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Marxism and Socialism with Chinese Characteristics
The adaptation of Marxism to actual Chinese conditions resulted in the creation of a theoretical system of building socialism with Chinese characteristics. This system, formulated by the Communist Party of China (CPC), is the theoretical summary of the essence and general laws of China's socialist reform and economic development since the founding of the People's Republic in 1949, especially during the decades of Reform and Opening up that started from 1978. Being an innovative application and development of Marxism in the historical context of contemporary China, it not only follows the general principles of Marxism and scientific socialism, but also exhibits features that are unique to the Chinese nation.
Basing on official materials and drawing on existing academic achievements in CPC theoretical studies, Marxism and Socialism with Chinese Characteristics focuses on the interpretation of the basic tenets, theoretical value, and contemporary significance of traditional Marxism, the exploration of the features of the theoretical system of Chinese socialism from various perspectives, and in particular the study of the relationship between these two important theories, shedding light on the historical process of the sinicization of Marxism. The chapters in the book are arranged topically and interrelated. Topics covered include the origin and development of socialist ideology; the sinicization of Marxism and the creation of the theory of building socialism with Chinese characteristics; the development law of the socialist market economy; socialist democracy and the dictatorship of the proletariat; the Marxist theory on political party and party-building in China; and the scientific outlook on development, all of which are aimed at illuminating the significance and relevance of Marxism in contemporary times, especially in the context of China.
KEY FEATURES
- Examines the basic tenets, theoretical value, and contemporary significance of traditional Marxism
- Elaborates on the sinicization of Marxism and features of the theoretical system of Chinese socialism from various perspectives
- Consists of 12 chapters
- Fifth title in the series 'Studies on the Theory of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics'
Basing on official materials and drawing on existing academic achievements in CPC theoretical studies, Marxism and Socialism with Chinese Characteristics focuses on the interpretation of the basic tenets, theoretical value, and contemporary significance of traditional Marxism, the exploration of the features of the theoretical system of Chinese socialism from various perspectives, and in particular the study of the relationship between these two important theories, shedding light on the historical process of the sinicization of Marxism. The chapters in the book are arranged topically and interrelated. Topics covered include the origin and development of socialist ideology; the sinicization of Marxism and the creation of the theory of building socialism with Chinese characteristics; the development law of the socialist market economy; socialist democracy and the dictatorship of the proletariat; the Marxist theory on political party and party-building in China; and the scientific outlook on development, all of which are aimed at illuminating the significance and relevance of Marxism in contemporary times, especially in the context of China.
KEY FEATURES
- Examines the basic tenets, theoretical value, and contemporary significance of traditional Marxism
- Elaborates on the sinicization of Marxism and features of the theoretical system of Chinese socialism from various perspectives
- Consists of 12 chapters
- Fifth title in the series 'Studies on the Theory of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics'
458 pages, Hardcover
Published March 15, 2017
172 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 5, 2024
Very interesting as a Westerner. This is an official Chinese college introductory textbook on Marxism and Socialism with Chinese Characteristics. As such you can expect very high level overviews of various facets of official positions on marxist thought. What was less expected was the marxist critiques of the Chinese economy peppered throughout, acknowledging the contradictions that have arisen in Chinese society and prescribing solutions, all of which entail a further socialization of this or that area of the economy. Specifically I was kind of slack jawed at the chapter critiquing worker conditions and the rising wealth gap in Chinese society; this is an official *introductory* college text on an ideology diligently studied by party bureaucrats and future bureaucrats alike. Reading it amidst simultaneous critiques of modern China from a Maoist perspective certainly put a damper on those. On top of that, being published ten years ago, this book’s critiques in official curriculum predate Maoist ones that continue today based on outdated information and concepts, not to mention an entirely hollow “Marxist” framework consistently employed.
That said, the English translation leaves much to be desired, like many English translations of modern Chinese Marxist works. Step up your translation game! That would be my main criticism of the publisher here, not so much the author.
As far as criticism of the text goes, I would say its clarification of Deng Xiaoping Theory leaves something to be desired. For DXT and the “innovations in thought” from Jiang and Hu, Jin is quick to fall into the rote repetitions of the common phrases of these projected thoughts. Saying, like (and this isn’t a direct quote but me riffing), “The Three Represents is the most forward-looking development of party structure in the Modern Era of making Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, and so party-building must rely on the Three Represents in all future reforms” in a chapter on party work, instead of actually taking the time to fully clarify what the Three Represents is and how it is made sense of according to commonly accepted theory. In this sense I gained more clarity of what Deng Xiaoping Theory was and is from reading Deng’s own selected works and Ezra Vogel’s biography than I did here. And I would argue the same could not be said of the overview of Marx and Engels and Lenin here, which is concise and clear. I don’t blame the author necessarily for these problems, it’s a common thing in lots of official Chinese texts. It’s something that should be figured out though.
That said, the English translation leaves much to be desired, like many English translations of modern Chinese Marxist works. Step up your translation game! That would be my main criticism of the publisher here, not so much the author.
As far as criticism of the text goes, I would say its clarification of Deng Xiaoping Theory leaves something to be desired. For DXT and the “innovations in thought” from Jiang and Hu, Jin is quick to fall into the rote repetitions of the common phrases of these projected thoughts. Saying, like (and this isn’t a direct quote but me riffing), “The Three Represents is the most forward-looking development of party structure in the Modern Era of making Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, and so party-building must rely on the Three Represents in all future reforms” in a chapter on party work, instead of actually taking the time to fully clarify what the Three Represents is and how it is made sense of according to commonly accepted theory. In this sense I gained more clarity of what Deng Xiaoping Theory was and is from reading Deng’s own selected works and Ezra Vogel’s biography than I did here. And I would argue the same could not be said of the overview of Marx and Engels and Lenin here, which is concise and clear. I don’t blame the author necessarily for these problems, it’s a common thing in lots of official Chinese texts. It’s something that should be figured out though.
October 25, 2023
Very high quality exposition of the orthodox understanding of Marxism in China. a bit easier to read than "Basics of the Theoretical System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics" which is also a decent book but has a lot of translation errors and is more difficult to read.
Another reviewer criticizes it for being a bit vague at times. From my experience of reading other literature of the subject, I don't think that is the fault of the author, some of the theoretical formulation is somewhat vague and leaves questions open, either because the questions currently do not have clear answers, or by their very nature they are just general conclusions not meant to be understand as absolute truisms.
Another reviewer criticizes it for being a bit vague at times. From my experience of reading other literature of the subject, I don't think that is the fault of the author, some of the theoretical formulation is somewhat vague and leaves questions open, either because the questions currently do not have clear answers, or by their very nature they are just general conclusions not meant to be understand as absolute truisms.
April 13, 2022
A valuable resource of the kind rare in English, which tries to explicate the titular subject for uninitiated Anglophone Westerners. But this scholarly text was originally written in Chinese, and the English translation is overall poor. Especially problematic are the many block quotes of Marx and Engels, which were clearly originally translated from German into Chinese for the original textbook, and then translated from Chinese into English for this edition. The result is, to say the least, mangled. For a book on the exact same subject written originally in English by a native English speaker who lives and teaches Marxism fulltime in Mainland China, see Roland Boer's recent book Socialism with Chinese Characteristics: A Guide for Foreigners. It's really expensive but you can download it for free on LibGen.
June 24, 2021
The book starts with historical introduction, and development of socialism and marxism in China. But the main part of the book which should explain socialism with chinese characteristic, I find is pretty vague, mostly theoretical and doesn't represent more realistic situation in any detail. Some points are repeated throughout a book, though it is probably because each chapter is from a different author.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews