Zang Yanyu: Triple Narrative Logic History of Chinese path to modernization | Modernization | Zang Yanyu
Wen | Zang Yanyu
It is a major theoretical innovation of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the latest major achievement of scientific socialism to put forward and thoroughly elaborate the theory of Chinese path to modernization.As an example of the construction of China's independent knowledge system, the narrative logic of Chinese path to modernization needs in-depth understanding and accurate grasp.
Modernization as a process
Modernization usually refers to the phenomenon of comprehensive changes in technology, economy, politics, society, and culture that have occurred since the Industrial Revolution from traditional society to modern society. Modernization, as a historical process, describes the process of transformation from traditional society to modern society. The modernization process of the world originated in Western Europe and the United States since the Industrial Revolution, and has long formed the misconception of "modernization=Westernization".
Modernization is a systematic historical transformation experienced by countries around the world, but the paths to modernization are diverse.On the basis of long-term exploration and practice since the founding of New China, especially since the reform and opening up, and through innovative breakthroughs in theory and practice since the 18th CPC National Congress, we have successfully promoted and expanded Chinese path to modernization. Chinese path to modernization shows Chinese characteristics in the choice of road. Chinese path to modernization adheres to the leadership of the CPC, adheres to the essence of socialism, and abandons the path of violent plundering of colonial people by old capitalist countries on the road to modernization. It is a modernization that follows the path of peaceful development and builds a socialist system with Chinese characteristics. In terms of economy, we must adhere to the principle of public ownership as the mainstay, coexistence of multiple forms of ownership, distribution according to work as the mainstay, and coexistence of multiple forms of distribution. We must adhere to the socialist market economy system and promote high-quality economic development; Politically, we must adhere to the path of socialist political development with Chinese characteristics, develop people's democracy throughout the entire process, and comprehensively promote the institutionalization, standardization, and proceduralization of socialist democracy; In terms of culture, the fundamental system of establishing and adhering to the guiding position of Marxism in the ideological field, the widespread dissemination of socialist core values, and the creative transformation and innovative development of excellent traditional Chinese culture; In terms of social construction, we will deeply implement the development concept of putting the people at the center, promote social governance through joint construction, governance, and sharing, and promote common prosperity for all people; In terms of ecological civilization, we should establish the ecological governance concept that green mountains and clear waters are invaluable assets. In short, Chinese path to modernization breaks the myth of "modernization=westernization", shows another picture of modernization, expands the path choice of developing countries towards modernization, and provides a Chinese solution for human exploration of a better social system.
Modernization as a goal
Modernization, as a goal, showcases the state that a modern society possesses. Developing countries moving towards modernization is a process of both benchmarking against the West and adjusting themselves, constantly deepening their understanding of modernization, and constantly overcoming the limitations of Western modernization. Among them, there are both adjustments to the development model of modernization and adjustments to the development goals of modernization. In fact, even the West itself is in the process of constantly adjusting its modernization development goals. Previously, there was Marx's criticism of the so-called modern civilization represented by capitalist society, and later the Frankfurt School's criticism of developed industrial society, such as Habermas, Hockenheim, Adorno, Marcuse, etc. People attempted to construct more rational modernization goals.
Chinese path to modernization is based on China's national conditions, embodies the essence of socialism, enriches the goal of modernization, and is a modernization with a huge population, not a modernization of a few people; It is a modernization of common prosperity for all people, not a polarized modernization; It is a modernization that coordinates material civilization and spiritual civilization, not a modernization that prioritizes material things; It is a modernization of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, not a modernization of fishing for all; It is a modernization that follows the path of peaceful development, not a modernization of zero sum game.
Modernization is also a goal in the process of socialist construction. Even if modernization is achieved, we must persist in our socialist system and consistently solve the problems of consolidating and developing the socialist system. It is impossible to achieve a one-time solution. Chinese path to modernization embodies the advanced nature of scientific socialism, represents the development direction of human civilization, shows a new prospect different from the western modernization model, and is a new form of human civilization. As China embarks on a new journey of comprehensively building a socialist modernized country, modernization construction will continue to demonstrate new connotations and goals, and continuously create new forms of human civilization.
Modernization as a new form of civilization
Chinese path to modernization is based on the world historical vision, stands on the diversity of human civilization, opposes the absolutist modernization concept under the western modernization discourse, and expands the evaluation criteria of modernization. Diversity is the charm of human civilization and the source of vitality and driving force for world development. Strengthening cultural exchange and mutual learning, and respecting cultural diversity.A peaceful and developing world should carry different forms of civilization, and must be compatible with various paths towards modernization. One system cannot replace another, and one civilization cannot replace another. Instead, it should achieve coexistence of different social systems, different historical cultures, and different levels of development.
There is neither a fixed modernization model nor a universally applicable modernization standard in the world. Chinese path to modernization adheres to the concept of people first, regards the realization of people's aspiration for a better life as the starting point and end result of modernization, and the goal is to realize the free and comprehensive development of people. What kind of modernization is most suitable for oneself and the people of one's own country have the most say, this is the internal standard for evaluating modernization; Based on the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, Chinese path to modernization is an external standard for the evaluation of modernization. Chinese path to modernization has thus put forward the evaluation criteria of "five yes". The key to a country's modernization path is whether it conforms to its own national conditions, conforms to the trend of the times, brings about economic development, social progress, improvement of people's livelihood, social stability, is supported and supported by the people, and contributes to the cause of human progress. It can be said that it conforms to the people's desire for civilization and progress.
The author is an associate professor and PhD in philosophy at the School of Marxism, Guangdong University of Technology
