Xi Jinping’s New Theory For the Development of World Socialism and Human Progress
Author Lin Jianhua is the Dean of the School of Marxism at Beijing Foreign Studies University, Honorary Professor of Ideological and Political Theory Courses in Beijing University, Executive Deputy Director of the Collaborative Innovation Center for Research on the World Influence of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics. June 2018
In 1899 when Lenin was discussing the Party program he emphasized the status of “human progress” in the struggle of the Marxist socialist parties, Lenin wrote: the struggle against the autocracy for political liberties ….. and the need to overthrow it, ……is not only in the interests of the working class, but also in the interests of social development as a whole. Such a description is essential both in regard to theory, because, from the standpoint of the basic ideas of Marxism, the interests of social development are higher than the interests of the proletariat—the interests of the working-class movement as a whole are higher than the interests of a separate section of the workers or of separate phases of the movement. https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1899/dec/draft.htm
Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era came into being under the background and realistic conditions of our times, such as the entry of socialism with Chinese characteristics into a new era, the entry of scientific socialism into a new stage, and under the background and the new changes in the world today. Xi Jinping Thought not only clearly permeates the Marxist standpoint, viewpoint and method, but also writes a new chapter of Marxism in the new era with a series of original new ideas, new viewpoints and new propositions, and deepens the understanding of the laws of the Communist Party’s governance, the laws of socialist construction, and the laws of human social development with a new perspective. In terms of its world significance, it has made great historical contributions to upholding and developing Marxism, the development of world socialism and the development of human progress.
Marxism originated from the era of liberal capitalism and has transcended it. It is the essence of the spirit of that era and the essence of the entire human spirit. Marxism reveals the special laws of the operation of liberal capitalism and the general laws of the development of human society; it is the first time that it has explored and pointed out the way to achieve freedom and liberation from the standpoint of the people. Marxism reveals the essence, internal connections and laws of development of things, and is a great cognitive tool for explaining the world, as well as a powerful ideological weapon for transforming the world, with a distinct practical character. Marxism is an open theory that constantly develops according to the development of the times, practice and cognition, and can always stand at the forefront of the times, constantly explore new issues raised by the development of the times, and respond to new challenges facing human society.
After the Opium War in 1840, striving for national independence, people’s liberation, and achieving national prosperity and people’s happiness became the historical mission of the Chinese people. Various thoughts emerged one after another in China, which was struggling to find a way to save the nation, but their effectiveness was extremely limited and could not fundamentally solve the practical problems of modern China. The October Revolution brought Marxism-Leninism to China, pointed out the direction for the Chinese people and provided a new choice. After the birth of the Communist Party of China, it gradually combined the basic principles of Marxism with the specific reality of China’s revolution, construction and reform, and used Marxist standpoints, viewpoints and methods to study and solve various major theoretical and practical problems in China, and continuously promoted the sinicization of Marxism in summing up experience.
Socialism with Chinese characteristics is the theme of all the theories and practices of the Party since the reform and opening up began in 1978. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era systematically answers what kind of socialism with Chinese characteristics should be upheld and developed in the new era and how to uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics from the combination of theory and practice, opening up a new realm of Marxism.
For example, Xi Jinping Thought adheres to the people’s standpoint and the people-centered development thought; it adheres to the harmonious coexistence of man and nature; it adheres to promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind and building a world of lasting peace, universal security, common prosperity, openness, inclusiveness, cleanliness and beauty….. It is in this sense that the creation of Xi Jinping Thought for a New Era means that Marxist scientific socialism has a strong vitality in China in the 21st century. It is also in this sense that Xi Jinping Thought for a New Era is the latest theoretical achievement in the development chain of the sinicization of Marxism, and it is contemporary Chinese Marxism and 21st century Marxism.
Please Download for Full Text