Path to Modernization: A National Interpretation of China's Modernization Journey in the Last Two Decades of the 20th Century

Author: Cheng Meidong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-09-01
Features: This paper comprehensively and systematically studies the development process of modernization in China after 1978 over more than two decades. The paper is divided into seven parts. Part I is the introduction, which focuses on discussing fundamental theoretical issues of modernization, critically analyzing current domestic and international discourses on modernization, and offering unique insights into the meaning of modernization: that modernization specifically refers to the historical stage where humanity adheres to scientific supremacy. Modernization is neither an endless process nor a goal already achieved or soon to be achieved; rather, it is the mainstream of human historical development since modern times. After the reform and opening-up, China has taken significant steps and achieved great accomplishments on the path of modernization. Chapters II to VI discuss the development of China's modernization after the reform and opening-up from six aspects: urbanization, social integration systems, people's bottom-up approaches, political development, economic development, and cultural development, respectively, clarifying how China's modernization has achieved transformation. The changes in these six aspects collectively illustrate the achievements of China's modernization over the more than two decades of the reform and opening-up. The development speed of China's modernization during this period far exceeds that of the previous two decades, making this history a glorious page in the history of China's modernization and a significant turning point in its development process. This turning point is fundamentally manifested in China's proactive participation in the global wave of modernization during this stage. Of course, since these two decades belong to the transformation period of modernization, it is inevitable that some, or even many, shortcomings would emerge during this time. To address these shortcomings correctly, we can fully acknowledge the accomplishments of these two decades; only then can we fundamentally eliminate all existing shortcomings in the process of social development.