Yuan Xiuli: Deng Xiaoping’s Summary of the Historical Experience of the International Communist Movement and Its Contemporary Inspirations
General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: "Many things encountered in the world today can find their shadows in history, and many things that happened in history can serve as a mirror for today. Valuing, studying, and drawing lessons from history can provide humanity with the wisdom to understand yesterday, grasp today, and create tomorrow." In the magnificent sweep of world history, the international communist movement has both experienced rapid advances—demonstrating the arduous struggle and great achievements of humanity in realizing the communist ideal—and endured great vicissitudes. It has encountered major setbacks, including the split of the socialist camp, the collapse of the Soviet Union, the drastic changes in Eastern Europe, and the subsequent low ebb of the movement. Standing at the heights of the requirements of the era, national development, and the expectations of the people, Deng Xiaoping scientifically summarized the historical experience of the international communist movement. He fully affirmed its achievements, contributions, and positive role while also internalizing its lessons. Looking toward the global situation, General Secretary Xi Jinping has proposed that "the world today is undergoing changes unseen in a century, and the cause of world socialism faces new developmental opportunities." Deng Xiaoping’s summary of the movement's historical experience holds significant value and inspiration for contemporary China and the global socialist movement. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, socialism with Chinese characteristics has become the mainstay [1] in the revitalization of 21st-century world socialism. The CPC and the cause of socialism have achieved historical successes and undergone historical transformations; the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has entered an irreversible historical process, thereby further propelling the progress of world socialism.
I. Always Adhering to Scientific Socialism
The collapse of the Soviet Union and the drastic changes in Eastern Europe caused immense harm to the international communist movement. The setbacks in the Soviet Union and Eastern European socialist countries demonstrated that China can only take the socialist road and that socialist construction must consistently adhere to scientific socialism. Deng Xiaoping elucidated that the socialist system is a good system and maintained the fundamental position that China must persist on the socialist road. He resolutely opposed bourgeois liberalization [2] and "total Westernization," [3] refusing to tolerate opposition to socialism. In November 1956, Deng pointed out: "In the view of us Chinese Communists, there is one universal truth: the elimination of feudalism and capitalism, the realization of socialism, and the eventual realization of communism. Can we skip the socialist road? No. If we depart from this universal truth and fail to realize socialism, then the People’s Republic of China and the Communist Party of China would have no reason to exist." In October 1978, Deng noted: "Good traditions must be preserved, but new policies must be determined according to new circumstances. We must persist in what was effective in the past, especially the fundamental system—the socialist system and socialist public ownership—which must not be wavered upon." Deng repeatedly reminded the Party and the people to be vigilant against "Rightist" tendencies. In April 1987, he pointed out that so-called Rightist interference meant total Westernization; it was not an adherence to socialism or a genuine support for the policy of reform and opening up, but rather an attempt to change the nature of Chinese society and lead China toward capitalism. He simultaneously proposed that for Marxists, conducting revolution means struggling for the lofty ideals of socialism and communism. Deng paid particular attention to the education of young people, noting: "For the youth, Rightist things are worth guarding against, especially since they do not know what capitalism is or what socialism is; therefore, they must be educated."
At the same time, Deng believed that one cannot claim glory or goodness simply by having the name "socialism." He noted that in both the Soviet Union and China, losses had occurred due to the adoption of certain "Leftist" [4] methods. Those conducting the revolution had failed to calmly analyze objective and subjective conditions, always wishing to enter communism prematurely. Facts have proven that violating the laws of the objective world and departing from reality or leapfrogging stages cannot build socialism. Even after the start of reform and opening up, "Leftist" interference remained, as people’s thinking does not change easily. Therefore, "Leftist" errors had to be thoroughly corrected, and the focus of work resolutely shifted. Following reform and opening up, Western public opinion suggested that China was practicing capitalism or that China would eventually arrive at capitalism. However, under Deng Xiaoping’s principle of opposing both "Leftist" and Rightist deviations, China—a great power accounting for one-fifth of the world’s population—held its socialist ground, making an incalculable and major contribution to the international communist movement and the cause of human progress.
II. Persisting in Seeking Truth from Facts and Starting from Reality in All Things
The mutual support among socialist countries created a favorable momentum for the great development of the international communist movement. However, for a period, the socialist camp was headed by the Soviet Union, and other socialist countries followed Soviet guidance and requirements, copying the Soviet socialist model. This gradually exposed several problems. Summarizing the experiences and lessons of the international communist movement, Deng Xiaoping believed that every country has its own different circumstances and different paths and methods for revolution and construction. One should seek truth from facts and conduct diverse explorations based on the reality of one’s own national conditions. "To engage in socialism, one must follow Marxist dialectical materialism and historical materialism, which is what Comrade Mao Zedong summarized as 'seeking truth from facts,' or starting from reality in all things."
Deng Xiaoping proposed that the principle of seeking truth from facts should be used to guide and evaluate the various socialist countries and Communist Parties within the international movement. Summing up the "Great Debate" [5] within the international communist movement, Deng pointed out: "Our real error was judging and evaluating the rights and wrongs of the international communist movement based on China's own experience and practice; therefore, some things did not conform to the principles of materialism and dialectics. This was the primary issue." In the new period, Deng used the principle of seeking truth from facts to handle the CPC’s relations with the parties of other countries. "Our Party only introduces our experience to fraternal parties; which of these experiences can be used as a reference and which cannot is entirely for each party to choose for itself." The victory and success of any country must, in the final analysis, depend on that country’s own party and people.
The great decision for China’s reform and opening up was initiated by Deng Xiaoping based on the absorption of historical experiences from the international communist movement and under the guidance of the principle of seeking truth from facts. The Third Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee re-established the ideological line of seeking truth from facts, shifted the focus of the Party and state’s work to economic construction, and formed a corresponding set of policies for building socialism. In March 1982, while meeting with the American entrepreneur Dr. Armand Hammer, Deng pointed out: "We must implement the spirit of seeking truth from facts advocated by Chairman Mao in all aspects of formulating and implementing policy. In the past, there was too much empty talk, which was of no benefit." Regarding the evaluation of China’s reform and opening up, Deng also used "seeking truth from facts" as a guide, believing that as long as the people see through practice that socialism is good and reform and opening up are good, the cause of socialism will remain evergreen.
III. Persisting in Self-Reliance while Also Persisting in Opening Up to the Outside World
After the end of World War II, the world was divided into two camps: the socialist camp headed by the Soviet Union and the capitalist camp headed by the United States. For a time, the socialist camp was led by the Soviet Union, and the international communist movement centered on it. However, Soviet "great-power chauvinism" and "great-party chauvinism" [6] caused harm to socialist construction. Reviewing history, Deng Xiaoping advocated considering issues from the reality of socialist countries and the interests of various Communist Parties and the international movement, properly handling relations between socialist states. Deng proposed that one must persist in self-reliance to build socialism while simultaneously avoiding "closed-door" construction. He admitted that in the years following the founding of New China, due to a lack of experience in socialist construction, China could only turn to the Soviet Union for help, a process in which the problem of mechanically copying Soviet experience emerged. Regarding Soviet experience, there was a portion China should have learned from and did learn from correctly, but a significant portion was learned incorrectly. "The road must be walked by oneself. A road walked by oneself is the most reliable road." He also pointed out the need to highly treasure and resolutely safeguard the right to independence and self-determination that the Chinese people achieved through long-term struggle. Persisting in independence meant neither blindly copying the practices of Western capitalist countries nor those of other socialist countries.
Deng Xiaoping believed that the development of a socialist country cannot be isolated from the world. Speaking on the issue of opening up, he said: "Only opening up internally and to the outside world is conducive to developing the productive forces and strengthening our country’s power. For many years in the past, we followed the Soviet model, which was a rigid method that actually tied the hands and feet of the entire society and its people. Internationally, it was a policy of seclusion." On this basis, Deng further elucidated the relationship between self-reliance and opening up. Self-reliance does not exclude the absorption of advanced foreign technology; one cannot shut the door, remain stagnant, or be "parochially arrogant." [7] Persisting in self-reliance "does not exclude the absorption of necessary foreign aid, but self-reliance must be primary and foreign aid supplementary. Taking the road of self-reliance makes construction faster, more solid, and more reliable."
Deng emphasized that China must learn from the lessons of the Soviet Union. "Starting from the Stalin era, their method of thinking was actually metaphysical; they thought everything Soviet was the best, when in fact much of it was not. As a result, they walled themselves in, and their thinking became rigid. This hindered their scientific and technological development, and they fell behind." At the same time, China had to learn from its own lessons. In modern times, while the Western Industrial Revolution rose, China failed to adapt to the global trend of open development due to its "closed-door" policy. After the founding of New China, due to the imperialist blockade, China remained in a closed state for a considerable period. Deng criticized the practice of labeling the study of advanced science and technology from developed nations as "worshipping things foreign and fawning on powers." After reform and opening up, the Chinese people saw the face of the world by "going out," realizing that socialist countries must learn how to build in a relatively short period, becoming adept at absorbing Soviet lessons and learning advanced things from other countries, including the United States.
Some comrades worried that opening up would bring in "bad things" and that China would turn capitalist. In response, Deng believed that opening up would certainly bring some negative factors, and one must be aware of this, but these factors are not difficult to overcome and there are ways to do so. "We introduce advanced technology to develop the productive forces and improve the people's standard of living, which is beneficial to our socialist country and socialist system. As for how to develop a bit more, better, faster, and more economically—this certainly does not violate our socialist system."
IV. Correctly Understanding and Handling Relations between Socialist States and between Parties
After World War II, socialist countries and Communist Parties maintained contact and mutual support; cooperation and exchanges between states and parties were frequent, creating a flourishing chapter in the post-war development of the international communist movement. However, Soviet great-power chauvinism and great-party chauvinism created inequality and a lack of independence between socialist states and parties. To address this, Deng Xiaoping proposed two principles: "One is peaceful coexistence, and the other is independence. Equality means there is no 'patriarchal party' (老子党). A father-son relationship actually denies independence and self-determination."
The relationship between parties was an issue the international communist movement failed to resolve effectively for a long time. Regarding this, Deng proposed: "The affairs of each country must be respected by the parties and people of those countries; they must find their own path, explore, and solve their problems. No other party should act as a 'patriarchal party' and issue orders. We oppose others issuing orders to us, and we must never issue orders to others. This should become an important principle." Deng believed that the reason for the deterioration of Sino-Soviet relations was not the issues focused on in ideological debates. "The true substantive issue was inequality; the Chinese felt humiliated. Despite this, we have never forgotten that during China’s First Five-Year Plan, the Soviet Union helped us build an industrial foundation." The Soviet Union also provided support and aid to other socialist countries. However, the CPSU often considered itself the "patriarchal party" and pursued great-party chauvinism, which caused harm. Deng also frankly admitted that the CPC’s judgments on the affairs of other parties during a certain period were not always correct, and some were inappropriate. Especially during the Sino-Soviet "Great Debate" of the 1960s, the CPC made the mistake of "pointing fingers." Deng believed that every country and every party should carry out construction independently. The problems of each country and each party should be solved by the people of that country. This attitude is reciprocal; the CPC should adhere to this principle regarding other parties, and other parties should do the same for the CPC.
Deng Xiaoping further proposed the principle of independence and self-reliance, believing that only independence and self-reliance truly manifest Marxism. Deng advocated that the internal affairs of each country should be handled and resolved by that country's own party, and the paths of revolution and construction in each country should be explored by that country’s own party. In the new period, Deng Xiaoping promoted the restoration and normalization of relations between China and other countries, and between the Communist Party of China (CPC) and other Communist parties, on the basis of mutual equality and mutual respect, thereby advancing the development of state-to-state and party-to-party relations.
V. Giving Play to the Superiority of Socialism
While summarizing the twists and turns of the International Communist Movement, Deng Xiaoping proposed a most fundamental historical lesson: that in building socialism, one must clarify "what socialism is and how to build it." He remarked: "Poverty is not socialism, much less is it communism. We failed to solve this problem for a long time. Broadly speaking, this was mainly because we did not completely understand socialism. Therefore, the task we have proposed is: what is socialism and how is it to be built? The Soviet Union is also researching this question, and they have not solved it either."
Deng Xiaoping believed that to uphold Marxism and socialism, one must demonstrate that Marxist thought is superior to other ideologies. "Marxism is a good thing, but if Marxism cannot bring about the improvement of the people's lives, who will still believe in it? Socialism is intended to make the country prosperous and strong." Deng criticized Lin Biao [8] and the "Gang of Four" [9] for opposing Marxism and for their absurd clamoring that they would "rather have poor communism than wealthy capitalism." Deng noted: "They did not talk about production; whoever spoke of developing production was labeled a revisionist. Then what did Marx write Das Kapital for? Marx said that communism is distribution according to need, and it must have a material basis. How can the superiority of socialism, as Lenin spoke of, be manifested? What is meant by superiority? Is not working and not studying called superiority? Is it superiority when the people's standard of living does not improve but rather regresses?" Socialism must shake off poverty to be true socialism, and only then can it boldly and confidently claim that socialism is superior to capitalism.
Deng Xiaoping pointed out that the leadership of the Communist Party is also part of the superiority of socialism. China's reforms cannot proceed without the Party's leadership; if the Party's leadership is discarded, the country will inevitably be torn apart by internal divisions and undergo chaotic unrest. At the same time, he pointed out: "In a socialist country, once a true Marxist party takes power, it must dedicate itself to developing the productive forces and, on this basis, gradually raise the people's standard of living." Developing the productive forces is the central task of socialism—this is true Marxism. Only by upholding the Party's leadership and down-to-earthly managing the country's development can a socialist country contribute to the International Communist Movement and the cause of human progress.
VI. Contemporary Insights
General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: "Comrade Deng Xiaoping's contributions not only changed the historical destiny of the Chinese people but also changed the historical process of the world." To study Deng Xiaoping's important expositions on the history of the International Communist Movement and his scientific summation of its rises and falls, successes and failures, provides important practical insights for promoting the world socialist movement and the development of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics under the current changes unseen in a century.
First, we must scientifically summarize history to better promote the development of world socialism.
"Valuing history, researching history, and drawing lessons from history is an excellent tradition of the Chinese nation's five-thousand-year civilization." Deng Xiaoping believed that one cannot evade history; rather, one must value the analysis of history, the summation of historical experience, and the revelation of historical laws. We must correctly understand and evaluate the history of the International Communist Movement to guide the present and open up the future. On one hand, he advocated for "no debate" [10]; on the other hand, he believed that historical experience deserves summation and that history should be analyzed to facilitate better cooperation and progress in the future. In May 1989, when meeting with Gorbachev, Deng elaborated that the purpose of the meeting was: "To end the past and open up the future. Once we end the past, we can stop talking about it and focus our attention on the task of opening up the future. However, it would probably not be good to fail to discuss the past entirely; there must be some sort of accounting. I shall speak on some views of the Chinese people and the Chinese Party. I do not ask for a reply to these views, nor shall we debate them; each side can speak for itself. This will help us move forward on a more solid foundation." Deng believed that while disagreements and quarrels had occurred in the past interactions between various socialist countries and Communist parties, and it could not be said that either side was entirely correct, both sides could clarify the issues. Summing up past experience should follow the principle of "looking forward in all things"; only by clarifying problems through debate can mutual understanding be deepened.
The CPC summarizes the history of rise and fall, upholds the principle of seeking truth from facts, persists in starting from reality in all things, upholds scientific socialism, and gives play to the superiority of socialism. Socialism with Chinese characteristics creatively answers major theoretical and practical questions regarding world socialism and the development of human society. The brand-new journey of reform and opening up and socialist modernization initiated by the CPC has illuminated the path forward for socialism and promoted the revival and development of world socialism. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "The best commemoration for Comrade Deng Xiaoping is to continue pushing forward the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics that he pioneered." In the New Era, socialism with Chinese characteristics better manifests the superiority of the socialist system, demonstrates the powerful vitality of socialism, provides new ideas for the reform and development of other socialist countries, strengthens institutional confidence in socialism, and opens up new paths for socialist modernization, thereby increasing the influence and contribution of socialism and greatly inspiring people worldwide who approve of and aspire to socialism.
Second, whether one can uphold the leadership of the Party determines the success or failure of the International Communist Movement.
Deng Xiaoping pointed out: "Since the beginning of the International Communist Movement, it has been proven that without a proletarian political party, the International Communist Movement is impossible. Since the October Revolution, it has been further proven that without the leadership of the Communist Party, there can be no socialist revolution, no dictatorship of the proletariat, and no socialist construction." Deng proposed that whether China can make greater contributions to the International Communist Movement and all humanity ultimately depends on whether it can manage its domestic work well, and the leadership of the Party is related to whether domestic construction and work in all fields can be handled effectively. The CPC "has a good guiding ideology, a good Central Committee, a large number of good core cadres, good traditions, and a people who have good trust in the Party. Since such a party was able to lead the people to the victory of the revolution, it will surely be able to lead the people to the victory of socialist construction; since it can handle domestic work well, it will surely be able to shoulder its due responsibilities in the International Communist Movement." In the new period of reform and opening up, the cause of building socialism with Chinese characteristics must never depart from the leadership of the Party. Upholding the leadership of the Party is a prerequisite for China's ability to build effectively. Socialist construction must proceed under conditions of stability and unity, with leadership and order. If bourgeois liberalization [11] is pursued and the Party's leadership is negated, the Party will inevitably be unable to lead the people in construction. "The question of what kind of party to build is a question not only for our generation but also for the next and the one after that. The core issue of a country’s revolution is the party. Only with a good party can the revolution be guided to victory. After the victory of the revolution, building socialism also depends on a good party, otherwise the victory won't be secure."
General Secretary Xi Jinping has highly evaluated Deng Xiaoping's contributions: "Comrade Deng Xiaoping emphasized that to strengthen the Party's leadership, we must improve the Party's leadership, and we must focus our attention on Party building to endow it with new vigor and vitality. It is precisely these major ideological theories and practices that caused 20th-century China to once again undergo earth-shattering changes." Under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as its core, the CPC has faced the unique challenges of a large party, demonstrated the unique wisdom of a large party, and displayed the unique actions of a large party. The CPC correctly understands and handles relations between socialist countries and between parties, respects other socialist countries and world Communist parties, resolves differences, and deepens exchange and cooperation. The International influence, appeal, and shaping power of the CPC have been further enhanced.
Third, we must base ourselves on the changes unseen in a century and exert historical initiative.
General Secretary Xi Jinping has highly praised Deng Xiaoping's contributions, pointing out: "Pioneering and innovation were the most distinct leadership style of Comrade Deng Xiaoping’s life, and they are also the historical responsibility that Chinese Communists should forever possess." Deng Xiaoping exerted historical initiative, grasped key historical moments, and profoundly analyzed the characteristics of the era and the general global trend. Proceeding from reality, the global trend, and national conditions, he pioneered a new stage and a new situation for the International Communist Movement. Reform and opening up was a great decision made by our Party after profoundly summarizing the positive and negative experiences of socialist construction in other countries and particularly in China. Under the leadership of Comrade Deng Xiaoping, the CPC faced the twists and turns and historical difficulties of the International Communist Movement, dared to shoulder historical responsibilities, dared to break through and innovate, pushed world socialism forward, and composed a new chapter for world socialism.
Facing the world's changes unseen in a century, General Secretary Xi Jinping has led the whole Party in summarizing historical experience and lessons, firming up historical confidence, carrying forward the spirit of historical initiative, grasping laws, following the general trend, and seizing the initiative to plan a new great endeavor. General Secretary Xi Jinping believes that "historical development has its laws, but people within it are not entirely passive." In these changes unseen in a century, the CPC has grasped the course, discerned the essence through various forms of chaos, followed historical laws, gained insight into the trends of the times, formed historical consciousness and historical initiative, and continuously advanced the great socialist transformation. "The great social transformation of contemporary China is not a simple continuation of the 'mother version' of our country's history and culture, nor a simple application of the 'template' envisioned by classical Marxist writers, nor a 're-edition' of other countries' socialist practices, nor a 'version' of foreign modernization development." Socialist China has demonstrated the superiority of the socialist system and the vitality of scientific socialism, achieving extraordinary accomplishments and serving as the mainstay of the 21st-century world socialist movement.