Build Socialism with Chinese Characteristics

by Deng Xiaoping

As a sequel to the Selected Works of Deng Xiaoping (1975 - 1982), this volume contains important talks and speeches about building socialism with Chinese characteristics given by Deng Xiaoping during the past two years.

Genres: China, Politics, Asia

74 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1984

About the author

Deng Xiaoping was a Chinese statesman, revolutionary, and political theorist who served as the paramount leader of the People's Republic of China from 1978 to 1989. In the aftermath of Mao Zedong's death in 1976, Deng consolidated power to lead China through a period of "reform and opening up" that transformed it into a socialist market economy. He is regarded as the "Architect of Modern China" for contributions to socialism with Chinese characteristics and Deng Xiaoping Theory.

Reviews

[Maia Olive · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an interesting collection of speeches by Deng from the early 80’s which especially relate to the "reform and opening up" policy. Details the "one country, two systems" approach to the Taiwan and Hong Kong questions. I found the detailed description of the long view approach taken by the CPC in respect to the return of Hong Kong to China from Britain particularly interesting. The non-intervention policy ruled that there would be no interference by the mainland government into the affairs of Hong Kong for a period of 50 years. This collection also includes some interesting speeches on the importance of the utilisation of skilled and intellectual personnel in the building of socialism in China.

June 18, 1983:

‘The modernisation we are striving for is modernisation of a Chinese type. The socialism we are building is a socialism with Chinese characteristics. This is because we are acting according to our own concrete realities and conditions, and mainly through self reliance. Now that we are on the right track, our people are happy and we are confident. Our policies won’t change. If they do, it would only be for the better. And our policy of opening up to the outside world will only make China open up even more. The path won’t become narrower and narrower, but will be wider and wider. We suffered too much from taking a narrow road. If we turned back, where would we be headed? We would only return to backwardness and poverty.’

[Max · Rating 1 out of 5]

dengists will be like "this guy is a genius" and when you go to read him it will be stuff like "a true revolutionary must unify two systems in one country, just like the pigs testicles are unified in one sack" and you'll just be like "what"

[Aaron Schuschu · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stance on Taiwan and Hong Kong here is really interesting- nothing like how the West paints it.

[Benjamin Henley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helps flush out the Deng era. I’m not sure how you would really review this, so just giving a four because I wish there was a greater selection on a wider variety of topics.