Soviet Model to Chinese Path

by Huang Zongliang

Since the founding of the Peoples Republic of China （PRC） in 1949， the countrys 70-year development has been widely recognized as a successful example of economic development and system reform. Looking back at the tortuous course of reform and development， one of Chinas trajectories is well worth studying： using the Soviet model as reference to devise its own unique path.

Soviet Model

In the early days after the founding of the PRC， China called for learning from the Soviet Union for two main reasons. First， in the absence of socialist construction experience， learning from the Soviet model was a realistic choice. Second， because Western capitalist countries imposed trade blockades on China， learning from the Soviet model was necessary to overcome isolation and acquire assistance from the Soviet Union.

The development concept and strategies of the Soviet model can be summarized as “eight priorities”： it emphasizes politics over economics， industry over agriculture， heavy industry over light industry， military industry over civilian use， development speed over efficiency， accumulation over consumption， planning over market-oriented management， and national interests over personal interests. Such“priorities” are all relative. The Soviet Union did not fully recognize that productivity and economic development are the deciding factors for social development， and even embraced voluntarism. “Market socialism” was criticized until the 1970s because the Soviet Union believed that a market economy would destroy the economic foundation of socialism.

After the drastic changes in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe in the late 1980s and early 1990s， three theories on the general situation remained to characterize the socialist movement of that time：the “Failure Theory，” “Low Tide Theory” and “Turning Point Theory.” Promoters of the “Failure Theory” argued that the socialist revolution had failed and that its history had “come to an end.” Some accepted the “Low Tide Theory”with similar reasoning： Only five of 15 socialist countries had survived， and the total number of communists （outside China） had decreased from 44 million to 11 million by 1995. The “Turning Point Theory”emerged when under the trend of globalization， socialist political parties around the world summed up historical lessons and abandoned the Soviet model in favor of a socialist road and model more in line with the characteristics of each specific domestic environment.

The “Turning Point Theory”is the most commonly accepted version in China. It can be used to summarize the similarities and differences between the two stages before and after Chinas reform and opening up. Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping continued to advocate and implement socialism under the guidance of Marxism and commit to the integration of Marxism with Chinas actual conditions， but Chinas road veered into a different socialist model after its reform and opening up.

The transformation is clear in the following aspects： Chinas focus shifted from class struggle to economic development， resulting in transitions from a single public ownership to an economic system in which public ownership is dominant but various economic sectors develop side by side， from a planned economy to a market economy， from a closed or semi-closed economy to expanding opening up in scope and depth and connecting with the world economy， from egalitarianism to encouraging certain people or regions to seize prosperity before others， from“all-around dictatorship over the bourgeoisie” in the superstructure to true absorption of the essence of foreign civilizations， from insufficient democracy and an extremely unsound legal system to a socialist country ruled by law and democracy.

Especially during the past 40 years of reform and opening up， China has made remarkable achievements. Some even use the word“miracle” to describe Chinas development. In 1992， Deng Xiaopings“Southern Tour Speeches” introduced the idea of not debating on whether socialism or capitalism can better break ideological rivalry to accelerate the pace of reform and opening up. Later on， China joined the international division of labor system after its accession to the World Trade Organization， and its economic development accelerated.

More than half a century ago， Mao Zedong suggested that China make greater contributions to humanity. Today， human society has proposed a new task for China： Seeking a new model of development based on past experience and lessons. Chinas development has done tremendous things. Although its success does not mean that the Chinese path and model should be universally applied， Chinas rich experience could provide a reference for development of other countries.