╔════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ – Xi Jinping Thought is the official state ideology of China, ║
║ enshrined in both the CCP and national constitutions since 2017. ║
║ – Xi blends Marxism-Leninism with Chinese nationalism, not ║
║ classical communism, according to leading political scholars. ║
║ – According to Oxford University Press authors Tsang and Cheung, ║
║ Xi Thought is primarily about Party security, not socialist ║
║ ideals in the traditional Marxist sense. ║
║ – China's GDP exceeded 130 trillion yuan ($18.11 trillion) in 2024,║
║ making it the world's second-largest economy. ║
║ – A 2025 Global Survey across 46 countries found nearly 80% of ║
║ international respondents approved of Xi's core governance ║
║ concepts. ║
╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝Introduction
One of the most debated questions in contemporary geopolitics is deceptively simple: How socialist is Xi Jinping Thought? As China’s President and General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Xi Jinping has constructed an elaborate ideological framework that officially bears the name “Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.” Yet, what lies beneath this label — genuine socialist conviction, pragmatic nationalism, or Leninist Party control — is a question that scholars, policymakers, and analysts continue to examine. This article unpacks the ideology, its roots, its real-world applications, and what it means for China’s place in the world.
What Is Xi Jinping Thought?
Xi Jinping Thought — formally titled Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era — is a political doctrine that combines Chinese Marxism with the goal of national rejuvenation. According to Wikipedia’s overview of Xi Jinping Thought, the doctrine was first officially mentioned at the CCP’s 19th National Congress in 2017, when it was incorporated into the CCP constitution. In 2018, the preamble of the state constitution was also amended to include it, cementing its legal and ideological authority.
As per Dr. Farrukh Saleem writing in The News International, Xi Jinping Thought is “a comprehensive, multi-dimensional national revival plan backed up by increasing military power.” It comprises 10 clauses and 14 guiding principles. The doctrine was given the rare honour of being embedded into China’s constitution — a distinction shared only with Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping.
Xi Jinping Thought has two overarching goals: the rejuvenation of China and the establishment of China’s central role in the world. It outlines two key timeframes — building a “moderately prosperous society” by 2035 and achieving the status of a “great modern socialist society” by 2050.
According to the Marine Corps Association (January 2025), Xi’s assertion that “only socialism can save China, and only reform and opening-up can develop China” underscores his stated commitment to evolving both socialism and Marxism. By integrating socialist principles with pragmatic reforms, Xi seeks to modernize China while maintaining the CCP’s ideological authority and governance trajectory.
Does Xi Jinping Believe in Socialism?
Does Xi Jinping believe in socialism? The answer is nuanced — and contested. Xi’s public statements strongly affirm socialist ideology. According to Wikipedia’s documentation of Xi’s speeches, Xi has stated: “The consolidation and development of the socialist system will require its own long period of history… it will require the tireless struggle of generations, up to ten generations.” He has further argued that “capitalism is bound to die out and socialism is bound to win,” invoking historical materialism as a guiding lens.
Yet according to Steve Tsang and Olivia Cheung in The Political Thought of Xi Jinping (Oxford University Press, January 2024), Xi Jinping Thought “is mostly, if not exclusively, about the security of the regime and its core leader, without a real commitment to delivering socialist ideals.” They argue that the elements drawn from Marxism-Leninism in Xi Thought are rooted not in Marxist teachings but in “the Leninist principles of organization, control, and discipline.”
As per The Wire China’s analysis (October 2024), Xi does regularly extol Marx, calling him “the greatest thinker of modern times” and declaring that “the belief in Marxism and the faith in socialism and communism are the political soul of the Communists.” However, critics note that rhetorical fidelity to Marxism does not necessarily translate into classical socialist policy outcomes — particularly given China’s deeply market-integrated economy.
The picture that emerges is of a leader who genuinely believes in the language of socialism and the utility of Marxist frameworks, but who applies them selectively to justify CCP rule and nationalist ambition rather than to pursue a traditional socialist transformation of society.
What Ideology Is Xi Jinping?
What ideology is Xi Jinping? He is best understood as a Marxist-Leninist nationalist — with heavy emphasis on the Leninist component. According to The Wire China, both major scholarly works published by Oxford University Press in 2024 converge on this view. Ambassador Kevin Rudd’s On Xi Jinping: How Xi’s Marxist Nationalism is Shaping China and the World (October 2024) argues that Marxist nationalism is at the center of Xi’s worldview, shaping China’s foreign policy, economic policy, and internal governance.
As per the Marine Corps Association’s January 2025 analysis, Xi Jinping Thought “provides a template for the type of authoritarian governance model that Beijing would gladly export abroad.” The ideology emphasizes the pervasiveness of Communist Party authority across all sectors of Chinese society, the need to frame Party activities as “serving the needs of the masses,” and the importance of maintaining “ideological rigor and internal unity” within the Party and military.
According to The Asan Forum (May 2025), Xi describes his ideological project as the “second combination” — integrating Marxism with Chinese traditional culture, whereas Mao’s adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese context is considered the “first combination.” The result, according to Beijing’s own framing, is to bind together the nationalist project of making China a global leader with the socialist project of offering an alternative to capitalism.
In short, Xi Jinping’s ideology is a hybrid: Leninist in structure, Marxist in rhetoric, nationalist in motivation, and deeply pragmatic in economic execution.
What Does Xi Jinping Think of Communism?
What does Xi Jinping think of communism? Officially, he regards it as the ultimate destination — but one that requires a long, multi-generational path. According to Wikipedia’s documentation of Xi’s statements, Xi has invoked dialectical and historical materialism in countless speeches and has instructed the CCP to “realize communism.” He has studied at length why the Soviet Union collapsed and has been determined to prevent a similar fate for China.
As per Modern Diplomacy’s analysis (March 2024), President Xi affirms “his deep and complete belief in Marxism-Leninism and Mao’s ideas” and believes “the destiny of Chinese socialism is victory.” Xi sees the collapse of the Soviet Communist Party as a cautionary tale — attributing it to “rigid doctrine” and a party that “lost its vitality at all levels.” China, in Xi’s vision, must remain ideologically flexible and Party-disciplined to avoid the same fate.
However, according to Tsang and Cheung (Oxford, 2024), Xi Thought is “not wedded to Marxist principles of permanent revolution,” unlike Mao Zedong Thought. Rather than pursuing communist transformation, Xi focuses on reinforcing Leninist Party structures and projecting Chinese power globally. Communism, in this reading, is a distant ideological horizon used to legitimize present governance — not an active programme.
According to Justin Yifu Lin writing in the Global Times (August 2025), Xi Jinping Thought on Economy “upholds and develops Marxist political economics” as the “fundamental guiding ideology upon which the CPC and China are founded.” This framing positions communism as the philosophical foundation of all economic work, even as China maintains a mixed, market-driven economy.
Is China Closer to Communism or Socialism?
Is China closer to communism or socialism? In strict ideological terms, China officially describes itself as being in the “primary stage of socialism” — a transitional phase on the long road toward communism. This framing, rooted in the CCP’s theoretical system, has been used since the Deng Xiaoping era to justify market-oriented reforms as compatible with socialist governance.
According to Wikipedia’s article on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, the CCP doctrine holds that China “has not become a truly socialist society” yet and is still working toward it. The system of socialism with Chinese characteristics includes a socialist market economy, a system of regional ethnic autonomy, and socialist democratic politics — all operating under the supreme leadership of the CCP.
As per Xi Jinping’s speech to the CCP Central Committee (January 2013), cited on Wikipedia: “Socialism with Chinese characteristics is the dialectical unity of the theoretical logic of scientific socialism and the historical logic of China’s social development. It’s scientific socialism rooted in Chinese realities, reflecting the will of Chinese people.” This statement encapsulates how China presents itself: neither fully communist nor conventionally socialist by Western definitions, but a unique, Chinese-led iteration of both.
In practical terms, China today operates a state-directed capitalist economy with significant private enterprise, foreign investment, and market mechanisms — all guided by a communist party using socialist rhetoric. According to Global Times (August 2025), China’s GDP reached over 130 trillion yuan ($18.11 trillion) in 2024, with per capita GDP rising from $6,300 in 2012 to over $13,000 in 2024. This economic trajectory looks far more like state capitalism than classical communism.
The most accurate answer: China is closer to socialism in its current self-description, with communism as the official long-term aim — but in practice operates a hybrid state-directed market economy that defies easy ideological classification.
The 14 Guiding Commitments of Xi Jinping Thought
Xi Jinping introduced the Fourteen Commitments during his speech to the 19th CCP National Congress. As per the CCP’s official documentation, they include:
- Ensuring Party leadership over all forms of work in China
- Committing to a people-centred approach
- Continuing comprehensive deepening of reforms
- Adopting new science-based ideas for innovative, coordinated, green, open, and shared development
- Following socialism with Chinese characteristics with people as masters of the country
- Governing China with the Rule of Law
- Practising socialist core values
- Improving the people’s living standards through development
- Ensuring harmony between humans and nature
- Pursuing a holistic approach to national security
- Upholding absolute Party leadership over the People’s Liberation Army
- Promoting the “one country, two systems” framework and national reunification
- Promoting a new type of international relations and a community with a shared future for humanity
- Comprehensively and strictly governing the Party
Timeline of Xi Jinping Thought: Key Milestones
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1982 | Deng Xiaoping coins “Socialism with Chinese Characteristics” at the 12th National Congress |
| 2012 | Xi Jinping becomes General Secretary of the CCP at the 18th National Congress |
| 2013 | Xi’s speeches termed “General Secretary Xi Jinping’s Series of Important Speeches”; CCP launches internal study campaign |
| 2017 | Xi Jinping Thought officially named and incorporated into the CCP Constitution at the 19th National Congress |
| 2018 | State constitution amended to include Xi Jinping Thought in its preamble; Xi’s term limits removed |
| 2019 | Alibaba releases Xuexi Qiangguo app for studying Xi Jinping Thought |
| 2021 | National Textbook Committee incorporates Xi Jinping Thought into university curricula nationwide |
| 2022 | 20th Party Congress; Xi begins historic third term as General Secretary; doubles down on “Chinese modernization” |
| 2023 | CCP Publicity Department publishes official textbook Introduction to Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era |
| 2024 | Oxford University Press publishes two major scholarly analyses of Xi Thought; China’s GDP crosses $18 trillion |
| 2025 (Aug) | Global Times publishes Xi Jinping Thought on Economy, covering economic works from 2012–2024 |
| 2025 (Oct) | 2025 Global Survey across 46 countries finds ~80% of respondents approve of Xi’s core governance concepts |
Global Reception of Xi Jinping Thought
According to a 2025 Global Survey on Impression and Understanding of China, conducted from August to October 2025 across 46 countries with approximately 51,700 respondents (as reported by the Global Times and distributed via PRNewswire in December 2025), Xi Jinping Thought is gaining international recognition — particularly in the developing world.
As per the survey findings, concepts such as “building a community with a shared future for humanity” and “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets” received approval from nearly 80% of international respondents. Concepts including “advancing full and rigorous Party self-governance,” “further deepening reform comprehensively,” and the “people-centred development philosophy” each received over 70% recognition globally.
The survey also found that more than 80% of foreign respondents gave positive evaluations of China’s economic growth in 2025, and nearly 90% expressed confidence in China’s continued economic growth over the next decade.
Critical Perspectives: Is It Really Socialism?
Critics from both the left and the right question whether Xi’s China can legitimately claim the socialist label.
According to The Wire China (October 2024), the fundamental tension in Xi Thought is between its socialist rhetoric and its Leninist-nationalist reality. The authors of The Political Thought of Xi Jinping conclude that Xi’s ideology “is mostly, if not exclusively, about the security of the regime and its core leader” — not a genuine commitment to distributing wealth, empowering workers, or dismantling class structures in the Marxist tradition.
From a different angle, as per Friends of Socialist China (November 2025), Xi Thought represents “an outstanding demonstration of the fact that not only the paths towards socialist revolution but also the forms taken by the socialist system after that victory are multiform.” Some left-wing observers thus view China’s model as a genuinely innovative socialist path — distinct from Soviet or Western European models but no less legitimate.
As per Modern Diplomacy (March 2024), citing the legacy of Deng Xiaoping: “When China enters the front ranks of nations, we will not only have paved a new path for the peoples of the Third World, but we will also have demonstrated to humanity that socialism is the only path that excels on capitalism.” This aspirational framing — socialism as a competitive model, not a finished destination — captures the essence of how Beijing positions itself globally.
Conclusion
So, how socialist is Xi Jinping Thought? The answer depends on what one means by socialism. In rhetoric and constitutional framework, it is deeply socialist — grounded in Marxist language, committed to CCP leadership, and aimed at a communist future over generations. In institutional structure, it is Leninist — prioritising Party discipline, centralised control, and ideological unity above all else. In economic practice, it is a state-directed hybrid that has presided over one of the most dynamic market economies in history.
According to The Asan Forum (May 2025), Xi is not retreating from his ideological ambitions — he is doubling down on them. The 20th Party Congress message was not that of a “besieged party leader climbing into a bunker” but of a leader advancing toward a “modern socialist country in all respects.”
Whether that country is truly socialist, or whether socialism has simply become the legitimising language of CCP rule and Chinese nationalism, remains one of the defining ideological debates of the 21st century.
Sources referenced: Wikipedia (Xi Jinping Thought; Socialism with Chinese Characteristics), The Wire China / China Books Review (October 2024), The Political Thought of Xi Jinping – Tsang & Cheung (Oxford University Press, January 2024), On Xi Jinping – Kevin Rudd (Oxford University Press, October 2024), Marine Corps Association / Andrew Jensen (January 2025), The Asan Forum (May 2025), Global Times / Justin Yifu Lin (August 2025), PRNewswire / Global Times 2025 Global Survey (December 2025), Modern Diplomacy (March 2024), Friends of Socialist China (November 2025), The News International / Dr. Farrukh Saleem.