14.5.1.1.1. The Fifth Modernization (第五个现代化, 1978)
Key essay written by Wei Jingsheng (魏京生, 1950-), originally published on the Xidan Democracy Wall (西单民主墙, 1978-1979). Full chinese text at: 魏京生-第五个现代化.md.
Not to be confused with the one of the same title made by the CCP in 2013: https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/第五个现代化_(中国共产党)
"Fifth" is a reference to the fifth modernization he felt was necessary in addition to the four modernizations (四个现代化) the government was proposing in its propaganda at the time: agriculture, industry science and defense.
Full text on Jingsheng’s apparently official website: https://weijingsheng.org/doc/cn/46.htm
Most notable quote:
我们要自己掌握自己的命运，不要神仙和皇帝
不要相信有什么救世主，我们要做天下的主人，我们不要作独裁统治者扩张
野心的现代化工具，我们要人民生活得现代化，人民的民主、自由与幸福
We want to be the masters of our own destiny. We need no gods or emperors and we don’t believe in saviors of any kind
we do not want to serve as mere tools of dictators with personal ambitions for carrying out modernization.
We want to modernize the lives of the people. Democracy, freedom, and happiness for all are our sole objectives
Key essay written by Wei Jingsheng (魏京生, 1950-), originally published on the Xidan Democracy Wall (西单民主墙, 1978-1979). Full chinese text at: 魏京生-第五个现代化.md.
Not to be confused with the one of the same title made by the CCP in 2013: https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/第五个现代化_(中国共产党)
"Fifth" is a reference to the fifth modernization he felt was necessary in addition to the four modernizations (四个现代化) the government was proposing in its propaganda at the time: agriculture, industry science and defense.
Full text on Jingsheng’s apparently official website: https://weijingsheng.org/doc/cn/46.htm
Most notable quote:
我们要自己掌握自己的命运，不要神仙和皇帝
不要相信有什么救世主，我们要做天下的主人，我们不要作独裁统治者扩张
野心的现代化工具，我们要人民生活得现代化，人民的民主、自由与幸福We want to be the masters of our own destiny. We need no gods or emperors and we don’t believe in saviors of any kind
we do not want to serve as mere tools of dictators with personal ambitions for carrying out modernization.
We want to modernize the lives of the people. Democracy, freedom, and happiness for all are our sole objectives