The Sinicization of Marxism in the 21st Century

The subject of the research is the Sinicization of Marxism as a complex process of adapting the universal philosophical principles of Marxist theory to the historical, social, and cultural conditions of China. The focus is placed on the transformation of the key principles of Marxism—such as the unity of theory and practice, orientation toward the people, and recognition of the historical variability of social forms—into a strategic resource for the country’s socio-economic development and modernization. The study examines the evolution of Sinicized Marxism from Mao Zedong, who emphasized the need to connect Marxist theory with national practice, through Deng Xiaoping’s reformist course, to Xi Jinping’s concept of “socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era.” Special attention is given to the role of Marxist ideas in poverty eradication, the implementation of the “common prosperity” strategy, the strengthening of technological sovereignty, and the affirmation of China’s cultural identity. The study also considers the significance of Sinicization as a philosophical response to globalization and as an alternative model of modernization. The methodological framework combines systemic and comparative analysis of the works of Marxist classics, documents of the Communist Party of China, and contemporary studies. The principles of historicism, discourse analysis, and philosophical reconstruction are applied, which makes it possible to trace the evolution of ideas from dogmatic borrowing to independent adaptation and to identify their practical realization in China’s socio-economic development and political strategy. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the interpretation of the Sinicization of Marxism not only as a national strategy of China but also as a universal methodological framework of the 21st century. The study demonstrates that, in the Chinese context, the philosophical principles of Marxism acquire new forms that ensure social stability, technological progress, and cultural confidence. The conclusions indicate that Sinicized Marxism emerges as a global response to the crises of the capitalist system and the limitations of the unilateral model of Western globalization. It offers an alternative path of modernization that combines social justice with economic efficiency, tradition with modernity, and the national with the universal. As a result, Sinicization of Marxism in the 21st century is presented as a promising direction of philosophical development, opening up new opportunities for a just and sustainable path of human development under conditions of global transformations.

Marxism, Sinicization, Xi Jinping, Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping, philosophy of harmony, globalization, Confucianism, modernization, common prosperity