Chinese Modernization: A New Core Discourse in the Communist Party of China (CPC)’s Ruling Discourse System
Tang Xiaoqin Fu Jingjing
At the opening ceremony of the seminar on studying and implementing the spirit of the 20th Party Congress, General Secretary of the Supreme Leader emphasized that it is a major theoretical innovation of the 20th Party Congress and the latest major achievement of scientific socialism to put forward and elaborate the Chinese modernization theory in depth. Chinese-style modernization, with its distinctive identity, times and importance, has profoundly influenced the Party’s ruling idea, strategy, mode, ability and goal, and has become the new core discourse in the Communist Party of China (CPC)’s ruling discourse system.
Chinese-style modernization constructs discourse symbols that break the myth of the West.Modernization has never existed a model of one respect and a universally applicable standard. The myth of "modernization = westernization" stems from the fact that modernization started in the west before the opportunity, and under the background of western centralism and western monopoly discourse hegemony, people gradually misunderstand that modernization is equivalent to westernization. Focusing on the lackluster history and reality after the export of western modernization model from the global perspective, it is obviously a wrong logic to equate modernization simplicity with westernization, which is untenable in theory and harmful in practice. To break this myth and cognitive stereotype, we need to resolutely jump out of the trap of setting western issues and the trap of "western standards" and form a correct understanding at the conceptual, practical and confirmatory levels. At the conceptual level, it is necessary to realize that China should not simply transplant or apply western theories when exploring the road of modernization, but should not only follow the general laws of modernization, but also respect the national conditions and be based on reality. On the practical level, it is necessary to break the attachment system to the West, firmly hold the fate of China’s development and progress in our own hands, and independently promote Chinese modernization. On the confirmation level, the achievements of Chinese-style modernization provide evidence that facts speak louder than words. Chinese-style modernization is a vibrant modernization in which the superiority of the socialist system is confirmed by reality. From "modernization = westernization" to "modernization ≠ Westernization "Only by this inequality can we better understand the symbolic meaning of Chinese modernization, a new vocabulary of the Communist Party of China (CPC)’s ruling discourse system, and deeply understand that it is the only correct way to comprehensively promote the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with Chinese modernization.
Chinese-style modernization clarifies the discourse connotation with unique characteristics.Modernization is a comprehensive concept endowed with unique meaning, and it is a trinity of material, system and human modernization. China’s modernization is a modernization with a huge population, common prosperity of all people, harmony between material civilization and spiritual civilization, harmonious coexistence between man and nature and peaceful development. These five characteristics are the theoretical generalization and practical requirements for promoting Chinese modernization, which not only fully reveal the "China characteristics" and "scientific connotation" in words, but also profoundly reveal the "essential differences" between Chinese and western modernization in words. From the difference of specific characteristics, the modernization with Chinese style corresponds to the modernization with small size, polarization, material desire expansion, plundering nature and external expansion in the West. From a higher level, Chinese and western modernization is the fundamental difference between socialist road and capitalist road, organic parallel modernization and mechanical series modernization. Taking the feature of promoting common prosperity as an example, western modernization embodies the discourse embarrassment of wealth accumulation and poverty accumulation, while Chinese modernization shows the discourse advantage of always adhering to the people-centered principle. These five characteristics of Chinese modernization integrate the world outlook, values, historical outlook, civilization outlook, democracy outlook and ecological outlook, and with their unique rich meanings, they have changed from the passive state of "few words" and "aphasia" to "voice" in the field of discourse power.The positive and promising state transformation of "Liusheng" has achieved great innovation and transcendence of the world modernization theory.
Chinese modernization has expanded the discourse space of international exchange and mutual learning.In international communication, discourse confrontation, discourse exchange and discourse blending have long been the norm. Only the exchange of fire and the lack of communication and blending will greatly reduce the discourse space for exchange and mutual learning. Chinese-style modernization provides China’s plan and China’s wisdom for the modernization of the world, especially the modernization of developing countries, provides powerful kinetic energy for global governance reform, and greatly expands the discourse space for joint construction and sharing. In terms of consultation, the great success of Chinese modernization has enhanced the international community’s rational recognition of China Road and China Model, and it has become the general trend to walk out of the old road that the country will dominate with the new path of win-win cooperation, and it has become a general consensus to build a consultation mechanism that respects and understands each other and has something to discuss. In terms of co-construction, China has actively played its role as a participant, builder and contributor to the international system, put forward global development initiatives, global security initiatives and global civilization initiatives, actively advocated building a community of human destiny, and spared no effort to build a world with lasting peace, universal security, common prosperity, openness, tolerance and beauty. In terms of sharing, Chinese-style modernization not only develops itself and benefits the world, but also constantly improves the level of opening up to the outside world. Countries are welcome to take the "express train" and "free ride" of China’s economic development, so as to expand the development space of Chinese-style modernization and simultaneously expand the discourse space of international exchange and mutual learning. Chinese-style modernization shows that any country or nation should embark on a suitable modernization road according to its own historical and cultural conditions.Chinese-style modernization sets a good example for developing countries to move towards modernization independently. It empowers global governance, the United States and the United States, and the cause of world modernization in their efforts to adjust their development demands, structure and pattern. The road is not alone, and it can be predicted that the human significance and world significance of Chinese modernization will become increasingly prominent.
Chinese-style modernization has established the discourse self-confidence to March towards the future with head held high.First of all, the discourse confidence of Chinese modernization comes from civilization consciousness and historical confidence. Chinese-style modernization creates a new form of human civilization, which embodies an internal and high level of civilization consciousness. Since modern times, with the bankruptcy of all kinds of national salvation plans made by western countries, the important task of exploring China’s modernization road has historically fallen on the Communist Party of China (CPC). China’s modernization exploration has gone through different historical periods and achieved great achievements that have attracted worldwide attention. The historical relay movement of modernization has followed one after another, and the deep historical initiative has brought profound historical self-confidence. Secondly, the discourse confidence of Chinese modernization comes from the historic achievements and changes made since the 18th CPC National Congress. Chinese-style modernization has achieved two miracles of rapid economic development and long-term social stability, which not only laid a better realistic foundation for Chinese-style modernization, but also planted a strong ambition for Chinese-style modernization discourse. Thirdly, the discourse confidence of Chinese modernization comes from the strong leadership of the party and the guidance of scientific theory. The party’s leadership is aimed at Chinese-style modernization, which embodies the majestic power of Chinese-style modernization and inspires the strong power of modernization. General Secretary of the Supreme Leader is the leader, the star and the backbone of the great changes in the new era and ten years. Socialism with Chinese characteristics Thought of the Supreme Leader in the new era is the guiding ideology of our party and the action guide to promote Chinese modernization. In addition, the discourse self-confidence of Chinese modernization also comes from the institutional advantages and self-confidence demonstrated by China in the international comparison of calmly coping with major risk challenges and public crises.
With the successful practice of Chinese-style modernization, it is timely to focus on building the theoretical framework and discourse system of Chinese-style modernization, which greatly enriches and develops the Communist Party of China (CPC)’s ruling discourse system in vocabulary and connotation. Chinese-style modernization, as the ruling idea and practical requirement of the Party, aims at leading the people to realize socialist modernization and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Aim high, and act in the present. Effectively strengthen the soft power construction of discourse power, and show the world a vivid picture of "China in discourse" from the perspective of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Chinese-style modernization exploration will continue to make new and greater contributions to the development of world modernization and human civilization.
(The authors are part-time tutors for master students in Marxist College of Hunan Technology and Business University, professors and doctoral tutors in Hunan University of Science and Technology; Master of Marxism College, Hunan Technology and Business University)
