On Xi Jinping: How Xi's Marxist Nationalism is Shaping China and the World

An authoritative account of Xi Jinping's worldview and how it drives Chinese behaviour both domestically and on the world stage. In his new book, On Xi Jinping , former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd provides an authoritative account of the ideological worldview driving Chinese behaviour both domestically and on the world stage--that of President Xi Jinping, who now hold near-total control over the Chinese Communist Party and is now, in effect, president-for-life. Rudd argues that Xi's worldview differs significantly from those of the leaders who preceded him, and that this ideological shift is reflected in the real world of Chinese policy and behaviour. Focusing on China's domestic politics, political economy, and foreign policy, Rudd characterises Xi Jinping's ideological framing of the world as "Marxist-Leninist nationalism." According to Rudd, Xi's notion of Leninism has taken the party and Chinese politics further to the left in comparison to his predecessors. Also, his Marxism has also taken Chinese economic thinking to the left-in a more decisively more statist direction and away from the historical dynamism of the private sector. However, Chinese nationalism under Xi has moved further to the right- towards a much, harder-edged, foreign policy vision of China and a new determination to change the international status quo. Xi's worldview is an integrated one, where his national ideological vision for China's future is ultimately inseparable from his view on China's position in the region and the world. These changes in worldview are also reflected in Xi's broader rehabilitation of the concept of "struggle" as a legitimate concept for the conduct of both Chinese domestic and foreign policy--a struggle that need not necessarily always be peaceful. Finally, Xi's ideological worldview also exhibits a new level of nationalist self-confidence about China's future--derived from China's historical and civilizational strengths but reinforced by his Marxist-Leninist concept of historical determinism and the belief that the tides of history are now on firmly China's side. A powerful analysis of the worldview of arguably the most consequential world leader of our era, this will be essential reading for anyone interested in how Xi is transforming both China and the international order, and, most importantly, why? Cover On Xi Jinping Copyright Dedication Contents Preface 1. Hiding in Plain Sight: Xi’s Ideological Framework for China’s Future How Xi Jinping’s China Is Changing the World The Purpose of This Book The Core Argument Structure of the Book Conclusion 2. Defining Core Concepts Defining ‘Ideology’ Defining ‘Worldview’ Defining ‘Marxism’, ‘Leninism’, and ‘Moving to the Left’ Defining ‘Nationalism’, ‘Moving to the Right’, and ‘National Assertiveness’ Conclusion 3. Continuity and Change in Chinese Worldviews: An Historical Survey The Impact of the Classical Tradition on Contemporary Chinese Worldviews Marxist-​Leninist Worldviews, Mao Zedong, and the CCP Mao’s Interpretation of Dialectical and Historical Materialism Contradiction, Struggle, and the CCP The Impact of Ideology on the Real World of Domestic Politics and Foreign Policy Changing Ideological Frameworks in the People’s Republic Deng Xiaoping, China’s Revised Worldview, and the Centrality of Economic Development Jiang Zemin, the Rise of ‘Market Economics’, the Constitutional Entrenchment of Deng Xiaoping Thought, and Jiang’s Theory of the ‘Three Represents’ Hu Jintao, the ‘Theory of Scientific Development’, the Beginnings of a New Activism in Chinese International Policy, and a New Military Strategy Conclusion 4. Changes to China’s Ideological Worldview under Xi Jinping (2012–​2017) Xi on the Importance of Ideology and Propaganda Xi on Dialectical Materialism Xi on Historical Materialism Report to the 19th Party Congress Xi on the National and Global Significance of Marxism Conclusion 5. Ideological Change under Xi and the Transformation of Chinese Domestic Politics Ideology, Internal Politics, and the Shift to the Left The Centralization of Power Party Institutions Replacing the State Council in Policy Leadership Enhancing Political Control through the Party’s Anti-​Corruption Campaign Power Consolidation through Xi’s Party Rectification Campaign The ‘Securitization’ of Everything The Reassertion of Party Leadership across All Domains Party Building, the Systematization of Ideological Education, and a Return to ‘Belief’, ‘Faith’, and a New ‘Baptism’ in Marxism-​Leninism Conclusion 6. The Impact of Ideology on Xi’s Economic Policy Xi’s Unfolding Economic Ideology The Transition from the ‘Primary Stage of Socialism’ to a ‘Higher Stage of Socialism’ The Changing Use of ‘Banner Terms’ in Economic Ideology Conclusion 7. Changes in China’s Macro-​Policy Direction on the Economy The 2013 ‘Decision’ The ‘New Normal’ of 2014–​2015 ‘Supply-​Side Structural Reform’ The ‘New Development Concept’ as Xi Jinping Thought for the New Era Conclusion 8. Ideology, the 14th Five-​Year Plan, and the Direction of Micro-​Economic Policy Industrial Policy Manufacturing, the ‘Real Economy’, and Building a ‘Modern Economic System’ State-​Owned Enterprises Xi and the Private Sector Xi’s ‘New Pattern’ of Opening Up to the Outside World Conclusion 9. Nationalism in Xi Jinping’s Worldview Xi’s Deployment of a New Set of Nationalist ‘Banner Terms’ Xi’s Nationalist Meta-​Narrative: The Great Rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation Cultural Nationalism: ‘China’s Outstanding Traditional Culture’ The Nationalism of State Power: The Concept of ‘Comprehensive National Power’ Xi’s Nationalism Abroad: ‘World Changes Not Seen in a Century’ Conclusion 10. Nationalism and the Narrative of Foreign Policy Assertiveness The End of ‘Hide and Bide’ and the Beginning of Xi’s Doctrine of ‘Striving for Achievement’ China’s New Neighbouring Country Diplomacy A New Type of Great Power Relations with the United States Nationalism and the Global Order: A Community of Common Destiny Conclusion 11. Nationalism, Foreign Policy Assertiveness, and Chinese Policy towards the United Nations China’s Role on the UN Security Council Beijing’s Changing Posture on Human Rights at the UNSC and the UN Human Rights Council A New Approach to UN Peacekeeping Operations Securing UN Candidatures, Leveraging Its Contribution to the UN Budget, and Influencing Other UN Delegations Changing the Normative Language of the UN Conclusion 12. Codifying the Marxist and Nationalist Dimensions of Xi Jinping Thought through the Party’s 2021 Historical Resolution Defining Xi Jinping Thought The Elevation of Xi Jinping Thought as ‘the’ Marxism for Modern China and the 21st Century Xi’s Ideological Reappraisal of Mao in the Historical Resolution Xi on the Ideological Errors of the Deng-​Jiang-​Hu Era The 2021 Resolution and Xi Jinping’s Cult of Personality Xi Jinping Thought, Changes in Party Periodization, and the Launch of a New Era The Changing Content of Xi Jinping Thought The Overall Impact of Xi Jinping Thought on Politics and the Economy Xi Jinping Thought and Chinese Nationalism Conclusion 13. The Dawn of Xi Jinping’s Second Decade in Power and the CCP’s 20th Party Congress Lead-​Up to the 20th Party Congress: Revisiting the Centrality of the Ideology of Contradictions Doubling Down on Ideology The 20th Party Congress Ideological Change Political Impact Economic Policy Change Chinese Nationalism, Foreign and Security Policy Personnel Changes Conclusion 14. What Xi Jinping’s Ideology Can Tell Us about China’s Future Ideological Overreach and the Politics of Policy Correction during 2023 Ideological Continuity: Xi’s Distinction between Strategic and Tactical Change Ideology as a Precursor for the Future Whither the Party? The Future of Leninist Politics Ideology and the Future Direction of the Chinese Economy Underlying Ideological Constraints Changing Economic Policy Settings Xi’s Continuing Ideological Narrative on the New Development Model The Problem of Economic Underperformance Ideology and the Likely Shape of Economic Policy during the 2020s 15. Xi’s Nationalist Ideology and Future Trends in Chinese Foreign Policy Foreign Policy Readjustment after 2023 within a Framework of Ideological Constraint Ideological Continuity in Xi’s Approach to the World: The Significance of the 2023 Foreign Affairs Work Conference Ideology as a Precursor for Foreign Policy in the 2020s Conclusion 16. China after Xi Future Directions in Xi Jinping Thought Following in Mao’s Steps in the Modernization and Sinification of Chinese Marxism Counting the Cost to China of Xi’s Return to Ideology China after Xi Notes Bibliography Structure of Bibliography English-​Language Sources Chinese-​Language Sources Index In On Xi Jinping, former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd provides an authoritative account of the worldview driving Chinese behavior on the world stage. Focusing on domestic policy, political economy, and foreign policy, Rudd argues that President Xi Jinping's worldview differs significantly from those of the leaders who preceded him and highlights how the shift has impacted policy. A powerful analysis of the worldview of arguably the most consequential world leader of our era, this will be essential reading for anyone interested in how Xi is transforming both China and the international order.