"Not many U.S. officials and observers have taken enough notice of changes in China's ideological propaganda and the implications for its foreign policy" – Wang Jisi (王缉思)
Discusssing XJP Thought, Wang Jisi states: "Another significant change [in ideology under XJP] is the absence of Leninism in most CPC official narratives".
I think we should not take this absence too literally; although not mentioned Leninism is still in the background. According to Steve Tsang and Olivia Cheung's book (Page 18, 3d paragraph). "Our examination of Xi's discourse reveals that there are 3 main sources of inspiration for XJP Thought. The most important source is Leninism, but he has not spoken much of it directly. This notwithstanding, he is a committed Leninist. The reason Xi does not talk much about "Leninism" per se is simply because he sees Leninism as an operational add-on to Marxism. Leninism merely explains how to implement Marxism in practice. Since Leninism forms a part of Marxism, Xi does not see a need to single it out when praising Marxism. Furthermore Xi always benchmarks himself against the great figures in history, and Lenin was secondary to Marx in the mythology of Communism."
In my opinion it would be a big mistake to believe that XJP is not Leninist.
This is well-timed as I'm working on a project for a cultural institution at the moment that want to ask what their role can be for engagement with China in an ideologically driven academic environment like this.
Given that their PRC-based peers are largely unable or unwilling to speak outside of political orthodoxy, does engagement legitimise such ideas or provide space to challenge them? Should they just withdraw from engagement entirely? Try to find politically neutral (and likely boring/unimportant) activities in an effort to maintain some level of relations? Redouble their efforts to engage with either the mainland to try and build cross-cultural dialogue? Or even pivot to focus exclusively on the Chinese diaspora until the ideological environment has changed, maybe in a decade or two?
Its an interesting set of questions to be helping them to think through right now.
Discusssing XJP Thought, Wang Jisi states: "Another significant change [in ideology under XJP] is the absence of Leninism in most CPC official narratives".
I think we should not take this absence too literally; although not mentioned Leninism is still in the background. According to Steve Tsang and Olivia Cheung's book (Page 18, 3d paragraph). "Our examination of Xi's discourse reveals that there are 3 main sources of inspiration for XJP Thought. The most important source is Leninism, but he has not spoken much of it directly. This notwithstanding, he is a committed Leninist. The reason Xi does not talk much about "Leninism" per se is simply because he sees Leninism as an operational add-on to Marxism. Leninism merely explains how to implement Marxism in practice. Since Leninism forms a part of Marxism, Xi does not see a need to single it out when praising Marxism. Furthermore Xi always benchmarks himself against the great figures in history, and Lenin was secondary to Marx in the mythology of Communism."
In my opinion it would be a big mistake to believe that XJP is not Leninist.
This is well-timed as I'm working on a project for a cultural institution at the moment that want to ask what their role can be for engagement with China in an ideologically driven academic environment like this.
Given that their PRC-based peers are largely unable or unwilling to speak outside of political orthodoxy, does engagement legitimise such ideas or provide space to challenge them? Should they just withdraw from engagement entirely? Try to find politically neutral (and likely boring/unimportant) activities in an effort to maintain some level of relations? Redouble their efforts to engage with either the mainland to try and build cross-cultural dialogue? Or even pivot to focus exclusively on the Chinese diaspora until the ideological environment has changed, maybe in a decade or two?
Its an interesting set of questions to be helping them to think through right now.