Peace and Development Are the Main Themes of Contemporary World

According to Deng Xiaoping’s judgment on the global and strategic issues in the contemporary world, the Communist Party of China made a scientific judgment on the international situation and the characteristics of the times in the 1980s, that is, maintaining peace and seeking development. These two global strategic issues are urgently to be solved in the contemporary world and can probably be solved in reality. The theme of the contemporary world, also known as the theme of the times, refers to the problems that reflect the basic characteristics of the world and have overall influence and strategic significance on the development of the world situation, that is, the main problems that need to be solved under certain historical conditions in the process of world historical development. The theme of the times changes with world contradictions and international situation.

A scientific understanding and accurate grasp of the theme of the times is an important basis for a country to formulate correct development strategies and internal and external policies. After the World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union was in a fierce confrontation and as a result the issue of war and peace became a prominent problem faced by the international community. From the 1940s to 1970s, Mao Zedong made a scientific analysis of the issue of war and peace and his strategic thought of the “two intermediate zones” and the “three worlds”. Its basic point is that although the danger of the superpower launching the Third World War exists for a long time, the democratic forces of the people of all countries in the world surpass the reactionary forces; as long as the countries in the intermediate zones, the Third World countries and the Second World countries and people work together, it is possible for the forces that maintain peace to stop the war. These strategic thoughts have played an important role in uniting the world people against hegemonism, changing the world political balance, improving China’s international environment and increasing China’s international prestige. After the late 1970s, Deng Xiaoping gradually formed new judgments on war and peace in the face of changes in the domestic and international situation. In December 1977, Deng Xiaoping pointed out in his speech at the plenary session of the Central Military Commission that the international situation is not bad. It is possible for us to fight for more time and delay the outbreak of war. This judgment formed an objective basis in the international environment for the shift of the Party’s work focus. After entering the new period of Reform and Opening-up, Deng Xiaoping finally made judgments on two major global strategic issues in the world today.

On March 4, 1985, in a meeting with a delegation from the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Deng Xiaoping pointed out: “The really big problems in the world, also the global strategic issues, are peace and development or economy. Peace is an East-West issue, while development is a North-South issue. To sum up, it is an issue concerning the East, West, North and South. The North-South issue is the core one.” In 1987, according to Deng Xiaoping’s exposition, the 13th CPC National Congress summarized peace and development as “the theme of the contemporary world”. These two global strategic issues cover not only the whole world, but also politics and economy. They are the concentrated embodiment of the contradictions between the East and the West, developed countries and developing countries. They are related to the fate of mankind, so they have become the theme of the contemporary world. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Eastern Europe changed dramatically, the Soviet Union disintegrated, and the bipolar pattern ended.

The 14th CPC National Congress of the Communist Party of China held in 1992 adhered to Deng Xiaoping’s judgment on the international situation and strategic issues and the assertion that “peace and development are the themes of the contemporary world” put forward in the 13th CPC National Congress, and further promoted it to “the theme of the times”.

Since then, this strategic judgment has been adhered to in the CPC national congresses. Peace and development are the themes of the times, which does not mean that these two major problems have been solved, the danger of war has been eradicated, or mankind has achieved common prosperity. Deng Xiaoping pointed out that neither of the two major problems had been solved. Imperialism and hegemonism are the biggest obstacles. The proposal of this theme only shows that maintaining peace and seeking development are not only the most urgent problems to be solved in the contemporary world, but also are likely to be solved. For one thing, the technical conditions of modern war are qualitatively different from those of previous wars, and it has reached a dead end to solve international disputes by means of war; the widening gap between the North and the South and the existence of an unfair international economic order are also related to the fate of all mankind. For another thing, the changes in technical conditions of modern war can help curb the war. In the 1980s, the relationship between East and West tended to ease and the growth of world peace forces exceeded that of war forces, which injected a strong impetus into the world economy. The increasing interdependence of the contemporary world economy makes it possible to solve the contradiction between North and South.

The judgment that “peace and development are the two major themes of the contemporary world” has laid a theoretical foundation for the Party to better lead the people to pursue socialist modernization in a single-minded manner, opening-up to the outside world, and learning from and absorbing all the achievements of civilization created by human society. It has also provided a clear guidance for us to observe the world situation calmly in the complex and changing international situation, create a favorable international environment, especially a benign surrounding neighborhood environment, seize opportunities and develop ourselves, all of which constitute one of the theoretical basis of Deng Xiaoping Theory. This strategic judgment on the two major themes of the times is the fundamental basis of the China’s basic national policy set of reform, opening up and modernization. Currently, the world is undergoing a new round of major development, transformation and adjustment, at the same time peace and development remain to be the two major themes of the times, besides peace, development, cooperationand win-win results still form an irresistible trend of the times. However, the world is still far from being tranquil, and mankind still faces many difficulties and challenges,there is still a long way to go to advance the lofty cause of peace and development.