The Civilizational Perspective of GCI: Addressing Key Questions with Grand Logic by Grasping the Prevailing Trend

The Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) is an essential public good provided by the Communist Party of China in the new era, aimed at advancing the human civilization. President Xi Jinping introduces a broad perspective on civilization, both logically and historically, positioning it as a guide for enhancing connections and fostering development among political parties across nations, promoting cooperation and exchange within the international community, as well as building a community of shared future for mankind. Put simply, the GCI represents a Chinese vision for a world of peace, stability and prosperity.

I. Addressing Civilizational Challenges

The GCI opposes the exclusivity of the “civilizational superiority” narrative. Every civilization has its unique contributions and value, with none being inherently superior. Instead, fostering mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation between civilizations is essential to advancing the human civilization. President Xi Jinping notes, “The thought that one’s own race and civilization are superior and the inclination to remold or replace other civilizations are just stupid. To act them out will only bring catastrophic consequences.” Civilizational superiority breeds division and conflict, deepens rifts and isolates civilizations from one another. Only through dialogue, exchange, and cooperation can we achieve coexistence and mutual respect among diverse civilizations. In an increasingly globalized world, embracing openness and inclusiveness, while emphasizing equality and coexistence, is key to fostering interaction and is the foundation for building a shared future for mankind.

The Initiative also rejects the bloc nature of “civilizational centrism,” which often carries with it cultural discrimination and the denigration of other civilizations, hindering the development of civilizational diversity and fostering unnecessary hostility, ultimately leading to cultural hegemony and conflict. Every civilization can contribute in its own way, whereas civilizational centrism impedes global peace and development. No single civilization should dominate on a global scale, nor should it subdue others under its control. As the ancient Chinese saying goes, “All beings flourish through harmony but stagnate when identical” (Guoyu·Zhengyu). In today’s world of multiple civilizations, promoting equality, inclusiveness, and mutual understanding is vital to coexistence and prosperity among civilizations.

The GCI also dismantles the confrontational notion of the “civilizational clash.” Differences and tensions between civilizations are not the root causes of conflict. The idea of a clash of civilizations has been widely criticized and questioned in the modern world. While civilizational frictions do not necessarily lead to irreconcilable conflict, fostering cross-cultural dialogue, mutual respect, and inclusiveness will surely lead to peaceful coexistence and cooperation. In the current era of globalization, dialogue and exchanges that seek shared values and interests can help resolve differences, promote mutual understanding, and address global challenges, hence shaping a new form of human civilization.

II. Embracing the Underlying Logic of a Community with Shared Future

The GCI is proposed through exploring a “civilizational question”. Answering such question holds the key to understanding the origins and development patterns of civilizations, fostering civilizational dialog, grasping the core values of civilizations, preserving its heritages, and understanding its complexity and diversity. It’s important to note that this “civilizational question” is a broad, profound one that encompasses all aspects of human society and culture. The comprehensiveness of civilization reflects the comprehensive development of humanity. Exploring the question will deepen the understanding of ourselves and other, fosters cross-cultural dialogue, and promote peaceful coexistence and cooperation among civilizations.

The initiative addresses “civilizational pains” to confront challenges. Throughout history, all civilizations have endured pain and setbacks in their development, including wars, conflicts, disasters, and clashes of values. “Civilizational pains” are, among others, the inequalities and injustices that have occurred in the course of civilizational development. It calls for a deeper reflection on the barriers between civilizations, the asymmetry of cultural identities, and the conflicts between tradition and modernity or the unequal distribution of resources. As another ancient Chinese saying notes, “All things grow together without harming each other” (Liji·Zhongyong). Only by recognizing the problems and challenges among civilizations can we better manage these relationships, enhance mutual understanding, and jointly confront the difficulties and pains inherent in civilizational development, hence advancing toward harmony and progress.

The initiative aims at addressing the issue of “civilizational stagnation”. The progress of civilization is hindered through ideological rigidity, bureaucratic hurdles, cultural conflict, or isolation. These obstacles cause social, political, economic, and cultural stagnation, blocking further advancement. As Marx once observed, capitalism’s “civilizational age moves in a vicious cycle, continually reproducing contradictions it cannot resolve.” To overcome these blockages, we must inherit the best of civilizational traditions while innovating and reforming on the basis of these foundations. Only through deep reflection and overcoming these hindrances can we ensure the healthy development of civilizations, bringing about social prosperity and progress.

III. Grasping the Prevailing Trends of Our Times

The GCI, as a “peace initiative,” emphasizes civilizational equality and diversity. Every country and culture have their own unique values, traditions, and customs, and these differences should be respected and embraced. “Civilizations are colorful. The diversity of human civilizations is what gives value to exchanges and mutual learning.” Through education, we can dispel prejudice and discrimination, foster open-mindedness and cross-cultural awareness, ensure equal and fair treatment of all individuals, as well as appreciate and respect different civilizations. Respect and equality form the foundation of a new form of human civilization, where dialogue, understanding, and cooperation promote interaction, learning, and shared development among civilizations. This effort aims to eliminate prejudice, discrimination, and inequality, fostering mutual respect and cooperation among civilizations to create a diverse and respectful world.

As a “value initiative,” the GCI embodies civilizational inclusiveness. Civilizations are the product of human social development, and “social development always carries a civilizational foundation.” Each civilization possesses unique beliefs, values, and ideas. The principle of inclusiveness transcends narrow-mindedness, encouraging people to respect and accept different cultures and perspectives, and to understand and appreciate the differences and contributions of other civilizations. By learning from history, avoiding past mistakes, and preserving civilizational continuity, inclusiveness becomes a critical factor in building a community of shared future for mankind. Respect for inclusiveness involves learning from each other, building bridges, promoting cross-cultural dialogue, and seeking joint solutions to common challenges for a more inclusive, just, and prosperous world.

As a “friendship initiative,” the GCI highlights the progressiveness of civilizational dialogue. Exchanges and interactions between civilizations aim to deepen mutual understanding, promote peace, and foster cooperation. Standing on the bridges built by predecessors, the GCI pushes forward dialogue and exchange between civilizations, calling for a reflection on history, and enabling a better understanding of the connections and influences between civilizations. By learning from history, we preserve the wisdom and achievements of past civilizations and pass them on to future generations. Civilizational development also requires innovation, adapting to changes in the times and meeting evolving needs. “Only by remembering history can we chart the future, and only through inheritance can we innovate.” A balance between inheritance and innovation is essential, as it expands the boundaries of thought, explores new fields and solutions, and seeks a better future for continued civilizational progress and prosperity.

Contributed by Yan Tao, Associate Professor, School of Marxism, Tianjin University; Liu Haoran, Postgraduate, School of Marxism, Tianjin University.