How Marx's Prediction Of China Comes True?

Over a century and a half ago, Karl Marx envisioned that China would eventually experience significant social and economic upheaval as it transitioned from feudalism to a socialist society. The internal contradictions of the feudal system, combined with external pressures from capitalist forces, would lead to class struggles, which would ultimately result in a revolution, thus paving the way for a more equitable social order and shaping its specific path to socialism. How did Marx foresee the development of a country at the other end of the globe? 

“Although Marx never visited China, his visions and assessments are largely in line with the reality of China,” said Xin Xiangyang, head of the Academy of Marxism of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences at the 14th World Socialism Forum. “Marxism evolved in Russia at the end of the 19th century and the early 20th century, where it was known as ‘Leninism.’ A new phase began in the 1930s with the Communist Party of China's adaptation of Marxism, referred to as "Marxism with Chinese characteristics", said Professor A.V. Lomanov of the Russian Academy of Sciences. 

Two combinations 

To achieve the socialist future that Marx envisioned, the Communist Party of China has integrated the fundamental principles of Marxism with China's actual conditions and traditional culture, known as “the two combinations”. The “first combination” of adapting Marxist theory to the specific conditions of the country was also practiced by the Soviet Union, but the "second combination" of integrating Marxism with traditional culture, was pioneered by China. 

Professor A.V. Lomanov explains that in the Soviet context, accepting Marxism often meant rejecting traditional culture, which created a fundamental conflict, akin to mixing fire and water. Soviet culture, particularly shaped by Orthodox Christianity, made it hard to separate the culture of the Soviet Union from its religious roots. Consequently, the Communist Party in the Soviet Union failed to address this area, and this deep cultural foundation — characterized by strong religious elements — remained unresolved until the Soviet Union’s dissolution.”

For thousands of years, Chinese have been striving for the ideals of "Great Harmony" and "The world is for all". These ideals resonate deeply with Marxist concepts of communism and align closely with Marx's notion of a society where the people are the "protagonists of history." This emphasis on the people's role as the foundation of the state parallels the historical Chinese principle of prioritising the well-being of the populace.

Chinese president Xi Jinping has said, “Since the introduction of Marxism to China, scientific socialism has become widely accepted by the Chinese people. It has gone on to take root in this country and delivered impressive results. This is clearly not accidental. It is consistent with the culture and values that our people have taken up and passed on for several thousand years.”

Chinese culture has traditionally been rooted in Confucianism, meanwhile, a complementary relationship between Confucianism, Daoism, and other cultural elements were seen throughout history. The cultural inclusiveness has contributed to a more welcoming attitude toward the introduction of Marxism in China, allowing for integration rather than rejection seen in other regions.

Over the past 40 years, China has lifted nearly 800 million people out of poverty. The urbanisation process did not lead to social unrest or the emergence of urban slums. A well-off society has been established through poverty alleviation measures and initiatives focusing on rural revitalisation. China has started to absorb various Western knowledge since the late 19th century, including Marxism, the theory of evolution, liberalism, and classical economics, among others. After more than a century of exploration, China chose what was most necessary for its development, integrating these ideas with its unique circumstances. 

Some people mistakenly believe China has adopted a capitalist path. “If China had truly pursued capitalism during the reforms heralded by Deng Xiaoping, it would likely be much poorer and weaker than it is today. China's achievements stem not from the following of a capitalist model but instead by following its own path of socialism with Chinese characteristics,” as Professor A.V. Lomanov believes that Adam Smith's “invisible hand” has had little impact in China. Therefore, the Communist Party's chosen historical path aligns perfectly with the objective needs of China's development.

Marxism's resilience lies in its ability to progress and adapt to local conditions. The Communist Party of China, along with scholars, has begun advancing the “second combination”. If successful, it could provide significant inspiration for theorists and thinkers worldwide. When the world is facing many old and new challenges including climate change, regional conflicts and extreme poverty. How does Marxism address the issues of the times? And how shall the world become one humanity and stop treating each other as rival and enemy?

“Europe is facing a difficult time, many people are facing poverty. So Europe needs to change its path to a more social oriented and people oriented policy. Capitalism always wants to be bigger and greater, that is why there are imperialist wars, which is a huge problem of our times, since capitalism would like to make more money through the weapons and everything,” said Eleni Evagorou from the Central Committee of Cyprus’s Progressive Party of Working People.

Theoretical foundation

Back in the 19th century, the birth of Marxism arose from the numerous issues faced by the West. With Marxism as a theoretical foundation, China has been maintaining a comparative perspective during its learning from the West and looking for its own development path, as Marxism helps China to avoid blindly following Western models. The West has developed spontaneously, while China is more conscious in their approach. 

The nature of a socialist society is fundamentally different from that of capitalism. According to President of the Communist Party of Spain, Jose Luis Centella, “in a socialist system, the beneficiaries of national achievements are the people. In contrast, in a capitalist society, the economic benefits are enjoyed by a small group of people.”

(The author is a current affairs commentator of CGTN. The article reflects the author's opinions. zhang.wan@cgtn.com)