A Comparative Study of Eastern and Western Socialism: Theoretical Systems, Origins, and Pathways of Formation

Friday, 12 June 2026, 12pm to 1pm

In the history of twentieth-century world socialism, two representative interpretative frameworks emerged: the Eastern model exemplified by Soviet Socialism and the Western model represented by Democratic Socialism. These frameworks differ systematically in their core connotations, guiding principles, and policy orientations. Their divergence is closely tied to the origins and dual implications of socialist thought. From the sixteenth to the early nineteenth century, critiques of capitalism gave rise to the concepts of 'socialism' and 'communism', whose meanings displayed both convergence and divergence. This duality endowed scientific socialism with an inherent 'dual genetic' structure. The diverse developmental pathways of socialism have since been shaped by the interaction of this dual foundation with varying economic conditions, political structures, class relations, and ideological contexts. China’s reform and opening-up illustrates a distinctive model that integrates socialist principles with market mechanisms under effective state regulation.

This talk takes the differences between Eastern and Western socialism as a point of departure, examining their systemic distinctions and exploring the socio-historical and theoretical factors that have shaped their divergence, with a view to offering an analytical framework for understanding the plural development of socialism in the contemporary world.

Fei Huang is an Associate Professor at the School of International Studies, Renmin University of China, and a Research Fellow at both the School of Global and Area Studies and the National Academy of Development and Strategy at Renmin University of China. She received a PhD from Peking University and has been a visiting scholar at the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford. Her research focuses on Left-wing politics, British politics, and the history of world socialism. She is the author of the monograph From Movement to Thought: A Study of the British New Left and has published numerous articles, including 'The "Unexpected" Rise of the Reform UK: Historical Origins and Future Prospects', 'The Historical Trajectory and Contemporary Reflections on the British New Left', and 'Concepts of Eastern and Western Socialism in Comparative Perspective'. She has also led several major research projects funded by the National Social Science Fund of China, such as 'The British New Left in the Theoretical Framework of Socialism and Its Contemporary Value' and 'The Semantic Connotations and Historical Evolution of Key Concepts in World Socialism'.

Speaker(s): Professor Fei Huang (Renmin University of China)

Series: Mandarin Forum

Venue: Dickson Poon Building, Oxford China Centre - Ho Tim Seminar Room (first floor) - Ho Tim Seminar Room Dickson Poon Building, Oxford China Centre Canterbury Road Oxford Oxfordshire OX2 6LU United Kingdom

Department: Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (Department)

Organiser: Dr Yang Han

Host: Professor Todd Hall and Dr Yang Han