State Theory: The Comprehensive National Security Concept and New Innovation on Marxist State Theory of State’s Functions
Author Cheng Tongshun is the dean of the National Security Research Institute of Nankai University and a professor at the Zhou Enlai School of Government of Nankai University
This text is an abridged version, with annotations omitted
International Economic Review, No. 5, 2024, pp. 9-38.
Marxist theory of state functions divides the state into two basic functions: internal and external.
Internal functions primarily focus on maintaining political and economic order and social stability; external functions primarily focus on resisting external aggression and safeguarding national security.
Based on the nature and methods of state activities, the state’s internal functions can be further divided into political and social functions, with political functions encompassing class rule and social functions encompassing public administration.
On April 15, 2014, General Secretary Xi Jinping proposed a comprehensive national security concept at the first meeting of the Central National Security Commission. This concept calls for a national security path with Chinese characteristics, taking people’s security as its purpose, political security as its foundation, economic security as its basis, military, cultural, and social security as its guarantee, and to promote iinternational security as its support. This comprehensive national security concept requires that we prioritize both external and internal security; both national and people’s security; both traditional and non-traditional security; both development and security issues; and both our own security and shared security.
The introduction of the comprehensive national security concept represents a contemporary innovation and development for the Marxist theory of state functions. This is reflected in at least three aspects: first, the integration and unification of internal and external national security functions; second, the public nature of the state’s external functions; and third, the interconnectedness of social functions and national security.
1. National security is the unity of the state’s internal and external functions
When discussing national security, Marxist theory of state functions considers safeguarding national security an external function of the state, primarily safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity through strengthening national defense and enhancing military capabilities.
Marxist theory of state’s understanding of national security also primarily focuses on safeguarding national independence and sovereignty, concentrating on traditional security areas. The comprehensive national security perspective expands the security function within Marxist theory of state functions inward, arguing that national security has a multifaceted structure and dual internal and external attributes. Maintaining national security also requires breaking down internal and external boundaries and achieving interactive cooperation between them.
The Comprehensive National Security Concept proposes “coordinating internal and external security, traditional and non-traditional security.”
Compared to the classic Marxist theory of state functions, this broadens the scope of security research, transcending the state-centered paradigm and extending the traditional connotation of national security to include public security in the “low-political realm.”
Marxist theory of state’s functions positions national security primarily externally, emphasizing the protection of the interests of the ruling class and the independent sovereignty of the nation-state in the international community. The Comprehensive
National Security Concept emphasizes security as a comprehensive concept, which echoes the Marxist theory of state’s functions’ emphasis on protecting the interests of the ruling class while also emphasizing the multidimensionality and complexity of security issues.
Bu yeni Ulusal Güvenlik Konseyi güvenlik kavramını kapsamlı bir kavram olarak ele alır; şöyle ki Marksizmin devlet teorisinin devletin işlevleri üzerine görüşlerinde (teorisinde) vurgulanan bir yandan hakim sınıfların çıkarlarının savunulmasına vurgu yaparken diğer yandan güvenlik konularının çok boyutlu ve karmaşık niteliğine de vurgu yapar…
National security is not only an external issue; it also encompasses various social contradictions and problems existing within the country. On the one hand, internal social chaos and disorder can lead to internal conflict, undermining the government’s credibility and national cohesion, and thus affecting the overall effectiveness of national security work.
This can lead to the spillover of internal security issues and increase the likelihood of national security being impacted by external threats. On the other hand, only by maintaining national security and ensuring a relatively peaceful and stable environment can we enhance our ability to withstand various risks, safeguard the well-being of the people and ensure their safe and happy lives, reduce the occurrence of internal conflicts, and lower the likelihood of the country falling into chaos and disorder.
The internal and external factors of national security form an organic whole, transforming and influencing each other. The comprehensive national security concept applies a Marxist systematic perspective to national security, emphasizing the universal connections and interactions among various elements. It comprehensively considers both internal and external factors of national security functions, representing a significant innovation and development in Marxist theory of state functions.
II. The Public Nature of the State’s External Functions
Marxist theory of the functions of the state holds that the internal and external functions of the state are closely linked, forming a dialectical unity of mutual dependence and mutual reinforcement.
In understanding the external functions of the state, Marxism takes class analysis as its starting point, focusing on analyzing state behavior and foreign policy from the perspective of domestic politics.
Marxism argues that both state power and foreign policy serve the interests of the ruling class.
In Anti-Dühring, Friedrich Engels pointed out that class antagonism is the root cause of wars between states. The inequality of the capitalist world economic system and the exploitation and oppression of backward states by developed capitalist countries are the causes of wars between states. Oppressed states, in light of the complex situation of world history, must combine their struggle for independence and resistance to external interference with the proletarian liberation movement, preparing for social progress and ultimately achieving equality and liberation for all mankind. Emphasizing state independence, sovereignty, and security is the core of the external functions of the state in Marxist theory.
Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012, socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era. The world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century, and China faces significantly increased uncertainty and a more complex international environment. On the one hand, the international balance of power has shifted, with the relative decline of traditional major powers and the rise of emerging developing countries. Competition for dominance in the international order has intensified. On the other hand, the scope and threats involved in international security have expanded, and various challenges in the non-traditional security arena have brought new challenges to maintaining national security. Against this backdrop, General Secretary Xi Jinping creatively proposed a comprehensive national security concept, stating that it should “rely on promoting international security,” “pay equal attention to both external and internal security,” and “pay attention to both our own security and shared security.”
In April 2022, President Xi Jinping first proposed the “Global Security Initiative” at the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference. On February 21, 2023, China officially released the “Global Security Initiative Concept Paper,” proposing that “achieving lasting world peace, ensuring that every country enjoys a peaceful and stable external environment, and that every people can live and work in peace and contentment, with their rights fully protected, is our common aspiration.
All countries need to work together in solidarity and cooperation to build a community of human security and jointly build a world free from fear and universal security.” These statements further expand the connotations of the state’s external functions, emphasizing that while upholding independence and safeguarding one’s own security, one should also participate in global governance through international cooperation and multilateral mechanisms, jointly address global issues, and build a community with a shared future for mankind. This international perspective is an important supplement to the Marxist theory of state functions, emphasizing that in the era of globalization, maintaining national security requires coordination and cooperation among countries, and that while emphasizing one’s own security, it also prioritizes maintaining international security.
Adhering to the comprehensive national security concept and safeguarding international security is an international extension of a country’s external functions and reflects the responsibility of a major country in safeguarding international security in the new era.
Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (2012), guided by the comprehensive national security concept and the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind, China has worked closely with all peace-loving countries in the world, working hand in hand to pool the strength of win-win cooperation and jointly safeguard global security and peace.
China actively promotes international cooperation under various multilateral mechanisms, such as China-ASEAN cooperation, the East Asia Summit, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, China-EU cooperation, China-Central and Eastern European Countries cooperation, and the BRICS cooperation mechanism, thereby effectively addressing global issues and improving global governance. China continuously strengthens international law enforcement and security cooperation, promotes joint crackdowns on cross-border crimes, and conducts joint counterterrorism exercises, such as the China-Russia “Vostok-2014,” the China-Mongolia “Eagle-2015,” and the China-Tajikistan “Counter-Terrorism Cooperation-2021.” Currently, China has established close bilateral law enforcement cooperation mechanisms with over 100 countries, building a solid “firewall” to safeguard global and regional security. China actively promoted the signing of the Paris Agreement, engaged in climate diplomacy, and strengthened communication among all parties, contributing its strength as a major country to global climate governance. China is safeguarding national security and promoting global security through extensive and in-depth international cooperation.
In short, under the guidance of the comprehensive national security concept, the state’s external functions include not only resisting foreign aggression and safeguarding national security, but also working with other countries to shape the international security environment and maintain the common security of the international community. This is consistent with the Marxist international perspective and is necessary to respond to the profound changes in the world unseen in a century. It is an innovation and development of the Marxist theory of state functions.
III. The Relationship between Social Functions and National Security
The internal functions of the state in Marxist theory of state functions are divided into two main parts: political functions and social functions.
Of these, political functions will gradually weaken and eventually come to an end with the course of history, while social functions will increasingly strengthen and expand.
The Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee proposed the crucial proposition of “promoting the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity.”
This proposition is undoubtedly a significant development and innovation in Marxist state governance theory. The Party Central Committee has a comprehensive and profound understanding of the contradictions, problems, and various risks in society during the transition period, confronting realities head-on. Building on the Marxist theoretical foundation of the evolution of state functions, it has accurately grasped the state functions and their development trends, elevating classical Marxist state theory to new heights. The comprehensive national security concept, as a crucial theoretical guide for promoting the modernization of the national security system and security capacity, is a crucial component of state governance theory in the new era. Social governance is a key means of national security governance, and national security governance has also shifted from traditional coercive governance by state organs to comprehensive governance by multiple actors. This represents the inheritance and development of Marxist state functions theory within the specific conditions of contemporary China.
The “Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Several Major Issues Concerning Comprehensively Deepening Reform,” adopted at the Third Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, for the first time proposed “innovating the social governance system” and equated social governance with national security. With the establishment of the National Security Council and the advocacy of a comprehensive national security concept, the relationship between social governance and national security has become increasingly close. The report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China included a dedicated chapter on national security, emphasizing the need to improve public security governance and enhance the social governance system while implementing the comprehensive national security concept. This suggests that within the context of the comprehensive national security concept, while emphasizing the importance of safeguarding national security through social governance, it also emphasizes the extension of governance concepts to national security work. Article 11 of the National Security Law of the People’s Republic of China stipulates: “Citizens of the People’s Republic of China, all state organs and armed forces, all political parties and people’s organizations, enterprises, institutions, and other social organizations have the responsibility and obligation to safeguard national security.” This provision considers citizens and social organizations, along with national security agencies, as the main actors in safeguarding national security, emphasizing the primary responsibility of citizens. Guided by the comprehensive national security concept, China’s security governance adopts a multi-agent, comprehensive governance model characterized by “state leadership and community participation,” achieving remarkable results in strengthening and innovating social governance to safeguard national security.
In terms of improving people’s well-being, since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Party Central Committee has prioritized poverty alleviation in state governance. Millions of village cadres have worked tirelessly on the front lines of poverty alleviation, achieving a historic end to absolute poverty and laying a solid foundation for agricultural and rural modernization and rural revitalization. At the same time, the Party and the state have actively responded to the needs of the people, improving disease prevention systems and accelerating the development of elderly care services to address the challenges of an aging population and ensure that people can live and work in peace and contentment. Regarding comprehensive social governance, with a focus on long-term stability and building a peaceful China, we are continuously improving the grassroots governance system in both urban and rural areas, shifting the focus of social governance to the grassroots level.
Local governments are strengthening grid-based development, coordinating the functions of relevant departments within grid-based management, and achieving efficient resource integration and coordination. Furthermore, local governments are adhering to the “Fengqiao Experience,” establishing people’s councils to encourage grassroots participation in grassroots affairs and social organizations, and improving conflict resolution mechanisms to promptly resolve and resolve issues.
Simply put, the state’s social functions primarily refer to the management of public affairs. Improving public security governance, perfecting the social governance system, and building a people’s defense line for national security are the social foundations for strengthening the ability to safeguard national security. Therefore, the state’s social functions are closely related to national security. This represents another important development of the Marxist theory of state functions within the comprehensive national security concept.
IV. Summary
As a result of the modernization of Marxism, the Comprehensive National Security Concept inherits and innovates the classic Marxist theory of the functions of the state, adapting it to the times. This is primarily reflected in three aspects: With respect to national security, it achieves the unification of the state’s internal and external functions, no longer viewing national security solely as an external function of the state, but rather expanding this function inwards; with respect to the state’s external functions, the Comprehensive National Security Concept enriches the connotations of the state’s external functions, while clearly upholding national independence and self-reliance while emphasizing international cooperation, focusing on safeguarding common security while safeguarding its own security, and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, reflecting the trend of expanding the state’s functions to safeguarding common international security;
the Comprehensive National Security Concept with respect to social functions, based on Marxist theories on the evolution of state functions, proposes new requirements for the times, emphasizing the connection between social governance and national security. The Comprehensive National Security Concept is a new achievement in the modernization of Marxist theory of the functions of the state, and an innovative development of Marxist theory that meets the requirements of the times.