Deng Xiaoping Theory
Encyclopedia
Deng Xiaoping Theory also known as Dengism, is the series of political and economic ideologies first developed by Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping
. In theory, it does not reject Marxism
or Mao Zedong Thought
but instead seeks to adapt them to the existing socio-economic conditions of China.
Since the 1980s the theory has become a mandatory university class. Having served as the Communist Party of China
's (CPC) major policy guide since the Third Plenum of the 11th CPC National Congress in 1978, the theory was entrenched into the Communist Party of China
's Constitution as a guiding ideology in 1997, and was also subsequently written into the Constitution of the People's Republic of China
.
Traditional Maoist theory put China's development focus on the "construction of socialism" and class struggle
, while Deng's Theory emphasized economic construction and stability. Deng's social and economic philosophy attempted to merge a market economic
model with a socialist political system. This became known as socialism with Chinese characteristics. Deng also stressed opening China to the outside world, the implementation of one country, two systems
, and the phrase "seek truth from facts
", advocating for political and economic pragmatism
.
, and doing so would actually "contradict Mao Zedong Thought".
, states that "It doesn't matter whether a cat is white or black, as long as it catches mice." In other words, he did not worry too much about whether a policy was capitalist or socialist as long as it improved the economy. (This statement came to stand in opposition to the ideas of class struggle projected into economic relations, the latter being epitomized in a phrase "a socialist train coming with a delay is better than the capitalist one that comes on time").
China's phenomenal economic growth largely owes its success to this pragmatism of Deng Xiaoping's theory. The task faced by Deng was twofold: to promote modernization while preserving the ideological unity of CPC and its control of the difficult process of reforms.
The first was generalized by the concept of the Four Modernizations
; the second was needed as protection from the popular unrest, threatening to undermine the reform process (see Democracy Wall
of 1978, Tiananmen Incident
of 1989).
This became the main motivation for ideological conservatism of Deng Xiaoping Theory: "Four Cardinal Principles" which the Communist Party must uphold, namely,
In 1992, fourteen years after Deng had risen up as China's de facto
leader, he embarked on the "nanxun" or "Inspection visit to the South". There he, being already very old, uttered the famous words: "kaifang 开放!". These words, which literally mean "open up", would indeed prove to be very significant for China's economic and social development up until the current day. After this surge of motivation, China both economically and socially started expanding.
Deng Xiaoping
Deng Xiaoping was a Chinese politician, statesman, and diplomat. As leader of the Communist Party of China, Deng was a reformer who led China towards a market economy...
. In theory, it does not reject Marxism
Marxism
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
or Mao Zedong Thought
Maoism
Maoism, also known as the Mao Zedong Thought , is claimed by Maoists as an anti-Revisionist form of Marxist communist theory, derived from the teachings of the Chinese political leader Mao Zedong . Developed during the 1950s and 1960s, it was widely applied as the political and military guiding...
but instead seeks to adapt them to the existing socio-economic conditions of China.
Since the 1980s the theory has become a mandatory university class. Having served as the Communist Party of China
Communist Party of China
The Communist Party of China , also known as the Chinese Communist Party , is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China...
's (CPC) major policy guide since the Third Plenum of the 11th CPC National Congress in 1978, the theory was entrenched into the Communist Party of China
Communist Party of China
The Communist Party of China , also known as the Chinese Communist Party , is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China...
's Constitution as a guiding ideology in 1997, and was also subsequently written into the Constitution of the People's Republic of China
Constitution of the People's Republic of China
The Constitution of the People's Republic of China is the highest law within the People's Republic of China. The current version was adopted by the 5th National People's Congress on December 4, 1982 with further revisions in 1988, 1993, 1999, and 2004. Three previous state constitutions—those of...
.
Traditional Maoist theory put China's development focus on the "construction of socialism" and class struggle
Class struggle
Class struggle is the active expression of a class conflict looked at from any kind of socialist perspective. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels wrote "The [written] history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggle"....
, while Deng's Theory emphasized economic construction and stability. Deng's social and economic philosophy attempted to merge a market economic
Market economy
A market economy is an economy in which the prices of goods and services are determined in a free price system. This is often contrasted with a state-directed or planned economy. Market economies can range from hypothetically pure laissez-faire variants to an assortment of real-world mixed...
model with a socialist political system. This became known as socialism with Chinese characteristics. Deng also stressed opening China to the outside world, the implementation of one country, two systems
One country, two systems
"One country, two systems" is an idea originally proposed by Deng Xiaoping, then Paramount Leader of the People's Republic of China , for the reunification of China during the early 1980s...
, and the phrase "seek truth from facts
Seek truth from facts
"Seek truth from facts" is a historically established expression that first appeared in the Book of Han. Originally, it described an attitude toward study and research....
", advocating for political and economic pragmatism
Pragmatism
Pragmatism is a philosophical tradition centered on the linking of practice and theory. It describes a process where theory is extracted from practice, and applied back to practice to form what is called intelligent practice...
.
Relation to Maoism
Deng Xiaoping Theory argues that upholding Mao Zedong Thought does not mean blindly imitating Mao's actions without deviation as seen in the government of Hua GuofengHua Guofeng
Su Zhu, better known by the nom de guerre Hua Guofeng , was Mao Zedong's designated successor as the Paramount Leader of the Communist Party of China and the People's Republic of China. Upon Zhou Enlai's death in 1976, he succeeded Zhou as the second Premier of the People's Republic of China...
, and doing so would actually "contradict Mao Zedong Thought".
Synopsis
One of the most famous maxims of Deng, dating back to the years before the Cultural RevolutionCultural Revolution
The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, commonly known as the Cultural Revolution , was a socio-political movement that took place in the People's Republic of China from 1966 through 1976...
, states that "It doesn't matter whether a cat is white or black, as long as it catches mice." In other words, he did not worry too much about whether a policy was capitalist or socialist as long as it improved the economy. (This statement came to stand in opposition to the ideas of class struggle projected into economic relations, the latter being epitomized in a phrase "a socialist train coming with a delay is better than the capitalist one that comes on time").
China's phenomenal economic growth largely owes its success to this pragmatism of Deng Xiaoping's theory. The task faced by Deng was twofold: to promote modernization while preserving the ideological unity of CPC and its control of the difficult process of reforms.
The first was generalized by the concept of the Four Modernizations
Four Modernizations
The Four Modernizations were goals, set forth by Zhou Enlai in 1963, to strengthen the fields of agriculture, industry, national defense, science and technology...
; the second was needed as protection from the popular unrest, threatening to undermine the reform process (see Democracy Wall
Democracy Wall
The Democracy Wall was a long brick wall on Xidan Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, which became the focus for democratic dissent. Beginning in December 1978, in line with the Communist Party of China's policy of "seeking truth from facts," activists in the Democracy movement—such as Xu...
of 1978, Tiananmen Incident
Tiananmen Square protests of 1989
The Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, also known as the June Fourth Incident in Chinese , were a series of demonstrations in and near Tiananmen Square in Beijing in the People's Republic of China beginning on 15 April 1989...
of 1989).
This became the main motivation for ideological conservatism of Deng Xiaoping Theory: "Four Cardinal Principles" which the Communist Party must uphold, namely,
- Upholding the basic spirit of Communism
- Upholding the People's democratic dictatorshipPeople's democratic dictatorship"People's democratic dictatorship" is a phrase incorporated into the Constitution of the People's Republic of China by Mao Zedong.The premise of the "People's democratic dictatorship" is that the Communist Party of China and state represent and act on behalf of the people, but possess and may use...
political system - Upholding the leadership of the Communist Party
- Upholding Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought
In 1992, fourteen years after Deng had risen up as China's de facto
De facto
De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...
leader, he embarked on the "nanxun" or "Inspection visit to the South". There he, being already very old, uttered the famous words: "kaifang 开放!". These words, which literally mean "open up", would indeed prove to be very significant for China's economic and social development up until the current day. After this surge of motivation, China both economically and socially started expanding.