Book Review: "What is the Path of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics?"

The release of the Russian translation of Zhang Xuebing's monograph "What Is the Path of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics?" published by St. Petersburg State University of Economics (SPbGEU) Publishing House in 2026, based on the original edition by China Intercontinental Press, is a significant event for Russian Sinology and readers interested in contemporary global processes. In a context where the information space is often saturated with simplified or ideological interpretations of Chinese development, this publication provides an opportunity to turn to the primary source—how Chinese scholars themselves understand their historical path. The book serves as a useful tool for Russian readers, allowing them to overcome the barriers of secondary interpretations and become acquainted with authentic Chinese intellectual discourse.

The author's merit lies in her systematic and historically grounded approach to the subject of her research. Zhang Xuebing demonstrates that socialism with Chinese characteristics did not emerge suddenly as a dogmatic scheme or the result of borrowing foreign models, but rather was the result of a long evolution rooted in national history. The author constructs a narrative of continuity, beginning with the post-Opium War period, through the social experiments and achievements of the Mao Zedong era that laid the foundations for independence, and ending with the reform and opening-up policies of Deng Xiaoping. This approach allows us to see modern China as a civilization that, through a series of trials, has developed its own development model.

The analysis of the synthesis of socialist principles and market mechanisms is of both scientific and practical value. The book demonstrates how the Chinese leadership, relying on Marxist methodology, created an economic model adapted to national conditions. It explores in detail the concepts of the xiaokang (moderately prosperous) society and Chinese modernization, which are viewed as specific targets for social policy and long-term strategy. For Russian readers, this experience is significant because it confirms that sustainable development is achievable through adapting universal ideas to one's own civilizational specifics and preserving state sovereignty, rather than by copying foreign models.

The quality of the Russian translation is noteworthy, capturing the style and terminological precision of the original. The translators have managed to maintain academic rigor while making complex theoretical constructs accessible to a Russian-speaking audience. The book serves as a scholarly source for specialists and an educational resource for the general public, helping to understand the causes of China's economic dynamism and social stability without excessive idealization or skepticism. This publication contributes to the humanitarian dialogue between Russia and China, offering a factually sound basis for mutual understanding.