Deng Xiaoping Theory

Deng Xiaoping Theory (simplified Chinese: 邓小平理论; traditional Chinese: 鄧小平理論; pinyin: Dèng Xiǎopíng Lǐlùn), also known as Dengism, is the series of political and economic ideologies first developed by Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping. In theory, it does not reject Marxism or Mao Zedong Thought but instead seeks to adapt them to the existing socio-economic conditions of China.

Since the 1980s the theory has become a mandatory university class. Having served as the Communist Party of China's (CPC) major policy guide since the Third Plenum of the 11th CPC National Congress in 1978, the theory was entrenched into the Communist Party of China's Constitution as a guiding ideology in 1997, and was also subsequently written into the Constitution of the People's Republic of China.

Traditional Maoist theory put China's development focus on the "construction of socialism" and class struggle, while Deng's Theory emphasized economic construction and stability. Deng's social and economic philosophy attempted to merge a market economic model with a Marxist-Leninist political system. This became known as socialism with Chinese characteristics. Deng also stressed opening China to the outside world, the implementation of one country, two systems, and the phrase "seek truth from facts", advocating for political and economic pragmatism.