The basic characteristic of Xi’s thought regarding people’s livelihood show in three aspects. It focuses on the overall layout of the construction of society to improve people’s livelihood, it bases on the construction of the rule of law and anti-corruption system to strengthen the people’s livelihood, and it holds justice for the people to promote social justice.
By Wan Zhiang
Abstract
Xi Jinping’s
thought regarding people’s livelihood reflects a new progress made in that of Communist Party of China's (CPC) in the period of completing building a moderately prosperous society in
all respects in China. The basic characteristic of Xi’s thought regarding
people’s livelihood show in three aspects. It focuses on the overall layout of
the construction of society to improve people’s livelihood, it bases on the
construction of the rule of law and anti-corruption system to strengthen the
people’s livelihood, and it holds justice for the people to promote social
justice. The maximum theoretical contribution of the Xi Jinping’s people’s
livelihood thought is to discuss the problem of party spirit and people from
the social and power structure, then fulfill the best combination of the
fundamental interests of the party and the masses of the people.
Image Attribute: Xi Jinping, BRICS
summit 2015, Source: Wikimedia Commons
Keywords: Xi Jinping, People’s Livelihood Thought, The Rule of Law, Communist Party of China
1. Introduction
Ensuring and
improving people’s wellbeing has become one of the most critical political
themes in current China. To improve people’s material and cultural lives is the
fundamental purpose of reform and opening up and socialist modernization. Such
an important principle is also the main point in the thought regarding people’s
livelihood (TPL henceforward) in the Communist Party of China (CPC). Wan
Zhiang 万志昂 (2012) once pointed out that the TPL of the
CPC is the sum of the position, views, principles, methods and strategy that
CPC has had or ever held when she deal with the problems of people’s livelihood
in each historical period. After the long historical baptism of revolutionary
struggle and socialist construction, the Party’s people’s TPL also gradually
developed and matured.
Since the
Eighteenth Party Congress, Xi Jinping has made a series of important speeches
on livelihood issues, paying close attention to, and suggesting new thoughts
about, improving people’s livelihood on behalf of the Party’s new session of
leadership. It marks new momentum in the development of the Party’s TPL and
breakthroughs in the period of building a moderately prosperous society in all
respects. This change resulted from the social new demand for people’s
livelihood and changes of eras. In general, Xi Jinping’s TPL has not yet formed
a macro and clear framework, but the new trends of his thought has been on the
horizon.
All Xi Jinping’s
thoughts are conducted under the background of the system of theories of
socialism with Chinese characteristics. Undoubtedly, the theory system is the
theoretical guide for the ruling ideology of Xi Jinping (Hong
Xianghua, 2013). Therefore, Xi Jinping’s TPL is still along the
arrangement of the strategic target of completing the building of a moderately
prosperous society in all respects of the Eighteenth Party Congress. Generally
speaking, Xi Jinping put forward creatively many constructive ideas from the
angle of improving people’s livelihood and strengthening the construction of
modernization social governance system. These thoughts originated from the
think of the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and yet, they
enrich the system of the Party’s TPL at the same time. I think, several
deployments or tasks which were put forward by the Eighteenth Party Congress
are some political premises or stipulations to Xi Jinping. For example,
“improving people’s livelihood is the key of social construction”; “the rule of
law is the essential requirement and important guarantee for upholding and
developing socialism with Chinese characteristics”. Xi Jinping’s theoretical
innovation in people’s livelihood doesn’t deviate from the frame above on the
whole. However, He has made many new achievements by virtue of his personal
charms and determination. Furthermore, he has also given Chinese politics many
new elements and signs.
2. The Basic
Contents of Xi Jinping’s TPL
2.1. The Iron
Hand of Anti-Corruption
To emphasize
development people’s livelihood in the process of the construction of rule of
law is the important content of the thought of Xi Jinping. Since Xi Jinping was
elected as General Secretary of central committee of CPC in 2012, He attached
great importance to the role of protection of the Constitution and law in
improving people’s livelihood. He said that we should give greater scope to the
important role of the rule of law plays in the country’s governance and in
social management, uphold the unity, sanctity and authority of the country’s
legal system and ensure that the people enjoy extensive rights and freedoms as
prescribed by law, such as the citizen’s personal rights, property rights,
basic political rights and other rights1. In his view, striving to
maintain the fundamental interests of the most people and safeguard their
pursuit of a better life is his bounden duty. That is to say, there will not be
a just social order without a good legal environment, then will not have no
good life of people.
Over the past
two years, the obvious effect of the education-practice operation of party’s
mass line and anti- corruption activities had a closely relationship with
comrades Xi’s concept of the rule of law. It is very clearly that Xi Jinping
advocates that state should use the system as a means of punishing the
corruption. He said that we must maintain a tough position in cracking down on
corruption at all times, conduct thorough investigations into major corruption
cases and work hard to resolve problems of corruption that directly affect the
people2. All those who violate the Party discipline and state laws,
whoever they are and whatever power or official positions they have, must be
brought to justice without mercy. The case of Zhou Yongkang is just a typical
example. What he wants to do maybe describe as both “the tigers” and “the
flies” should all be eradicated. He contends that we should deepen reform of
key areas and crucial links, improve the system of anti-corruption laws,
prevent and manage risks to clean government, prevent and fight corruption more
effectively and in a more scientific way. One of his famous words is that
“throw the power into the cage of system”.3 The anti-corruption
campaign which was launched by Xi Jinping has become a focus of the Chinese
politic ruling in new period. As the director of John Thornton China center of
American Brookings Institution Li Cheng pointed out, “Xi Jinping has dominated
the largest scale and the highest level of anti-corruption movement in the
history of the Communist Party of China.”(Li
Cheng, 2014) . As is well known, the universal appreciation in Chinese
people is inseparable to Xi Jin ping’s ruling with his iron anti-corruption.
2.2. Improve
People’s Livelihood in Maintaining Stability and Human Rights
Xi Jinping
treats the dialectical relationship between social governance and improving
people’s livelihood from global social construction in a commanding height. Xi
Jinping stressed, maintaining social stability is the basic task of the
political-legal work, maintaining stability contains numerous realized
conditions on people’s livelihood benefits. He said, “The maintenance of rights
is the basis of maintaining stability, and rights is the essence of keeping
stability.” So, President Xi demands to strengthen the legal authority in
resolving the contradictions of society and perfect a series of systems in
safeguarding the vital interests of the masses. And what’s more, Xi Jinping
suggested that China should solute the reasonable and legal demands of the
masses’ interests well, then, the masses would feel sincerely their rights were
treated fairly and their interests were protected effectively. In the other
hand, comrade Xi also highly concerned about people’s livelihood benefit in
risk-assessment before political decision. He stressed, “Before a major
decision is formed, we should listen to the opinions and advice of the masses
fully and show much consideration for the bearing capacity of the masses.”4
There are some
experts using a metaphorical expression called “velvet glove” to describe Xi
Jinping’s governing style which looked endurable and calm externally while so
resolute internally (Han Qingxiang, 2013). This comment is really just perfect.
When he visits and investigates the masses, he seems quite amiable and easy to
be approached. But when he deals with such problems as national sovereignty,
opposition corruption, etc., he could become serious even tough instantly.
2.3. “Justice
for the People” to Promote Social Justice
Xi Jinping
thinks highly of the fairness and justice value of law reflected by the
judicial work. So, solving the deep-seated problems which influence judicial
justice or capacity is an important aspect of Xi Jinping’s TPL. He emphasized
on the principle of people in judicial work and pointed out that the basic goal
of political and legal work is to secure people’s leading a peace and happy
life. In the process of law enforcement, Xi Jinping emphasizes that judicial
justice is the last line of defense to maintain social fairness and justice. He
put forward four “will not” to policemen and judicial cadres―“will not be
allowed to ignore the alarms of the masses, will not be allowed to make the
ordinary people can not afford to fight the lawsuit, will must not be allowed
to abuse power infringing upon the lawful rights and interests of the masses,
will must not be allowed to make miscarriage of justice.”5
3. An Analysis
of Xi Jinping’s TPL from a Comparative Perspective
3.1. The
Characteristics of Xi Jinping’s TPL
Xi Jinping is
the first supreme leader of Chinese Communist Party who improves the people’s
wellbeing based on guaranteeing human rights and social justice. He diverts
people’s attention from the material-meeting to the social equality and
constraints of the law in the course of improving people’s livelihood. Although
this thinking can not come out without the good foundation such as economic,
cultural development which has been laid by the former leaders, Without doubt,
Xi Jinping is one of the country’s Supreme leaders who reflects the interests
of the people most seriously from the social structure and power structure. He
has not only realized the urgency on the punishment of corruption to establish
public confidence currently in social justice, but also has known what are the
people most concern and worry about. He has clearly foreseen that after the
food and clothing problem have been solved, what most Chinese people consider
more is the establishment of an equal social justice and how to maintain and
realize the rights of people and their development. This is a long process, but
we must do it now. Xi knows the law of improving the people’s wellbeing, and he
knows more about the need of Chinese people and the inevitable trend of
development of Chinese society. This is one of his most praiseworthy qualities.
Therefore, the major decision of the rule of law based on the deep thinking on
the management system of state and society will force Chinese to face
significant risks of “deep-water area of reform”. But at the same time, it will
also be an important point of Chinese political system reform or an important
achievements of the new administration led by Xi Jinping.
Because of
various reasons, the reform of the political system has been an extremely
sensitive link for CPC. So far, no one shows such irresistible courage in
Chinese political circles like Xi Jinping in official rectification and
promoting reform which was aware of in official documents but not carried out
in practice. However, relying on the great courage as he said “Blacksmith
should also have his strong”, Xi Jinping dared to break the habit to improve
the rule of law to an unknown height. The modernized national governance system
is based on the rule of law, which emphasizes on the reasonable allocation for
public power and control by the law. Xi Jinping attaches great importance to
improving the ability of deepening reform, promoting development, resolving
conflicts and maintaining stability for leading cadres application the thinking
and the way of the rule of law. He ever pointed out, “the foundation of the
constitution is the people’s support from the bottom of their hearts, and the
soul of the constitution is people’s genuine belief. Only if citizens have been
granted extensive rights and freedom according to the law, the constitution
could win persistent belief from the people and melt into the masses of the
people.”6 As for it, Xi Jinping emphasizes the important
position of the people from the angle of constitution implementation, which
shows his political wisdom on ensuring people’s livelihood.
3.2. Comparative
Analysis of Xi Jinping’s Thoughts with Those of Other Leaders of China
Mao Zedong’s
thought on people’s livelihood is mainly reflected in the political and
military means to secure the people’s wellbeing. During the period of the new
democratic revolution, the Party’s people’s TPL was generated in the hard and
bitter war. At this stage, the CPC formed a TPL based on the farmers and
utilizing the Agrarian Revolution as the method. Generally speaking, in the new
democratic revolution period, the overall framework of the CPC’s TPL
represented by Mao Zedong aimed at abolishing a series of institutional
barriers of imperialism and feudalism under the guidance of ideas of national
independence and people’s emancipation. The main goal was to guarantee the
fundamental position of the people as masters of their country. Unfortunately,
after the founding of new China, the situation became obscured instantly in
that the new regime didn’t know how to tackle with such a contradiction that
they attached a great importance to people’s livelihood and the development of
productivity while damaged the productivity construction and people’s wellbeing
as well at the meantime. However, the TPL of the CPC at this stage was still
making its way for the established objectives factually along with the idea of
how to develop the productive forces and how to carry out the construction of
people’s livelihood.
Deng Xiaoping’s
concern especially in the field of people’s livelihood was to develop the
economy. After the Third Plenary Session of the eleventh central committee of
the Chinese Communist Party, The governing theory of China has entered a new
stage of development. Bring order out of chaos politically made the economic
construction of China show a vigorous vitality. In the process of the socialist
modernization, Deng Xiaoping put forward many insightful thoughts about
people’s livelihood which indicated his inheritance creatively and development
of Mao Zedong’s TPL. Deng depended on the ideas of “putting our heart and soul
into serving the people” and the liberation of productive forces, around the
basic theoretical question of “what is socialism” and “how to build socialism”,
he put forward a series of new thoughts on people’s livelihood boldly such as
“the development is the hard truth”, “achieving common prosperity”, “three
favorable standards” important thoughts, etc. (Deng Xiaoping, 1993). The concept
of CPC’s people’s livelihood in this period mainly embodied the influence of
the economic determinism of the Marx’s doctrine.
Jiang Zemin and
Hu Jintao threw their more unremitting efforts in the cultural and ecological
field of people’s livelihood. Comrade Deng Xiaoping’s TPL had some regret in a
certain extent. The main performance for the party policy was ready to focus on
the economic construction more instinctively, so, ignored the social
construction to a certain extent, leading to the social development obviously
lagged behind the economic development. Therefore, after a period of time of
the reform and opening up, the backlog of social contradictions in China became
the necessary condition and objective environment that Comrade Jiang Zemin must
face to. Jiang Zemin’s TPL is an important embodiment of the “Three Represents”
in theory level. Comrade Jiang based on the people’s livelihood, to maintain
social stability and harmony of all kinds of contradictions as above pointed,
adhered to the belief of “always represent the fundamental interests of Chinese
people” and “benefit the people”. Among these outlooks, his typical thoughts
are “priority education theory”, “the employment theory”, “society security and
welfare theory” (Yu
Huiying, 2012). Hu Jintao’s TPL embodied mentally in the report of
17th National Congress of CPC. In this report, Hu Jintao expressed many
measures about people’s livelihood concretely such as the establishment of a
social security system, ensuring the fairness of education, solving the
difficulties of the masses of employment and maintaining social stability
thoughts, etc. It is worth mentioning that both of them had attached great
importance to the field of culture and ecological environment of the people’s
livelihood, it is a new attention of the CPC since Deng Xiaoping.
From a
comparative perspective, these several leaders’ standpoints and views of China
regarding people’s livelihood are of equal importance. They are all the
appropriate reaction to meeting the needs of the times which were made to
improve the livelihood of the people in the specific historical period. Their
thinking and the measures of solving such problems had not been deviated from
the nature and purpose of the CPC, had not been deviated from the political
principle of relying on the people and serving the people invariably. If you
find out that some divergences between them, I will say that they are mainly
just the extent and areas which had been involved to the problem are different.
There is no doubt that the four leaders’ focuses on dealing with the people’s
livelihood are different. The focus of Mao Zedong period in people’s livelihood
was to liberate people. This focus mainly required political means such as
revolution. For this reason, the change of production relations was advocated
then. Deng Xiaoping’s biggest contribution to people’s livelihood is that he
has finished transforming the Party’s perspective about people’s livelihood,
and he has made the material guarantee of people’s livelihood improved to a
very pragmatic and realistic height. Jiang Zemin further developed the concept
of people’s livelihood, by means of the important thought of the “Three
Represents”, which discussed the philosophical basis of the Party’s concept of
the people’s livelihood. Hu Jintao focused on the improvement of people’s
livelihood. This improvement should cover every angle of people’s livelihood.
But in any case, Xi Jinping’s TPL is the closest to the original meaning to the
people’s livelihood, because this view about people’s livelihood really
suggests an institutional-pursuit of people’s happiness. It is really a kind of
fairness system relying on the ultimate guarantee of social justice. However,
this order can only be established through the rule of law. Therefore, the
author believes that Xi Jinping’s TPL is the most closest to the fundamental
meaning of the livelihood issues.
4. The
Theoretical Contribution
Xi Jinping’s TPL
is not only related closely to the rule of law, but also stresses the unity
between the ruling principle of the party and the interests of the people, that
is the unity of party spirit and people in other words. As he made the
principle of the party’s purpose and its interests combined skillfully, I think
he was successful in raising the people’s livelihood theory of contemporary
China to a new height. On August 19, 2013, Xi Jinping made an important speech
on the national meeting on propaganda and ideological work. He expounded
profoundly a series of major theoretical and practical issues which are
relevant with the long-term development of the propaganda and ideological work
in term of the overall interests of the party and state. Xi Jinping emphasized,
the economic construction is the central task of the party, while ideological
work is an extremely important work of the party. As for the ideological work,
he stressed, “The unity of party spirit and affinity to the people is always
consistent. Adhere to the party spirit, the core is to insist on the correct
political orientation, standing firmly the political position, publicizing the
party’s theory and policies, resolutely maintaining conformity with the center
committee of party and firmly safeguard its authority. For sticking to people,
We should bring as much benefit as possible to the people, resolve as many
difficulties as possible for them, and solve the most pressing and real
problems of the greatest concern to them. Above all, should establish a
people-oriented work orientation.”7What he said last year showed
that Chinese ruling party has abandoned the concept that the supremacy of the
interests of the state is always prior to the people which was formed during
the period of revolutionary ideology.
Such important
principle which was put forward by Xi Jinping above is not only the obvious
feature of his concept of the people’s livelihood, but an outstanding
contributions to the people’s livelihood thought of the CPC. Party spirit is
the position which can not be given up throughout for Chinese ruling party,
however, safeguarding the people’s interests is also her fundamental political
aim. They are identical in essence. So, this principle reveals the basic
direction of future governance of the CPC and a fundamental attitude to
treating the issue of people’s livelihood. Undoubtedly, it will make it become
more and more clear and easy to distinguish in Chinese reform goal and striving
direction.
5. Conclusion
Xi Jinping’s TPL
contains profound legal thinking which enriched and developed Marx’s law ideas.
Because Confucian thought was the orthodox ideas in ancient China, the
involvement of the legalist thought was rather limited. But the successive CPC
leaders had to highlight the theme on the people’s livelihood because of the
specific historical conditions or the times task. Therefore, the key areas to
guarantee people’s livelihood were different in various historical stages.
Nowadays, comrade Xi Jinping improves people’s livelihood focus in the
construction of rule of law. This is the first time that the CPC leaders
associate the people’s livelihood and law problem so closely, so it is a
significant enrichment and development for Marx’s theory of law.
Finally, it is
necessary to add chairman’s cognition about the process of the improvement of
people’s livelihood. Since the reform and opening up, China’s livelihood status
has been greatly improved. However, people’s demand is a developing process
from the low level to the high level. With the development of economic and
society, the connotation of people’s livelihood will become more abundant, so
does its extension. Therefore, as Xi Jinping pointed out, improving people’s
livelihood is a dynamic process step by step. When he investigated in Tianjin,
he said, “The people’s livelihood construction is an investment with high
return. If we strived, we will recover the masses’ recognition and support to
the development which brought about the harmonious relationship between cadres
and the masses. So improving people’s livelihood is a long-term work; it hasn’t
any destination, only continuous new starting points.” (Xinhua net, 2013).
The Eighteen
Session of the Fourth Plenary Congress, closed on October 23rd in 2014,
considered and adopted “the decision of several major issues of the CPC Central
Committee on the comprehensive promotion of the rule of law”. It put forward
the guiding ideology of comprehensive promotion of the rule of law, overall
objectives and basic principles. The meeting depicted a new roadmap for the
construction of a country under the rule of law. The results of this meeting
marked the level of understanding of the CPC’s scientific management to
modernization countries has reached a new level; it is also an important
manifestation of Xi Jinping’s thoughts regarding the law as well. It is not
only beneficial to solve all kinds of key problems which China’s reform faces
currently, but also embodies the earnest expectations of whole Party and people
in beliefs in law, social justice and happiness of people’s livelihood.
Acknowledgements
This paper is
supported by the Chinese National Social Science Fund Project (12XKS007) and
the project of Southwest Jiaotong University “Social science development strategy-Subject
construction of Marxism’s theory”. The article is their phased achievements.
About The Author:
Wan Zhiang, College of
Politics, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China and Research
Institute in Political Science, Xihua University, Chengdu, China
Publication Details:
Copyright © 2015
by author and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. Chinese Studies
Vol.04 No.02(2015), Article ID:55768,5 pages DOI: 10.4236/chnstd.2015.42008
Vol.04 No.02(2015), Article ID:55768,5 pages DOI: 10.4236/chnstd.2015.42008
This work is
licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC
BY).http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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End Notes:
1Xi Jinping, “Zai
Shoudu Ge Jie Jinian Xian Xing Xianfa Gongbu Shishi 30 Zhounian Dahui Shang de
Jianghua” 在首都各界纪念现行宪法公布实施30周年大会上的讲话. December 4, 2012.
2Xi Jinping, Zai
Renmin Ri Bao “Zhuanjia Xuezhe Dui E Zhi Gong Kuan Chi He De Fenxi He Jianyi”
Deng Cailiao Shang De PiShi 在人民日报《专家学者对遏制公款吃喝的分析和建议》等材料上的批示. February 22, 2013.
3Xi Jinping, “Zai
Di Shiba Jie Zhongyang Jilü Jiancha Weiyuanhui Di Er Ci Quanti Huiyi Shang de
jianghua” 在第十八届中央纪律检查委员会第二次全体会议上的讲话. January 22,
2013.
4Xi Jinping, “Zai
Dang De Shiba Jie Yi Zhong Quanhui Shang de jianghua” 在党的十八届一中全会上的讲话.
November 15, 2012.
5Xi Jinping, “Zai
Zhongyang Zheng Fa Gongzuo Huiyi Shang de Jianghua” 在中央政法工作会议上的讲话.
January 7, 2014.
6Xi Jinping, “Zai
Shoudu Ge Jie Jinian Xian Xing Xianfa Gongbu Shishi 30 Zhounian Dahui Shang de
Jianghua” 在首都各界纪念现行宪法公布实施30周年大会上的讲话. December 4, 2012.
7Xi Jinping, “Zai
Quanguo Xuanchuan Si Xiang Gongzuo Huiyi Shang de Jianghua” 在全国宣传思想工作会议上的讲话. August 19, 2013.
Disclaimer: The
opinions expressed in this article are the author's own and do not reflect the
view IndraStra Global