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 U.S. and Western media, and some western Marxists, that Chinese Marxism is isolated, and that China is ostrich-like.
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.
In particular, the Indian ruling classes, and their lap-dog media spreads misinformation that Marxism is outdated, dead and almost disappeared.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.
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.
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 ‘‘Marx Project’’ to bolster research and teaching across the country.
A major highlight of the opening ceremony was the unveiling of the 10th anniversary achievements of the “Marxism Archive” project (Ma Zang), a significant academic initiative by Peking University.
The project has since published 23 volumes and nearly 15 million words of scholarly research on Chinese Marxist theory.
Notably, contemporary Chinese Marxism also researches ‘ecological Marxism’ as represented by John Bellamy Foster (Wang, Citation2020, pp. 26-35), ‘organic Marxism,’ and other schools.
Feminist Marxism is also widely studied. Contemporary Chinese Marxism mainly focuses on the feminist thoughts of Nancy Fraser and Judith Butler (Chen & Zhang, Citation2019, pp. 198-202).
The construction and continuous improvement of Marxist textbooks system is a big project going on in the universities of China.
Over the two-day event, scholars engaged in rigorous discussions in 11 sub-forums and 3 high-level sessions. Topics covered included “Marxism and the Modernity of Chinese Civilization,” “The Communist Party of China and Global Governance Order,” and “Socialism and Civilizational Diversity.”Participants shared their observations on Chinese-style modernization and its connection to Marxism.
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.
The conference featured keynote speeches from notable scholars including Monthly Review 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.
Foster delivered a keynote address on October 17, 2025, as part of the Opening Ceremony of the Fourth World Congress of Marxism.
See Eco-Marxism and the Reconstruction of Materialist Dialectics (CC 01/05/2026)
https://countercurrents.org/2026/05/eco-marxism-and-the-reconstruction-of-materialist-dialectics/
Professor Radhika Desai Department of Political Studies, University of Manitoba said: “A lot of people think that China’s modernization is disconnected from Marxism because Marxism expects revolution to take place. I believe this is a misunderstanding. China’s modernization is very deeply connected with Marxism. Indeed, China’s modernization demonstrates the truth of Marxism.”
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‘It is CPC, not CCP as the western media reports’
As a friendly reminder, a Xinhua editorial said: China’s ruling party is called Communist Party of China (CPC), not Chinese Communist Party (CCP) as western press and academia often frames it as.
Far from being a simple confusion, China’s 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:
18—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’s 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 “Social-Democratic”, or “socialist”, parties, which have betrayed the banner of the working class, must be made absolutely clear to every rank-and-file worker.
Similarly, the adoption of a wrong name to refer to the CPC consists of a double edged sword: on the one hand, it seeks to reduce the ideological basis behind the party’s 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 .
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The number of Marxist study institutions in Chinese universities increased from 100 to more than 1,400
After the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, CPC successively established institutions with similar names such as “Marxism-Leninism Teaching and Research Section”, “Marxism—Leninism Teaching and Research Section”, “Marxism-Leninism Basics Teaching and Research Section”, “Chinese Revolution History Teaching and Research Section” in major universities. These institutions later evolved into institutions with similar names such as “Institute of the History of the Development of Marxism—Leninism”, “Institute of Marxist Theory Education”, “Department of CCP History”, “Ideological and Political College”, “Ideological and Political Education College”, and “Ideological and Political Theory College”.
In 1992, Peking University established the first “School of Marxism” in China, namely the School of Marxism at Peking University. In 1996, the School of Marxism at Renmin University of China was established, becoming the second School of Marxism. After 2003, Hunan University, Minzu University of China, Jishou University, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Jilin University and other universities established Schools of Marxism. As of 2007, 25 Schools of Marxism had been established in universities across China.
In 2008, the School of Marxism at Tsinghua University and the School of Marxism at Beijing Normal University were established. In 2009, the School of Marxism at Shaanxi Normal University was established. In 2015, the School of Marxism at Sichuan University was established.[4]
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.
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. (Wikipedia)
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“ We need to bring up a new generation of Marxists…and China’s universities can be the center of world Marxist education” : Prof Alexander Buzgalin
“Under 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,” said Alexander Buzgalin, an economist and professor at Moscow State University. He stressed: “We also need to bring up a new generation of Marxists…I 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. “
Through continuous reform, China has improved people’s 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.
“I think the Chinese Communists have foresight and vision,” said Andrea Catone, editor-in-chief of the Italian Communist journal Marx Ventuno. “They 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.“
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.
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.
The building of a community with a shared future for mankind is China’s solution to global crises, and is a major innovation of Marxism in the 21st century, he said.
“Although 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,” said Tao Wenzhao, deputy dean of the School of Marxism Studies at Renmin University of China.
The congress reaffirmed its commitment to fostering global dialogue and collaboration in Marxist thought, as well as advancing the understanding of socialism in the modern world.
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. That was the centenary year for the CPC.
“After more than 170 years, Marxism is still highly relevant today and remains the peak of the development of human thought and knowledge,” 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.
Over the past century, the scientific nature and truth of Marxism have been fully tested in China. China’s achievements have attracted the attention of the world, and its rich theoretical attainments and practical experience in adapting Marxism to China’s conditions have become the focus of participating scholars.
“Marxism can still play a very important role in contemporary international, economic and political affairs,” said Huan Qingzhi, professor of the School of Marxism Studies at Peking University.
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. “In this sense, Marxist theory can provide important points of reference and guidance.”
He Guangcai, Chair of the Peking University Council, highlighted President Xi Jinping’s 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’s influence in the modern world.
President Xi Jinping is eager to reinvigorate Marxism in China, making it important that the collection outshine the university’s Confucius Collection, Mr. Sun said in an interview. ‘‘The Marx Collection must be bigger than the Confucian Collection,’’ he said. ‘‘That cost 152 million renminbi,” or $24 million. “So the Marx Collection will cost more than 152 million.’’
‘‘The Confucian, Buddhist and Taoist collections are purely of scholarly and cultural interest,’’ Mr. Sun Daiyao, deputy dean of Peking University’s School of Marxism, said. ‘‘But the Marx Collection will have social and political meaning.’’
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 ‘‘Global Marxism Conference’’ every two years. Organizers have invited a wide range of foreign scholars, eager to present China as a center of contemporary Marxist research.
Some among the scholars believe there is real value to Marxism. ‘‘Marxism isn’t a strait-jacket, it’s a space for debate, and you can do almost anything with it that you want,’’ said Terrell Carver, a professor of political theory at the University of Bristol and author of ‘‘The Postmodern Marx.’’ Mr. Carver said he was invited but could not attend.
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; the Arabic-French Marxist Samir Amin (who died in 2018) ; and the philosopher Sean Sayers.
Carlos Martinez Author, Independent Researcher and Political Activist said:
Chinese-style modernization is going to be the first type of modernization which isn’t based on imperialism, colonialism, hegemonism and war, it’s based on common prosperity, ecological preservation.
Professor Radhika Desai Department of Political Studies, University of Manitoba said:
A lot of people think that China’s modernization is disconnected from Marxism because Marxism expects revolution to take place. I believe this is a misunderstanding. China’s modernization is very deeply connected with Marxism. Indeed, China’s modernization demonstrates the truth of Marxism.
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.
The first congress was held on October 10—11, 2015. More than 400 Chinese and foreign scholars attended. The second congress was held on May 5—6, 2018. It coincided with the 200th anniversary of the birth of Karl Marx. The theme of the second congress was “Marxism and a Human Community with Shared Destiny”
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.
He said a university’s school of Marxism should follow a clear-cut political orientation and teaching principles–summarized as “taking Marxism as its surname and talking about Marxism.”
Xi said Marxism should be consolidated as the guiding ideology and promoted in campuses, classrooms, and among students.
He later joined a group of Chinese and foreign students discussing topics related to interpreting the “new era.”
“You are a firm Marxist. Are there some good methods you use to study Marxism?” 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.
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’s founding.
He said the year 2018 marked the 200th anniversary of Karl Marx’s birth and the 170th anniversary of the publication of the Communist Manifesto.
“Our 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,” Xi said.
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.
At the end of his inspection, Xi outlined work in fundamental areas as priority to build world-class universities with Chinese characteristics.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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Brief History of the School of Marxism at Peking University
Peking University is the earliest founding place that pioneered in studying and educating Marxism in China. In the early twentieth century, one of the founders of Chinese Communist Party, Li Dazhao and his colleagues from Peking University started to teach and spread Marxism. They established the earliest Marxist research group in China.
1920, Li Dazhao introduced three Marxist courses in Peking University, namely, “the view of materialistic history”, “socialism and social movements” and “international worker movement and the future of socialism”. He introduced Marxism to the school and incorporated these courses as part of the modern university education, heralding Marxism studies as a theoretical discipline.
YU LI, recalled: “In March 1920, Chinese intellectual Li Dazhao established the ‘Society for the Study of Marxist Theory’ at Peking University. The Communist Party of China was founded just a year later. A century on, Marxist theory continues to offer a powerful framework for understanding the world. The development of Chinese modernization serves as the most compelling illustration of this theory’s enduring power. (CGTN Report, Beijing.)
Now Peking University has gone five better and announced its own ‘‘Six Marx Projects.’’ In addition to the new building, these will include the establishment of a voluminous ‘‘Marx Collection.’’
This will bring together writings and documents on the history of Marxism in China from its introduction more than 100 years ago, as well as a compilation of all of Marx’s writings and related international materials.
In April 1992, Peking University founded the first school of Marxism in modern China. Along with rapid growth for two decades, School of Marxism is now conferring Master and PhD degree. Besides to its candidates, there are three second class Master and PhD subjects, including Marxist Philosophy, Political Economy, Scientific Socialism and International Communist Movements (National Key Subjects).
Further, School of Marxism has Education Ministry’s key research unit— Research Center for Theoretical System of the Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, Beijing philosophy and social science key research unit—Research Center for the Development of Chinese Marxism.
School of Marxism has started several important projects recently, namely, the project of the Marx Building, the first building named after Karl Marx in China; the project of editing and compilation of Marxist classics; the project of International Marxist Literature Center with an area of more than 5000 square meters and a collection of 500,000 volumes; the project of cultivating Collaborative Innovation Center on the Chinese Path and SinicizedMarxism at Peking University, the project of holding a world class academic forum—World Congress on Marxism; the project of creating a journal about World Marxist movement; the project of holding a forum with the deans of different schools of Marxism across the countries; the project of holding a conversation between Chinese and western Marxist, and the project about PhD students’ forum on Marxist Theories.
Facing new challenges and opportunities today, School of Marxism of Peking University insists the principle of “promoting Marxism from a Marxist stance”, adapts itself into the new conditions, seeks truth and innovation, and strives to be excellent. Its aim is to build a world-class school of Marxism with the Peking University style as well as Chinese features.
Professor Yu Hongjun is the dean of school of Marxism. He is also the executive deputy secretary of the Party committee at Peking University.
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Scholars Consensus of World Congress on Marxism
It was adopted in an earlier Congress on March 2, 2018. It is as follows:
- We, scholars from five continents, have reached a broad consensus on Marxism and Human Development from the first World Congress of Marxism held in Peking University, October 10-11, 2015.
- We hold that Marxism is a result of the development of human civilization. As one of the most influential thoughts, it has revealed the general trend of social historical development and pointed to the direction of human civilization development. The strong vitality of Marxism derives from its scientific world outlook and methodology, from great insight of social historical development, and also from the long vision of human’s free and comprehensive development illustrated by itself.
- We have realized that Marxism possesses distinctive character of practice and spirit of the time, as it has envisaged problems in human’s real life. It’s not limited to‘interpret the world’, but to changeit. Its evolution from theory to practice has not only deeply changed the course of world history, but also kept enriching itself in the development of practice, in which its distinctive spirit of science, orientation of practice and concern on human have been reflected.
- We note that the influence of Marxism is boundless, with its spirit updating with time. During the course of modern and contemporary history, Chinese people have chosen Marxism and developed Chinese Marxism creatively. The Chinese path has profoundly changed the look of China. Chinese theory has brought new vitality into Marxism. Chinese experience is increasingly influential in its global impact. The construction of comprehensive well-off society on the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the great rejuvenation of China are significant contributions to the world civilization as well as creative developments of Marxism.
- We believe that today’s international community is still troubled by various complex issues, and Marxism is the light leading human out of predicament and into the bright future. With the promotion of globalization, people are living in the same community of destiny. To achieve harmonious co-existence and common development requires us to overcome various contradictions. Marxism possesses international stand beyond geographical and national boundaries. It concerns about the welfare and liberation of all mankind. Its scientific analysis of social history has provided a thought weapon to the construction of community destiny.
- In face of various misunderstandings, criticisms and challenges, we propose that Marxists need to envisage thorny problems, uplift the Marxist inherent critical spirit and revolutionary consciousness, thus making great breakthrough while responding to realistic problems creatively. It is a sacred duty of Marxist researchers and practitioners in twenty-first century to promote the theoretical innovation based on the practice and to push Marxism to a new high level.
- We believe, as the original Chinese Marxism researching and spreading place, it is of unique meaning to hold the World Congress on Marxism in Peking University.
- We are content with the positive results achieved by this congress. We sincerely appreciate the warm, friendly and considerate reception and careful preparation of the conference, which has been done by the organizer, Peking University, and Propaganda Department of the CPC Central Committee, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Beijing Municipal Government, etc.
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Bran Sessio Sessions were held on the following topics:
- Commemoration of 200 year birth of Karl Marx .
- Textual and theoretical studies of Marxism
- The compilation and research of Marxist Classics
- Marxism and contemporary capitalism
- Marxism and world socialism
- 40 th Anniversary of Chinese Reform and Opening up and Chinese Path, Theory, System and Culture
- Xi Jinping’s Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and Contemporary Marxism
- Marxism and Construction of the philosophy and social sciences system
- Marxism and the mission of contemporary youth
- The Chinese experience in a world View.
This World Congress on Marxism represents a real step forward in international understanding in the circle of Marxist and radical philosophy. It is a chance for philosophers from all over the world to talk and listen to one another. There is no registration fee for the congress. They provide free accommodation for all foreign scholars and free flights for world-renowned scholars. For more details :
contact at: shimadahui@163.com,
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In Part-2 , we present a summary of academic discussions going on about various schools of Marxism, in particular Western Marxism.
See also
China celebrates 107th anniversary of the May Fourth Movement, the historic youth movement that ignited profound social changes in China (05/05/2026)