The Theoretical Sources of Xi Jinping's Ecological Civilization Thought: A Syncretic Framework for a New Era

Abstract

This paper analyzes the theoretical sources of Xi Jinping’s Ecological Civilization Thought, a core component of “Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.” The study argues that this framework is not a single doctrine but a syncretic synthesis of five intellectual pillars: Marxist ecological materialism, traditional Chinese ecological wisdom, lessons from China’s socialist development, a people-centered governing philosophy, and a global vision of environmental governance. By weaving together these diverse sources, the ideology provides both cultural legitimacy and political authority for China’s ecological transition. It reframes environmental protection as both a socialist imperative and a civilizational mission, offering a new paradigm for modernization that challenges Western development models and positions China as a leader in global sustainability governance.