Xiang Jinglin: Deeply Implement the Spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulations; Accurately Grasp the Essence and Core of Problems Concerning Conduct [1]
Editor’s Note: To earnestly carry out study and education on the deep implementation of the spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulations, and to encourage the youth of the entire Academy to deeply study and implement General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions on strengthening the Party's style of work, thereby consciously creating a clean and upright political ecosystem and academic ecosystem, the Youth League Committee of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), in collaboration with the Chinese Social Sciences Net, has launched a special column of written discussions titled "CASS Youth Talk: Study and Education on Deeply Implementing the Spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulations." We have invited outstanding young cadres and scholars from our Academy to write celebratory and explanatory articles based on their experiences and practical insights into implementing the spirit of the Eight-Point Regulations and its implementation rules. These articles demonstrate the high degree of political, ideological, and active consciousness [1] of our Academy's youth, contributing youthful strength to the opening of a new chapter in the Academy's political construction through new achievements in style construction.
Xiang Jinglin is a Doctor of Sociology, an Associate Researcher at the Institute of Sociology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and Deputy Director of the Editorial Department of Sociological Studies (Shehuixue Yanjiu). His research interests include economic sociology, organizational sociology, and technical sociology. He has published numerous articles in journals such as Social Sciences in China (Zhongguo Shehui Kexue), Sociological Studies, and Guangming Daily. Some of his work has been reprinted in Xinhua Digest (Xinhua Wenzhai), Chinese Social Science Digest (Zhongguo Shehuikexue Wenzhai), and various Renmin University of China (RUC) Photocopying Newspaper and Periodical Materials such as Sociology, Public Administration, and Finance and Insurance. He has authored the monograph The Institutional Logic of Local Financial Governance and co-translated The Oxford Handbook of the Sociology of Finance. He has led several research projects, including National Social Science Fund of China youth projects and key annual projects for the National High-End Think Tank Council. He has received honors such as the First Prize for Excellent Papers at the Annual Meeting of the Chinese Sociological Association, CASS Youth Learning Model, and Youth Talent, and has been selected for national-level youth talent programs.
The Eight-Point Regulations are the entry point and mobilization order for improving style; they are long-term, effective iron rules and "hard benchmarks." Through the deep study of materials such as the Excerpted Expositions of Xi Jinping on Strengthening the Party’s Style of Work and The Eight-Point Regulations Change China, as a young researcher, I have deeply felt the significant meaning of strengthening the Party’s style construction. I have profoundly recognized the great achievements and major changes brought about by the implementation of the spirit of the Eight-Point Regulations. This has further deepened my understanding of the core issues of the Party’s style construction and enhanced my consciousness and initiative in implementing the spirit of the Eight-Point Regulations in my practical work.
First, style issues are, in essence, issues of Party spirit. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, "Style issues are fundamentally issues of Party spirit. Style reflects image and quality; it embodies Party spirit, and what plays the decisive role is also Party spirit." He also noted, "The fundamental yardstick for measuring the strength of Party spirit is the two words: public and private." Indeed, a person’s style of work and life reflects their worldview, outlook on life, and values; it reflects their ideals, beliefs, and spiritual realm. Style is the behavioral manifestation, while the substance and foundation behind it are ideological concepts. For Party members and cadres, how one understands the relationship between "the public" and "the private" (公与私), whether one can be wholeheartedly devoted to the public interest, and whether one can always uphold a "public heart" [2] and properly handle the boundaries between public and private in work, is the touchstone for testing the political character of Party members and cadres. It is also the hard standard for measuring their style and capability. In daily work and life, Party members and cadres with good style always bring positive energy and a sense of reliability and security to others, exerting a positive influence on those around them. This is where the power of ideals, beliefs, and the spiritual realm resides. Our Party is a Marxist party that serves the people wholeheartedly, seeks happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation, and is committed to promoting the building of a community with a shared future for humanity to contribute to world peace and development. Such lofty ideals and beliefs have become the spiritual force uniting tens of millions of Party members, exerting a huge impact on China and the world. In this sense, the style of every Party member reflects the firmness of their ideals and beliefs and directly relates to the Party’s image. Style issues are essentially issues of Party spirit. Party spirit is not abstract; it is manifested very specifically in all aspects of daily work and life, influencing the Party member's views on right and wrong, righteousness and profit [3], power, and career, and affecting their ideological state and behavioral choices.
Second, the core of style issues is the relationship between the Party and the masses. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, "Issues in work style are by no means small matters. If we do not resolutely rectify bad styles and allow them to develop, they will become like an invisible wall separating our Party from the masses, and our Party will lose its foundation, its lifeblood, and its strength." The purpose of our Party is to serve the people wholeheartedly; therefore, the most important criterion for measuring the work style of Party members and cadres is to see how they perform tasks for the people. As the old Chinese saying goes—"The masses have sharp eyes" [4]—the masses see the style of Party members and cadres and keep it in their hearts. Regardless of one’s position or specific tasks, whether a Party member or cadre has remained true to their original aspiration, practiced the Party’s purpose, and truly done things for the people is very clear to the masses. If Party members and cadres become detached from the masses and fall into the "Four Winds" of formalism, bureaucratism, hedonism, and extravagance, they will lose the trust and support of the masses, face their opposition and resentment, and cause tension in Party-mass and cadre-mass relations. Conversely, if Party members and cadres are wholeheartedly for the people, learn humbly from the masses, serve them well, sincerely accept their supervision, and carry out work solidly centered on the "urgent, difficult, and anxious" issues [5] facing the masses, they will gain the trust and support of the masses and truly integrate with them. In this sense, the style of Party members and cadres truly relates to the support of the people and the Party’s mass base. Party members and cadres should stay true to their original aspiration and founding mission, practice the Party’s purpose through practical actions, implement the mass line, and consciously integrate the people-centered development philosophy into every aspect of their daily work.
In the research work of philosophy and social sciences, an excellent style is indispensable in every aspect. Only by accurately grasping the essence and core of style issues can we better carry out research with an excellent style. In his important speech at the Symposium on Philosophy and Social Sciences, General Secretary Xi Jinping clearly stated, "For whom we work is a fundamental and principled issue in philosophy and social science research. We must clarify for whom the philosophy and social sciences in our country write and speak—whether to serve the few or the vast majority." He added, "If the philosophy and social sciences in our country are to achieve anything, they must adhere to a people-centered research orientation. Detached from the people, philosophy and social sciences will have no attraction, appeal, influence, or vitality." Adhering to a people-centered research orientation requires us to genuinely demonstrate a "people-oriented character" [6] in our research topics, methods, and results.
On the new journey in the New Era, philosophy and social science workers need to focus on the major theoretical and practical problems of concern to the Party and the people. We must actively respond to the new problems and challenges brought by the great changes of the times and go deep among the masses to conduct solid investigations and research. We must "write our papers on the motherland's soil" [7], resolutely resist formalism and bureaucratism, and produce achievements that can truly withstand the test of history and the people.
(The author is the Deputy Director of the Editorial Department of Sociological Studies and an Associate Researcher at the Institute of Sociology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences) Source: Chinese Social Sciences Net, June 9, 2025 Web Editor: Tongxin