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Early in November 2012, President Xi Jinping articulated a vision for the nation's future that he called the Chinese Dream. The Chinese Dream integrates national and personal aspirations, with the twin goals of reclaiming national pride and achieving personal wellbeing.
Structuring the Chinese Dream
Robert Lawrence Kuhn
1 The Chinese Dream is President Xi Jinping's integrative and transformative vision for China, an overarching unifying principle for the Chinese people. Xi proclaims the Chinese Dream as "the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation". I will not here suggest which elements of the Chinese Dream are more relevant than others or how its diverse facets may interact. My objective is here to suggest a theoretical framework for the Chinese Dream by organizing its elements or applications into some high-level categories.
I. National
2 The "National Chinese Dream" was defined famously by President Xi as "the great rejuvenation of the Chinese People." It is the collective vision of the Chinese nation, described as achieving the "Two 100s": first, the material goal of China becoming a "moderately well-off (xiaokang) society" by about 2020, around the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party (2021); second, the modernization goal of China becoming a fully developed nation by about 2050, just after the 100th anniversary of the People's Republic of China (2049).
3 "A moderately well-off society" is where all citizens, rural and urban, enjoy high standards of living. This includes doubling the 2010 per capita gross domestic product (approaching US$10,000) by about 2020 and completing urbanization (roughly 1 billion people, about 70 percent of China's population) by about 2030.
4 "Modernization" means China regaining its position as a world leader in science and technology as well as in economics and business; the resurgence of Chinese civilization, culture and military strength and China participating actively in all areas of human endeavor.
5 The "National Chinese Dream" can be seen from a viewpoint of seven interlocking perspectives: (1) Strong China — economically, politically, scientifically, militarily; (2) Stable China — freedom from chaos, social confidence; (3) Bountiful China — high standards of living for all citizens; (4) Harmonious China — amity among social classes and ethnic groups; (5) Civilized China — equity and fairness, rich culture, high morals; (6) Beautiful China — healthy environment, low pollution, modern cities, scenic landscapes; and (7) Creative China — scientific excellence, artistic elegance, innovative products.
II. Personal
6 The "Personal Chinese Dream" focuses on the well-being of individual Chinese citizens. It is balanced with the "National Chinese Dream". In fact, the fulfillment of the "Personal Chinese Dream" constitutes a good part of what it means to fulfill the "National Chinese Dream". The "Personal Chinese Dream" can be explicated by two subcategories: (1) material or physical wellbeing, and (2) mental or psychological well-being.
7 Material Well-Being encompasses all the necessities of life and assures that all are being well taken care of. These include education, healthcare and retirement in addition to the obvious necessities of safe food, decent housing and public security. Beyond the necessities, material well-being also includes good jobs, rich family lives, access to entertainment, and proper protections of personal rights under the law.
8 Psychological well-being can best be explained in terms of "positive psychology". Positive psychology stresses well-being, the content of people's dreams and the methods that can help them to realize their dreams. Well-being corresponds to the Chinese word "xingfu." It aligns with the Chinese Dream. Well-being brings not only personal and emotional benefits, but also moral and social benefits. For example, people with higher well-being are more altruistic. A flourishing person is more likely to help others. Happier people have less racial discrimination, make fewer social comparisons and are more ready to forgive. In short, higher well-being makes better citizens. When your emotions are more positive, you are better with creative tasks. A China higher in wellbeing would be a China higher in creativity.
III. Historical
9 The "Historical Chinese Dream" recognizes (1) China's rich millennia-long civilization with its high culture and seminal achievements, aspiration and expectation, turmoil and trauma, challenge and triumph, and (2) China's more recent development of its political theory.
10 Even though for much of China's dynastic history, Chinese civilization was a high point in human civilization, a unified, stable, sovereign and peaceful China has long been the goal of the Chinese people and of Chinese leaders.
11 In modern times, during the period from the Opium Wars in the middle 19th century to the founding ofthe People's Republic of China in 1949, China was beset by invasion, occupation, exploitation, oppression and humiliation, which left the Chinese people with a great yearning for transformation, peace, and stability. The Historical Chinese Dream speaks to this yearning and offers a new vision of China, one that is independent and stable, strong in its own sovereignty, and free from oppression of all kinds.
12 In another sense, the "Historical Chinese Dream" is the culmination of the arc of political theory in its progressive development from Deng Xiaoping Theory, which re-oriented China from ideological class struggle to economic development; to former President Jiang Zemin's "Three Represents," which stressed advanced knowledge and culture and the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the people; to former President Hu Jintao's "Scientific Perspective on Development", which optimized competing goods such as sustainable developmentand social equality with continuing economic growth. Xi's Chinese Dream is the natural culmination of each of these, integrating them together in delivering for the Chinese people a rejuvenated nation and better lives.
IV. Global
13 The "Global Chinese Dream" can be described with two different kinds of subcategories: (1) how the world benefits from the Chinese Dream, and (2) why the world worries about the Chinese Dream.
14 That the entire world derives material advantages from the Chinese Dream is apparent in a globalized economy. The higher the standard of living of the Chinese people, the greater their domestic consumption, which means that more products are imported, and more jobs are created, thus promoting prosperity in a multiplier effect worldwide.
15 Furthermore, as China advances in science and technology, particularly in the production of electronic and other equipment at low prices, the entire world can share in the benefits of China's success by getting needed products at affordable prices.
16 The world worries because some perceive the Chinese Dream to have expansionist, or even imperialist, undertones. Even though China's leaders have repeatedly declared: "no matter how strong China becomes, China will never seek hegemony", some foreigners, particularly those who do not know China or Chinese history, remain suspicious and even fret about a more powerful China.
17 Though some foreigners will never trust China, the Chinese people are determined to make the Chinese Dream a reality. By rejuvenating China, the Chinese Dream benefits the entire world.
