Deng Xiaoping Theory

The product of combining the basic principles of Marxism-Leninism with contemporary Chinese practice and characteristics of the times is the inheritance and development of Mao Zedong Thought under the new historical conditions, a new stage of the development of Marxism in China, that is, Marxism in contemporary China, the pioneering work of the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and the crystallization of the collective wisdom of the Communist Party of China. Its main founder is Deng Xiaoping. At the 15th CPC National Congress held on September 12, 1997, the scientific concept of “Deng Xiaoping Theory” was formally put forward for the first time, and it was identified as the “action guide” of the Party together with Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought and written into the Party Constitution. On March 15, 1999, the amendment to the Constitution of the People's Republic of China adopted at the 2nd Session of the 9th National People’s Congress included Deng Xiaoping Theory, Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought in the Constitution.

After the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh CPC Central Committee, the CPC with Deng Xiaoping as the main representative scientifically summed up the positive and negative experiences since the founding of New China and the experience and lessons of the international communist movement, emancipated the mind, sought truth from facts, shifted the whole Party's work focus to economic construction, and launched the Reform and Opening-up. China thus ushered in a new period of socialist development when the line, principles and policies of building socialism with Chinese characteristics were gradually formed, the basic problems of building, consolidating and developing socialism in China were clarified and Deng Xiaoping Theory was built.

Deng Xiaoping Theory is particularly reflected in Deng Xiaoping’s works and important documents of the Party and the country created after the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh CPC Central Committee. It was gradually formed and developed under the historical conditions that peace and development became the theme of the times, in the practice of China's reform, opening up and modernization, and on the basis of summing up the historical experience of China's socialist victory and setbacks and drawing lessons from the the rise and fall of other socialist countries. From the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh CPC Central Committee of the CPC in 1978 to the 12th CPC National Congress in 1982, the main content of Deng Xiaoping Theory was gradually condensed and formed the significant theme of “building socialism with Chinese characteristics”, through the practice of “bringing order out of chaos” and promoting reform and modernization. From the 12th CPC National Congress to the 13th CPC National Congress, reform was rolled out in all areas. In this process, a series of major innovative theoretical viewpoints and the Party’s basic line in the primary stage of socialism were formed, which together constituted the theoretical outline of building socialism with Chinese characteristics. From the 13th CPC National Congress to the 14th CPC National Congress, Deng Xiaoping Theory was improving day by day, marked by Deng Xiaoping’s Southern Talks in the spring of 1992.

The report of the 14th CPC National Congress preliminarily constructed the scientific system of “the theory of building socialism with Chinese characteristics” from nine aspects, such as development path, development stage, fundamental task, development motive force, external conditions, political guarantee, strategic steps, leading and relying forces and the reunification of the motherland, and established its guiding position in the whole Party. From the 14th CPC National Congress to the 15th CPC National Congress, Deng Xiaoping Theory was further improved in practice.

The 15th CPC National Congress established the scientific concept of “Deng Xiaoping Theory”, and demonstrated its historical position, namely, “the new stage of Marxism development in China”. Firstly, Deng Xiaoping Theory insisted on emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts, combined inheritance with innovation in new practice, and opened up a “new realm” of Marxism. Secondly, Deng Xiaoping Theory adheres to the basic achievements of scientific socialism theory and practice, grasps the fundamental issue of “what socialism is and how to build socialism”, profoundly reveals the essence of socialism, and raises the understanding of socialism to a “new scientific level”. Thirdly, Deng Xiaoping Theory, starting from a broad vision of Marxism, provides a correct analysis and new scientific judgment on the characteristics of the present era and the overall international situation, the success or failure of other socialist countries, the gains and losses of developing countries in seeking development, and the development situation and contradictions of developed countries. Fourthly, in general, Deng Xiaoping Theory formed a new scientific system of building socialism with Chinese characteristics.

The scientific system of Deng Xiaoping Theory contains rich content, such as the theory of socialist essence, of the primary stage of socialism, of peace and development being the theme of the times, of socialist Reform and Opening-up, and of socialist market economy, and some important theories, like socialist modernization development strategy, socialist democratic political construction, socialist spiritual civilization construction, united front, army and national defense construction, diplomatic strategy of socialist countries, motherland reunification, and Party building. For the first time, it systematically answered a series of basic questions on how to build, consolidate and develop socialism in a country with relatively backward economy and culture, and guided the Party to formulate the basic line in the primary stage of socialism.