China News Service, Sao Paulo, March 23: How is “socialism in the 21st century” different from Western Marxism?
——Exclusive interview with Elias Jabr, associate professor at the School of Economic Sciences at the State University of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil and advisor to the President of the New Development Bank
China News Service reporter Lin Chunyin
In 2023, "China: Socialism in the 21st Century" won the 16th China Book Special Contribution Award. One of the authors of the book, Elias Jabor (also translated as Ilias Jabor), associate professor at the School of Economic Sciences of the State University of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil and advisor to the president of the New Development Bank, has long been concerned about socialism and China's development. How does “21st century socialism” differ from Western Marxism? How do you view the relationship between Chinese modernization and the new form of human civilization? On the eve of going to Fujian, China to attend the first Wuyi Forum series of events, Elias Jabr accepted an exclusive interview with China News Service's "East-West Question" in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
The interview transcript is summarized as follows:
China News Service reporter: What do you understand by "socialism in the 21st century"? How is it different from “Western Marxism”?
Elias Jabr:
I believe that "socialism in the 21st century" is a new historical form that has found its most advanced expression in China. It is a kind of socialism that combines the universal principles of Marxism with the national conditions of China and other countries and the experience of the socialist market economy. In fact, these experiences are also reconstructing socialism itself as it develops. A fundamental question answered by these experiences concerns the theoretical nature of “socialism in the 21st century.”
In my opinion, the starting point that differs from Western Marxism is that "socialism in the 21st century" regards Marxism as the science of political power. Therefore, all theoretical construction around socialism should start from the practice of developing productive forces, thereby liberating the mind to explore new paths to building socialism. These are issues that Western Marxism has not addressed because its theoretical framework lacks attention to constructing real, concrete practices.
Production scene inside a manufacturing company in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province. Photo by Yang Bo
China News Service reporter: What is the relationship between Chinese-style modernization and the creation of "a new form of human civilization"? How does the improvement of new productivity promote Chinese-style modernization?
Elias Jabr:
Chinese-style modernization is the result of the greatest social revolution in history, and it is a revolution that is still ongoing. A country with a population of 1.4 billion and facing many major challenges, by adopting disruptive technological innovations to improve its economic planning capabilities - China is building the most advanced social engineering of our time.
China's development has reached a new stage. Although economic growth still relies on major investment in infrastructure, it will increasingly rely on emerging and cutting-edge technology fields. These "new productive forces", based on China's efforts to pursue the forefront of science and technology in various fields, will help push the country's economy and society to a new level.
For example, with the construction of "smart cities", people's well-being will be improved in areas such as health, education, public safety and housing, and "new productive forces" will increasingly contribute to the achievement of these development results.
In addition, these "new productive forces" will place greater emphasis on the vital importance of the harmonious development of man and nature. So part of this new way of production will no longer be new industries driven by traditional, polluting energy sources. For example, China has invested more in clean energy than the United States and Europe combined. I believe that with the vigorous promotion of the development of "new qualitative productive forces", socialism with Chinese characteristics is opening a new chapter and opening a new frontier for theoretical development.
The Xinyi 60MWp fishery and photovoltaic complementary photovoltaic power station in Xintang Village, Pingpu Town, Fanchang District, Wuhu City, Anhui Province, creates a three-dimensional fishery and photovoltaic complementary power generation model for water power generation and underwater fish farming, helping energy conservation and emission reduction, and promoting local economic and ecological harvests. Photo by Xiao Benxiang
Reporter from China News Service: Wuyi Mountain is the starting point of the "Ten Thousand Miles of Tea Road" running through the Eurasian continent. It is another important international trade channel after the "Silk Road". Your hometown, Rio de Janeiro, is also the first stop for Chinese tea drinkers to arrive in Brazil. Now, it has been more than 10 years since China proposed the “One Belt, One Road” initiative. What do you think?
Elias Jabr:
"One Belt, One Road" is not only economic cooperation, but also a redefinition of the globalization model, aiming to promote multipolarity and the development of countries in the global South. It provides participating countries with equal opportunities to participate in the global economy, breaks the pattern of Western centralism, and promotes cooperation and development among countries in the Global South. Through infrastructure construction and trade investment, it has promoted the economic growth of participating countries, improved people's living standards, and helped solve the problems of infrastructure bottlenecks and uneven economic development faced by some developing countries.
The "Belt and Road" construction simultaneously promotes cooperation in cultural exchanges, personnel exchanges and other aspects, which promotes mutual learning of civilizations and friendly exchanges among participating countries. It is an innovative attempt in the process of globalization and provides useful reference and inspiration for building a more open, inclusive and balanced globalization pattern.
Currently, the Brazilian government is actively promoting “re-industrialization”. In the future, Brazil should actively participate in China's "Belt and Road" initiative, deepen cooperation between the two sides in the fields of infrastructure, energy, and industrialization, strengthen exchanges between the two countries' think tanks, and make efforts to reintegrate Brazil into the world.
Rio de Janeiro cityscape, Brazil. Photo by Sheng Jiapeng
China News Service reporter: This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Brazil. You once said, "Brazil and China can jointly rewrite the history of Latin America and the Global South." How do you understand this view?
Elias Jabr:
Brazil and China are the largest developing countries in the western and eastern hemispheres respectively. We share common values and beliefs in a peaceful and multipolar world. This historical node is in a special international context: since the 2008 global financial crisis, globalization led by trade and finance is weakening; protectionism has become an operating mode of international trade; sanctions and geopolitical conflicts have led to insecurity While the stabilization spiral continues, supply chain disruptions have been accelerated by the COVID-19 outbreak and quarantine policies in some countries.
It is no exaggeration to say that the historical relationship between Brazil and China reflects the trend towards greater integration in the global South. In this sense, the interaction between the two countries provides a model for the emerging new world. It is worth mentioning that in the diplomatic and political field, we emphasized that Brazil was the first developing country to establish a strategic partnership with China, and in 2012 it was further upgraded to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
In October 2019, the "Dream of Brazil·China-Brazil Football Carnival" event was held at the Botafogo Football Club in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The picture shows the Shandong Luneng Youth Team of China and the Rio Botafogo Youth Team of Brazil participating in the friendly football match that day. Photo by Mo Chengxiong
Brazil and China share at least three major strategic agendas, namely poverty reduction, inequality and climate issues. Brazil has played a leading role in implementing internationally recognized major social policies and responsible economic policies, recently lifting the country out of hunger, while China has declared the elimination of absolute poverty. On the global stage, Brazil has a strong say in clean and renewable energy. About 50% of its energy and 88% of electricity are clean and sustainable, while China leads the international decarbonization process and invests in clean and renewable energy. The amount of renewable energy exceeds that of the United States and the European Union combined.
This synergy plays a fundamental role in promoting an agenda focused on safeguarding multilateralism and broadly reforming the international governance system. The momentum of this agenda is reflected in the economic and political role of the BRICS. The expansion of the BRICS, including Brazil and China, is a response to the growing demand for democratization of global governance. The BRICS New Development Bank is gradually becoming an important financial pillar in the global South.
The New Development Bank headquarters building is located in Pudong New Area, Shanghai. Photo by Zhong Xinwang
Relations between Brazil and China cannot be limited to tapping the potential of economic, commercial and technological complementarities. As the two largest developing countries in the Western and Eastern Hemispheres, the two countries shoulder major responsibilities. During the 2008 global financial crisis, fiscal packages introduced by Brazil and China were crucial to sustaining global economic growth. At present, the two countries' joint actions focusing on the interests of developing countries and emerging markets are crucial in the context of the ever-changing international situation.
Deng Xiaoping once pointed out, "The real Asia-Pacific century or Asian century will not arrive until China, India and some other neighboring countries develop. This is just like the Latin American century if Brazil does not develop." The democratization of international relations, It plays an important role in the relationship between Brazil and China. (over)
Interviewee profile:
Elias Jabr is an associate professor at the School of Economic Sciences at the State University of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil and an advisor to the President of the New Development Bank. He has written many books, as well as academic and critical articles on the development of New China and socialism as a historical form. The book "China: Socialism in the 21st Century" co-authored with Alberto Gabriele won the China Book Special Contribution Award.