Enriching and Developing Marxism in the Twenty-First Century in Various Aspects: Six Definitions of Marxism

ABSTRACT

This paper extends the definition of Marxism in six aspects and discusses it in connection with contemporary theories and reality. First, in the aspect of creation and development subjects, we should unceasingly enrich and develop the theoretical system created by Marx and Engels and increasingly improved by their successors. Second, in the aspect of academic thought, we should constantly enrich and develop Marxist academic theories on laws governing the development of nature, society, and thinking. Third, in the aspect of social functions, we should increasingly enrich and develop guiding Marxist ideology on socialist revolution and construction, and on the transition to a communist society. Fourth, in the aspect of people’s welfare, we should continuously enrich and develop Marxist principles and thoughts on improving people’s livelihoods, and on realizing the all-round development of human freedom. Fifth, in the aspect of values and ethics, we should steadily enrich and develop Marxist cultural and ideological systems of beliefs and concepts. Sixth, in the aspect of international communications, we should continuously enrich and develop the Marxist international ideological system concerning the world’s peace and development, as well as the community with a shared future for mankind.

KEYWORDS:

• Marx’s birth
• definition of Marxism
• integrity of Marxism
• develop Marxism in the twenty-first century
• sinicization of Marxism
• nationalization of Marxism

Acknowledgements

This article was translated by Li Shuqing at the China Agricultural University (Yantai).

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on Contributors

Cheng Enfu (following Chinese practice, the surname, Cheng, is placed first) is Chief Professor at the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Vice-Director of the Academic Committee at the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, member of the Presidium of Academic Departments at Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and Director of the Academic Department of Studies on Marxism at Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; Chairman of the World Association for Political Economy. He is also Chief Editor of International Critical Thought and World Review of Political Economy. He is the author of The Three-Stage Theory of Socialism, Review on the Western Property Rights Theory, A Normal and Empirical Study on Value Creation by Labor: The New Monism on Living Labor Value (co-authored by Wang Guijin and Zhu Kui), and various other works.

Wang Zhongbao (following Chinese practice, the surname, Wang, is placed first) is Associate Researcher and Editorial Director of International Critical Thought and World Review of Political Economy at the Academy of Marxism, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. He focuses on socialist economic reform, sustainable development, and economic globalization. He has published Economic Globalization and Changes of China’s Interest Relationships (2007) and Public Nature of Enterprises, Efficiency, and Economic Development: Marxist Microeconomic Analysis of Macroeconomic Development (2018).

Notes

1. The “Dove” and “War Hawk” generally described by Chinese and foreign intellectuals are not accurate. To be exact, in order to effectively safeguard the fundamental interests of the working people in all countries, all progressives should be a unity of “Dove” and “War Hawk.” In other words, progressives will be “Doves” or “War Hawks” when they should be. They should not be immutable “Doves” and “War Hawks,” nor should they be “Ostriches” that tend to turn a blind eye or always be self-surrender, and not to mention “Jackals” of hegemonies (namely, partners in crime).