{"id":5128,"date":"2026-05-28T10:33:57","date_gmt":"2026-05-28T14:33:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ouleft.org\/?p=5128"},"modified":"2026-05-28T10:33:57","modified_gmt":"2026-05-28T14:33:57","slug":"the-fourth-world-congress-on-marxism-themed-marxism-and-human-civilization-held-in-beijing-university","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ouleft.org\/?p=5128","title":{"rendered":"–The Fourth World Congress on Marxism, themed \u201cMarxism and Human Civilization\u201d, held in Beijing University"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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By\u00a0Ramakrishnan<\/a><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

CounterCurrent.org \/India<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

May 13, 2026 – The Fourth World Congress on Marxism, themed \u201cMarxism and Human Civilization,\u201d was held at Beijing University on October 11, 2025. The event gathered more than 400 domestic scholars and over 50 international experts from more than 20 countries. Many Chinese dignitaries and government officials also attended the event.\u00a0 They shared their insights on how Marxism is shaping the world and its renewed meaning for human civilization.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The building of socialism, for a \u2018community with a shared future for mankind\u2019 is China\u2019s solution to global crises, and is a major innovation of Marxism in the 21st century,<\/em> Chinese scholars believe. <\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This article in two parts draws attention to extensive and deep study of the history, evolution, and various schools of Marxism in several Chinese universities, and Academies.  In part-2 it gives glimpses of Chinese scholars studying various schools of  Marxism, from across the world, including Western Marxism in particular. It seeks to dispel wrong notions and misinformation, spread in particular by US and Western media, and some western Marxists, that Chinese Marxism is isolated, and that China is ostrich-like. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There have been aggressive wars waged by imperialism, led by American super power and the Zionist Israel; there is a flare-up of extreme Right wing politics and fascism, also in developed countries; there have been media wars of misinformation and disinformation; and embedded journalism supplementing all reactionary forces. In such a condition, this story missed by many is important, and needs to be told.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

 In particular, the Indian ruling classes, and their lap-dog media spreads misinformation that Marxism is outdated, dead and almost disappeared. That is particularly re-launched after the recent Assembly elections, particularly citing Bengal and Kerala, and the surrender of Maoists, preceded by Nepal developments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is so even at a time America and President Trump create a scare that Marxism, communists and China are a threat, even in and for America.<\/em>    <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2004, the CPC,  concerned that the wrong Western values, such as liberalism and capitalism were surging into China and determined to preserve the right one, Marxism, announced a \u2018\u2018Marx Project\u2019\u2019 to bolster research and teaching across the country.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A major highlight of the opening ceremony was the unveiling of the 10th anniversary achievements of the \u201cMarxism Archive\u201d project (Ma Zang), a significant academic initiative by Peking University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The project has since published 23 volumes and nearly 15 million words of scholarly research on Chinese Marxist theory.<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Notably, contemporary Chinese Marxism also researches \u2018ecological Marxism\u2019 as represented by John Bellamy Foster (Wang, Citation2020<\/a>, pp. 26-35), \u2018organic Marxism,\u2019 and other schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Feminist Marxism is also widely studied. Contemporary Chinese Marxism mainly focuses on the feminist thoughts of Nancy Fraser and Judith Butler (Chen & Zhang, <\/strong>Citation<\/strong>2019<\/strong><\/a>, pp. 198-202).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The construction and continuous improvement of Marxist textbooks system is a big project going on in the universities of China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the two-day event, scholars engaged in rigorous discussions in 11 sub-forums and 3 high-level sessions. Topics covered included \u201cMarxism and the Modernity of Chinese Civilization,\u201d \u201cThe Communist Party of China and Global Governance Order,\u201d and \u201cSocialism and Civilizational Diversity.\u201dParticipants shared their observations on Chinese-style modernization and its connection to Marxism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Congress is organized every three years in China by Peking University. Since its inception in 2015, it has been bringing together bright minds the world over to deepen the understanding of Marxist philosophy through free and lively discourses. This year marks the tenth anniversary of the World Congress on Marxism, which was established in 2015 and is held every three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conference featured keynote speeches from notable scholars including Monthly Review <\/em>editor John Bellamy Foster, Professor Emeritus at the University of Oregon; Tairako Tomonaga, Professor Emeritus at Hitotsubashi University; Yang Geng, former Vice President of Beijing Normal University; and Carlos Torres, Distinguished Professor at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). The sessions were moderated by Yang Haifeng, Dean of the School of Marxism at Peking University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Foster delivered a keynote address on October 17, 2025, as part of the Opening Ceremony of the Fourth World Congress of Marxism.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

See Eco-Marxism and the Reconstruction of Materialist Dialectics<\/strong> (CC 01\/05\/2026)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/countercurrents.org\/2026\/05\/eco-marxism-and-the-reconstruction-of-materialist-dialectics<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Professor Radhika Desai Department of Political Studies, University of Manitoba said: \u201cA lot of people think that China\u2019s modernization is disconnected from Marxism because Marxism expects revolution to take place. I believe this is a misunderstanding. China\u2019s modernization is very deeply connected with Marxism.<\/em> Indeed, China\u2019s modernization demonstrates the truth of Marxism.\u201d<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

***                              ***<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018It is CPC, not CCP as the western media reports\u2019 <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0As a friendly reminder, a Xinhua editorial said:\u00a0 China\u2019s ruling party is called Communist Party of China (CPC), not Chinese Communist Party (CCP) as western press and academia often frames it as.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Far from being a simple confusion, China\u2019s Communist Party takes its name out of the internationalist approach set by the Comintern back in the day. From Terms of Admission into Communist International, as adopted by the First Congress of the Communist International:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

18 \u2013 In view of the foregoing, parties wishing to join the Communist International must change their name. Any party seeking affiliation must call itself the Communist Party of the country in question (Section of the Third, Communist International). The question of a party\u2019s name is not merely a formality, but a matter of major political importance. The Communist International has declared a resolute war on the bourgeois world and all yellow Social-Democratic parties. The difference between the Communist parties and the old and official \u201cSocial-Democratic\u201d, or \u201csocialist\u201d, parties, which have betrayed the banner of the working class, must be made absolutely clear to every rank-and-file worker.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Similarly, the adoption of a wrong name to refer to the CPC consists of a double edged sword: <\/strong>on the one hand, it seeks to reduce the ideological basis behind the party\u2019s name to a more ethno-centric view of said organization and, on the other hand, it seeks to assert authority over it by attempting to externally draw the conditions and parameters on which it provides the CPC recognition.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

***                                               ***<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The number of Marxist study institutions in Chinese universities increased from 100 to more than 1,400<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the founding of the People\u2019s Republic of China in 1949, CPC  successively established institutions with similar names such as \u201cMarxism-Leninism Teaching and Research Section\u201d, \u201cMarxism\u2013Leninism Teaching and Research Section\u201d, \u201cMarxism-Leninism Basics Teaching and Research Section\u201d, \u201cChinese Revolution History Teaching and Research Section\u201d in major universities. These institutions later evolved into institutions with similar names such as \u201cInstitute of the History of the Development of Marxism\u2013Leninism\u201d, \u201cInstitute of Marxist Theory Education\u201d, \u201cDepartment of CCP History\u201d, \u201cIdeological and Political College\u201d, \u201cIdeological and Political Education College\u201d, and \u201cIdeological and Political Theory College\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1992, Peking University<\/a> established the first \u201cSchool of Marxism\u201d in China, namely the School of Marxism at Peking University. In 1996, the School of Marxism at Renmin University of China<\/a> was established, becoming the second School of Marxism. After 2003, Hunan University<\/a>, Minzu University of China<\/a>, Jishou University<\/a>, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics<\/a>, Jilin University<\/a> and other universities established Schools of Marxism.  As of 2007, 25 Schools of Marxism had been established in universities across China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2008, the School of Marxism at Tsinghua University<\/a> and the School of Marxism at Beijing Normal University<\/a> were established. In 2009, the School of Marxism at Shaanxi Normal University<\/a> was established. In 2015, the School of Marxism at Sichuan University was established.[4]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By the end of 2014, there were 200 schools of Marxism established in universities across the country, and by the end of 2016, the number had exceeded 400.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Starting from 2016, national key Marxist colleges were established in batches. From 2015 to 2025, the number of Marxist study institutions in Chinese universities increased from 100 to more than 1,400. <\/em> <\/em>(Wikipedia)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

***                         ***<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c We need to bring up a new generation of Marxists\u2026and China\u2019s universities  can be the center of world Marxist education\u201d : Prof Alexander Buzgalin<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUnder the leadership of the CPC, China has embarked on the path of socialism and made great achievements. I think China has found a new development model and benefited from it,<\/em>\u201d said Alexander Buzgalin, an economist and professor at Moscow State University. He stressed: \u201cWe also need to bring up a new generation of Marxists\u2026I think that China can be the center of world Marxist education, and support not only students in China, but also the creation of Marxist centers around the world. \u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through continuous reform, China has improved people\u2019s lives, promoted more efficient social and economic development, and set the goal of realizing a moderately prosperous society, said Khubiev Kaisyn Azretovich, a political economy professor at Moscow State University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think the Chinese Communists have foresight and vision,\u201d said Andrea Catone, editor-in-chief of the Italian Communist journal Marx Ventuno.<\/em> \u201cThey make a plan that is oriented to the future and takes into consideration the all-round development of all the people and the common welfare of mankind.<\/em>\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bearing in mind the various crises facing the world, the question arises whether Marxism can guide mankind to a better future. In particular, can the path taken by China provide more possibilities for the development of human civilization? Participants shared their insights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Jiang, socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era has blazed a path of modernization unprecedented in human history and provided a new option for developing countries in pursuing modernization.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The building of a community with a shared future for mankind is China\u2019s solution to global crises, and is a major innovation of Marxism in the 21st century,<\/em><\/strong> he said.<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlthough we are faced with many new problems today, the basic principles of Marxism, such as historical materialism and the position of the people, have an unfading value,\u201d said Tao Wenzhao, deputy dean of the School of Marxism Studies at Renmin University of China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The congress reaffirmed its commitment to fostering global dialogue and collaboration in Marxist thought,<\/strong> as well as advancing the understanding of socialism in the modern world.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nearly 300 global Marxist scholars attended the third World Congress in July, 2021. They were from more than 20 countries and regions, including the United States, Britain, France, Russia, Japan and India.\u00a0 That was the centenary year for the CPC. (Continued)<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\u201cAfter more than 170 years, Marxism is still highly relevant today and remains the peak of the development of human thought and knowledge,\u201d said Jiang Hui of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS). He said that socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era has become the leading banner of socialism in the 21st century and the mainstay of socialist development. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the past century, the scientific nature and truth of Marxism have been fully tested in China. China\u2019s achievements have attracted the attention of the world, and its rich theoretical attainments and practical experience in adapting Marxism to China\u2019s conditions have become the focus of participating scholars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMarxism can still play a very important role in contemporary international, economic and political affairs,\u201d said Huan Qingzhi, professor of the School of Marxism Studies at Peking University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In particular, the response to such global crises as COVID-19 and climate change cannot depend entirely on international cooperation on environmental governance or public policies, but must also define a new international economic and political landscape, he said. \u201cIn this sense, Marxist theory can provide important points of reference and guidance.\u201d
He Guangcai, Chair of the Peking University Council, highlighted President Xi Jinping\u2019s point that Marxism has had an unparalleled impact on human thought and history. He emphasized that Peking University, as a key site for the early spread of Marxism in China, will continue to drive theoretical innovation, cultivate young scholars, and enhance global collaboration, solidifying Marxism\u2019s influence in the modern world.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Xi Jinping is eager to reinvigorate Marxism in China, making it important that the collection outshine the university\u2019s Confucius Collection, Mr. Sun said in an interview. \u2018\u2018The Marx Collection must be bigger than the Confucian Collection,\u2019\u2019 he said. \u2018\u2018That cost 152 million renminbi,\u201d or $24 million. \u201cSo the Marx Collection will cost more than 152 million.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018\u2018The Confucian, Buddhist and Taoist collections are purely of scholarly and cultural interest,\u2019\u2019 Mr. Sun Daiyao, deputy dean of Peking University\u2019s School of Marxism, said. \u2018\u2018But the Marx Collection will have social and political meaning.\u2019\u2019<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Baoshang Bank is donating 100 million renminbi to construct the Marx Building, the state-run Global Times reported.

What that might be will be discussed at another of the Six Marx Projects, a \u2018\u2018Global Marxism Conference\u2019\u2019 every two years. Organizers have invited a wide range of foreign scholars, eager to present China as a center of contemporary Marxist research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some among the scholars believe there is real value to Marxism. \u2018\u2018Marxism isn\u2019t a strait-jacket, it\u2019s a space for debate,<\/em><\/strong> and you can do almost anything with it that you want,\u2019\u2019 said Terrell Carver, a professor of political theory at the University of Bristol and author of \u2018\u2018The Postmodern Marx.<\/em>\u2019\u2019 Mr. Carver said he was invited but could not attend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also among the earlier  invitees, the university said, were Roderick MacFarquhar, professor of history and political science at Harvard University; John E. Roemer, professor of political science and economics at Yale University; the eco-socialist Saral Sarkar;<\/strong> the Arabic-French Marxist Samir Amin (who died in 2018) ; and the philosopher Sean Sayers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carlos Martinez Author, Independent Researcher and Political Activist said: \u201cChinese-style modernization is going to be the first type of modernization which isn\u2019t based on imperialism, colonialism, hegemonism and war, it\u2019s based on common prosperity, ecological preservation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Professor Radhika Desai Department of Political Studies, University of Manitoba said: \u201cA lot of people think that China\u2019s modernization is disconnected from Marxism because Marxism expects revolution to take place. I believe this is a misunderstanding. China\u2019s modernization is very deeply connected with Marxism. Indeed, China\u2019s modernization demonstrates the truth of Marxism.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The congress has set up ten panels and three high-profile dialogues on topics ranging from Marxism and Chinese civilization, to global governance and transformation of human civilization in the digital age and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first congress was held on October 10\u201311, 2015. More than 400 Chinese and foreign scholars attended.  The second congress was held on May 5\u20136, 2018. It coincided with the 200th anniversary of the birth of Karl Marx<\/a>. The theme of the second congress was \u201cMarxism and a Human Community with Shared Destiny\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the school of Marxism in 2018, Xi watched an exhibition and learned about the research and teaching of Marxism and the thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  He said a university\u2019s school of Marxism should follow a clear-cut political orientation and teaching principles \u2014 summarized as \u201ctaking Marxism as its surname and talking about Marxism.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  <\/strong>Xi said Marxism should be consolidated as the guiding ideology and promoted in campuses, classrooms, and among students.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

  He later joined a group of Chinese and foreign students discussing topics related to interpreting the \u201cnew era.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  \u201cYou are a firm Marxist. Are there some good methods you use to study Marxism?\u201d the students asked. Xi shared his experience. He also told the foreign students that to understand China, they must understand Chinese history, culture, thought and development stages. In particular, they must understand Marxism in contemporary China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Xi said PKU was the first in China to disseminate Marxism and do its research, playing a key role in the spread of Marxism in China and the CPC\u2019s founding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  He said the year 2018 marked the 200th anniversary of Karl Marx\u2019s birth and the 170th anniversary of the publication of the Communist Manifesto.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  \u201cOur best commemoration is to do a good job in studying, promoting and implementing the spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress and the thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era which embodies Marxism in contemporary China,\u201d Xi said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  He encouraged serious studies on socialism with Chinese characteristics in connection with changes in the Party, the country and the world to produce more influential and convincing research results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  At the end of his inspection, Xi outlined work in fundamental areas as priority to build world-class universities with Chinese characteristics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  <\/em>The right political direction should be upheld, Xi said, urging persistent efforts to foster and promote core socialist values, and encourage university staff and students to have faith in, actively promote and practise these values.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

 The confidence in the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics should help us build the confidence in developing world-class universities with Chinese characteristics, Xi said. Xi also stressed efforts to train competent teachers and establish a system for cultivating talent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A number of world leading science and technology professionals, young scientists and engineers, and innovating teams should be trained. Major breakthroughs in pioneering basic research and original innovations are aimed for, Xi said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Xi encouraged young people to be loyal to the country and the people, learn the history of the nation, inherit Chinese culture, have national pride and cultural confidence, and closely link their ideals to the future of the motherland.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By\u00a0Ramakrishnan CounterCurrent.org \/India May 13, 2026 – The Fourth World Congress on Marxism, themed \u201cMarxism and Human Civilization,\u201d was held at Beijing University on October 11, 2025. The event gathered more than 400 domestic scholars and over 50 international experts from more than 20 countries. Many Chinese dignitaries and government officials also attended the event.\u00a0 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24,52,22,19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5128","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-china","category-marxism","category-pollical-analysis","category-theory"],"blocksy_meta":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ouleft.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5128","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ouleft.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ouleft.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ouleft.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ouleft.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5128"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/ouleft.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5128\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5129,"href":"https:\/\/ouleft.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5128\/revisions\/5129"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ouleft.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5128"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ouleft.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5128"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ouleft.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5128"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}