Research On The Ethnic Development Theory Of Socialism With Chinese Characteristic

Development is the eternal theme in the evolution of human history and the permanent goal pursued by all ethnic groups and societies. Ethnic development relies on the interaction of both internal and external factors in a particular time and space, and aims to materialize the all-round political, economic, cultural and social development, which is manifested in both the accumulation of quantity and the uplifting of quality. As the organic component of scientific outlook on development, scientific national development determines the existence and development of ethnics as well as social stability. A comprehensive survey of different countries in the world reveals that the ultimate resolution of ethnic problems still depends on development.Minority and minority areas are the indispensable part of our country. Minority areas have a large population, a vast territory, a long frontier and rich natural resources. To speed up the development of minority and minority areas are the essential requirement of our socialist course as well as the fundamental starting point and the end result of ethnic theories and policies of our Party and government. During different periods of China’s revolution, construction and reform, the successive generations of central collective leadership, from the strategic height of rejuvenating the Chinese nation and the height of consolidating and further advancing our socialist course, invariably attach great importance to the development of minority and minority areas, adhere to combining the Marxist ethnic theory with the basic reality of the Chinese people, constantly make theoretic explorations, keep promoting practice and development, and successfully blaze a path in resolving ethnic development problems with Chinese characteristics. The ethnic development theory of socialism with Chinese characteristic, which includes the thoughts of Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin and Hu Jingtao, has taken shape in the great practice of ethnic development over the past90years.The ethnic development theory of socialism with Chinese characteristic is an important part of the socialist theory with Chinese characteristics. It has placed particular focuses on the contents, goals, value standards of development and historical standing respectively in different historical periods. The formation and development of Mao Zedong Thought concerning ethnic development is the initiative exploration of localizing Marxist ethnic theory in China, and Mao’s theory about New Democratic Revolution and socialist ethnic development is the ideological basis and theoretical starting point of the socialist theory of ethnic development with Chinese characteristics. Mao’s development theory particularly stresses the reform of ethnic politics’superstructure and the transformation of social system, regards the accomplishment of the latter as the important goal of ethnic development and value assessment standard, leads the ethnic groups in overthrowing the system of exploitation and oppression in China, establishes the regional ethnic autonomy, formulates the fundamental principles and policies of ethnic equality, unity, mutual aid and common prosperity, thus politically liberating all the nations and breaking the right path of resolving ethnic problems with Chinese Characteristics. Deng Xiaoping’s theory of ethnic development is the establishment and formation of the socialist theory of ethnic development with Chinese characteristics.It mainly offers the answers and guidance to the following questions:how to resolve the task of socialist modernization in ethnic areas, how to catch up with the social development of advanced nations, how to realize common prosperity of different nations. Deng introduces productivity standards to ethnic work, takes the successful development of minority areas as the objective criterion to observe all the work in minority areas, makes development the theme of solving ethnic problems, consolidates and develops the new socialist ethnic relationship of equality, unity and mutual aid, and puts forth the strategic conception of "Two Overall Situations", which aims to further quicken the development of eastern, central and western parts of China and promote common prosperity of nations. Deng’s theory of ethnic development provides us with a practical basis and theoretical framework of observing, reflecting and resolving ethnic problems in China. During the era of Jiang Zemin, the enrichment and advance of the socialist ethnic development theory with Chinese characteristics is mainly manifested in the fundamental shift in the perspective of guiding development. It further enriches and develops Deng’s development strategies of Two Overall Situations in practice, brings forth specific goals and procedures of socioeconomic development in ethnic areas towards the21st century, adheres to common prosperity concept in ethnic development and socioeconomic practice in minority areas; implements the western development, and accelerates the process of common prosperity. In the new century, based on a profound understanding of the previous theories about ethnic development and a comprehensive summary of achievements and experience in ethnic work over the past50years, the CPC Central Committee with HuJintao as General Secretary, with courageous breakthroughs and continuous innovations, bring forth the major theoretical and practical problems such as "what kind of development should be achieved in the socialism with Chinese characteristics, and how to develop it", and take common unity and strivings, common prosperity and common development as the theme of ethnic work, persist in commanding the socioeconomic development with scientific development concept, firmly establish and thoroughly apply the scientific outlook on development, thus pushing the socialist theory of ethnic development with Chinese characteristics to a higher stage. Hu’s theory of ethnic development is an important part of scientific outlook on development and also the deepening and mature stage of the socialist theory of ethnic development with Chinese characteristics.Abiding by the principles of unification of history and logic, this dissertation starts with the analysis of Mao’s theory about ethnic development, then gives an introductory explanation of the innovations of Deng’s, Jiang’s and Hu’s theories about ethnic development in different times background, and explores the historical context, innovations and major features of these theories. This research is of great theoretical significance and practical value in deepening our understanding of ethnic development’s process, law, characteristics, orientation and contents, further enhancing the minorities’consciousness of applying the scientific outlook of development in minority areas, promoting the development of modernization course of ethnic groups and minority areas in a more scientific, more balanced and more overall way, and thus constructing a harmonious socialist society.This dissertation consists of three parts and six chapters. In Part One, Chapter One serves as the introduction to research background and research significance, research status and research methods. In Part Two, the four chapters serve as the body and respectively deal with the theories of Mao Zhedong, Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zeming and Hu Jingtao concerning ethnic development. Giving a concrete exposition of the times background, key contents and basic characteristics of these theories, the author points out that they come down in one continuous line, and that they respectively contribute to the socialist theory of ethnic development with Chinese characteristics in different social and historical stages, and thus constitute together the socialist theoretical system of ethnic development with Chinese characteristics. In Part Three, the last chapter serves as the conclusion and tries to give a prospect of the innovative development of this theory system, and expounds the fundamental principles and target selection for this innovation.