Why Has Marxism, Which Originated in the West, Succeeded in China?

ABSTRACT

Marxism originated in Western Europe, where capitalism first emerged, but after being disseminated in the East achieved success in China. The reasons lie first of all in the character of Marxism as truth; in the compatibility of Marxism both with the spirit of Chinese tradition and with conditions at specific times; and with the successful sinicization of Marxism, that reflects the inheriting and developing of Marxism by the Chinese communists. The strategy of proletarian revolution that was formulated by Marx and Engels on the basis of historical developments in Western Europe was of great significance for guiding action in Germany at a time when the bourgeois revolution had been only partially successful, as well as in Russia and China, that were yet to experience a bourgeois revolution as such. This was because the strategy accorded well with the national conditions of these countries. The stance, viewpoints and methodology of Marxism are also compatible in many respects with the traditional Chinese spirit; this has made it possible for the Chinese people to understand and accept Marxism, and helps account for the more successful application of Marxism in the concrete national conditions of China. Together, the establishing of the People’s Republic of China and the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics fully demonstrate the truth of Marxism and the inevitability of the victory of socialism over capitalism.

KEYWORDS:

• Marxism
• sinicization of Marxism
• socialism with Chinese characteristics
• spirit of the Chinese tradition

Acknowledgements

This article was translated by Zixu Liu from the Academy of Marxism, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes on Contributor

Bin Yu is a researcher and Director of the Department of Marxist Theories at the Academy of Marxism, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Notes

1 Chen Jiageng (1874–1961), Singapore rubber and shipping entrepreneur, founder of Amoy University.

2 From the Book of Rites, one of the classics of Confucianism.

3 See http://www.12371.cn/special/zggcdzc/zggcdzcqw/.