jiējí dòuzhēng: 阶级斗争 - Class Struggle

Keywords: jieji douzheng, jiējí dòuzhēng, 阶级斗争, class struggle in China, Chinese political terms, Mao Zedong, Cultural Revolution, communism in China, what is jieji douzheng, proletariat, bourgeoisie

Summary: “阶级斗争” (jiējí dòuzhēng) is the Chinese term for “class struggle,” a foundational concept of Marxism and Maoism. It refers to the inherent conflict between social classes, particularly the proletariat (working class) and the bourgeoisie (capitalist class). This term is not just a translation; it represents a core political ideology that fueled decades of tumultuous history in China, including the Cultural Revolution. While its use has drastically declined in everyday modern life, it remains a crucial term for understanding China's political past and the ideological underpinnings of the Communist Party.

Pinyin (with tone marks): jiējí dòuzhēng

Part of Speech: Noun

HSK Level: N/A

Concise Definition: The conflict of interests and antagonism between different social classes, viewed as the driving force of historical change in Marxist theory.

In a Nutshell: Imagine a society not as a cooperative whole, but as a battleground between the “haves” and the “have-nots.” That's the core idea of `阶级斗争`. In 20th-century China, this wasn't just an abstract theory; it was a state-sanctioned reality. The term describes the belief that to create a fair, socialist society, the oppressed working class must actively fight against and overthrow the oppressing classes (like landlords and capitalists). It carries immense historical weight and is associated with the most intense and violent periods of the Mao era (1949-1976).

阶 (jiē): This character originally meant “stairs” or “steps.” Here, it signifies a rank, level, or echelon in society.

级 (jí): This character means “level” or “grade,” like in school (e.g., 年级 niánjí - grade level).

斗 (dòu): This character means “to fight,” “to struggle,” or “to contend.” It's a very active, confrontational word.

争 (zhēng): This character also means “to contend,” “to strive,” or “to vie for.”

The characters combine very literally. `阶级 (jiējí)` becomes “(social) class,” a person's level or rank in the social hierarchy. `斗争 (dòuzhēng)` is a powerful term for “struggle” or “fight.” Put together, `阶级斗争` is a direct and potent name for the concept of “class struggle.”

Ideological Engine of Maoist China: `阶级斗争` was the ideological engine of the People's Republic of China from 1949 until the late 1970s. Mao Zedong famously stated, “Never forget class struggle” (千万不要忘记阶级斗争). This principle was used to justify everything from land redistribution and the execution of landlords to political purges and the immense social upheaval of the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976). Your “class background” (阶级成分 jiējí chéngfèn) determined your fate—whether you were a friend or an enemy of the revolution.

Comparison to Western “Class Consciousness”: In the West, we talk about “class” in terms of socioeconomic status (lower, middle, upper class) and “class consciousness” as an awareness of one's place in that system. The goal is often “social mobility”—moving up the ladder. `阶级斗争` is fundamentally different. It's not about climbing the ladder; it's about destroying the ladder and the classes it represents. It frames class as an antagonistic, political identity, not an economic one you can change through hard work. The goal is not individual advancement but collective revolutionary victory.

Rejection of Traditional Harmony: The concept of `斗争` (struggle) was a radical departure from the traditional Confucian value of `和谐` (héxié - harmony). While traditional Chinese philosophy sought to maintain social order and balance, Maoist thought promoted conflict as a necessary tool for progress. This ideological shift created a massive rupture with China's past.

Official and Historical Context: Today, `阶级斗争` is rarely heard in everyday conversation. Its primary use is in formal, academic, or historical contexts. It appears in Party documents, university textbooks on political theory, and museums dedicated to the history of the revolution. While the Party no longer emphasizes “struggle” as the primary task, President Xi Jinping has occasionally revived the term to warn against ideological threats, reminding officials of the Party's Marxist roots.

Modern Ironic Usage: On the Chinese internet and among younger people, the term is sometimes used ironically or humorously to describe trivial conflicts. For example, someone might joke about the “class struggle” between cat owners and dog owners, or between colleagues competing for a promotion. This usage strips the term of its violent history and treats it as a hyperbole for minor disagreements.

Don't use it casually: The biggest mistake is to assume `阶级斗争` is the standard way to talk about social class or inequality. If you want to say “the gap between the rich and poor is growing,” you should say `贫富差距越来越大 (pín fù chājù yuèláiyuè dà)`. Using `阶级斗争` in this context would sound extremely strange and politically charged, as if you are calling for a violent revolution. Reserve it for historical discussions or intentional, ironic humor.

False Friend: “Class Warfare”: While “class warfare” is the closest English equivalent, `阶级斗争` has a much more specific and powerful historical context in China. “Class warfare” in English is often used rhetorically by politicians to describe tax policies or economic debates. `阶级斗争` in China refers to a specific, state-directed campaign of political persecution and social re-engineering that dominated the country for decades.

无产阶级 (wúchǎn jiējí) - The proletariat, the property-less working class, considered the heroes of the revolution.

资产阶级 (zīchǎn jiējí) - The bourgeoisie, the capitalist class who owned the means of production, considered the primary enemy.

革命 (gémìng) - Revolution. The ultimate goal and method of class struggle.

和谐社会 (héxié shèhuì) - Harmonious Society. A key political concept from the 2000s that effectively serves as the ideological opposite of `阶级斗争`, emphasizing stability and cooperation over conflict.

斗争 (dòuzhēng) - Struggle. The second half of the term, it can be used alone to refer to any kind of struggle, from political to personal.

地主 (dìzhǔ) - Landlord. One of the first and primary targets of `阶级斗争` in the early PRC.

政治运动 (zhèngzhì yùndòng) - Political movement/campaign. `阶级斗争` was the theoretical justification for many of these, most famously the Cultural Revolution (文化大革命).

资本家 (zīběnjiā) - Capitalist. An individual member of the `资产阶级`.

阶级成分 (jiējí chéngfèn) - Class background/component. The official label assigned to every family during the Mao era, which determined their social and political standing.