In his work Capital（Das Kapital）, Karl Marx comprehensively analyzed the basic contradictions of capitalist society, and made scientific predictions on the future development of socialism and socialist society. His analysis was based on the actual conditions of historical development, as well as on the worldview and methodology of dialectical materialism.

Arguments on the historical tendencies of capitalism made under the guideline of historical materialism

The laws of development of capitalist economies, which are revealed in Marx’s book, still have a dominant influence on the development of contemporary capitalism. In his seminal work, Marx demonstrated the historical necessity for capitalism’s emergence, development and final disappearance through the analysis of surplus value, and from there he went on to develop his scientific arguments on the trends of capitalist development.

In the context of globalization, contemporary developed capitalist countries have undergone huge and profound changes. These changes involve high levels of productive forces and socialization, as well as the temporary relief of contradictions between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie. There are a lot of factors which have lead to these changes, including the progress of social and technical revolutions, the self-adjustment of developed capitalist countries and the struggle of the working class to defend its own interests. It is therefore clear that the new changes taking place in the capitalist countries still conform to the laws of capitalism’s development as revealed in Marx’s book. It has to be pointed out however that these changes are just periodical, and not fundamental. The financial crisis which occurred in 2008 proves this viewpoint once again. The basic contradictions of capitalism have now expanded to the entire world, and the eruption of the global economic crisis has demonstrated the historical transitivity of the capitalist mode of production. All of these facts show that it is inevitable that capitalism will be replaced by socialism in the future.

Clarifying fundamental propositions on future social development through comparison

The propositions for future social development found in Capital play a guiding role in the construction of contemporary socialism. The book does not specifically describe the laws of a socialist economy, but it reveals those of capitalist economy, as well as clarifying its fundamental propositions for future social development through comparison. For example, public ownership of the means of production constitutes the economic basis of socialist society, and realizing common prosperity is an important mission for such a society. These propositions for future social development constitute the core content and theory of scientific socialism.

In addition, the basic views on socialist development mentioned in Capital also exert a significant influence on contemporary socialist construction in the context of globalization. During the process of reform and opening up of the last 30-odd years, the Chinese Community Party has creatively endeavored to explore the fundamental theories and practical issues of the construction of socialism with Chinese characteristics, insisting on the propositions for future social development contained in Capital, and also developing them alongside the actual development of socialism in China.

Understanding economic laws widely applicable to human society in a scientific fashion

The rational understanding of social development in the context of modern mass production, which is part of Capital, provides a basis for dealing with the relationship between the socialist and capitalist systems nowadays.

To a certain extent, the partial adjustments and self-improvement occurring under the institutional framework of contemporary developed capitalist countries depends on the fact that capitalist countries follow economic laws which are widely applicable to human society as a whole. Since the reform and opening up, the Chinese Communist Party has correctly understood and utilized these laws, as well as absorbed and drawn lessons from all the achievements of human society, thus creating a vigorous socialism. All of these issues prove the scientific nature and contemporary value of Capital’s views on the development of human society.

It is a fact that within a predictable range of time, capitalism will not step down from the stage of history of its own accord, and it will co-exist with socialism. As a form of society which goes together with modern mass production, contemporary socialism should deal correctly with the issues of competing, cooperating and coexisting with capitalism, consciously follow the general laws of development of human society, and absorb and draw lessons from the achievements which all countries have made, including the developed capitalist ones. This way it will be able to showcase the institutional advantages and bright future of socialism, at a time when socialism and capitalism still co-exist.

The author is from the Institute of Research on Political Parties of Shandong University.

The Chinese version appeared in Chinese Social Sciences Today, No.553, 24th January, 2014.

Chinese link: http://sub.cssn.cn/mkszy/yc/201401/t20140124_952167.shtml

　　Translated by Chen Meina

　　Revised by Gabriele Corsetti