Dear reader,
Over the past year and a half, the Dongsheng team has been collaborating with Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research to publish the international edition of Wenhua Zongheng (文化纵横), a leading journal of contemporary political and cultural thought in China. Founded in 2008, the journal publishes issues every two months, featuring articles by a wide array of intellectuals across the country and building a platform for discussion of different ideological positions and values in China’s intellectual community. The publication is an important reference for debates and developments in Chinese thought, on matters ranging from China’s ancient history and traditional culture to its current socialist practices and innovations, from the important cultural trends in contemporary Chinese social life to Chinese views and analyses of the world today.
Since March 2023, we have released five issues where we have selected articles that bring an analysis that holds particular relevance for the Global South, which we’ve included below. This includes Chinese analyses from geopolitical issues to domestic policies, from economics to the environment, and from the history to the future of building socialism with Chinese characteristics. While News on China is on a hiatus, we will continue publishing issues of Wenhua Zongheng: A Journal of Contemporary Chinese Thought in English, Spanish, and Portuguese on the website of Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research.
In Chinese, the word ‘Wenhua’ (文化) means ‘culture’ as well as ‘civilization,’ while ‘Zongheng’ (纵横) literally means ‘verticals and horizontals,’ but also alludes to the strategists who helped to first unify China, roughly 2,000 years ago through diplomacy and alliances. It is impossible to translate the journal’s title into English while retaining its historical meaning and significance, therefore, we have chosen to keep the pinyin romanization of the title to remind our readers: China has a complex history and culture that is challenging to translate and navigate, and this project seeks to bridge this understanding.
On the Threshold of a New International Order
VOLUME 1, ISSUE NO. 1 / MARCH, 2023The first issue of the international edition of Wenhua Zongheng analyzes the state of the world amid rising global tensions, featuring three essays that explore the global implications of the war in Ukraine, assess the historical trajectory of relations between China and the West, and evaluate approaches toward building a new global system.
China’s Path from Extreme Poverty to Socialist Modernization
VOLUME 1, ISSUE NO. 2 / JUNE, 2023
The second issue of the international edition of Wenhua Zongheng assesses the current state and future direction of China’s socialist project, in the context of its complex historical development. The issue features three articles that closely examine China’s contemporary battle against poverty and its place within the country’s decades-long pursuit of modernization.
China-Africa Relations in the Belt and Road Era
VOLUME 1, ISSUE NO. 3 / OCTOBER, 2023
The third issue of the international edition of Wenhua Zongheng explores the relationship between China and Africa in the era of the Belt and Road Initiative. The issue features two articles that examine Africa’s long-term pursuit of industrialization and assess how China can contribute to the continent’s industrial development.
Chinese Perspectives on Twenty-First Century Socialism
VOLUME 1, ISSUE NO. 4 / DECEMBER, 2023
The fourth issue of the international edition of Wenhua Zongheng traces the historical evolution of socialism and identifies new forms that are emerging today. The issue features two articles that examine China’s socialist market economy, assess its impact on the global socialist movement, and reflect on how it could surpass capitalism.
The BRICS and De-Dollarization: Opportunities and Challenges
VOLUME 2, ISSUE NO. 1 / MAY, 2024
This issue of the international edition of Wenhua Zongheng explores the widely debated topic of de-dollarization. The articles examine the US dollar’s hegemonic status in the international economic order, efforts across the Global South to develop alternatives, and the role of the BRICS in this process.
We also recommend the following account that cover China in a global context:
- In English: The China Report by BreakThrough News, Li Jingjing, and Wave Media.
- In Spanish: Barricada TV
- In Portuguese:
—Dongsheng editorial collective