Is Marx still relevant today?

The following article by Zhang Wan, a Current Affairs Commentator at CGTN, has been translated by the Academy of Marxism of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and we are publishing it at their request.

It presents the observations and reflections of a number of Chinese and international scholars and political figures, with Xin Xiangyang, head of the Academy of Marxism, noting that, “Although Marx never visited China, his visions and assessments are largely in line with the reality of China.”

Comparing the experiences of China and the former Soviet Union, both Xin and Professor A.V. Lomanov of the Russian Academy of Sciences, draw attention to the crucial importance of the ‘second integration’ advanced by President Xi Jinping, namely that of Marxism with traditional Chinese culture.

The following is the text of the article.

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 Chinese society and its continuous progress? According to Xin Xiangyang, head of the Academy of Marxism of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, in 1939, Mao Zedong stated that China’s national condition was a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society. Following that, the Chinese have spent a hundred years with Marxism to understand this condition. “Although Marx never visited China, his visions and assessments are largely in line with the reality of China,” Xin added.

Professor A.V. Lomanov of the Russian Academy of Sciences explains that Marxism evolved in Russia at the end of the 19th century and the early 20th century, where it became 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’.”

Xin Xiangyang points out that 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”, achieving the socialist future that Marx envisioned for China’s social development.

Speaking of the weakness of the former Soviet Union, Lomanov believes it was the absence of a “second combination.” “The first combination involved adapting Marxist theory to the specific conditions of the country. However, the second combination, which China pioneered, involved integrating Marxism with traditional culture. 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 – characterised by strong religious elements – remained unresolved until the Soviet Union’s dissolution”, he added.

For thousands of years, Chinese have been striving for the ideals of “Great Harmony” and “The world is for all”. Xin Xiangyang elaborates that 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. Professor Xing Yunwen from Shanghai Jiao Tong University believes this cultural inclusiveness has contributed to a more welcoming attitude toward the introduction of Marxism in China, allowing for integration rather than the 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.

According to Professor A.V. Lomanov, 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. “Many Western experts 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 he 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.

Lomanov believes that the vital source of 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.

Echoing this point, Xin Xiangyang says that world Marxism continuously poses questions within the historical process of Chinese modernisation, with contemporary Marxism addressing these issues and systematically clarifying them theoretically.

How does Marxism address the issues of the times, when the world is facing many old and new challenges including climate change, regional conflicts and poverty? How shall the world become one humanity and stop treating each other as rival and enemy?

Eleni Evagorou from the Central Committee of Cyprus’s Progressive Party of Working People (Akel) says Europe is facing a difficult time, as many people are facing poverty. She therefore believes that Europe needs to change its path to a more social-oriented and people-oriented policy. “We can see that capitalism always wants to be bigger and greater, and that is why we have imperialist wars, which is a huge problem of our times, since capitalism would like to make more money through weapons and so on,” she added. 

Professor Lomanov expresses his concern over Western capitalism, whose exclusivity is on the rise. He adds that there is an increasing tendency within Western society to exclude other civilisations and different ideological or developmental paths. In contrast, he is not worried about Chinese socialism, as it incorporates Chinese culture, which represents a harmonious culture that embraces diversity, fostering mutual beauty and coexistence.

Back in the 19th century, the birth of Marxism arose from the numerous issues faced by the West. Professor Xing Yunwen points out that China maintains a comparative perspective with Marxism as a theoretical foundation, which helps to avoid blindly following Western models. While learning from the West, Chinese people adopt a critical viewpoint. “The West has developed spontaneously, whereas we are more conscious in our approach. Our critical perspective, rooted in Marxism, serves as a tool to observe the world, leading to a deeper understanding of many issues”, Xing added.

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

“The development of socialism with Chinese characteristics indeed plays a significant role in promoting fairness and justice for humanity,” Xin Xiangyang explains, adding that capitalism has matured to a point where social welfare and high benefits are sustained by the wealth generated through exploitation. However, as economic systems continue to face crises, it has become increasingly difficult to extract such profits from developing countries, especially with the advancement of socialism with Chinese characteristics. From this perspective, China is actively working to transform an unfair international economic order into a fairer and more reasonable one. Western countries find it increasingly difficult to secure monopoly profits, which is why there’s a push for decoupling and supply chain disruptions by some Western countries, and this is unacceptable for capital and threatens the sustainability of welfare systems.

Where does the zero-sum mentality prevailing in the West come from? Professor Lomanov says the mentality has its roots in the 20th century, when the West believed that the victory in the Cold War was easy and straightforward – defeating the Soviet Union without firing a shot and without casualties. The West weakened the Soviet Union through economic and ideological competition, leading to its collapse. “As a result, they think this achievement can be easily replicated: if you dislike someone, you can simply declare a new Cold War, and after a few years or decades, defeating your opponent will be simple. However, I believe China is not a second Soviet Union. The situation has changed; the cultural foundations are different, the people’s cohesion is not the same, and the governing capabilities of the Communist Party differ significantly.”

Director of the Marxist Research Institute of Sri Lanka, Vinod Moonesinghe says the forces of imperialism are trying to create a war situation to get out of its own economic problems. Echoing this, Alfredo Garcia Jimenez, Vice President of the Cuba Institute of Philosophy uses numbers to make his point: “China’s military expenditure accounts for 1.6% of its GDP. The United States’ military expenditure accounts for 3.45% of its GDP, meaning that its defence spending is three times that of China. Capitalist countries often resort to war as a way to escape crises, as warfare increases the costs of weapons and equipment, leading to a focus on military funding.”

Jose Luis Centella points out humanity faces serious dangers at this moment, with the conflict in Ukraine escalating. It’s crucial for global powers like China to convey messages of peace and unity to the world. Currently, millions of dollars are being poured into weaponry for the Ukraine conflict, funds that should instead be used for development to help millions escape poverty. This underscores the importance of China’s globalisation initiatives, particularly the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which aims to foster cooperation in every corner of the globe. Additionally, China’s Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilisation Initiative complement the BRI. The four initiatives proposed by the Chinese president are designed to address humanity’s greatest challenges, such as hunger and the plight of millions suffering from food insecurity and disease. The core question is how we can create a shared destiny for all of humanity, promoting peace and progress on Earth.

“If there was no BRI today, the world’s economy would be in a very bad position, especially following the global financial crisis”, Vinod Moonesinghe added. “In countries like Sri Lanka, it was absolutely devastating. So, without the Belt and Road Initiative, we would have found far less development taking place in the world. In fact, it’s China’s initiative which is opening up new communications networks throughout the world and helping the Global South especially to expand its economic activities. The BRI actually represents a threat to Western domination of the world. And the method by which the West extracts the wealth from the Global South is being undermined by the BRI. So, the BRI represents a rising of the Global South.”

Jose Luis Centella talks about two opposing ideologies in the international order: one is the multilateral order proposed by China, which is based on the original principles of the United Nations and emphasises equal and mutually beneficial relationships. The other seeks to bring about a new Cold War, dividing the world into opposing blocs. He adds that he hopes the future for humanity, as Chinese President Xi Jinping has articulated, can be established on a shared multilateral international order. In this order, all countries and cultures can connect and enrich each other’s lives.

Professor Lomanov addresses that all humanity, including developed Western countries, impoverished nations in the Global South, and emerging market economies, needs globalisation as a prerequisite for shared development and prosperity. “However, Western countries have shifted from comprehensive globalisation to a form of selective or partial globalisation. Key advances in high technology, artificial intelligence, and knowledge that impacts on national capabilities are often kept outside this framework. The West aims to preserve its advantages and hegemonic status through this localised globalization. For them, it’s less about the economic rationale and more about maintaining power. Consequently, a new form of globalisation is likely to emerge from the Global South.”

China’s achievements stem from its refusal to fully Westernise and its exploration of a new path. Professor Lomanov explains that the country’s initially imitating the Western model did not work, and later adopting the Stalinist model also proved ineffective, and China has made many mistakes and paid significant costs along the way. Yet, by steadfastly pursuing its own path, it has now come close to the centre of the global stage.

Jose Luis Centella quoted Chinese President Xi Jinping as saying socialism must be adapted to the economic and cultural conditions of each country. It cannot be copied, but it can be learned from, such as how China has utilised market forces to infuse socialism with unique characteristics, how a major country seeks peace rather than war, and how it places the people at the centre of its political agenda while developing extensive democracy.

Many experts believe that Marxism is a scientific method of looking at society, and it remains relevant in analysing society and in analysing how each society can develop. Professor Zhang Youkui from Xiamen University reminds people that the view of capitalism cannot be overly simplistic as capitalism played a positive and progressive role at a certain historical stage. However, the inherent contradictions and difficulties within capitalism inevitably lead to the emergence of new social forms. “Marx scientifically argued this theory, and looking at practical developments since the 20th century, I believe Marx’s insights remain relevant.”

“Marxism originated in the West, but its vision referred to all of humanity, addressing fundamental issues closely related to human existence and development,” Xing Yunwen added. “When Chinese civilisation began, the questions people pondered were about humanity’s relationship with nature, with each other, and how individuals can achieve harmony within themselves. These questions were explored by ancient Greek philosophers and Chinese thinkers alike—how should people live, and where is humanity headed. Marxism is a theory that emerged in the West to critique capitalism, yet it shares common ground with thinkers throughout history on the fundamental issues of human existence and development. Different civilisations and cultures may approach these core questions differently, offering varying answers, but the underlying questions remain the same.”

Like Chinese President Xi Jinping has said, “Despite the tremendous differences between now and the days of Karl Marx, world socialism’s 500 years of history shows that we are still where Marxism has said we should be. This is the proper basis for our continuing faith in Marxism and our confidence in the victory of socialism.”