Social Sciences in China (Chinese Edition)

No. 3, 2024

Reanalyzing Marx and Engels’ Arguments on the Opium War

(Abstract)

Cui Zhihai

Marx and Engels closely observed the unfolding events of the Opium War and steadfastly supported the Chinese people’s resistance against aggression. They not only exposed the true motives behind the opium trade and the aggressive war waged by British colonists, but also strongly condemned the atrocities committed by the British during the conflict. Furthermore, they provided justification for the resistance efforts of the Chinese military and its people. Marx and Engels made numerous incisive observations about the nature, outcomes, and repercussions of the Opium War. Their dialectical and historically materialistic thinking methods allowed them to offer insights that remain relevant even today. In contrast, Western colonialists have long distorted and romanticized the history of the Opium War, glossing over its true implications. By interpreting the conflict as a clash between Eastern and Western cultures or a battle between civilization and barbarism, they shifted blame onto China’s xenophobia and closed-door policies as the triggers for the war. To counter these distortions, it is important to revisit Marx and Engels’ arguments on the Opium War and conduct a thorough examination of their viewpoints.