In a bid to rally the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the nation around his leadership and vision for the future, Chinese President Xi Jinping has repeatedly invoked the legacy of paramount leader Deng Xiaoping, who is widely credited with opening up China’s economy and ushering in a period of unprecedented growth and prosperity. Xi has sought to portray himself as the inheritor of Deng’s mantle, casting his own policies and initiatives as the logical extension of Deng’s reform agenda. While it is true that Xi shares some similarities with Deng, such as a strong emphasis on economic development and a willingness to experiment with market reforms, there are also significant differences between the two leaders. These differences suggest that Xi’s attempts to equate himself with Deng are more about political expediency than a genuine reflection of his own governing philosophy..
Perhaps the most fundamental difference between Xi and Deng is their attitude towards political reform. Deng was a pragmatist who believed that economic development should take precedence over political liberalization. He argued that China was not yet ready for democracy and that attempts to introduce democratic reforms would only lead to chaos and instability. Xi, on the other hand, has shown little interest in political reform and has even rolled back some of the limited reforms that were introduced under Deng. He has tightened control over the media, cracked down on dissent, and increased the power of the security forces. This suggests that Xi is not interested in following Deng’s path towards political liberalization..
Another key difference between Xi and Deng is their attitude towards ideology. Deng was a pragmatic Marxist who believed that ideology should be subservient to the goal of economic development. He rejected the rigid ideological orthodoxy of Mao Zedong and encouraged a more flexible and pragmatic approach to socialism. Xi, on the other hand, has shown a greater willingness to embrace a more orthodox Marxist-Leninist ideology. He has called for a return to the party’s revolutionary roots and has sought to strengthen the party’s control over all aspects of Chinese society. This suggests that Xi is not as willing as Deng was to subordinate ideology to the goal of economic development..
Finally, Xi and Deng differ in their approach to foreign policy. Deng pursued a policy of .
