Marxist Human Rights with Chinese Characteristics (中国特色的人权观) is a framework that interprets human rights through the lens of Marxism and socialism, prioritizing collective welfare, economic development, and social stability over individual liberties as traditionally emphasized in Western human rights discourse. It reflects the CCP’s belief that human rights are deeply contextual and must align with a nation’s development stage and cultural heritage.
Key principles include:
Collective Rights Over Individual Rights:
Emphasizing the rights of communities and the nation as prerequisites for individual well-being.
Development as a Human Right:
Recognizing poverty eradication, economic progress, and improved living standards as fundamental human rights.
Sovereignty and Non-Interference:
Rejecting external imposition of human rights standards that do not consider China’s unique circumstances.
The concept of Marxist Human Rights with Chinese Characteristics evolved as China sought to articulate its own human rights philosophy distinct from Western liberal frameworks. Mao Zedong emphasized that liberation from feudalism and imperialism was the foundation of human rights. Deng Xiaoping expanded this idea by linking economic development with human rights, arguing that lifting people out of poverty was a primary objective.
Under Xi Jinping, the CCP has further refined this framework, incorporating it into narratives about socialism with Chinese characteristics and China’s global contributions to human rights discourse.
1. Eradicating Poverty:
Viewing poverty alleviation as a cornerstone of human rights, ensuring that citizens have access to basic necessities and opportunities.
2. Promoting Social Stability:
Maintaining order and harmony as prerequisites for the enjoyment of other rights.
3. Strengthening National Sovereignty:
Resisting external pressures to adopt human rights models that conflict with China’s development goals or governance principles.
4. Advocating for Global Equity:
Highlighting inequalities in the global human rights system and supporting a more inclusive and diverse approach.
For the CCP, Marxist Human Rights with Chinese Characteristics represents a practical and culturally resonant approach to improving the lives of its citizens. It prioritizes tangible improvements, such as housing, education, and healthcare, over abstract notions of individual freedom.
Key Achievements:
Poverty Alleviation:
By 2020, China declared the elimination of extreme poverty, lifting over 800 million people out of poverty since the reform era began.
Healthcare Access:
Expanding basic medical insurance to cover over 95% of the population demonstrates a commitment to equitable healthcare.
Educational Equity:
Investments in rural schools and scholarship programs address disparities in access to quality education.
1. Rural Poverty Eradication:
China’s targeted poverty alleviation programs demonstrate how economic rights are prioritized as a pathway to dignity and opportunity.
2. Public Housing Projects:
Policies to provide affordable housing address the right to shelter as a critical human need.
3. Healthcare Reforms:
The rollout of universal healthcare systems ensures citizens have access to medical treatment regardless of income.
4. Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic:
China’s rapid mobilization of resources to control the pandemic reflects the prioritization of collective health as a human right.
5. International Human Rights Advocacy:
China’s promotion of development-oriented human rights frameworks in organizations like the United Nations highlights its alternative approach to global human rights governance.
Emphasis on Collective Rights:
Americans might perceive China’s focus on collective well-being as a suppression of individual rights, overlooking the cultural and developmental context.
Development as a Right:
The prioritization of economic and social rights might be seen as neglecting civil and political freedoms.
Non-Interference Doctrine:
China’s resistance to external human rights criticisms may be interpreted as deflection, rather than a defense of sovereignty and cultural specificity.
Marxist Human Rights with Chinese Characteristics resonates with Chinese citizens as a framework that delivers tangible improvements in quality of life. For many, it reflects a government that prioritizes their immediate needs and aspirations, such as food security, education, and healthcare. By positioning development as a foundational human right, this framework aligns with China’s cultural emphasis on collective well-being and its aspirations for a fairer global order.