Rejecting the argument that denies social justice in the socialist-oriented market economy in Vietnam today

Recognizing the true nature of "social justice" in the capitalist mode of production

According to Marxist-Leninist viewpoint, social justice ultimately depends on ownership relations. In other words, fairness in ownership relations is the foundation of social justice. Marxist classics exposed the true nature of so-called social justice in the capitalist mode of production. In reality, it is a kind of justice reserved only for a select few who hold private ownership of the means of production in capitalist society.

Capitalist society is based on private ownership of the means of production, meaning it contains and establishes the dominant position of unequal relations of ownership of the means of production, naturally leading to inequality in the distribution of "input" resources and "output" results of the development process. It cannot achieve true social justice.

The history of capitalist development, as well as the process of resolving crises under capitalist regimes, shows that the development of a capitalist market economy is always linked to the management, operation, and even brutal intervention of the bourgeois state in economic processes, to ensure the achievement of the ultimate goals of satisfying the interests of capitalists and the bourgeois class.

Ảnh minh họa: TTXVN — Illustrative photo: VNA

In the early decades of the 21st century, capitalism underwent adjustments and adaptations through changes in ownership, production management, and distribution via social welfare funds. This led to the ownership of the wage-earning working class and the emergence of new forms of management and distribution. These adjustments and adaptations gave rise to new theoretical and practical issues that Marxism-Leninism, due to historical circumstances, could not fully and comprehensively address. This led some to mistakenly believe that capitalism no longer exploited its fundamental nature, that it would automatically develop into socialism.

However, the limits of capitalist adaptation cannot surpass the private ownership of the means of production. Under pressure from the struggles of the working class and the working people, capitalists are forced to transform private capital into collective capital, forming joint-stock companies. This is a way to mobilize capital, create capital accumulation and concentration, and give capitalists a competitive advantage. It allows some workers with idle money to invest in production through shares and stocks and receive interest and dividends. But this cannot eliminate the profits that capitalists obtain through the exploitation of surplus value. In reality, the working class and the laborers only hold a very small percentage of shares and stocks. Therefore, adjustments and adaptations do not change the exploitative and unjust nature of capitalism.

The essence of capitalist political systems following the Western "liberal democracy" formula, as General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong pointed out, is democracy that protects the status and interests of a minority bourgeois class. In that system, "a very small group, even just 1% of the population, holds the majority of wealth and means of production, controls up to 3/4 of the financial resources, knowledge, and major mass media, and therefore dominates the whole society... The touting of equality of rights, but without accompanying equality of conditions for exercising those rights, has led to democracy remaining merely a form, empty and without substance" ⁽¹⁾ . In the end, the increasing injustices in capitalist society are a negative consequence of the development of the capitalist mode of production and political system.

Social justice in Vietnam is “leaving no one behind”

Loyal to and creatively developing Marxism-Leninism, our Party has developed the theory of a socialist-oriented market economy model to achieve the goals of socialism, including ensuring social justice. Our Party affirms that achieving social justice is not just a goal but also becomes a driving force, an intrinsic component of economic development, so that each step of economic development is a step towards achieving social justice. This is a distinctive and superior feature of the economic system our country is building.

The reason for the socialist orientation in a market economy is that the market economy only contributes to social justice within the limits of market laws, distributing profits based on labor, economic efficiency, and capital contribution. Accordingly, those who contribute more receive more, and those who contribute less receive less. The market economy itself cannot completely solve the problems of social inequality. To overcome the "failures" of the market in achieving social justice goals, the "invisible hand" of the market economy must inevitably be linked with the "visible hand" of the state. In other words, in Vietnam, a socialist-oriented market economy is necessary to maximize its advantages and overcome its limitations in achieving social justice.

To achieve social justice, our Party has clearly stated that the fundamental condition is to ensure fairness in distribution. Accordingly, the distribution system should be primarily based on labor results and economic efficiency, while also considering capital contributions and other resources, and distribution should be carried out through the social security and welfare system. Thus, distribution should simultaneously adhere to the laws of the market economy and social welfare and security to ensure social justice. Implementing a distribution system primarily based on labor results and economic efficiency, while also considering capital contributions (market economy), aims to respect objective economic laws, unleash productive forces, and unleash and develop the creative potential and subjective capabilities of each individual. Simultaneously, distribution should be carried out through other resources and through the social security and welfare system (socialist-oriented) to ensure the highest possible level of equality for vulnerable and disadvantaged groups in society.

The method of distributing resources through the social security and social welfare system overcomes the fundamental weaknesses of the market economy, shaping the market economy to serve the goals of socialism. It is also a method to both develop the economy strongly and "harmoniously resolve social relations, control social stratification and promptly and effectively handle social risks, conflicts, and disputes, ensure social order and safety, protect the legitimate rights and interests of the people" ⁽²⁾ ensuring social security and social welfare, preventing spontaneous deviations from the economic development trajectory. Only in this way can the practicality and sustainability of socio-economic development policies be ensured, and economic development and social justice be truly realized.

Currently, Vietnam is recognized globally as one of the exemplary countries in sustainable multidimensional poverty reduction, investing effectively in the development of healthcare, education , culture, employment, environmental protection, improving social security, and ensuring social welfare. This not only promotes economic development but also ensures social justice. After nearly 10 years of implementing Resolution No. 5 of the Central Committee (11th Congress) on some key social policy issues for the period 2012-2020, all targets have been met or exceeded. Of the 26 targets, 5 were exceeded and completed ahead of schedule; 16 targets were met by 2020. The poverty rate decreased from nearly 60% in 1986 to less than 3% in 2022. Gross domestic product (GDP) per capita increased from US$86 in 1986 to US$4,110 in 2022. People have increasingly better access to basic social services, such as housing; by 2020, the State had provided housing support to 648,000 poor rural households and 323,000 houses for the poor and disadvantaged. During the three years of the Covid-19 pandemic (2020-2022), the Government and all levels, sectors, and localities provided over VND 120,000 billion and over 200,000 tons of rice to support more than 68 million people and workers facing difficulties. Currently, over 1.2 million people with meritorious service and their relatives are receiving monthly preferential benefits; 98.6% of families of people with meritorious service have a living standard equal to or higher than the average living standard in the area.

The United Nations has also recognized Vietnam as one of the leading countries in realizing the Millennium Development Goals. The achievements have affirmed the positive and superior nature of the socialist system we are building. The Party and State have repeatedly affirmed the consistent viewpoint: the people are the center and the subject of socio-economic development, and at the same time, they are the direct beneficiaries of socio-economic development achievements, ensuring that no one is left behind.

To ensure social justice in Vietnam's socialist-oriented market economy, the Resolution of the 13th National Congress continues to advocate for promoting economic development in conjunction with achieving social justice; harmoniously managing the relationship between economic development and the realization of social progress and equity in each step and each development policy. It focuses on perfecting distribution relations, encouraging legitimate wealth creation, effectively implementing sound social policies, and creating strong impetus to unleash all human potential and creativity. It ensures the practicality, stability, sustainability, and appropriateness of social policies, creating favorable conditions and resources for economic development.

In summary, understanding social justice in Vietnam's current socialist-oriented market economy requires an objective perspective, a historical and specific assessment, avoiding one-sided, distorted, and biased views, and the political schemes of "democracy" and "human rights" advocates who use the pretext of fighting for social justice and progress to undermine the Party, the State, and the socialist regime. Only from such a perspective can we compare and evaluate the achievements and affirm the superiority of economic development and growth with social progress and justice in our country today.

-----------

(1) Nguyen Phu Trong, "Some theoretical and practical issues on socialism and the path to socialism in Vietnam", National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2022, p.21.

(2) Communist Party of Vietnam, "Documents of the 13th National Congress", National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2021, volume 1, p.148.

According to the People's Army Newspaper

Source