Walk out of the predicament: Marxism and Chinese Modernization

Author: Yin Baoyun, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-07-01
Features: The title of this book is "Breaking Out of Difficulties," which has two meanings: one is to break out of the theoretical, and the other is to break out of the practical, thus gaining a new understanding of both theory and reality. The process of modernization is one of continuously creating and resolving contradictions, or in other words, one of continuously falling into and breaking out of. Under the correct guidance of the principle of building socialism with Chinese characteristics, China has broken out of the of dogmatism and the planned economy model, achieving remarkable accomplishments in just over two decades. However, the task of reform and opening up in China remains arduous, and notions, concepts, systems, and habits that do not align with the times or further development are still widespread in every corner of society. The current issues in China, such as distribution problems, corruption, urban-rural disparities, and wealth gaps, are fundamentally the result of old factors and old system factors not being thoroughly eliminated, and the outcome of insufficient modernization. Therefore, to smoothly resolve these issues and establish a harmonious modern society, we must continue to adhere to the principles of emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts, and deeply advance the transformation of concepts and institutional structures. Based on this understanding, this book explores some issues in Marxist theory and China's modernization practice:
Part 1 includes three chapters, reflecting on the theoretical development of the Marxist school.
Chapter 1 discusses Marx's general understanding of modernization and modernity. This chapter compares Marx's view of modernization with that of the Enlightenment scholars, analyzing both the similarities and differences between them, as well as the unity of instrumental rationality and value rationality in Marx's thought and its manifestations in practice.
Chapter 2 explores the origin of the "dependency" concept. Currently, there has been extensive research on radical dependency theory in domestic academia, but studies on its origins are relatively lacking. The author focuses on the ideas of modernization in backward countries from Marx to Lenin, pointing out both the reasonable elements and limitations of these ideas, which are valuable for us to approach classical thought with a scientific attitude.
Chapter 3 conducts an in-depth study of Immanuel Wallerstein's attempt to merge Marxism with liberalism to transcend the theoretical divide between the "left" and the "right." The analysis of the reasons why Wallerstein fell into theoretical in this chapter is particularly novel and enlightening. The purpose of these three chapters is not to provide a systematic review of the modernization theories of the Marxist school, but to reveal some prominent theoretical dilemmas they encountered in exploring the laws of modernization. The existence of these theoretical dilemmas suggests that we must approach classical Marxist thought and various new Marxist theories with a scientific attitude, abandoning blind faith and conformity, in order to find a path for intellectual development and theoretical innovation.
Part 2 is an empirical study, exploring some issues in China's modernization process that have attracted widespread attention.
Chapter 4 offers a new analysis of the origin and development of radicalism in China's modernization process. The author reveals the traditional and modern roots of radicalism, pointing out that only by continuing reform and opening up and deeply advancing the modernization process can we ultimately eliminate the soil that breeds radicalism.
Chapter 5 addresses another persistent problem in China's traditional values and institutional structures: the inability to tolerate personal interests and the development of private enterprises. Through a study of the tortuous growth of private enterprises since the reform and opening up, the author highlights that the development of private enterprises has its natural driving force, which is not subject to individual will. Since the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee, the Party has continuously adjusted policies and adapted to this process, recognizing this pattern.
Chapter 6 offers new reflections on issues in the process of political democratization, which has attracted widespread attention. Through a case study of a township, the author reveals the bureaucratic process that contradicts the democratization movement of "village self-governance" and reminds people to be aware of the potential for reverse movements in the modernization process.
Chapters 7 and 8 share the same theme: the reconstruction of moral norms in the modernization process. The former analyzes various educational and institutional reasons contributing to China's current moral chaos, while the latter explores the historical and current development of China's transition from traditional interpersonal trust to modern interpersonal trust.
This book is the research outcome of the project "Marxism and China's Modernization," approved by the Ministry of Education during the "10th Five-Year Plan" period. This project was led by Yin Baoyun, a professor at the Institute of Social Development, Peking University. The main contributors to the writing are young scholars with innovative knowledge structures and theoretical frameworks, strong foreign language skills, an objective attitude toward seeking truth, and a passion for academic innovation, making them well-suited for interdisciplinary research in modernization. It is hoped that this book will provide readers with valuable insights.
The authors of the chapters are as follows: Yin Baoyun (Chapter 1), Gao Xingsong (Chapter 2), An Ran (Chapter 3), Wang Wenzhang (Chapter 4), Dong Xiangrong (Chapter 5), Liu Li (Chapter 6), Yang Hua (Chapter 7), and Chen Huashan (Chapter 8). The entire book was edited and finalized by Yin Baoyun. Professors Yi Jiexiong of Peking University, Xue Hanwei of Peking University, and Mao Shoulong of Renmin University of China reviewed the manuscript. Many of their valuable suggestions were adopted during the revision process. The successful publication of this book is thanks to the People's Public Security University Press's emphasis on academic works. Special thanks are expressed to these organizations and individuals for their support!