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I have just read Xi Jinping’s new article on Marxist Politcial Economy, the text represents an excellent work of contemporary marxist analysis and provides useful insights into both China and the Marxist theory of political economy. I’ll share some of the best quotes below:
This is a good analysis from Xi and reflects what Lenin and those who followed him said: so long as capitalism exists, so long as the working class exists, then Marxism and its works will never be outdated. Capitalism has intensified, making Marx’s analysis even more relevant.
Xi understands here that grasping the scientific essence of Marxism allows us to gain mastery of the laws of development which means we will be able to better apply our understanding to solving the practical problems of the present day. A simple but vital point.
What is important here is Xi recognises, as did Marx and Engels, that our support for Marxism is not merely out of philosophical curiosity but rather for its practical power to help raise the condition of *people*. In China, Marxism is being used to address people’s problems.
This is a very important paragraph, note the phrase ‘primary stage of socialism’. Those who have read Marx’s Critique of the Gotha Programme and Lenin’s notes on it in State and Revolution will be familiar with it. China’s development follows what was laid down there.
Distribution is a point that often goes unspoken in contemporary marxist discourse, yet one of the main tenets of Marxism is common ownership of distribution. Xi understands this & the poverty reduction initiatives represent a practical attempt to make marxist distribution work.
Self criticism from Xi on economic problems of socialism in the People’s Republic of China. Xi understands that China bears the scars of the womb it was born in: capitalism feudalism and colonialism—therefore some inequalities will persist, these haven’t been forgotten.
Xi makes it clear that the Party must never forget socialism in its development of the socialist market economy—the socialist attribute alleviates the drawbacks of the market economy and ensures that development is controlled. CPC leadership is the defining feature of the market.
This is a great piece of analysis and shows Xi’s training in classical Marxism. We must understand western economics because it reflects the laws of capital—Marx made sure to read Ricardo, Smith and all the economic theory of the time to better inform his own ideas.
Finally we end on this, in the last paragraph of Xi’s article on marxist political economy. He repeats that timeless notion that all the classic Marxists knew: practice is the basis of all materialist theory. Practice makes theory vibrant & dynamic. China is Marxism in practice.
You can read the whole text here, I think it further cements Xi as one of the best Marxists of the contemporary era. His writing reflects a kind of classical Marxism, enhanced by practical experience, that hasn’t been widespread for nearly 40 years. http://www.qstheory.cn/dukan/qs/2020-08/15/c_1126365995.htm
