The Confidence Doctrine (Chinese: 自信论) is a signature political philosophy of Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).[1] It calls for CCP members, government officials, and the Chinese people to be "confident in our chosen path (道路自信), confident in our guiding theories (理论自信), confident in our political system (制度自信), and confident in our culture (文化自信)." Officially, the doctrine is termed Four matters of confidence (四个自信).[2][3]

History

The doctrine was first discussed at the 18th Party Congress held in November 2012 in a speech by then party General Secretary Hu Jintao, and the doctrine was termed the Three Confidences (三个自信). The origin of the theory is said to be Yi Junqing, an official later disgraced for corruption who served as the head of the Compilation and Translation Bureau.[1] Xi Jinping added a 'fourth' confidence, "confidence in our culture," in December 2014.[4][5] Along with the Four Comprehensives and the Chinese Dream, it has, since 2013, become a central theme in political slogans of the CCP, often recited at official meetings, conferences, and by state-owned media.[2]

In 2017, the 19th CCP National Congress added the Four Confidences to the party's constitution, inserting "firm confidence in its path, theory, system, and culture," along with other doctrines proposed by Xi Jinping.[6] The Decision of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the CCP, after expounding the "remarkable advantages" (显著优势) of China's national system and system of governance in 13 aspects, states, "These remarkable advantages are the basis for our firm confidence in the path, theory, system and culture of Socialism with Chinese characteristics."[7]

According to several portraits of Xi by both domestic and foreign observers, Xi Jinping has a deeply held belief that the Communist Party and the institutions it has created is the best institution to govern China and the best institution to guide China's development.[8] Throughout the period that the Communist Party was the ruling party of China, the party has constantly faced challenges and doubts, both domestically and internationally, about its continuing legitimacy to govern, and pressures for political reform. While the Communist Party has long criticized "western-style democracy and separation of powers" as unsuitable for the Chinese environment, the Confidence Doctrine introduces a novel approach to the issue by emphasizing self-confidence over the criticism of external forces.

Doctrine

Characteristics of the Four Matters of Confidence

Four matters of confidence refer to confidence in the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics.[9] According to an official translation:[9]

"Confidence in its path" is confidence in the direction of development of socialism with Chinese characteristics and confidence in its future; "confidence in its theory" is confidence in the scientific nature... of the theory of socialism with Chinese characteristics; "confidence in its system" is confidence in the advanced and superior nature of the system of Chinese socialism; "confidence in its culture" is a full affirmation of the value of China's own culture and a faith in its vitality. These four form an organic whole; they provide a complete conceptual system of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

The CCP believes that China's national system and system of governance are guided by Marxism and have deep roots in Chinese culture, formed through the unique experience of the CCP and the Chinese people, and are "deeply supported by the people."[7] To promote institution-building, the CCP believes it to be necessary to study and learn from the "useful achievements of foreign systems and civilizations, but not to copy foreign models," deviating from China's "national conditions and historical culture."[7]

Purported advantages

According to the theory of the CCP, China's national system and system of governance have significant advantages and are the basic basis for the "four self-confidence".[10] According to the Decision of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the CCP, China's national system and system of governance have remarkable advantages in 13 areas, including: the leadership of the party, political stability, ability to mobilize for major projects, flexibility and adaptation, the combination of socialism and market characteristics, increase of people's welfare and standard of living, socialist rule of law, party's leadership over the military, equality of the different nationalities, and the combination of independence and openness to the outside world.[10]

The Chinese Communist Party believes that China's rapid economic development and long-term social stability have demonstrated the "remarkable advantages" of its national system and system of governance, namely:[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Lin, Baohua (May 22, 2013). ""七个不讲"否定"三个自信"（林保华）". Radio Free Asia.
  2. ^ a b "以"四个自信"推进新时代中国特色社会主义伟大事业-新华网". www.xinhuanet.com. Retrieved 2020-04-27.
  3. ^ "外译发布机制 _ China.org.cn". keywords.china.org.cn. Retrieved 2020-04-27.
  4. ^ "习近平灵机一动 立马改了"三个自信"(图)". Duowei News. Boxun. December 23, 2014.
  5. ^ 冯鹏志. "从"三个自信"到"四个自信"--理论-人民网". CCP News. 学习时报. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  6. ^ "Constitution of the Communist Party of China" (PDF). China Internet Information Center.
  7. ^ a b c d "人民日报整版讨论：坚定"四个自信"的基本依据--观点--人民网". opinion.people.com.cn. Retrieved 2020-04-27.
  8. ^ Osnos, Evan (April 6, 2015). "Born Red: How Xi Jinping, an unremarkable provincial administrator, became China's most authoritarian leader since Mao". The New Yorker.
  9. ^ a b "Four Matters of Confidence". Retrieved 2022-12-22.
  10. ^ a b "显著优势是坚定"四个自信"的基本依据". www.bjd.com.cn. Archived from the original on 2020-04-25. Retrieved 2020-04-27.
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