An Analysis Of "Socialist Controversy" At The Beginning Of The1920S

Occurred at the beginning of the1920s, the controversy between Marxism and Guildsocialism which was a historical event during the early spread of Marxism in China heldan important position in the early time of the sinicization of Marxism and Marxistphilosophy process. Through the comprehensive analysis on "socialist controversy", itcould enrich research achievements of the basic theory on the early time of the sinicizationof Marxism and Marxist philosophy.To begin with, the article introduces the background of the controversy and thespecific processes of the controversy. Then, based on rich and informative historical data,the article illuminates the main topics and views of both sides systematically bysummarizing the contents in the controversy as five topics: whether China couldimplement socialism immediately, how to look at the domestic social conflicts, how todevelop the industry and enhance R&F, how to look at the consequences of industrialdevelopment through the capitalism and social development stage, and discussing themajor viewpoints of both sides separately. Finally, based on the contents which haveintroduced before and the historical facts of ninety years, the article evaluates the nature ofthe controversy, the nature of Guild socialism, the representative viewpoints of thecontroversy and historical influence of the controversy.The article concludes that the exploration about the road of social developmentbetween advanced intellectuals which caused by the darkness of the domestic politicalwere the internal factors of the controversy. The essence of the controversy was thequestion about revolution or reform, the Guild socialists were a group of reformists. TheGuild socialists had a lot of reasonable ingredients in their views while the early Marxistshad some shortcomings and deficiencies in the controversy. The controversy promoted thespread of scientific socialism and Historical materialism in China, and laid the solidfoundation for the establishment of Chinese Communist Party and the development of theChinese revolution. There were third aspect inspirations of the controversy on ourcountry's socialist construction: first, people should correct the understanding of "socialism"; second, people should overcome the attitude that is eager for quick success in"the socialist construction"; third, people should use Marxist philosophy to guide thepractice of scientific socialism.