practice in the past does not count as 21st-century Marxism in the true sense. Only by answering major newly-emergent questions that were not resolved in the past can a theory be considered 21st-century Marxism. As far as the International Communist Movement is concerned, the current difficulties and priorities of revolution lie in: how to achieve the victory of socialism in developed capitalist countries, and how to achieve the victory of socialism in the information age. Solving these problems depends on the continued efforts of those parties still fighting for revolutionary victory. Regarding the issue of construction, the duration and level of China's socialist construction have surpassed the previous heights of the Soviet Union; every step forward for Chinese socialism is the creation of history. In the innovation of 21st-century socialist construction theory, China naturally takes the lead. Regarding the future of humanity, the struggle between socialism and capitalism was previously conducted through the Cold War between the US and the USSR. China has proposed the important concept of a community with a shared future for humanity, contributing Chinese wisdom and solutions to the problem of humanity's future in an era where the "two systems" coexist and compete over the long term. Issues such as continuing to consolidate and develop socialism and pioneering solutions for the prospects of socialism are all problems that were not solved in the past; they are brand-new, contemporary, and global in nature. In this sense, Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era constitutes the mainstream of world Marxism in the 21st century and leads the development trend of the Marxism of the 21st century.