The Interpretation of Youth of China in the New Era from Three Perspectives ()
1. Introduction
Young people are the most energetic and vital force in society. Young Chinese play a vanguard role in the national rejuvenation. The hopes of our country and the future of our nation lie in their hands. When the country and the nation were in crisis, the Chinese youth stepped forward, especially during the May Fourth Movement, when the youth roared “Struggle for national power externally, punish the traitors internally”, demonstrating the thoroughness of the anti-imperialist and anti-feudalist movements, and opening a new page in the history of the Chinese revolution. Since then, in the historical process of China’s revolution, construction and reform, young people have assumed the responsibilities given to them by the times and become the builders of the times. The research on the young generation cannot be ignored. Previous research mainly focuses on the historical role of youth, which plays a significant part in China’s emphasis on youth. However, the exploration of the essence, understanding and cultivation of youth lacks systematic and comprehensive research. This paper discusses the young generation in China from perspectives of Essentialism, Epistemology and Methodology.
2. Exploring Chinese Youth from the Perspective of Essentialism
Throughout the history, the huge potential of the young generation pushed forward the social development and historical progress. To unite youth in China and activate their innovation, it is essential to understand and empower young people, and find a profound answer to “what is youth”.
2.1. Young People Are the Most Vital and Creative Group in Society
As its name indicates, youth refer to young people. The definition of youth varies from country to country. According to the Middle- and Long-term Youth Development Plan (2016 - 2025) issued in China, youth refer to people aged between 14 and 35. Young people during this age period boast unique vigor and vitality. Their innovative and advanced thinking enables them to own courage and abilities of creation that people at other ages don’t have. Their young and strong bodies are the natural attribute of young people. Besides the healthy bodies, people should also socialize with others as complete human beings. Marx said that the essence of human beings is not inherent individual abstraction. It is necessary for youth in China to engage themselves in the time and society for better physical and mental development. Only by doing so, can they fulfill their potential and achieve their dreams. Major leaders of the Party and the nation all have made classic remarks about the social participation of young people. They believe that gritty young people who are willing to think, explore and innovate are needed to carry out revolution and development. (Deng, 1994) In any era, young people are the most energetic, creative and vital group in society. (Jiang, 2006) All these remarks prove that vitality and creativity are unique attributes of youth and suggest that youth in China play a decisive role in China’s revolution, construction and socialist development. In the new era, Chinese young people are still the most vital and creative group. (Xi, 2022) They are full of unlimited potential and courage. These young people are needed in the realization of the modernization of Chinese history. Youth in the new era are supposed to actively participate in national rejuvenation by exercising their vitality and creativity. Their active engagement in social practice can help them to realize their dream in the quest of the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
2.2. Young People Represent the Future and Hope of the Nation
In addition to their natural and social attributes as human beings, young people also show specific spiritual attributes, which indirectly reflects the essence of youth. In previous research on youth, the young generation is often compared to future, hope, sun and other vehicles that are positive presentation of their spiritual attributes. The discussion of the spiritual attribute of youth is an inevitable issue. In their hands lie the hopes and future of a nation. The pioneers of Marxism recognized it from the very beginning. “The most advanced workers are fully aware that the future of the class and human race depends on the education of the rising generation of workers.” (Marx & Engels, 1964) A visionary political party should take the initiative to put emphasis on the youth of the nation, which equals the future of the nation. Since its founding, the Communist Party of China has been a party of youth. It is countless young people who have devoted themselves to the revolution and illumination of the Party’s future. This means that during the development of the Party and our country, the youth equal to the future and the hope. Therefore, the Party and governments should have a deep understanding the spiritual attributes of Chinese young people, offering sincere care and comprehensive support for them. They should act as listeners and guides of the young generation, create a good environment for their healthy growth, build high-quality platforms for them to realize their dreams and other favorable conditions for youth to exercise their talents. Efforts should be made to further strengthen young people’s trust in and recognition of the Party as well as their centripetal force for the Party. We should also continue to consolidate and expand the foundation of the Party among young people, unite and guide Chinese youth in the new era to devote themselves to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, creating new chapters. Chinese young people should also bear in mind their historical mission, take the initiative to shoulder the responsibility of national rejuvenation and strive to make the most of their youth.
3. Exploring Chinese Youth from the Perspective of Epistemology
No matter when, young people are always closely connected with the future of a country and a nation. Therefore, the question “how to understand youth” needs to be answered and taken seriously by each country and nation. This paper provides in-depth discussion of the historical status, mission and responsibility of the youth for a better understanding of the youth in China based on the analysis of their essence.
3.1. Young People Are Builders and Successors of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics
The longevity of the Party and the nation lies in not only the support and guarantee provided by the correct path and systems, but also millions of successors of the cause of proletarian revolution. The victory of China’s revolution benefits from young people. The remarkable achievements in China’s reform and socialist construction are closely linked with the active participation of young people. Over the past hundred years, CPC has attached great significance to the youth and has always regarded them as builders and successors of China’s revolution. Socialism with Chinese characteristics is China’s great attempt on its way to socialism. Young Chinese is pivotal in this forward-looking cause. As builders and successors, their responsibility and efforts decide the future of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Nowadays, China is promoting the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with Chinese modernization, which requires young Chinese to prepare themselves for the challenges and expectations from the Party and the people. Facts have proved that the Chinese youth have managed to live up to the expectations of the Party and the people. They stick to their ideals, dare to take responsibility, get ready to bear hardships and work hard. They actively contribute their youth to the practice of cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. During the COVID-19 epidemic, lots of young people threw themselves into the fight against the epidemic. They served as medical workers, volunteers, and grassroots community workers. They protected people with their responsibility. During the Winter Olympics, some youth won honor for China while others worked as volunteers at various venues, telling stories of China with their efforts and presenting showing the spirit of young Chinese in their contributions to China. In Chongqing fire, many of firefighters, motorcycle riders, volunteers were the young generation born in 1990s and 2000s. They saved people in fire bravely and volunteered to put out the fire. Young Chinese rush to the front line when the Party and the people need them, resolutely defended the interests of the people, demonstrating their responsibility with selfless dedication. They take over the baton of the new era in their practice and strive to make new achievements.
3.2. Young People Play a Vanguard Role in the Quest for National Rejuvenation
The rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is a common aspiration of the Chinese for thousands of years. In this historical journey, numerous people shed their blood and sacrificed their lives. Among them, there were many young people. Under the leadership of the Party, generations of young Chinese work hard and dedicate their youth to the Party, the country and the people. Since the May Fourth Movement, youth in China have bravely undertaken the mission and proactively participated in liberation movement for national independence. They shouted the slogan “Defend our sovereignty, punish the traitors!” and ardently explored new paths for the Chinese revolution at the fore front, creating new hopes for national independence and the liberation of the people. In the early days of the founding of the PRC, they actively responded to the call of the Party and took part in a series of revolutions such as Land Reform, Suppression of Counterrevolution, War to resist US aggression and aid Korea, laying the foundation for national stability and consolidation. During the period of socialist construction when the country needed to start from scratch, young people in China took active participation in agriculture, industry and other fields, serving as fresh activists for national construction. In the new period of reform, opening up and socialist modernization, the young generation participated in fields such as economic construction, scientific and technological innovation, cultural development, and social welfare. They worked hard and forged ahead with determination. In the new era, young Chinese lived up to the ardent expectations of the Party and the people, strive to build a modern socialist country and realize the national rejuvenation with Chinese modernization. History and facts prove that young Chinese are confident, aspirant and responsible. With firm belief and courage, they make huge contributions to national rejuvenation and act as the undisputed vanguard force.
4. Exploring Chinese Youth from the Perspective of Methodology
The cultivation of youth can not be completed in a short time. It needs long-term social investment and attention and scientific guidance. Who cultivates youth and how to cultivate youth are questions that must be addressed.
4.1. Stick to the Leadership of the Party
Human beings are the most active factor in the productive forces and the masses are the fundamental force and main body in historical development. As the representative of the advanced productive forces and the people, the Communist Party of China (CPC) are aware of the vital role of the youth in the revolution, thus undertaking the mission of organizing and leading the youth. In modern time, the revolution, construction and reform with the engagement of young people are full of vitality under the leadership of the CPC. In the new era, the mission of young Chinese is to uphold the leadership of the CPC and work with the people to strive for the achievement of two centenary goals and the Chinese dream of the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. (Xi, 2022) The most crucial principle in the summary of practical experience on youth development over the past century is that the Party exercises leadership over the youth. It serves as the basis of our youth work, the political guideline for the development of young people, and the key approach to cultivate successors of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The leadership of the Party, especially the ideological and political leadership, plays a decisive role in the unity of young Chinese to become the vanguard force of national rejuvenation. Over the past century, the Party has taken the initiative to cultivate young people with Marxist theories, and demonstrated in practice the success of our Party and socialism with Chinese characteristics. This strengthens young people’s ideological, political and emotional identification with the Party to work for national rejuvenation. This principle aims to care for, manage and serve the youth, safeguard their interests and better stimulate their healthy development, establishing a solid mass foundation for the cause of the Party and the people.
4.2. Follow the Guidance from the Communist Youth League of China
The Communist Youth League of China (CYLC) offers important platforms for young people to achieve self-growth and participate in social construction. It is also a golden key to broader development of young Chinese. Since its founding, the CYLC has been committed to leading the development of Chinese youth and cultivating a large number of outstanding young talents for national construction and development. During the New Democratic Revolution, the CYLC encouraged youth with new ideas to join the league and the Party to participate in the revolutionary struggles by means of organization, education and publicity, and led young people to strive for the national independence. During the socialist revolution and reconstruction, under the leadership of the CYLC, young people established the socialist system after the exploration of different paths for national development, which provides strong institutional guarantee for China’s development. At the same time, it encouraged the young people to devote themselves into the front line of the industrial and agricultural construction, helping China get rid of the poor and weak situation. In the period of reform, opening up and socialist modernization, the CYLC actively forged ahead with emancipated mind. It guided youth in China to carry out a series of creative activities, and dedicate their youth and wisdom to the reform and modernization, establishing a good material foundation for the realization of the Chinese Dream. In the new era, the CYLC will continue to offer guidance for Chinese young people to participate in the quest of national rejuvenation. It will strengthen its service awareness, improve its ability and try best to solve problems for the young people. (Xi, 2022) Through the enhancement of leadership, organizational capability and service, the CYLC hopes to offer practical solutions to young people.
5. Conclusion
The Chinese nation in the new era boasts prosperity and hope. China’s rejuvenation has become an unstoppable process. Vital youth of China in the new era represent China’s hope and future and play a vanguard role in the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. As builders and successors of socialism, the young generation will make outstanding achievements under the leadership of the Party and the guidance of the CYLC. Themes in each era vary and each generation owns unique features. The historical status and cultivation of young people are not changeless. The discussion in this paper focuses on youth in the new era. The future role and cultivation of Chinese young people need follow-up studies in the future.
Funding
This study was Supported by the Key Project of Anhui University Scientific Research (Humanities and Social Sciences) (Grant NO. SK2021A0462), Anhui Provincial Innovation and Development of Social Science Research Topic (Grant No. 2021KY009), Social Science Projects of Wannan Medical College (Grant No. WKS202113).