The Study On Marx And Engel’s National Theory And Its Contemporary Value

Guided by the historical materialism, this thesis brings the national theory of Marx and Engels into the whole framework of Marxism to grasp its basic position、concept and method, and to probe into its true spirit from the height of integrity. In the logic operations of writing, it tries to do further research on the national theory of Marx and Engels according to two paths of Marx and Engels own version and the contemporary reality in order to achieve a new height of understanding of Marx and Engels’s national theory in three tensions of text reading, ideological interpretation and concern for reality.The structure of this paper on the whole is "a theme, two logical levels". A theme refers to "the national theory of Marx and Engels ", and two logical levels respectively are "the basic thoughts" and " the contemporary value" of their national theory. In addition to the "introduction", this paper will arrange four chapters to clarify the basic thoughts of Marx and Engels’s national theory as well as two chapters to expound the contemporary value and realization of the theory.Introduction of the thesis discusses the topic, researching purpose and significance, the domestic and international researching currency, the basic researching train of thoughts, methods and innovating points and difficulties.The first chapter mainly from the vertical angle expounds the creation and development of Marx and Engels’s national theory, which came from a profound social and historical background and thought foundation. In the early19th century some capitalist nations’formation and development produced the objective history basis of this theory, the rise of the colonial national independence formed a direct real power, the development of proletariat revolutions and the international joint created a strong driving force to its formation, and the dialectical materialism and historical materialism world outlook and methodology formed the theoretical cornerstone of Marx and Engels’s national theory. At the same time, with the two big changes of Marx and Engels’s world outlook and the promoting of national movements and deepening of historical materialism, Marx and Engels gradually established, developed and perfected their national theory.The second chapter mainly from a transverse theoretical angle mines the theoretical resources of the national theory of Marx and Engels. A real value theoretical research does not just study texts from texts but also based on the reality. From the current real background, we can at least from three aspects give a new concern and understanding of Marx and Engels’s national theory to objectively master Marx and Engels’s basic ideas, views and methods about investigation into nations and ethnic problems:first, general theories about the nations including theories about the national characteristics, features,formation and development; second, theories about the problems between nationalities, including theories about the national and class relationships, the substance of national issues, and the relationships between national struggles and the class struggles; third, theories about the national programs and policies, including theories about sticking to internationalism and against nationalism, the form of state structure and how to develop underdeveloped nations.The third chapter explores the internal logic of the national theory of Marx and Engels mainly from the holistic perspective. Class theory as the "the core of the basic principle" of Marxism is a "scalper" of Marx and Engels to analyse the national phenomenen and problems of nationalities of human societies, by taking a firm political stand of the proletariat and a clear theoretical stand of the internationalism to observe the national problems. Starting from the political stand of the proletariat, by adhering to the dialectical materialism and historical materialism, Marx and Engels deeply interpreted the relationship between the proletarian revolution and national problems and national movements, pointing out reliable class forces as well as the direction and the road to solve the problems of nationalities. Besides, standing by the internationalism side Marx and Engelsfirmly opposed narrow nationalism thoughts, and argued that the real national thoughts were always true international socialist thoughts and the proletariat must be international socialist, emphasizing the combination of the internationalism and patriotism. Scientific socialism is the theoretical cornerstone and the value orientation of Marx and Engels’s national theory, which was firmly based on the historical materialism along with the establishment of it. Meanwhile, under the push and guidance of the scientific socialism, Marx and Engels gradually established the basic value proposition about the national independence and equality through the class investigation into national problems in the developing process of their national theory.The fourth chapter grasps the characteristics and researching methods of the national theory of Marx and Engels mainly from the macro aspect. The basic features of Marx and Engels’s national theory mainly manifest in the scientificity, revolutionary and practice. Scientificity and revolutionary are indivisible and practicality is the basis to unite revolutionary and scientificity. Marx and Engels researched into their national theory using both general methods and specific methods. General methods are methodological abstract methods, which are overall analysis of dialectical materialism and historical materialism. Specific methods include class analysis, scientific research and value guidance, and the combination of theoretical research and reality.The fifth chapter interprets Marx and Engels’s national theory mainly from a contemporary perspective. Marx and Engels’s national theory is not dogmatic, but a developing theory system along with the development of the time. Therefore, Marx and Engels’s national theory should also be put into consideration on the contemporary realistic situation, given its interpretation conforming to the time. First of all, Marx and Engels national theory is a relatively complete theoretical system still having the vitality today. Meanwhile, Marx and Engels’s national theory also must pay attention to communication and dialogues with foreign national theories. Secondly, because of the theoretical background and practice of globalization, promoting the spirit of the Chinese has become the value demands of Marx and Engels’s national theory. Finally, in China’s contemporary situation, the scientific development is also the value demands of Marx and Engels’s national theory.Chapter6mainly from the points of view of methodology explores how to grasp the contemporary value of Marx and Engels’s national theory. In China’s contemporary situation, the contemporary value of Marx and Engels’s national theory objectively exists and expresses itself in the multidimensional forms. But the appearance of the contemporary value has something to do with how the researching subjects grasp it conscientiously, and how the objective value will be reflected depends on the extent how the subjects grasp it because practice decides the formation and reflection of the value. At present, as for the methods of grasping the value, we can grasp it from the start of the problems, experiences and lessons to solve the national questions, and the theoretical features and inner character of the national theory. While as for the way to seeking the value, we can change the way of thinking from "system consciousness" to "problem consciousness", put Marx and Engels’s national theory under "problem consciousness", and combine "text research" with "reality research" to "present" its contemporary significance or value.