On Xi Jinping How Xi's Marxist Nationalism is Shaping China and the World
by Rudd (Author) Format: Hardcover
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars (68)
An authoritative account of Xi Jinping's worldview and how it drives Chinese behaviour both domestically and on the world stage. In his new book, On Xi Jinping, former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd provides an authoritative account of the ideological worldview driving Chinese behaviour both domestically and on the world stage--that of President Xi Jinping, who now hold near-total control over the Chinese Communist Party and is now, in effect, president-for-life.
Rudd argues that Xi's worldview differs significantly from those of the leaders who preceded him, and that this ideological shift is reflected in the real world of Chinese policy and behaviour. Focusing on China's domestic politics, political economy, and foreign policy, Rudd characterises Xi Jinping's ideological framing of the world as "Marxist-Leninist nationalism."
According to Rudd, Xi's notion of Leninism has taken the party and Chinese politics further to the left in comparison to his predecessors. Also, his Marxism has also taken Chinese economic thinking to the left-in a more decisively more statist direction and away from the historical dynamism of the private sector. However, Chinese nationalism under Xi has moved further to the right- towards a much, harder-edged, foreign policy vision of China and a new determination to change the international status quo.
Xi's worldview is an integrated one, where his national ideological vision for China's future is ultimately inseparable from his view on China's position in the region and the world. These changes in worldview are also reflected in Xi's broader rehabilitation of the concept of "struggle" as a legitimate concept for the conduct of both Chinese domestic and foreign policy--a struggle that need not necessarily always be peaceful.
Finally, Xi's ideological worldview also exhibits a new level of nationalist self-confidence about China's future--derived from China's historical and civilizational strengths but reinforced by his Marxist-Leninist concept of historical determinism and the belief that the tides of history are now on firmly China's side. A powerful analysis of the worldview of arguably the most consequential world leader of our era, this will be essential reading for anyone interested in how Xi is transforming both China and the international order, and, most importantly, why?
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Review
"Rudd's book helps to better understand a man who is likely to shape China and world politics for a long time to come. Xi takes ideology very seriously. We should do the same." -- Angela Köckritz, Books for the Winter 2024, Table Media
""[An] incisive new book... adds a wealth of context to what animates Xi's grim determination." -- James Kynge, Financial Times
"Essential reading... For British readers, Rudd's book may take work: it's serious scholarship. But it's worth it to make clear that Xi's ideological framework is essential to any assessment of the threat from China...Rudd's warning has never been more timely: "We ignore Xi's clarity of ideological purpose at our peril."" -- Tom Tugendhat, Daily Telegraph
"magnificent...the book is a clarion call for free and open countries to wake up." -- Charles Parton, Spectator
"[A] monumental new take on Xi... [Rudd] understands the system [in China] in ways few of his peers can claim to... [He] is particularly good at showing how the strangely heterodox mixture of ideas from Marx, Mao and, in recent years, Confucius seen in China's domestic politics relate to the outside world." -- Kerry Brown, Times Literary Supplement
"A book of singular importance...It's distinctive, and therefore intensely valuable, and a classically Rudd enterprise because it involved reading, analysing and putting into Chinese and communist context every significant thing Xi has ever said or written." -- Greg Sheridan, The Australian
"Kevin Rudd shows how taking Xi's ideology seriously helps us to better understand Chinese politics and to make policies that reduce the likelihood of conflict." -- Neil Thomas, Australian Book Review
"[Xi Jinping's] worldview is superbly analysed in Kevin Rudd's new book...which should be read by specialists, the public and incoming Trump officials alike." -- Michael Pezzullo, The Strategist
"an essential read" -- Gunjan Singh, Business Standard
"A highly impressive tome - scholarly, authoritative, and surprisingly lucid for such a dense endeavour." -- Sang-Hwa Lee, The Article
"Xi Jinping is one of the most important, but most unknowable leaders of the modern world. Kevin Rudd uses meticulous readings of Chinese sources and deep knowledge of Beijing politics to interpret Xi's thinking in a fascinating and revealing way that is both deeply scholarly and informed by Rudd's own understanding of leadership." -- Rana Mitter, ST Lee Chair in US-Asia Relations, Harvard Kennedy School
"Public servant, prime minister, diplomat, scholar--Kevin Rudd's resume is also a stellar CV for the elite caste of scholar-bureaucrats that managed the Chinese empire for over a millennium. On Xi Jinping focusses the experience of a political practitioner engaged with China since his teenage years to analyse Xi Jinpingâs Party Empire and its global ambitions. Rudd also attempts the seemingly impossible by offering words of guidance and hope in this darkling age." -- Geremie R. BarmÃ(c), editor of the China Heritage
"Understanding Xi Jinping's worldview and what it means for China and us, is more crucial now than ever. Rudd's superb analysis provides the reader with a comprehensive guide to Xi's thinking on domestic policy and global affairs. Rudd takes Xi's words seriously and teases out the consequences: a politics and economics that has moved to the left and a foreign policy that has turned to a form of rightist nationalism. Rudd encapsulates these processes with the phrase 'Marist-Leninist Nationalism.' This work is essential reading for anyone interested in understanding where China has come from, where it is heading and the consequences for all of us." -- Anthony J. Saich, Daewoo Professor of International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School
"How has Xi Jinping's 'Marxist-Nationalism' shaped China and its relations with the world? No one is better placed than Kevin Rudd to answer these questions, and he does so convincingly in these illuminating pages. This is an essential book for everyone interested in the future of China." -- Joseph S. Nye, Author of A Life in the American Century
"In this book, Kevin Rudd provides all who care about peace a huge service. Drawing on his extraordinary knowledge of China and the Chinese system, Rudd reveals a side of Xi Jinping only comprehensible through his extensive ideological writings--giving us all unique insights into a man upon whom much of the future depends and helping scholars and policymakers alike better understand Xiâs motives and anticipate his actions. A remarkable read!" -- Meghan L. O'Sullivan, Director of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs and Jeane Kirpatrick Professor of the Practice of International Affairs, Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government
"Understanding Xi Jinping, his plans for China, and how they will affect the world, is the central challenge for the United States and policymakers everywhere. As a foreign policy practitioner, a scholar, a Chinese language speaker, and a former world leader himself, Kevin Rudd is uniquely well placed to answer the question of what Xi Jinping actually believes. He does so brilliantly by drawing on Chinese primary sources, in-depth research, and a lifetime of experience dealing with China's leadership." -- Stephen J. Hadley, National Security Advisor to President George W. Bush
"A very insightful analysis on Chinese politics, economics, and foreign policy under Xi Jinping's leadership, focusing on the critical role of ideology... a very well written and organised book." -- John West, Australian Outlook
"Best books of 2024: Politics "both entertaining and scholarly" -- Gideon Rachman, Financial Times
"The blend of Marxism and nationalism under Xi's leadership is not just reshaping China-it's a strategy that's impacting geopolitics worldwide." -- S&G Consulting Firm
"On Xi Jinping is a remarkable feat of research, which delivers a clear, compelling argument as to what Xi really believes, and how he plans to remake China and the world." -- Katie Stallard, New Statesman
"The book is an unusual production: a self consciously academic book written by a high-profile practitioner." -- Ian Hall, International Affairs
"Elegantly written" -- Elizabeth Economy, Foreign Affairs
"One of the seminal books on Xi Jinping ... it's essential in terms of understanding the background of Xi and where he comes from and his ideology." -- Erin Olander, The China Global South Project
"Rudd's On Xi Jinping contributes to a growing body of literature that takes ideology seriously in understanding contemporary China." -- Alfred L. Chan, The China Quarterly
Review
Publication date : 19 December 2024
Customer Reviews: 4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars (68)
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From Australia
PaulM
5.0 out of 5 stars Effort Required
Reviewed in Australia on 19 July 2026
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Reading Rudd’s book can sometimes feel like trudging through mud, but the effort is worth it in getting a better, or perhaps different, Western understanding of what makes China tick, especially under the guiding hand of Xi Jinping. The one concern, despite Rudd’s credentials and apparent expertise, is how far an outsider can really penetrate an opaque system to the very heart of its leadership. His efforts may be likened to reverse-engineering. Accordingly, his book may or may not reflect what actually happens on the inside. Irrespective, a useful read even if all we have is a detailed view from the outside.
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Inclusivity
5.0 out of 5 stars Worth reading, even if selectively.
Reviewed in Australia on 6 December 2025
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Not a fan of Rudd, at all, but this book is very good. No great revelations, but it does increase one's understanding of what we can see happening. A surprisingly good read.
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CarlosCC
5.0 out of 5 stars Muy recomendable
Reviewed in Spain on 21 March 2025
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Un libro que todos aquellos que estén interesados en la geopolítica y sientan interés en ver hacia donde podría ir el mundo en los próximos años, deben leer, puesto que la evolución de la política china nos afectará a todos. El libro está muy bien documentado y Kevin Rudd demuestra ser un experto en la materia. Creo que lo más interesante de este libro es que analizando el pensamiento de Xi Jinping y cómo ha ido evolucionando la política interna y exterior de China desde que llegó al poder, permite predecir como podría seguir esa evolución.
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Denis Timko
5.0 out of 5 stars Collision course
Reviewed in the United States on 22 November 2024
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An exhaustively researched analysis of Xi Jinping and his impact on not only China, but the world itself. A serious book that needs to be read and used as a framework for gaining some insights into how , going forward, China is likely to behave and what to look for as clues about the direction China is taking on the key issues of today. There’s a lot going on. If the US has any real hope of continuing to prosper and provide a safe and secure environment for its citizens it’s important its citizens educate themselves about who they’re dealing with. This book is a great place to start or improve one’s knowledge and awareness of what’s coming down the road. Read it carefully and reflect on what it says.
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FRANCISCO XAVIER GONZALEZ GARZA
5.0 out of 5 stars Enigmático.
Reviewed in Mexico on 12 March 2026
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Very interesting...
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Niall O'Connor
5.0 out of 5 stars On Contradiction
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 April 2025
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An extremely timely and well written introduction to the Xi, for which Rudd has to be warmly congraulated. Nonetheless, I am personally not convinced as regards the conclusions/predictions that Rudd comes to in the book.
Mao’s On Contradiction is clear that contradictions, whether in society or politics, are inherently unpredictable and can never be fully dissected or broken down into simple terms. As Mao puts it, contradictions exist within contradictions, and their resolution is contingent on how these contradictions unfold over time. This process is far from deterministic, meaning that the outcome of any contradiction—whether in politics, economics, or ideology—cannot be known in advance. This is consistent with Badiou's notion of the Event, which suggests that historical developments and political shifts often emerge unexpectedly, defined by radical breaks from the existing order, rather than by gradual, predictable trajectories.
In this light, Rudd’s predictions about Xi’s future actions become problematic. Rudd attempts to forecast China’s trajectory based on a linear interpretation of Xi's Marxist-Leninist ideology, presupposing a level of predictability that contradicts the very dialectical foundations upon which Xi’s ideology rests. By predicting Xi’s moves based on ideological purity or supposed shifts, Rudd overlooks the contingent, evolving nature of Xi's approach.
Xi's own embrace of Marxist-Leninist dialectical thinking involves recognizing that contradictions are fluid, and their resolution is not preordained but determined by dynamic, contingent factors. Xi has famously articulated Marxism-Leninism as the Party’s weapon of thought, suggesting a flexible approach to contradictions that is highly attuned to changing conditions. The strategic decisions Xi makes are contingent upon the evolving dynamics of both internal Chinese politics and the global geopolitical environment. This makes Xi’s political approach inherently unpredictable and marks a clear departure from Rudd’s linear predictions.
For instance, Xi’s handling of China’s relationship with the U.S. during the trade war cannot be fully understood by simply mapping it onto a set of predictive models based on his Marxist-Leninist ideology. Xi’s decisions are, at their core, contingent on unfolding contradictions—domestic and international—and cannot be reduced to an ideological template that predicts a specific course of action. Predictions about Xi’s future behavior that don’t account for this contingent, dialectical unfolding of contradictions miss the core philosophical underpinnings of his thought.
Rudd’s tendency to make specific predictions about Xi’s future moves, particularly in terms of foreign policy and economic strategy, becomes a non-sequitur when viewed through the lens of dialectical materialism. If contradictions are inherently unpredictable, then to claim that Xi will pursue specific strategies based on an ideological framework risks reducing Marxist-Leninist dialectics to a rigid, deterministic system. In reality, the outcome of contradictions is contingent upon historical moments and unforeseen developments—just as Badiou’s Event emphasizes the radical unpredictability of historical shifts.
The dialectical method employed by Xi—echoing Mao’s conception of contradictions—would lead us to understand that Xi’s actions are not the result of inevitable ideological progression but rather the product of a contingent unfolding. Any attempt to predict Xi’s actions with certainty, as Rudd does, neglects the fluidity of the contradictions in play, the potential for radical shifts, and the unpredictable nature of the political landscape. Therefore, Rudd’s predictions about Xi’s trajectory can be seen as a philosophical misstep, given the inherent contingency and unpredictability at the heart of Xi's dialectical Marxist-Leninist framework.
Rudd’s thesis falls short because it misunderstands the dialectical nature of Xi’s Marxist-Leninism, reducing it to a deterministic framework that allows for specific predictions about future actions. However, as Mao’s On Contradiction and Badiou's notion of the Event make clear, contradictions and their resolution are inherently contingent, unpredictable, and subject to radical breaks rather than gradual developments. This makes Rudd’s predictions about Xi’s future policy moves not just problematic, but a philosophical non-sequitur, given the dialectical and contingent nature of Marxist-Leninist thought as embraced by Xi. Understanding Xi’s leadership requires more than ideological analysis or predictive forecasting; it demands an appreciation of the unpredictability of political decisions and the contingent nature of the contradictions that define both Chinese domestic politics and global geopolitics.
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Mauricio
5.0 out of 5 stars Must read to understand China
Reviewed in Belgium on 20 June 2026
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In depth amazing analysis of Xi and his grab on the other world power.
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Laetitia Strauch-Bonart
5.0 out of 5 stars Le livre pour comprendre Xi
Reviewed in France on 10 February 2025
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Un ouvrage impressionnant par son exhaustivité et sa fluidité.
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RoW
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
Reviewed in the Netherlands on 3 July 2026
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Great read
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Alexander Zabezhinsky
5.0 out of 5 stars The best book to understand modern China
Reviewed in the United States on 28 October 2024
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The most in-depth book on politics, economics and governance in China. Presents quite clearly the change that has happened and continues to happen in China under the leadership of Xi. Few people in the West know and understand China as deeply as Kevin Rudd. I am personally in the world of investments and the book clearly sets out for me the concept regarding investments in China.
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A. Menon
4.0 out of 5 stars A perspective on Xi Xinping's domestic move to the left
Reviewed in the United States on 25 March 2025
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On Xi Jinping is Kevin Rudd's second book on China and its leadership's priorities in the last few years. This work is an extension of his Doctoral Thesis he recently submitted on the study of Xi Jinping and his ideological priorities of expanding Marxist-Leninism within the Party while also moving China to the right on a foreign policy agenda. It is a very thorough work surveying the public works of Xi as well as inclusive of diplomatic commentary on the change of nature in diplomatic encounters with China. It is largely a work of academic political science and so is quite dry to read at times. Overall the book contains a thorough message that China's ideological move to the left is both substantial and will be persistent under Xi with all moves away from this direction ultimately being tactical. It also contains the message that China's international ambitions will continue to grow as its domestic strength has and its belief in its own wisdom for global governance norms will be on display to a greater and more forceful degree than the past.
On Xi Jinping is an expansive book covering most aspects of Xi Jinping thought and how it influences governance through 16 chapters. The author begins with a historical overview of what he is discussing and what the terminology definitions are. There is a long legacy of Marxist intellectual infrastructure which is used by the party to frame its policy initiatives as well as the framework for analyzing history. The author thus discusses dialectic materialism and the role of contradictions for framing the Party's world view and in particular Xi Jinping's views on the current challenges China faces as a function of its past decisions. The longer cycles of history are thus more deeply embedded in Xi's ideology than the business cycle focus of much of the West at the expense of coherent long term strategy. One novel quote which the author clears up as an effective mis-quote is that by Zhou Enlai when asked about the French Revolution with the response being we need more time to assess in which Zhou was apparently assuming the query was about recent French protests rather than the French Revolution. The author moves in to how China's world view started to measurably change under Xi with increased clampdowns domestically followed by more abrasive behavior externally. These were a distinct shifts marked a break from the operating model under Deng and inherited by Hu and Jiang Zemin. Domestically the increased materialism and inequality inducing growth that was introduced in the reform periods was deemed to have gone too far and relying on the Marxist historical analysis framework was leading to new contradictions which needed to be addressed. Xi in particular felt that the party's credibility was deeply at risk by the rising corruption within the party and the growing inequality in society. The response to this was a dramatic anti-corruption and rectification agenda that continues to this day.
These beliefs about the causes of China's growing domestic incoherence with the original governing philosophy of the party led to a significant re-orientation of priorities to embedding the state back into the economy more aggressively and containing the animal spirits of the private sector. The book details all that went into this and at some level Xi tried to address much of the concerns that are prevalent everywhere but with little concern or regret for all of the unintended consequences of trying to re-engineer the political economy. This is deemed to be a necessary evil and as such is a core message of the book, the actions being taken are ideological over practical and the beliefs of Xi are driven by ideology rather than results. Of course the leadership pays attention to results but only to adjust tactically and there is an acknowledgement that the adjustment will be painful but inescapable. This is the main takeaway but it is also not particularly insightful as it is where the consensus is and has been for 2 years now.
The author moves on to the move to the right on promotion of nationalism and projection of power abroad. This is another multi year and multi-faceted agenda to increase the role of China in governing world affairs. Here the author argues that China under Xi is trying to re-orient the global governance structure away from US centric and towards one where China's wisdom is deferred to and it's interests are not contested. The author includes personal discussions with diplomats on their real world analysis of the changing diplomatic exchanges with China and the increased abrasiveness of them.
Overall there are several different weaved aspects of how Xi's governing philosophy is affecting how China interacts with itself and with the world that are to the left from the Deng era domestically and to the right globally with the rise of nationalism. This is deeply strategic under Xi and tactical deviations are merely to manage a path but the ideologically determined strategic goals will not waver under Xi. After many years of managing mini-crisis with partial resolutions being the norm, most people see this as obvious now and those hoping for any dramatic shift back to greater market involvement and westernization are dismissed easily. As such this book is largely just summarizing from a political philosophy perspective why the agenda has been set as it has and how to interpret it. From that lens it is an informative read.
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ML
4.0 out of 5 stars In-Depth Review of Xi Jinping Ideology and Policies But Repetitive
Reviewed in the United States on 13 May 2025
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I really enjoyed the first half or so of this book, up through his interviews with anonymous ex ambassadors and officials from countries outside China. The best parts of this book are the excerpts from Xi’s many speeches and papers. After the ambassador recap, however, the narrative became largely repetitive of themes, analysis, and conclusions that had been well established in the preceding chapters. I took a star off my rating for this, but would still recommend the book.
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세진님, 요청하신 케빈 러드(Kevin Rudd)의 저서 <시진핑에 대하여: 시진핑의 마르크스주의적 민족주의는 어떻게 중국과 세계를 형성하고 있는가>(On Xi Jinping: How Xi's Marxist Nationalism is Shaping China and the World)에 대한 요약 및 평론입니다.
시진핑에 대하여: 요약 및 평론
1. 서론: 이념으로 돌아간 시진핑의 중국
오스트레일리아의 전 총리이자 중국학 학자인 케빈 러드(Kevin Rudd)는 저서 <시진핑에 대하여>를 통해 현대 중국의 정책적 변화와 대외 행보를 구동하는 핵심 동력을 '이념(Ideology)'에서 찾는다.
2. 본문: 책의 핵심 요약
첫째, 정치적 레닌주의의 좌클릭(Leninist Left)이다.
둘째, 경제적 마르크스주의의 강화(Marxist Left)이다.
셋째, 외교·안보적 민족주의의 우클릭(Nationalist Right)이다.
넷째, 투쟁(Struggle) 개념의 복원이다.
3. 평론: 이념적 접근의 미덕과 한계
케빈 러드의 분석이 갖는 최대 강점은 실용주의와 현실주의 프레임에 갇혀 있던 기존의 대중 정책 분석을 '이념의 차원'으로 재정립했다는 점이다.
그러나 몇 가지 한계점 역시 지적할 수 있다.
첫째, 유교적 전통 유산과의 복합성에 대한 경시다. 시진핑 담론에서 마르크스주의 못지않게 비중 있게 활용되는 중화 우수 전통문화(유교적 가치, 도덕적 천명, 중앙집권적 가부장주의)에 대한 깊이 있는 통합적 조명이 아쉽다. 시진핑 사상은 마르크스주의와 유교의 독특한 혼합물에 가까우나, 저자는 이를 지나치게 '마르크스-레닌주의' 프레임에 고정시킨 감이 있다.
둘째, 이념과 현실 사이의 모순 구조에 대한 세밀한 규명 부재다.
4. 결론: 미·중 경쟁 시대를 읽는 해법서
결국 <시진핑에 대하여>는 현대 중국이 어디로 가고 있으며, 세계가 왜 중국과의 서사 및 전략 경쟁에서 난항을 겪고 있는지를 극명하게 보여준다.
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세진님, 요청하신 시진핑 사상 속 유교적 가치관과 마르크스-레닌주의의 결합 방식 및 통치 정당성 형성 구조에 대한 분석입니다. 지침에 따라 본문은 <해라> 체로 작성하였습니다.
시진핑 사상에서 유교와 마르크스-레닌주의의 결합과 통치 정당성
1. 서론: '두 개의 결합'과 이념적 합성
시진핑 체제 아래 중국 공산당은 전통적 이념인 마르크스-레닌주의와 중국의 전통 유교 문화의 결합을 공식 통치 담론으로 전면에 내세우고 있다. 시진핑은 2021년 중국 공산당 창립 100주년 연설 등에서 이른바 <두 개의 결합(Two Combines)>을 강조했다. 첫째는 '마르크스주의 기본 원리를 중국의 구체적 현실과 결합하는 것'이고, 둘째는 '마르크스주의 기본 원리를 중화 우수 전통문화와 결합하는 것'이다. 서구에서 외래 사상으로 도입된 마르크스-레닌주의와 자생적 유교 전통을 합성하여 체제의 내러티브와 정당성을 극대화하는 통치 메커니즘을 보여준다.
2. 결합의 3대 핵심 축
첫째, 역사 결정론과 문명적 연속성의 결합 (사명론의 강화)
마르크스주의는 인류 역사가 일정한 법칙에 따라 공산주의라는 궁극적 목표를 향해 진보한다는 <역사 결정론>을 바탕으로 한다. 시진핑 사상은 여기에 유교의 <문명적 연속성>을 접목한다.
마르크스주의의 '인류 해방과 공산주의 완성'이라는 역사적 과제는 유교적 '중화민족의 위대한 부흥(중국몽)'과 일치된다.
이를 통해 중국 공산당은 단순한 노동자 계급의 전위대를 넘어, 5,000년 중화 문명을 계승하고 완성하는 역사적 수호자로서의 정당성을 획득한다.
둘째, 레닌주의 전위당과 유교적 덕치(德治)·가부장주의의 결합
레닌주의에서 당은 사회 전체를 이끄는 무결점의 전위 조직이다. 시진핑은 이에 유교의 '군군신신부부자자(君君臣臣父父子子)'식 계급 질서와 가부장적 권위, 그리고 <덕치(德治)> 개념을 이식한다.
당 중앙과 지도자는 유교적 '성인(聖人)' 혹은 '덕 있는 어버이'의 위치로 끌어올려진다.
당의 통치와 엄격한 통제는 폭력이 아닌 '인민을 바른 길로 인도하는 도덕적 교화'로 포장된다.
시진핑 개인에 대한 권력 집중과 일극 체제 역시 유교의 천명(天命) 사상 및 중앙집권적 대일통(大一統) 관념과 결합하여 '구심점으로서의 필연성'을 얻는다.
셋째, 유토피아 담론의 합치: 대동사회(大同社會)와 공동부유(共同富裕)
마르크스주의가 지향하는 계급 없는 수평적 사회와 자본의 차단은 유교의 전통적 이상향인 <대동사회> 및 <균부(均富)> 사상과 연결된다.
시진핑 체제의 핵심 경제·사회 구호인 '공동부유'는 마르크스주의적 분배 정의인 동시에, "부족함보다 불평등함을 근심한다(不患貧 而患不均)"는 유교적 통치 철학의 현대적 재현이다.
민간 자본과 빅테크 기업에 대한 강한 규제는 마르크스주의적 자본 통제인 동시에, 상업적 이윤 추구보다 도덕적 질서와 사회적 균형을 우선시하는 유교적 사농공상 질서의 변형으로 작동한다.
3. 통치 정당성 형성에 미치는 효과와 모순
| 구분 | 결합을 통한 정당성 창출 효과 | 내재적 모순 및 한계 |
| 내부적 정당성 | 외래 사상인 마르크스주의의 '중국화'를 통해 인민의 민족적 자부심을 자극하고 당 통치에 대한 정서적 거부감을 완화함. | 유교의 보수적 신분 질서 관념과 마르크스주의의 혁명적 계급투쟁론 간의 근본적 이념 충돌 존재. |
| 대외적 정당성 | 서구의 자유민주주의 패러다임에 맞서 '중국식 현대화'라는 독자적 문명 모델의 정당성을 주장함. | 전통 자산의 유용(Appropriation) 과정에서 서구식 인권, 개인의 자유, 비판적 시민사회를 억압하는 도구로 전락함. |
4. 결론
시진핑 사상에서 유교와 마르크스-레닌주의의 결합은 단순한 학술적 시도가 아니라, 당의 장기 집권을 정당화하기 위한 철저하게 계산된 정치적 고도의 담론이다. 마르크스-레닌주의는 당의 조직력, 사회 통제력, 그리고 대외적 투쟁의 이론적 무기를 제공하며, 유교는 그 통치에 문명적 명분과 도덕적 정당성, 그리고 민족주의적 정서 동원력을 부여한다. 결국 이 결합을 통해 중국 공산당은 자신을 '현대적 혁명당'이자 '중화 문명의 정통 계승자'로 동시에 규정하며 안팎의 도전에 대응하고 있다.
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