Marx’s Theory of World History Explained: Basic Connotations and Contemporary Context

Marx’s theory of world history is an important part of his materialist conception of history(i.e., historical materialism). Marx and Engels summarized the evolution of social history and the laws behind it based on their observations and analyses of human activities and their material conditions in real life and raised the realistic possibility of “transformation of history into world history” in the future. From the Marxist perspective of world history, we attempt to catch a glimpse of his profound, scientific criticism of capitalism and understand the contemporaneity and supercontemporaneity of Marxism. Also, we try to perceive new issues of our time and develop a new theory grounded in the scientific, rational, and universal insights from Marxism. The study of Marx’s theory of world history and criticism of capitalism can help understand today’s major issues such as globalization and anti-globalization. In short, Marx’s theory of world history is of profound theoretical and practical significance.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE SECOND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ANCIENT WORLD HISTORY

1.Date:August 25-29,1997(Monday-Friday),fora duration of 5 days including a one-dayvisit to the Xianghai Bird Reserve2 Venue:Northeast Normal UniversityChangchun,Northeast of P.R.China3. Sponsorship:Northeast Normal University andThe Society of Ancient World History in China(SAWHC).4. Topics:The main topics are as follows:(1) The Origins and Rise of AncientCivilizations(2) The Nature and Characteristics ofAncient Civilizations(3) The Features and Aspects of VariousAncient Civilizations:a. Economy b. Social Conditionsc. Politics d. Religions e. Historiographyf. Science and Philosophy g. Literatureh. Archaeology and Art i. Family andWomen＇s Status(4) The Development and Connections ofAncient

Experiences in Teaching World History in English

如何用英语开设世界历史课程?本文作者谈了他在教学中的体会: 1.要在这门概述性课程中体现历史唯物主义的观点,防止“欧洲中心论”。 2.中国学生习惯于依赖教师的讲课获取知识。因此,在教学的各个环节都要鼓励学生独立阅读与思考。 3.课堂讨论既可锻炼学生用英语表达思想,又可了解和纠正学生中一些不正确的想法,推动学习的深入。 4.目前学生选课过多,这难免影响他们独立、主动地学习,造成知识的浅薄。 5.用英语开设世界历史课程,促进了语言课和知识课的结合,显示了把单纯的外语学院办成综合性的文科外语大学的重要性。

The Asiatic Mode of Production in World History Perspective: From a Universal to a Particularistic View of History

Discussions on Marx＇s ＂Asiatic mode of production＂ are essentially about the relationship between the universal and the particularistic view of history. Marx adhered to the world history position, but in the course of formulating his theory of the Asiatic mode of production he moved from universal history to a particularistic view of history; whereas the shift from the ＂Russian path＂ and ＂Russian way＂ provided by the Russian revolution to Stalin＇s doctrine of the ＂five forms＂ of social development represented a return from particularistic to universal history. In developing a Chinese view of history, three elements cannot be overlooked： the Chinese pattern of historical development and China＇s present development experience; Marx＇s theory of social forms and his thoughts on Oriental society in his later years; and the ＂Russian path＂ and ＂systemic transformation＂ launched by the October Revolution.

The “Dual Structure” of World History and Contemporary China's Development Road in the Context of Globalization

The Marxist view of world history provides theoretical evidence for the correct use of the term ＂globalization.＂ Many of the facts implied in the popular yet non-standard use of ＂globalization＂ reflect our identification of the ＂transition from history to world history.＂ However, this has failed to bring about a realization of the structural changes in world history that are taking place in the course of this transition. The ＂transition from history to world history＂ has led to the emergence of ＂international society＂ and ＂global society,＂ which together constitute the ＂dual structure＂ of world history. Despite differences in their main structure and interest structure, their development goals and principles, and in their characteristics and patterns, international society and global society are interconnecting and interpenetrating. On the basis of a critique of ＂globalizing＂ ＂world history＂ and a scientific analysis of the situation and trends in contemporary world history, the ＂dual structure＂ theory of world history is a good entry point both for the full application to globalization of the Marxist view of world history and research on its development and for the contemporary development of the Marxist view of world history. At the same time, this theory will also provide methodological support for our exploration of socialist China＇s developmental road in a globalizing world.

China＇s Roles in World History and Historiography

Many historians of China and the world have long worked within certain paradigms that are increasingly recognized to be excessively Eurocentric, linear, and teleological. This article draws on both primary and secondary sources to propose a theory of Chinese history that is more sinocentric, cyclical, and open-ended. The theory takes seriously the well-known Chinese emphasis on establishing and maintaining cultural centrality and Chinese interest in learning from the past to influence the present and shape the future. It argues that these concerns have resulted in a spiral or helical pattern of Chinese historical development. It goes on to suggest that the Chinese spiral might help us to conceptualize world history in a way that respects all peoples of the world and all periods of history from the origins of our subspecies to the present. History is in one sense what actually happened in the past and historiography is how people interpret it to meet present needs and realize future aspirations. Given acceleration in the pace of change and expansion in the arena of action, historians can tell us little about what to expect in the future, but they may enhance the range of possibilities by bringing to light various past experiences. In this article I examine how the Chinese experience might assist us in fashioning a more peaceful, just, and sustainable world order.

The Social Responsibility of Chinese Scholars of World History： Zhongguo Shehui Kexue and the Study of World History in the New Era

Modem Chinese study of world history began in the middle of the nineteenth century and was closely related to the main theme of the times, that of saving the nation from subjugation and ensuring its survival. Its chief feature was that it was attuned to the pulse of the times; in all historical periods, the main current of its research has never deviated from the main theme of the times, showing a strong sense of responsibility to society. Under the new historical conditions of reform and opening up, this sense of social responsibility should be reflected in fundamental adherence to the direction of serving the people and socialism.

Ancient Charm in a Modern World Kashgar’s old city recalls Silk Road’s history and time-honored traditions

[Kashgar is] the best-preserved example of a traditional Islamic city to be found anywhere in Central Asia.

The Challenge of Writing a World Literary History

The writing of history has encountered many challenges in twenty-century theoretical discussions,and postmodernism and deconstruction in particular have made literary history all but impossible in the West.Because world literature today remains the canonical works of Western literature,while much of the non-Western literatures and even“minor”"European literatures remain unknown and untranslated,a world history of literature is absolutely necessary to introduce the yet-unknown world literature to a global readership beyond the original linguistic and cultural milieux of those unknown literary works.Translating those yet-unknown works into English for a wider circulation is the first step to make world literature go beyond Eurocentrism,and writing a world history of literature will help us know the basic situation of the world's literary traditions from a truly global perspective.

Marx's Thoughts on Economic Globalization

Marx＇s thoughts on economic globalization are contained in his philosophical views, his ideas on historical materialism and his theory of world history. His philosophical transformation broke with the idealist ontology of old philosophy and made philosophical studies connect with reality. His historical materialism starts with the material production activities of human beings in the real world, discloses the rules and trends of the development of human societies, and reveals the sources and trends of the formation and development of world history. His theory of world history throws light on the source, impetus and trends by which human societies transition from regional history to world history, and scientifically analyzes the position and role of capitalism in world history, furnishing an ideological weapon for understanding economic globalization. Marx＇s thoughts on economic globalization mainly reveal the nature and trends of economic globalization; he emphasizes that economic globalization is a result of the global expansion of capitalism.

Cultural logic of Marx's philosophical revolution and its implications in modern times

Inflated nationalism, extreme statism and a purely speculative form of expression were the three main components of the modem mainstream culture of the German nation. Only through a scientific critique of these three main components could a new philosophy develop. That is the cultural logic of Marx＇s philosophical revolution, which emerged and developed through a critique of historiography, socialism and political economy, rather than in an isolated framework of traditional philosophy. The cultural logic of Marx＇s philosophical revolution offers two lessons for us in developing Marxist philosophy in China. First, to fail to understand and study Marxism as a whole and conduct dialogue and interaction across all fields of Marxism would be a deviation from the cultural logic of Marx＇s philosophical revolution and the path of development of Marxist philosophy. Second, the core task of Marxist philosophical studies is the Sinicization of Marxist philosophy in China. This involves making methodological summaries of contemporary scientific findings and reflecting upon the most important issues of Chinese-style socialism, providing at the philosophical level and from the perspective of world history a scientific interpretation of the process, mechanisms, characteristics, patterns and trends of contemporary Chinese social development that will yield a guide for practice.

Marx’s International Outlook and Its Contemporary Value

Marx probed into the laws of the evolution of world history and the international system from the perspective of grand history,incisively revealing the inherent historical dynamics and evolutionary secrets of the laws of this development and thus providing a new analytical framework for our understanding of the nature of international relations and the characteristics of the era.Compared with related international relations theories of the same period,Marx’s international outlook had a unique class standpoint and methodological principles and adopted rigorous speculative logic and lofty values.Marx conducted scientific research and dialectical analysis of the laws of evolution and the intrinsic nature of international society,especially the historical mission of the proletariat.These ideas,unique in the intellectual and theoretical spectrum of international relations,provide an intellectual guide for the innovation of Chinese diplomatic theory in the new era.