Deng Xiaoping and Polarization

Red Flag Heritage (WeChat account) · October 27, 2026

Editor’s note: When he paved the road to capitalism as the “chief architect” of capitalism with Chinese characteristics, did he really not know where it would inevitably lead?[1] Or are the successors who grasped his true meaning only playing dumb? Or have they, the pupils surpassing the master, gone even further down the road than their founding father?

1. If we took the capitalist road, a few percent of China’s people might grow rich, but it could never solve the problem of prosperity for the ninety-odd percent. If we keep to socialism and the principle of distribution according to work, there will be no excessive gap between rich and poor. In twenty or thirty years, when our productive forces have developed, there will still be no polarization. — Selected Works of Deng Xiaoping, vol. 3, “Building Socialism with Chinese Characteristics,” p. 64

2. The aim of socialism is common prosperity for the whole people, not polarization. If our policies led to polarization, we would have failed. — Selected Works, vol. 3, “Unity Depends on Ideals and Discipline,” p. 111

3. What distinguishes socialism from capitalism is common prosperity, not polarization. — Selected Works, vol. 3, “Bourgeois Liberalization Means Taking the Capitalist Road,” p. 123

4. As for avoiding polarization, we have kept it in mind in making and carrying out our policies. If polarization resulted, the reform would have failed. — Selected Works, vol. 3, “Reform Is the Only Way for China to Develop Its Productive Forces,” p. 139

5. In our reform we have held to two things: first, the public sector of the economy always remains dominant; second, economic development must follow the road of common prosperity and always avoid polarization. — Selected Works, vol. 3, “There Is No Fundamental Contradiction between Socialism and a Market Economy,” p. 149

6. We allow some people and some regions to prosper first, in order to reach common prosperity faster. That is why our policies will not lead society to polarization, that is, to the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer. To be frank, we will not allow a new bourgeoisie to emerge. — Selected Works, vol. 3, “Answers to the American Journalist Mike Wallace,” p. 172

7. If the rich keep getting richer and the poor keep getting poorer, polarization will emerge, and the socialist system should and can avoid polarization. — Selected Works, vol. 3, “Excerpts from Talks Given in Wuchang, Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Shanghai,” p. 374[2]

8. We talk about preventing polarization, but in fact polarization is emerging of its own accord. We must use every means, every method, every plan to solve these problems. — Chronicle of Deng Xiaoping’s Life (1904–1997), Central Party Literature Press, 2020, vol. 5, p. 662[3]

9. If a small number of people get so much wealth while the majority have none, then sooner or later, if things go on like this, there will be trouble. Unfair distribution will lead to polarization, and at a certain point the problems will come out. — Chronicle of Deng Xiaoping’s Life (1904–1997), vol. 5, p. 662

Sources: Selected Works of Deng Xiaoping, People’s Publishing House, 1993 edition; Chronicle of Deng Xiaoping’s Life, Central Party Literature Press, 2020 edition.

Translator’s notes

[1] Deng Xiaoping (1904–1997) is officially honored as the “chief architect” of China’s reform and opening and of “socialism with Chinese characteristics.” The editor’s phrase “capitalism with Chinese characteristics” is a deliberate twist on that official formula.

[2] These are Deng’s talks during his “Southern Tour” of January–February 1992, which relaunched market reform after 1989.

[3] Quotations 8 and 9 come from Deng’s conversation with his younger brother Deng Ken on September 16, 1993, in his last years.