Socialism with Chinese Characteristics: A Guide for Foreigners

by Roland Boer

This book covers the whole system of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, dealing with Deng Xiaoping’s theory, the socialist market economy, a moderately well-off (Xiaokang) society, China’s practice and theory of socialist democracy, human rights, and Xi Jinping’s Marxism. In short, the resolute focus is the Reform and Opening-Up.

Socialism with Chinese Characteristics is one of the most important global realities today. However, the concept and its practice remain largely misunderstood outside China. This book sets to redress such a lack of knowledge, by making available to non-Chinese speakers the sophisticated debates and conclusions in China concerning socialism with Chinese Characteristics. It presents this material in a way that is both accessible and thorough.

Genres: China, Politics, History, Nonfiction, Theory, Economics, Philosophy

316 pages, ebook

Published June 7, 2021

About the author

Roland Theodore Boer is a Marxist philosopher based in China. His research concerns the many dimensions of the construction of socialism, especially in China but also elsewhere.

Reviews

[Carlos Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant and comprehensive guide to Chinese socialism - the economics of the socialist market economy, the mechanics of China's democracy, the philosophy underpinning Socialism with Chinese characteristics, the Marxist basis of Reform and opening up, the theoretical contributions of different generations of CPC leadership, and so on. Requires some grounding in Marxism-Leninism, but if you've got that, this is pretty much a must-read.

[Nathan Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Boer is a bit of a shill, but that's an improvement over being a hack — and given that virtually all discourse on China refuses to engage with their own self-conception of socialist construction (Boer is correct that this usually takes on the guise that the CPC is essentially an overelaborate ruse), this is extremely useful in articulating the party line, as it were. I have very substantial disagreements with the CPC's orientation, for what it's worth, but I found this helpful.

[Chet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just today I was on Twitter (what was I thinking?) and saw our Secretary of Transportation's comms team posting "thirst trap[s] (sic)" of Mr. Buttigieg running around shirtless. Across the ocean, in recent China news, the Communist Party's transportation team has developed a bullet train able to run at speeds over 350 mph. They plan to roll it out for the public very soon.

This is just one of myriad disturbing contrasts showing how the elites of our country are fiddling while they let the American working class burn. If we want to take our country back, a little humility wouldn't hurt in the process: while I don't suggest copying the China model point by point (that would be a disaster), the average American can learn a lot and get a serious political education in the process by studying contemporary China's development. An excellent place to start is Roland Boer's Socialism with Chinese Characteristics: A Guide for Foreigners.

Boer's main thrust is to argue most Western "China watchers" get a fundamental piece of the puzzle wrong: they assume China's leadership has "abandoned" Marxism, that socialist governance is no longer on their radar. As Boer digs into the primary sources from Chinese Mainland scholars and government officials (which it becomes quickly clear are hardly mutually exclusive categories), we see this assessment couldn't be further from the truth.

As Engels was fond of pointing out, Marxism is not a fixed dogma, but a "guide for action." Unlike our "thirst-trap" posting overlords, China's officials have indeed been in action for several decades now, as average income, life expectancy, overall health, and literacy continue to rise on the backs of their modernization campaign, and the people of the Mainland continue to register staggeringly high approval ratings for their government.

On the other hand Boer offers a stark and bleak assessment for the US and the rest of the West at the end of his book:

"As the last European colonial power—the United
States—fragments and falls apart due to its own internal contradictions and as the 14
percent of the global population found in Western countries realises belatedly that
the whole Western project is in its sunset phase, the appeal of its discursive mode has
markedly declined."

Is he correct? Do we have nothing left of value to offer the world? Looking at our governing, doddering elites it would seem so. But under the antagonistic contradictions of capitalism these corrupt villains do not represent the majority, the people. And if we the people want to reclaim our legacy, to find hope for our future, we could do worse than looking east, learning a thing or two from contemporary China, and then continuing the fight for justice here with renewed energy and inspiration.

[Roberto Yoed · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot believe a book like this exists: it is THE introduction to understand socialist China (from Mao to Xi Jinping).

Granted, it isn't perfect, but I highly doubt there is a better book than this to introduce people to socialism with chinese characteristics (it's theory, practice, history and evolution).

[Ahmed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very comprehensive and well-written introduction to SWCC with just the right amount of citations, sources, and recommendations for further reading which makes this text the perfect starting place for anyone who wishes to catch up with the developments of the official position in China on Marxism and the overarching debate and discussions that take place within the Marxist (and more broadly political) circles in China today.

[lukas · Rating 5 out of 5]

toto je sykofantstvo najvyššej kvality, ktoré ale niekedy sa trafí vo svojej kritike západu

[Monkey D Dragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting book, because until today there is a misconception about how socialism works in China. On one side, people think China betrays the core of socialism because the interpretation of socialism in China is very different from the concept of socialism made by Marx and Engels. This misconception is definitely wrong because what China wants to do is make socialism fit with the reality in China, so this is why they call socialism with Chinese characteristics. and this book is very recommended for us who want to know about socialism in China because the author learns about socialism in China, so we can say the author really knows what socialism is in China because he learns and sees the system in the place where it is done.

[Rhys Lindmark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I almost stopped after the first 10%, but was glad I persevered.

Sure, Boer is a bit of a commie shill. And he's a repetitive writer.

But this is the best book to get an inside view on how Chinese ideology actually works. Liberalism has changed the trajectory of the West the last 500 years. Socialism with Chinese Characteristics (中国特色社会主义) will have a similar impact the next 500.

So many important things here:
- 求是
- 社会主义市场经济
- 四项基本原则
- 共同富裕
- 四个现代化

etc etc etc

[Alberto Erazo · Rating 5 out of 5]

La obra de Roland Boer, titulada Socialismo con Características Chinas: Una Guía Concisa, se presenta como un esfuerzo intelectual fundamental para desmantelar las ideas preconcebidas occidentales sobre el sistema político y económico de la República Popular China. Boer, académico de la Universidad Renmin de China, no solo ofrece un resumen de su investigación más extensa, y también propone un cambio de paradigma en la forma de estudio: entender a China desde sus propias categorías marxistas en lugar de imponer visiones liberales externas. El autor señala desde el inicio que, para comprender la realidad china, es necesario un "lavado de cerebro" de la tradición liberal occidental, la cual a menudo distorsiona el socialismo chino como una forma de capitalismo de Estado o una desviación práctica. En su lugar, Boer sostiene que el marxismo es la "habilidad especial" (kanjia benling) de China, el motor que dirige el camino socialista del país, especialmente bajo el liderazgo de Xi Jinping, quien ha revitalizado el papel del materialismo dialéctico e histórico en la dirección actual del país.

El punto central filosófico del ensayo de Boer reside en el análisis de las contradicciones (maodun fenxifa), una herramienta dialéctica que permite al Partido Comunista de China (PCCh) abordar los desafíos del desarrollo. Basándose en las enseñanzas de Lenin y Mao Zedong, el autor explica que, en un sistema socialista, las contradicciones no son necesariamente opuestas. Mientras que el capitalismo se define por la lucha de clases irreconciliable, el socialismo busca manejar las tensiones internas , como las brechas de ingresos o el desarrollo desigual, de manera que impulsen el progreso cualitativo evitando fracturar la sociedad. Esta perspectiva es vital para entender la política de "Reforma y Apertura". Boer argumenta que este proceso no fue una capitulación al mercado global, más bien una respuesta dialéctica para liberar las fuerzas productivas que se habían estancado. La reforma, por tanto, se entiende como una extensión de la revolución, donde el mercado y la planificación no son fines en sí mismos, más bien configuraciones que sirven al objetivo superior de la construcción socialista y el bienestar del pueblo.

En el ámbito económico, Boer realiza una desvinculación teórica necesaria: la economía de mercado no es intrínsecamente capitalista, y la planificación no es exclusiva del socialismo. China ha logrado integrar ambas configuraciones en lo que denomina un sistema de "circulación dual", donde el mercado interno y el internacional se refuerzan mutuamente bajo una dirección estatal que prioriza la propiedad pública como pilar central. El autor divide la historia económica de la Nueva China en tres etapas: una primera fase de socialización radical de la propiedad, una segunda de reforma para desarrollar las fuerzas productivas, y la fase actual de "desarrollo de alta calidad". Esta última etapa se caracteriza por un enfoque "centrado en el pueblo" (yi renmin wei zhongxin), que busca superar las desigualdades generadas durante el rápido crecimiento de décadas anteriores, enfocándose en la prosperidad común y la civilización ecológica.

Uno de los puntos más llamativos del texto es la defensa de la democracia socialista china, a la que Boer describe como una "democracia de cadena completa" superior a los sistemas parlamentarios occidentales. El autor detalla cómo China articula tres niveles de práctica democrática: la electoral, la consultiva y la de base (grassroots). A diferencia del modelo occidental, donde la participación ciudadana suele limitarse al acto de votar, el sistema chino fomenta una consulta constante a través de la "línea de masas". Boer ejemplifica esto con casos de presupuestos participativos y deliberaciones en aldeas, argumentando que las decisiones en China son el resultado de un proceso arduo de búsqueda de consenso previo a la votación formal. Esta democracia no se ve a sí misma como un producto terminado, más bien como un proceso en constante mejora que busca representar verdaderamente los intereses de las mayorías trabajadoras.

Finalmente, el libro aborda cuestiones de derechos humanos y políticas de nacionalidades minoritarias desde una visión anti-hegemónica. Boer contrasta la visión liberal, centrada en la propiedad privada y los derechos individuales, con la visión marxista china, que prioriza el derecho a la subsistencia, el trabajo y el desarrollo socioeconómico. Para China, un país con un pasado colonial, la soberanía nacional es la base indispensable sobre la cual se construyen todos los demás derechos. En este sentido, las políticas hacia las minorías étnicas (minzu) no se limitan a la autonomía cultural, más bien se enfocan en la inversión estatal masiva para asegurar que estas regiones no se queden atrás en la modernización. En resumen, la guía de Boer es un llamado a la honestidad intelectual, invitando a los lectores extranjeros a reconocer que China no está "volviendo" al capitalismo, más bien avanzando hacia una forma de socialismo maduro y tecnológicamente avanzado que desafía las hegemonías globales establecidas.

[Jackie Roving · Rating 2 out of 5]

It behooves Marxists and Westerners to understand the non-Western world on its own terms, as well as to be patient enough to immerse themselves in the culture, whether through learning the native language, visiting the country, or listening to the experiences of those who live there. This is an important point Roland Boer brings up that I can say was the most worthy of considering and possibly the only nice thing I can say about the book.

As for the main thesis of the book, Boer sets out to explain not only what Socialism with Chinese Characteristics (or Sinified Marxism) is but also to argue it is a legitimate form of Marxism. In practice, it results in explaining a form of Marxist-Leninism that mistakes an alternative form of modernization and nation-building for socialism. Many of the things throughout the 11 chapters of the book are gone over as being unique features Sinified Marxism, ranging from the rule of law to its need to measure success based on things like GDP and the mass removal of absolute poverty, which are concepts that are very much argued within Western liberalism and capitalist society.

The way the book excuses this overlap is by arguing the exceptionalism of China, where "Western categories" are somehow impertinent to understanding the conditions of China, and disingenuously characterizing Western thought and worldview with vulgar generalizations of how Western thought falls into "either-or" ways of thinking or characterizing Western liberalism in ways that ignore its dynamics and nuances, especially in ways that very much overlap with how China functions. What I said is not a defense of Western liberalism nor of the nonsense foundations it rests upon, but to demonstrate how seeking to dismiss comparisons and overlap between the West and China because of some vulgar presuppositions is erroneous.

Finally, I'm not sure what Boer's critique of capitalism, a system based on exploitation and degradation of labor through private property, is, especially since Boer goes on to argue for things like a "socialist market economy" or how socialism can coexist with private property.

If you want a book that analyzes the political philosophy of the modern Communist Party of China from a "pro-China" perspective, particularly one that would be more appealing to a Marxist-Leninist audience and engages in exceptionalism for China, this is a good choice.

If you want a book that tries to explain China’s government from a more decent perspective, then this isn’t the book to read unless you want to know where people who defend the Communist Party of China are coming from in terms of their worldview.

The book was as much as I expected out of it, overall. Hopefully I can write a more extensive review of the book in the future as I continue my studies into China.

[João Nunes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so grateful to Professor Boer for having written this book. As far as I know, this is quite a unique read translated into English and available to the "West".
Don't be wronged by the title, it suggests something like "China for dummies", but it's not. You actually need some understanding of both Chinese History and Marxist Philosophy (especially Engel's focus on dialectical materialism) to get something out of here and believe me, you can get so much.
Boer will provide you with sound arguments on how Chinese Socialism is Socialism, how Chinese Marxism is Marxism, and how we can only hope for great things to come from the possibly greatest socialist nation ever.
So many things that Westerners take for granted as the ones who detain the universal truth (like human rights for example) are examined through Chinese lenses by someone that lives in China as the only foreign Professor of Politics.
Most of Boer's arguments are explained with examples of Deng Xiaoping's politics and philosophy in relation to Marxist dialectics, it makes sense since Deng is the one who people always are and maybe will be skeptical about his socialism (even I am, or should I say was?). After reading this, I must say that many things that were unsolved questions for me are now clearer.
So many amazing references are given, and from this book, you can either get what it is(that is more than what you will get from mostly anything about contemporary China) or you can use it as a stepping stone to greater heights in the understanding of China.
Some things are lacking, like depicting real-case scenarios where Chinese Socialism hasn't arrived yet, for example, how small Chinese enterprises (I say Chinese because foreign corporations are fairly under a different kind of surveillance) exploit without any kind of leash and have no kind of judgment by the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, Boer sticks to the world of people that work to the government, where everything is merrier.
Boer has the same opinion about Mao as the actual CCP, that most of his lifework is of paramount importance but events like the Cultural Revolution were some sort of delirium. I really do disagree with this simplistic analysis but the argument that he gives is actually interesting.
This was my first great read of the year. Also, this book will definitely accompany me for the rest of my life in my quest for understanding China.
Thank you, Professor Boer

[Wilson Tun · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics. The author is biased and a Chinese shill but the concepts he articulated are interesting. The ideological justification for economic system was really good. The concept of delinking market system from capitalism and planned system from socialism proposed by Deng Xiaoping was quite a refreshing perspective.

However, the argument became more flimsy when the author started dealing with the concept of human rights where various logical gaps were used to justify that China is a shining beacon of peace and prosperity while the West is an epitome of evil and darkness.

It was alright, I would recommend it just for the sake of understanding how Chinese Socialism works from the Chinese perspective but eh, just brush aside his shilling and ignore him whenever he starts whining about the evil colonial imperialist slavery of the West.

[Matt C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boer provides a remarkable articulation of the Chinese system as well as the breadth of Chinese Marxist and political thought. The central usage of primary chinese sources and scholarship makes this an incredibly valuable book for any international observer that hopes to have a chance at understanding the complexity of modern China.

Although many westerners will be made uncomfortable with Boer's clear bias towards
the Chinese system, he demonstrates a clear understanding of fundamental Marxist principles and Dialectical Materialism.

From the conclusion:

"not so long ago the reality was that the 'discourse stage is controlled by the West, topics are proposed by the West, the agenda is dominated by the West, standards are set by the West, content is provided by the West, and discourse is judged by the West'."

[Carlos · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great and throughly researched book. The author, Roland Boer, cites speeches from Chinese leaders, scholars, and economists. He breaks down Western misconceptions about China, emphasizes Chinese democracy and mass participation, and the anti-hegemonic nature of modern China. Boer does a good job of avoiding Western bias and understanding another culture and political life. I would highly recommend this text as general introduction to Chinese political and economic culture. "we have to demonstrate that the Marxist system of thought is superior to all others, and that the socialist system is superior to capitalism" (Deng Xiaoping).

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the title states this is a great overview of China, its history, and its specific brand of socialism. It goes into the cultural background and explains a lot of the misunderstood sections of its history, structure, culture, and does so quite effectively. There are some dense sections, but if you stick with it it is definitely worth the time and investment.

I read it online for free at this link for anyone interested:

https://www.papuaresearchstudy.com/wp...

[Daniel Castle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book for understanding socialism in China. If you can see past the few minor grammatical errors, it will give you a good understanding of the core of China without the misleading, lense of our media and politicians.

[Guevaraxel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Why did I read this ?
I dont know, im just autistic and obsessed
Dont recommend but it was worth the read

[Kya Caprese · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok. I didn't read all of it but I found some of the details useful for understanding the Chinese Government

[Matthew Thurman · Rating 5 out of 5]

We love 21st century Marxist theory and analysis don’t we?

Very accessible and worthwhile even for the most read theory nerds.