Socialism with Chinese Characteristics

Name: Professor’s name: Course: Date: Socialism with Chinese Characteristics Introduction The ruling Communist Party of China (CCP), through its powerful leaders or leading Chairpersons, has initiated major changes in the country’s political, social, and social being. Under the iconic Chairman Mao, for instance, the party embarked on a reform and opening agenda in 1978 upon which the major transitional changes witnessed in China today are based. At the 1978 congressional gathering of the CCP embarked on a development process that would be characterized by a revamped agricultural sector, improved industrialization, strengthening of the national defense, and embracing advance in science and technology to drive its economic agenda. The reform agenda was formulated and pushed forward by one of China’s most influential leaders by the name Deng Xiaoping whose application of socialist ideologies based on Chinese cultural background forms the backbone of the country’s leadership. Thus, socialism with Chinese characteristics is a theoretic concept unveiled by Deng Xiaoping to drive the reform and opening agenda tasked with transforming the nation into the four primary areas of concern. The ideology’s conception and application followed a rigorous process of adaptation to the ever-changing needs of the country at both the domestic and international level. Besides highlighting its distinct features, the article also provides a historical background of socialism with Chinese characteristics and its evolution or rather its adaptations to the political, economic, and social changes occurring in China and the world at large from the time of inception to date. China is gradually establishing its position in the global platform through its diverse presence in the political, social, and economic realms. The country currently sits in second place on the hierarchy of leading economies around the world after the United States. Among the indicators of the rapid economic growth is the significant reduction in the country’s poverty levels that is projected to maintain a constant reduction rate over the coming years. The country’s political or governance ideology is based on the ruling party’s congressional deliberations during which nationalistic views, ideas, and policies are formulated and implemented for the greater good of the nation. The Communist Party of China’s founding ideology, socialism with Chinese characteristics is at the core of the major development strides that the country continues to make in fields such as the manufacturing industry while it also makes its presence known in emerging matters such as security and environmental awareness campaigns. Literature Review Deng Xiaoping’s speech in the 1982’s twelfth congressional convention of the Communist Party of China lays out the foundation upon which the concept of socialism with Chinese characteristics manifests. In differentiating between Marxism and socialism, Deng challenges the nation to face the facts of the former and apply its truths in recognition and or appreciation of the reality of matters in China CITATION Liu \l 1033 (Jianwu). The views of the CCP’s leader are integral in developing a comprehensive understanding of the features of the concept and their diverse applications. However, the revered Chinese leader fails to elaborate on the intricate details of the application as it later emerges that the concept borrows a lot from capitalism. Professor Liu Jianwu from Hunan University of Science and Technology provides some interesting revelations on what the concept really means by comparing and contrasting it to the known concepts such as capitalism and Marxists definition of socialism. In his article titled, What is socialism with Chinese Characteristics? Professor Liu breaks down the development process of the socialist concept by outlining its distinct features which set it apart from the capitalist and Marxist’s socialist ideologies. Furthermore, the professor sheds light into the collaboration or rather the evolution of the concept to incorporating elements of other ideologies in the country’s development agenda CITATION Liu \l 1033 (Jianwu). Clem Tisdell article, Thirty Years of Economic Reform and Openness in China: Retrospect and Prospect, provides more insight into the concept of socialism with Chinese characteristics and its impact on effecting the changes witnessed by the country. Chairman Xi Jinping’s report during the 19th national congress of the CCP further insists on the application of the concept in the current era across the changing dynamics in the political, economic, and social realms. The report provides an adaptation of the concept by the current political leadership in China towards upholding its founding principle amidst the rising external influences and the need to maintain its competitive edge in the global platform with socialism as its driving force. Methodology Research methodology for the project was based on the qualitative analysis of the concept of socialism with Chinese characteristics in reference to the various journal article. Reviews of journal articles and other studies on the subject topic were carried out and their findings noted down for a comprehensive discussion and elaboration on the intricate details of the concept. Keywords such as socialism, Chinese...