Table Of ContentMingsheng Wang
The History
and Logic
of Modern
Chinese Politics
Translated by Xiao-huang Yin
The History and Logic of Modern Chinese Politics
Mingsheng Wang
The History and Logic
of Modern Chinese Politics
MingshengWang
SchoolofGovernment
NanjingUniversity
Nanjing,China
Translatedby
Xiao-huangYin
SchoolofForeignStudies
NorthwesternPolytechnicUniversity
Xi’an,China
ISBN978-981-16-3715-5 ISBN978-981-16-3716-2 (eBook)
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Preface and Acknowledgments (Translator)
This anthology of 33 carefully selected essays written by Dr. Mingsheng Wang, a
renowned Chinese political scientist, is a groundbreaking and thought-provoking
studyofthesociopoliticalforcesbehindChina’sgradualemergenceasanewglobal
power in the twentieth century and its rapid rise as the world’s second-largest
economyoverthepast40years.Theauthor’sargument,illuminatedbycomparative
theoreticalanalysesandbasedonmeticulouslydetailedempiricalresearch,provides
readerswithafreshandperceptiveanalysisofpatternsofChina’smodernpolitical
development and functions as a lens through which readers can better understand
China’s remarkable accomplishment as well as broader issues that have perplexed
many:IsthereaChinaPathtosociopoliticalprogress?Whatisthe“socialismwith
Chinese characteristics”? Can China redefine its niche and maintain its growing
momentum in a multilateral world? And finally, what lessons can we draw from
China’scontinuingprogressasapost-developmentalnationinthepost-COVIDera?
Astheauthorargueseloquentlyandwithpersuasiveevidence,China’songoing
progresshasfollowedneitherthemodeofRussian-stylesocialismnorthatofWestern
prototypical capitalism. Rather, it represents a distinctively different model of
progressandcontinuoussearchforaviablealternativeroutetomodernity,unfolding
throughaprocessgroundedinandimbuedwithChinesecharacteristicsandChinese
realities.Byidentifyingsuchanalternativesystemasthe“ChinaPath,”theauthor
demonstratesconvincinglythatthereexistampleoptionsfordifferenttypesofmoder-
nity that transcend the dichotomy of state-run and market-driven models, and that
economic development means not only industrialization but also the progress of
political democratization and the realization of the rule of law. In this sense, this
book provides a much-needed opportunity for scholars and policymakers as well
asanyonewhowantstogetaninsider’sviewofthehistory,logic,andprospectof
China’ssociopoliticaldevelopmentandreachnuancedanalysesofcriticalissuesin
theEnglishlanguagediscourseonChinastudies.
There is no need to further elaborate the profound implications of Dr. Wang’s
trulyoriginalstudy,whichhassignificantlyenrichedourunderstandingofmodern
China.AstheprincipaltranslatorandeditoroftheEnglishversionoftheanthology,
however, I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to all
v
vi PrefaceandAcknowledgments(Translator)
the individuals and institutions that have dedicated their time or resources to the
successfulpublicationofthebook.Firstandforemost,Iwanttothankmyfriends,
colleagues, and students who have generously contributed their expertise to the
completionofthissignificantyetchallengingproject.Translatorsofvariousdrafts
of the essays contained in the anthology include Professors Liu Jie (Chaps. 6–9),
Lv Fang (Introduction and Chaps. 22 and 27), Ren Jiong (Chaps. 15, 18 and 28),
Rui Xue (Chap. 21), Su Xiaoqing (Chaps. 30–33), Wang Qian (Chaps. 4 and 10),
WangXiaodan(Chaps.16and17),XueHongguo(Chaps.24and25),YangHuiying
(Chaps.3and5),YuanYan(Chaps.20and29),ZhouShuang(Chaps.14,19and26),
andZuoLiankai(Chaps.11–13).ProfessorsPaulJay,PeterKoehn,DavidPrestel,
Adrienne Tien, James Tranquada, and Xu Lei as well as Henry Moore Allen and
JoshuaLeungTsangcontributedvaluableskillandtimebyproofreadingorreviewing
differentpartsofthedrafts.IamalsodeeplygratefultoProf.ZhangYi,whoplayedan
invaluableroleinservicingasanorganizeroftheproject.Myspecialgratitudegoes
out to Prof. Wang Xiaodan, who not only translated two chapters, but also helped
mesoefficiently,painstakingly,andpatientlypreparethedraftsofthefinalversion
ofthemanuscriptundertimepressure.Dr.LiYali,Dr.WangWei,Mr.CuiXiaobin,
andDr.WangXuanalsoprovidedassistanceineditingthemanuscriptinoneway
oranother.TheHumanitiesFundsofNorthwesternPolytechnicUniversityandthe
Faculty Enrichment Grant of Occidental College generously provided support for
thistranslationproject.
Despite my best efforts, errors and inconsistencies undoubtedly remain in the
Englishtranslation.Itakefullresponsibility,butIhopethattheyarefewandthey
will not detract from this vitally important and timely study of modern Chinese
politicsintoday’sincreasinglyglobalizedandcomplexworld.
Xi’an/Nanjing,China Xiao-huangYin
February2021 DeanoftheSchoolofForeignStudiesat
NorthwesternPolytechnicUniversity,China
ChangjiangScholarChairProfessorofthe
ChineseEducationMinistry
ProfessorofAsian/AmericanStudiesat
OccidentalCollege,LosAngeles,USA
Introduction
Politicaldevelopmentmeansnotonlytheprogressofpoliticaldemocratization,but
alsotheemergenceofanindependentnationstate.
Atthedawnofthetwentiethcentury,China’spoliticaldevelopmentenduredsevere
hardship.Chinathenwasbulliedbycolonialandimperialistpowers,anditsuffered
fromrecurrentunrest,autocracy,andfeudalsuperstition.Consequently,itspolitical
developmenthadtofulfillthedualmissionsofbothsurvivinginthatcomplexand
difficulteraandenlighteningthemassesofthepeople.Asaresult,China’spolitical
environmentwascomplicatedandeverchanging;thesocialecologywasintricate;
andgoodandbadculturaltraditionswereintermingled.Therefore,China’spolitical
developmentnotonlycontainednationalcharacteristics,butalsorestrictedthegrowth
offreedom,democracy,andscience.
Whensurvivalisthemajorthemeofthetimes,theenlightenmentcryof“democ-
racy” and “science” becomes the symbol of the times. Illuminated by all kinds of
social thought flooding in China and influenced by their viewpoints and political
ideals,peoplefromallsocialsegmentsbegantodevotethemselvestothecauseof
spreading truth and knowledge and taking political action, thereby beginning the
magnificentdramaofChina’spoliticaldevelopment.Theleadingrolesofthisdrama
thuschangedwiththetimes.
Politicaldevelopmentiscloselyrelatedtoculturaltraditions.Everynationhasits
ownculturaltraditionsandhistoricallegacies.Intheprocessofpoliticaldevelopment,
these cultural traditions and historical legacies will mix with each other to shape
different aspects of sociopolitical development, such as citizens’ enthusiasm for
politicalparticipation,obediencetolegalauthority,awarenessofabidingbythelaw,
recognition of the spirit of democracy, and respect for and tolerance of different
opinions.
Politicaldevelopmentisalsoinfluencedandconditionedbythegoals,norms,and
valuesofpoliticalorganizationsandauthorities.Theywillleadpoliticaldevelopment
indifferentdirections.
Followingtheaforementioneddiscussion,IhaveanalyzedthepatternsofChina’s
politicaldevelopmentfromtheperspectiveofitshistoricalbackgroundsandcultural
vii
viii Introduction
traditions under the framework of the history of China’s revolution and socialist
construction.
SelectedfrommywritingsonpoliticaldevelopmentincontemporaryChina,this
anthologyiscomposedofthefollowingfiveparts:
PartI.EmergingTrendsofSocialThoughtandPoliticalDevelopmentinChina.
China’smodernandcurrentpoliticaldevelopmentisaffectedbytrendsofsociopo-
liticalthoughtathomeandfromabroad.PartIanalyzesConfucianethicsofgover-
nance,trendsofsocialthoughtdomesticallyandinternationally,theSinicizationof
Marxism, and the conflicts among these trends of thought. It intends to trace the
ideological origins of China’s political development and the political demands of
differentschoolsofthought.
PartII.RevolutionaryBaseAreasandPoliticalDevelopmentinChina.Revolu-
tionarybaseareaswerethefirstplacesunderthegovernanceoftheCommunistParty
ofChina(CPC).Thepoliticalandeconomicconstructionoftherevolutionarybase
areasandtheirculturalheritagehavemadeaprofoundinfluenceonChina’spolitical
development.Initsearlyyearsofgovernance,theCPC’stransformationfromarevo-
lutionarypartytoarulingpartywasamajorchallenge.Howtoinheritandexpand
the ideals and experiences that fit the times posed a serious challenge to the CPC.
Therefore,PartIIconsistsofageneralintroductiontotheresearchofrevolutionary
baseareasandargumentsamongscholars.Meanwhile,ittriestoexaminethepatterns
ofpoliticaldevelopmentintherevolutionarybaseareasthroughthestudyofsome
outstandinghistoricalcases.
PartIII.MaoZedongandPoliticalDevelopmentinContemporaryChina.Mao
Zedongcanneverbemarginalizedinthestudyofpoliticaldevelopmentinmodernand
contemporaryChina.AsaleaderwhowaseducatedintraditionalChinesecultureand
grewupwithChina’srevolution,hewasdeeplyinfluencedbybothtraditionalChinese
culture and revolutionary idealism. This due influence not only set the foundation
forMaotocreatethetheoriestoleadChina’srevolutionandsocialistconstruction,
butalsoprovidedspiritualpowerforhimtoachievethegoaloftheprosperityand
strengthofthecountry,nationalliberation,andthepeople’shappiness.PartIIIbriefly
analyzes Mao’s ideological transformation from a reformist to a revolutionist, the
influencefromtheConfucianidealofGreatHarmonyonMao,histhinkingonwealth
allocationanddistribution,hislong-termplanforthemodernizationofChina,andhis
self-reflectiononandappraisaloftheMaoZedongThought.PartIIIthusintendsto
uncoverthebasicpatternsofChina’spoliticaldevelopmentunderMao’sleadership.
PartIV.PoliticalSystemReformandPoliticalParticipation.Howtoefficiently
advance the reform of the political system is the central task for China after the
reformandopening-up.Facingproblemscausedbythelaggingofpoliticalreform,
generationsofCPCleaderssteadilypushedforwardpoliticalsystemreformandulti-
matelyachievedgreatprogressinbotheconomicandpoliticalreformandeventually
discovered the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Political participa-
tionisthecorecontentofpoliticalreform.Itcanbuildabridgebetweenthestate,
society,andindividualsandeffectivelycorrecttheimbalanceandconflictbetweenthe
Introduction ix
government’sbehaviorandthewillofcitizens,makingthepoliticalsystemoperate
stably and efficiently. In the practice of advancing political reform, the CPC, as
China’srulingparty,proposestobroadenorderlypoliticalparticipation,topractice
lawful democratic elections, decision making, management, and supervision, and
to guarantee the people’s right to know, to participate, to express their opinions,
and to supervise the government. Part IV reviews the theoretical development of
China’spoliticalsystemreformandtheachievementsofitspoliticalparticipation.It
alsodiscussesissuesofmasspoliticalparticipation,politicalstruggle,andpolitical
consensus.
Part V. Theoretical Innovations in Ideology. It is a fine tradition of the CPC to
advancetheoreticalinnovationsandattachimportancetoideologicalworkwiththe
times.UponthefoundingofthePeople’sRepublicofChina,MaoZedongpointed
out that “for China, Marx and Lenin are necessary reading. That comes first. But
communistsofanycountryandtheproletarianphilosophicalcirclesofanycountry
mustcreatenewtheory,writenewworks,producetheirowntheoreticianstoserve
thepoliticaltasksfacingthem.Itdoesn’tworktosimplyrelyonourancestors.”At
thebeginningofthereformandopening-up,DengXiaopingalsowarnedtheParty
that“wheneverythinghastobedonebythebook,whenthinkingturnsrigidandblind
faithisthefashion,itisimpossibleforapartyoranationtomakeprogress.Itslife
willceaseandthatpartyornationwillperish.”Mao’sandDeng’ssharpassertions
havepavedthewayfortheParty’stheoreticalinnovationsandthecauseofideolog-
ical reinforcement. Part V aims to provide readers with a panorama of the CPC’s
achievements inthearenaoftheoreticalinnovationandideologicalreinforcement,
includingthedevelopmentoftheParty’sguideline,itsideologicalmethodology,the
cultivationofthenationalspirit,theChineseDreamandtheChinaPath,andtherole
oftheinternetinideologicaleducation.
IfullyunderstandhowchallengingitistoresearchChina’spoliticaldevelopment.
However,asapre-QinphilosopherXunzi(310–235BC)said:“Althoughthedesti-
nation is not far away, it is impossible to reach it without walking. Although the
mission is not difficult, it is impossible to accomplish it without working.” Out of
my strong interest in China’s political development and the reasons why the CPC
succeeded inleading theChineserevolution, IstartedresearchintoChina’s devel-
opmentundertheguidanceofmyteachers.HereIbegtheirpardonforbeingslow
andpoorinmyresearchandnotmakingacademicachievementsexcellentenough
for them to be proud of me. I would like to extend my deep appreciation first to
mymentorsMaHongwu,WangDebao,XuGuangchang,ZhangYongtao,andMao
Jiaqi,onlytomentionafew,fortheirguidanceandteaching.Myspecialthanksgoto
mywife,SunHong.Withoutherloveandsupport,Iwouldneverhavecompletedthis
anthology.Thanksshouldalsogotomycolleaguesandstudentsfortheircooperation
andassistance.
ZhuXi(1130–1200),aConfuciusscholaroftheSongDynasty,oncesaid:“The
moreonepractices,thedeeperheunderstands.Thedeeperheunderstands,thebetter
hepractices.”AsascholarofChina’spoliticaldevelopment, Iaimtobravelyface
x Introduction
China’sreality,holdabroadacademicview,learnfromboththeEastandtheWest,
andseekforthewaytobuilddemocracywithChinesecharacteristicsandrealizethe
ruleoflawinChina.
Summer2020 MingshengWang
VicePresidentofJiangsuResearchSocietyof
ScientificSocialism
ExecutiveDirectorofJiangsuResearchSociety
ofPolitics
ProfessorofPoliticalScience,Nanjing
University,Nanjing,China
