A Brief Introduction to The Important Thought of The Three Represents: Part: III Distinctive Features of The Three Represents

 A Brief Introduction to The Important Thought of The Three Represents

Part: III Distinctive Features of The Three Represents 

By Jan Freidun Taravosh 12th of December 2009

  

“With the formulation of the correct line, principles and policies, the Party 

has untiringly worked for the fundamental interests of the country and the people. Under 

the new conditions of historic significance, how our Party can better translate the Three 

Represents into action constitutes a major issue that all Party members, especially senior 

officials, must ponder deeply”

- Jiang Zemin

Introduction:

The phase of development that The People’s Republic of China is as complex as it is dynamic and multi-facetted and of course cannot be summed up in total in small set of short articles, nevertheless the basic idea can be presented in a good manner. The same must be said about The Three Represent, books and articles on the subject are hard to come by in the western hemisphere, but the  Distinctive key features of The Three Represents can still be explained. I am certain that basic knowledge of such key features even if it only amounts to  the bare mimimums will still be of great help to any one who wishes to acquaint herself/himself more with China PR.

To have basic knowledge on the classics of Scientific Socialism, is also helpful yet one does not have to be an expert, to understand the basic concepts of The Three Represents.

 a few basic questions will be dealt with before we carry on with our subject

Q: In recognising that The Three Represents is a new strategic  concept for the new millennium and the present phase of building of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, yet still is founded on Historical Materialism what does this mean?

A: It means that The Important Thought of the Three Represent is indeed a new  strategic concept, apt for  the conditions of building socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the new millennium. Yet it is a strategic concept of thought which has been  formulated after reviewing the history of The International Communist Movement in general and the History of social development in China PR in particular. As A Concept of Thought it has it’s roots in Scientific Socialism, yet it is especially designed for China’s specific conditions for development identifying China’s position as a large country going through a process of dynamic developed in a multi-polar world.

Q: The Chinese are known for saying that they refuse to blindly copy others - Does this mean that the Chinese refuse co-operating with other nations and people?

A: No, This is a common misunderstanding. The People of China Pr, cherish their hard-won independence and sovereignty - still, as the Chinese also cherish peace and scientific development

 this does in no way contradict promoting dynamic bilateral relations and cultural exchange based on mutual 

respect and mutual benefit.

 

Distinctive features of The Three Represents

Development remains a key word in the strategic concept of The Three Represents, but what does this mean in particular - we will look into the Important Thought of The Three Represents

Broad based and Multi facetted development in accordance with Chinese Characteristics

Some might have a stereotypical view of what a socialist society should look , but still one must  recognise the fact that Chinese society does develop in it’s own pace and under it’s own conditions. I.e. Present Day China is not The USSR of the 40’s, nor, DPRK in the 50’s, Cuba in the 60’s, Vietnam in the 70’s or Zimbabwe in the 80’s.

 The Three Represents for one   expanded the definition and scope of social development in China and given it a broad based and multi facetted character.

Representing the development trend of China's advanced productive forces

In the document I found on the web-site News from the Communist Party of China published 2006, the first main principle which is brought up is Representing the development trend of China's advanced productive forces. 

and a few notes should be made on this particular idea - the distinctive features of the Three Represent originate as mentioned above from the reality of The People’s Republic of China as a large developing country going through a dynamic process of social, cultural and economical development. The Important Thought of The Three represents thus accordingly pays special attention to the development of the productive forces and does so identifying the paramount importance of this matter: “Productive forces are the most revolutionary and dynamic factors in social mode of production” Furthermore the high priority given too development of productive forces originates from decades of experience in society building as the CPC document states: 

China's productive forces have grown fairly rapidly over the 50 plus years since the People's Republic was founded in 1949, 

especially over the 20 plus years since the policies of reform and opening up were 

introduced in the late 1970s. 

However, their overall level is still much lower than in the 

developed countries in the West. China must vigourously develop its productive forces and 

improve its economy so that it can gain greater initiative and a more favourable position in 

future competition in science and technology and solve its present economic and social 

problems. “ The CPC document reflect over the need of development and stresses the importance of the development of the productive force with vigour this is one of the distinctive features of the Three represents, which as a concept of strategic thought again also stresses the need of keeping in line with Chinese realities: “The Party must ground itself on 

China's realities, conform to the trend of the times, stay focused on economic development, 

and make developing the productive forces its basic task” and accordingly the party  must also promote broad based unity, cohesiveness and peace and stability of the multi ethnic nation.

 

Representing the orientation of China's advanced culture.

The Important Thought of The Three Represents also stresses the importance of culture for social development. In the field of culture what is stressed is dynamic multi facetted view of culture which corresponds well to the multiethnic character of the vastly populated People’s Republic: “socialist society means a society that develops and progresses comprehensively. A society 

is truly socialist only when its economic, political and cultural development is balanced and 

a good job is done in both material and spiritual civilization. Only by always representing 

the orientation of China's advanced culture and working hard to develop a socialist culture 

with Chinese characteristics can the CPC achieve this goal. In present-day China, 

developing advanced culture means developing a national, scientific, that is geared to the needs of modernization, the world and the future.” 

The Important thought of The Three Represents in correlation to promoting culture also stresses Marxist education in accordance with Socialism for Chinese Characteristics:  

“The fundamental task 

of socialist culture is to educate citizens to have lofty ideals, moral integrity, good education 

and a strong sense of discipline. We must always take Marxism as our guide [...] At the same time, we must clearly understand that Marxism is a developing science. 

It cannot be regarded as a rigid dogma; new experience and understanding gained from 

practice must be constantly assimilated and used to enrich and develop Marxism.” 

 

Representing the Fundamental interests of the Overwhelming Majority of the Chinese People. 

according to The Important Thought of The Three Represents special attention must also be given to representing the fundamental interest of the overwhelming majority of the people, thus the party adheres to the slogan “from the masses, to the masses". This slogan has raised some debate among scholars of Scientific Socialism who are not used to hearing the term “the overwhelming majority of the people” as often as “the proletariat” when it comes to  Scientific Socialism. In the west, as well as in some other nations.

It might seem slightly unorthodox to some but then again  We must focus on trying to understand this The Three Represents in the light of the specific conditions of society building in China. 

The People’s Republic of China a dynamic, Multi-ethnic and Multi dimensional society

 

 One should keep in mind that Chinese society is not only multi ethnic but also multi dimensional in many other aspects, i.e The People's Republlic of China is not one dimentional.

 

In this context of this dynamic development The Three Represents as a strategic concept and guideline has nevertheless played and still plays an important role in the dynamic development of China PR, and The Important Thought of the Three Represents must be recognised understood  as such regardless if it’s considered a purely  proletarian concept or not. 

 The Problem of the Ever-growing Material and cultural needs of the People and the Low Level of Production Remains a Pressing Issue

Some interpret the focus on development as if the party totally shuns the concept of Class Struggle, however this is never mentioned in the party constitution: rather it’s made clear that. “Owing to both domestic circumstances and foreign influences, class struggle will continue to exist within a certain scope for a long time and may possibly grow acute under certain conditions”  However the important thought of the Three represents was formulated for dealing with another contradiction in present day China: “At the present stage, the principal contradiction in Chinese society is one between the ever-growing material and cultural needs of the people and the low level of production” Thus under these circumstances the important thought of The Three Represents still has  a vital role in to Chinese politics. As the Chinese People strive for multi-facetted development peace and stability as well as the noble  cause for peaceful reunification. The CPC constitution describes The Important Thought of The Three Represents this way: “it serves as a powerful theoretical weapon for strengthening and improving Party building and for promoting self-improvement and development of socialism in China; and it is the crystallized, collective wisdom of the Communist Party of China.” and while the distinctive feature of this important thought may seem a bit unorthodox to some, one still cannot overlook the specific  role the Three Represents play in the dynamic development of China. 

My advice to the person who want to apprehend a better understanding of Chinese Socialism in General and The Three Represents in particular is to study this phenomenon with an open mind and remember also that  political theory can never be mechanically applied without taking reality into account.