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2023 | Book

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A New World is Possible

The Modernization of China

Author: Yu Jiang

Publisher: Springer Nature Singapore

Book Series : Understanding China

Part of: Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" , Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

Table of Contents

About this book

This book gives a panoramic review of China's 70 years of modernization, reveals the historical process and logic of the formation of the modernization path with Chinese characteristics, especially focuses on the key decision-making process in the history of China's modernization, theoretically compares the Chinese model and the western mainstream model and summarizes the characteristics and experience of China's development model. At the same time, it reveals the causes of the global crisis from a historical perspective and puts forward the future of China based on historical experience.

The book tries to answer the following hot-debating questions: What is the core of Chinese experience? Is China model a new model of modernization? Is China's model sustainable? Is this model compatible with the mainstream model? What is the relationship between China's revolution and modernization? How will China's development affect the world?

This book will be found helpful by all scholars, students and the public who are interested in China's development path.

Frontmatter

Chapter 1. A New World is Possible: Preface to the English Edition

Abstract

This preface was written specifically for English-language readers. Five years have passed since the completion of the original Chinese edition in 2017. These five years have been eventful in terms of global developments: COVID-19, tensions between China and the US, the economic crisis, the conflict in Ukraine… all of which make the themes of this book more relevant.

Yu Jiang

Chapter 2. China’s Early Choice of Modernization Path

Abstract

The first disagreement regarding China’s development path emerged during the early days of the People’s Republic of China: should the country remain in the stage of New Democracy, or should it go one step further to socialism? After exploring the issue, the Communist Party of China (CPC) decided to change its original plan of adopting New Democracy for ten to fifteen years before transitioning to socialism.

Yu Jiang

Chapter 3. Seeking a Chinese Path (1956–1976)

Abstract

Socialism emerged as a means to address the abuses of capitalism. However, it took a long historical process to turn the theories of socialism into reality. Elements contrary to socialism, or entirely opposed to its ideals, may arise even in countries that have established the socialist system.

Yu Jiang

Chapter 4. Legacy of the Mao Era and China’s Modernization

Abstract

How should we appraise the Mao era (1949–1976)? Unfortunately, those who subscribe to the views of new classical economics or neoliberalism—two of the mainstream economic philosophies—tend to dogmatically dismiss the path and achievements of economic development during those years.

Yu Jiang

Chapter 5. Dialectics of the Market Economy

Abstract

China’s economic miracle since its reforms in 1978 is universally acknowledged. Still, controversies abound as to its reforms. Some feel that the reform and opening-up policy was none other than “market-oriented reforms,” attributing its success to marketization, privatization and liberalization, as well as the withdrawal of the state and state-owned enterprises from the economic domain.

Yu Jiang

Chapter 6. Chinese Democracy

Abstract

The conventional view holds that China is not a democratic country. This chapter will refute this view and point out that Chinese democracy has greater advantages than the Western multi-party system. China is a democratic country.

Yu Jiang

Chapter 7. Chinese New Model of Modernization

Abstract

On the evening of July 6, 2021, at a summit of leaders of more than 500 political parties and political organizations from over 160 countries, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, delivered a keynote address, in which he stated that the Communist Party of China will unite and lead the Chinese people in pressing ahead with Chinese-style modernization to make new contributions to humanity’s search for ways to modernize.

Yu Jiang

Chapter 8. Understanding Marxism in China

Abstract

Marxism is often misconstrued as a “theory for revolution” rather than a “theory for development.” Since reform and opening up, many people have myopically attributed China’s success to the renunciation of Marxism.

Yu Jiang

Chapter 9. A Macro-historical View of the Global Crisis

Abstract

After the outbreak of the 2008 global financial crisis, the world fell into the age of financial crisis, and the Chinese economy entered a new normal. From a macro-historical perspective, the global financial crisis was a cyclical outbreak of the fundamental contradictions of capitalism that marked the end of the post-WWII economic cycle and proved, once again, that there were fundamental flaws in the Western development model. However, history had not ended, nor would it end.

Yu Jiang

Chapter 10. China’s New Era (2012–)

Abstract

Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, China has entered a new era. China, the world, and even the whole humanity, have reached new historical junctures in their development. Domestically, there have been changes in the principal contradictions in Chinese society. Higher expectations for future living standards have created new contradictions and problems that need to be addressed. Internationally, the global financial crisis marks the emergence of dilemmas in the Western development path, making it necessary for China to transcend existing paradigms and find a new development path.

Yu Jiang

Title: A New World is Possible
Author: Yu Jiang
Publisher: Springer Nature Singapore
Electronic ISBN: 978-981-19-8918-6
Print ISBN: 978-981-19-8917-9
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-8918-6