{{Short description|Chinese Communist Party concept}} The '''Four Confidences''' ({{zh|c=|s=四个自信}}) is a political concept by [[Chinese Communist Party]] (CCP) [[General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party|general secretary]] [[Xi Jinping]]. The concept includes "Confidence in Path,{{Efn|道路自信}} Confidence in Theories,{{Efn|理论自信}} Confidence in System,{{Efn|制度自信}} and Confidence in Culture."{{Efn|文化自信}}<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=以"四个自信"推进新时代中国特色社会主义伟大事业-新华网 |trans-title=Advancing the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era with the 'four confidences' |url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/2018-07/09/c_1123096720.htm |access-date=2020-04-27 |website=[[Xinhua News Agency]] |language=zh |archive-date=2020-07-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728192710/http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/2018-07/09/c_1123096720.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2021, the concept was expanded to include the idea of Historical Confidence.
== History == The doctrine was first discussed at the [[18th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party]] held in November 2012 in a speech by then party General Secretary [[Hu Jintao]], and the doctrine was termed the Three Confidences ({{zh|c=三个自信|labels=no}}).<ref name="sange">{{cite news |last1=Lin |first1=Baohua |date=May 22, 2013 |title="七个不讲"否定"三个自信"（林保华） |trans-title=The 'Seven Don'ts' negate the 'Three Confidences' |url=http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/pinglun/linbaohua/lbh-05222013093904.html |work=[[Radio Free Asia]] |language=zh |archive-date=August 1, 2020 |access-date=April 16, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801002625/https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/pinglun/linbaohua/lbh-05222013093904.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The origin of the theory is said to be [[Yi Junqing]], an official later disgraced for corruption who served as the head of the [[Compilation and Translation Bureau]].<ref name="sange" /> Xi Jinping added a 'fourth' confidence, "confidence in our culture," in December 2014.<ref name="boxun">{{cite news |date=December 23, 2014 |title=习近平灵机一动 立马改了"三个自信"(图) |trans-title=Xi Jinping had an idea and immediately changed the 'three confidences' |url=http://www.wenxuecity.com/news/2014/12/23/3892613.html |work=[[Duowei News]] |publisher=[[Boxun]] |language=zh |archive-date=September 14, 2017 |access-date=April 16, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170914131543/http://www.wenxuecity.com/news/2014/12/23/3892613.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author1= |title=从"三个自信"到"四个自信"--理论-人民网 |trans-title=From "Three Confidences" to "Four Confidences" |url=http://theory.people.com.cn/n1/2016/0707/c49150-28532466.html |access-date=24 May 2017 |website=[[People's Daily]] |publisher= |language=zh |archive-date=13 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613200441/http://theory.people.com.cn/n1/2016/0707/c49150-28532466.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Along with the [[Four Comprehensives]] and the [[Chinese Dream]], it has, since 2013, become a central theme in political slogans of the CCP, often recited at official meetings, conferences, and by state-owned media.<ref name=":2" />
In 2017, the [[19th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party|19th CCP National Congress]] added the Four Confidences to the [[Constitution of the Chinese Communist Party|CCP's constitution]], inserting "firm confidence in its path, theory, system, and culture," along with other [[Xi Jinping Thought|doctrines proposed by Xi Jinping]].<ref name=":02" />{{Rp|page=201}}
According to several portraits of Xi by both domestic and foreign observers, Xi Jinping has a deeply held belief that the CCP and the institutions it has created is the best institution to govern China and the best institution to guide China's development.<ref name="Xijinping">{{cite magazine |last1=Osnos |first1=Evan |author-link=Evan Osnos |date=April 6, 2015 |title=Born Red: How Xi Jinping, an unremarkable provincial administrator, became China's most authoritarian leader since Mao. |url=http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/04/06/born-red? |magazine=[[The New Yorker]] |access-date=April 16, 2015 |archive-date=April 14, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414062220/http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/04/06/born-red |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2021, the idea of "historical confidence" was added.<ref name=":02" />{{Rp|page=201}}
== Doctrine ==
=== Characteristics === Four matters of confidence refer to confidence in the [[Path of socialism with Chinese characteristics|path]], [[Theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics|theory]], [[System of socialism with Chinese characteristics|system]], and [[Culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics|culture]] of [[socialism with Chinese characteristics]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Four Matters of Confidence |url=http://www.china.org.cn/english/china_key_words/2018-12/03/content_74235119.htm |access-date=2022-12-22 |website=[[China Internet Information Center]] |archive-date=2022-12-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221222142737/http://www.china.org.cn/english/china_key_words/2018-12/03/content_74235119.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> According to an official translation:<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":02">{{Cite book |last1=Bachulska |first1=Alicja |url=https://ecfr.eu/publication/idea-of-china/ |title=The Idea of China: Chinese Thinkers on Power, Progress, and People |last2=Leonard |first2=Mark |last3=Oertel |first3=Janka |date=2 July 2024 |publisher=[[European Council on Foreign Relations]] |isbn=978-1-916682-42-9 |location=Berlin, Germany |pages= |format=EPUB |access-date=22 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240717120845/https://ecfr.eu/publication/idea-of-china/ |archive-date=17 July 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref>{{Rp|page=201}}<blockquote>"Confidence in its path" is confidence in the direction of development of socialism with Chinese characteristics and confidence in its future;
"Confidence in its theory" is confidence in the scientific nature... of the theory of socialism with Chinese characteristics;
"Confidence in its system" is confidence in the advanced and superior nature of the system of Chinese socialism;
"Confidence in its culture" is a full affirmation of the value of China's own culture and a faith in its vitality.
These four form an organic whole; they provide a complete conceptual system of socialism with Chinese characteristics.</blockquote> == See also == * [[Ideology of the Chinese Communist Party]] * [[Xi Jinping Thought]]
== Notes == {{notelist}}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Xi Jinping}}
[[Category:Ideology of the Chinese Communist Party]] [[Category:Xi Jinping Thought]]