Forging a Theoretical and Academic "Iron Army" [1] of Excellent Conduct: Continuously Implementing the Spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulations through New Achievements in Conduct Construction

"Self-revolution is the second answer our Party has found to escape the historical cycle of rise and fall ^[1], and using work-style construction as the entry point to promote the comprehensive and strict governance of the Party is a major piece of experience in the Party's self-revolution in the New Era." To conduct education and study on the decp-level implementation of the Eight-Point Regulations throughout the whole Party is a major strategic decision and deployment made by the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, and a key task for Party building this year.

Since March this year, following the unified deployment of the Central Committee, the Leading Party Members' Group of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) has deeply implemented the spirit of the Eight-Point Regulations. Through meticulous organization and holistic planning, the Group has solidly carried out study and education sessions using strict standards, measures, and requirements, prompting a positive transformation in the Academy’s atmosphere, academic style, and work style. On June 4, the Leading Party Members' Group officially issued the Several Provisions of the Leading Party Members' Group of the CASS on the Deep-level Implementation of the Spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulations and their Detailed Rules for Implementation (hereafter "The Provisions"). This document further clarified disciplinary requirements and refined the division of responsibilities, providing a solid institutional guarantee for consolidating and deepening the results of the study and education sessions. It also laid a firm foundation for creating a clean and upright academic ecosystem and promoting the high-quality development of philosophy and social sciences. On July 10, the Leading Party Members' Group issued the Several Measures of the Leading Party Members' Group of the CASS on Deepening the Implementation of the Spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulations to Promote the In-depth and Substantive Development of Work-style Construction (hereafter "The Measures"). These released the firm determination that "it takes a blacksmith of iron to forge iron" ^[2] and "to forge the hardest iron, one must be a man of iron," providing concrete steps for promoting the study and implementation of the Eight-Point Regulations and the Provisions. (A detailed report on "The Measures" will be released by the Chinese Social Sciences Today on July 29).

Elevating the Party's Work-style Construction to New Heights

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping has stood at an overall strategic height to deliver a series of important expositions on strengthening the Party's work-style construction. These expositions are vital components of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important thought on Party building and his important thought on the Party’s self-revolution. They systematically answer major theoretical and practical questions such as "why we grasp" work-style construction, "what to grasp," and "how to grasp it." They vividly demonstrate our Party’s great power of truth and personality, elevating the Party’s regular understanding of work-style construction to new heights, and providing scientific guidance and a fundamental follow-through for the whole Party to deeply implement the Eight-Point Regulations.

To promote the substantive progress of the study and education sessions, better utilize the Leading Party Members' Group as a role model in work-style construction, and consolidate the new pattern of political construction in our Academy, the Working Committee of Organs Directly Under the Academy carried out extensive foundational work based on the Leading Party Members' Group's arrangements. After fully soliciting and absorbing opinions from the Leading Party Members' Group and bureau-level cadres, they revised the Implementation Measures of the Leading Party Members' Group of the CASS on the Deep-level Implementation of the Spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulations and their Detailed Rules for Implementation (renamed "The Provisions"). Gao Xiang, President of CASS and Secretary of the Leading Party Members' Group, attached great importance to the revision work, planning early, deploying personally, and providing guidance throughout the process to ensure all tasks were coordinated efficiently and proceeded in an orderly manner.

From May 13 to 16, during a reading class for bureau-level leading cadres on the Academy’s study and education program, participating cadres held in-depth discussions on The Provisions. Moving from alignment with the Central Committee to the realities of our Academy, and from the requirements of the detailed rules to specific implementation, 77 representatives put forward 238 revision suggestions, most of which were adopted. After review and approval by the Leading Party Members' Group, The Provisions were officially issued to the entire Academy on June 4.

The theme is distinct, the content comprehensive, and the logic clear. Comprising 9 sections and 40 specific items, The Provisions fully demonstrate the confidence and determination of the new Leading Party Members' Group to strengthen work-style construction and govern the Academy with strictness. They establish rules and clarify the "red lines" and bottom lines for all Party member cadres and scholars in the Academy.

It is noteworthy that in the section "Taking the Lead in Observing Political Discipline and Political Rules," the Academy's "Three Consensus," "Three Commitments," and "Three Measures" ^[3] were clarified for the first time in the form of an institutional document. This fully reflects the high political standing and sense of responsibility of the Leading Party Members' Group. It is a powerful move to lead the Academy's Party member cadres and scholars in strengthening work-style construction across the board and deepening the new pattern of political construction.

The focus is on weak links, improving the effect of rectification, and excelling in study and discussion, problem identification, and centralized remediation—rectifying defects one by one and breaking through problems one by one.

Members of the Leading Party Members' Group take the lead in adhering to the correct direction of running the Academy: specifically, that running the CASS in accordance with the requirements of General Secretary Xi Jinping and the CPC Central Committee and serving General Secretary Xi Jinping and the CPC Central Committee is the sacred duty ^[4] of the CASS; and that Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is the banner and soul of Chinese philosophy and social sciences in the New Era.

Members of the Leading Party Members' Group take the lead in purifying the academic ecosystem. Unless specially permitted by the organization, they do not participate in the selection of Academic Division Members ^[5], do not apply for professional titles, do not publish articles in academic journals within their direct area of oversight, and their personal signed achievements do not participate in various internal Academy awards.

Members of the Leading Party Members' Group take the lead in implementing the Implementation Measures for the Responsibility System of Discipline Construction of the CASS (Trial) and the Ten Prohibitions for CASS Staff to Strictly Abide by Discipline, taking the lead in signing and earnestly fulfilling the responsibility commitment letter for the Party's discipline construction.

The "Three Consensus" solidify the foundation, the "Three Commitments" rectify the work style, and the "Three Measures" guard the bottom line. With the Leading Party Members' Group taking the lead and the whole Academy in action, every unit has adopted pragmatic measures. The vast number of Party member cadres and scholars have earnestly implemented the spirit of The Provisions, using them as a powerful "weapon" to govern institutes with strictness and strike hard against "looseness" ^[6], grasping work-style construction in a normalized and long-term manner to continuously consolidate the Academy's new political construction pattern.

Putting the Spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulations into Practice

"When the single chess piece of the Eight-Point Regulations is placed, the whole board of work-style construction comes alive." As the study and education program deepens, various units of our Academy have deeply studied and grasped General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions on strengthening the Party's work-style construction. They have gained a profound understanding of the decisive significance of the "Two Establishments," resolutely achieved the "Two Upholds," and effectively enhanced their political, ideological, and operational consciousness in carrying out the study and education sessions.

All institutes have actively responded to The Provisions, emphasizing institutional construction and formulating a series of related measures based on their own realities. Through diverse actions, they have put the practical requirements for strengthening the Party's work-style construction in the New Era into effect.

Building upon The Provisions, the National Academy of Economic Strategy, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Evaluation Studies, the Institute of Sociology, and the Institute of Law, among others, have respectively formulated specific implementation rules and work plans. These put forward strict, clear, specific, and detailed normative requirements regarding the observance of political discipline and rules, the in-depth conduct of social investigations and research, the promotion of fine academic, writing, and work styles, the streamlining of meetings and activities, the simplification of documents and briefings, the improvement of news reporting, the standardization of overseas visits, and the practice of diligence and frugality. Members of the leadership teams have set examples, fully playing a leading role.

The Institute of Philosophy, targeting identified problems, has established various institutional mechanisms, such as a supervisory mechanism for the Standing Committee, a work reporting system for Party branches, a quarterly work report system, a work mechanism for the construction of Marxist philosophy as a discipline, management methods for academic secretaries, and confidentiality commitments. The Institute of Ancient History insists on emphasizing both institutional improvement and rigid execution; members of its leadership team solemnly made the "Three Commitments," setting a benchmark for integrity through self-revolution. While revising systems, they also strictly implement existing regulations to ensure that the system is "managed and tightened." The National Academy of Economic Strategy, targeting prominent problems found during self-inspection—such as "insufficient methods for taking initiative," "need for strengthened work-style construction," "need for improved research quality," and "need for better capacity to rectify formalism"—proposed a series of targeted measures for centralized remediation after fully listening to opinions and suggestions. The Institute of Industrial Economics formulated implementation measures to fortify the institutional foundation, requiring the creation of a "List of Problems Identified in Study and Education" and a "Ledger for Centralized Rectification in Study and Education," leading to a continuous rise in disciplinary and service awareness and the effective rectification of formalism and bureaucratism.

Ni Feng, Director of the Institute of American Studies, stated that members of the Party Committee must take the lead in purifying the academic ecosystem: they must not undertake "horizontal" ^[7] projects unrelated to their main business, publish articles in academic journals they directly oversee, participate in academic activities unrelated to their main business, or sign their names to works or articles to which they have not made a major contribution. They must take the lead in observing the various systems of CASS and the requirements of the Leading Party Members' Group, resolutely rectifying "loose" phenomena and their sources, and dealing with all words and deeds that disregard the organization or discipline in accordance with laws and regulations.

Theoretical study is the basis and prerequisite for carrying out study and education; political loyalty must be forged through the integration of study, thought, practice, and understanding. Only when study is thorough can understanding and action be adequate. Each unit attaches great importance to theoretical study, strictly implementing the "First Agenda" system ^[8] and treating it as the basic project for implementing the spirit of the Eight-Point Regulations. Through various forms such as the理论学习中心组 (Central Theory Learning Group) of the Party Committee, the "Three Meetings and One Lesson" ^[9], and Theme Party Days, they have organized Party member cadres to conduct centralized and individual study. The Institute of Marxism Studies (IMS) has made study and discussion the primary task and the main thread throughout the process. By hosting the "21st Century Marxism Grand Lecture" and reading clubs for young theory groups, they have organized discussions to continuously promote the depth and substance of theoretical arming. The Institute of Literature held 22 Party Committee Standing Committee meetings and 3 expanded Theory Learning Center Group meetings to convey and study the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speeches and instructions, insisting on treating them as the "First Agenda" for study, the "First Follow-through" for implementation, and the "First Political Task" for fulfillment. The Institute of Sociology, through in-depth study of the Party's innovative theories, has strengthened ideological guidance and consensus, clarified the direction of "organized research," innovated organizational management mechanisms, and further strengthened the leadership of department heads over organized research; it also strengthened the "Four Ones" construction of research offices ^[10], analyzed the institute's resource advantages, and enhanced the capacity to conduct organized research using precious resources. The National Institute of International Strategy launched the "Party Building Micro-Class" column to actively spread the Party's "good voice" and complete the "last mile" of educational propagation.

Luo Wendong, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Institute of Marxism Studies, stated that cadres and scholars must carry out academic research and interpretation centered on General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions on strengthening work-style construction and the significant achievements made in deeply implementing the Eight-Point Regulations since the 18th CPC National Congress.

"Strengthening the Party's work-style construction is an important historical experience of our Party's courage to turn the blade inward, its daring to engage in self-revolution, and its ultimate ability to make continuous progress and maintain eternal vitality." Liu Huichun, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Institute of Chinese Borderland Studies, required the whole institute to actively practice the Academy's "Three Consensus," earnestly implement the "First Agenda" system, research and interpret Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and build a foundational theoretical system for disciplines with Xi Jinping Thought as the fundamental follow-through, putting political loyalty into practice and continuously improving work style.

Investigation and research are the basis of planning and the path to success; they are the basic skill for doing all work well. The Eight-Point Regulations place "improving investigation and research" at the very top. Regarding investigation and research, focusing on the high-quality development of information work, Feng Weijiang, Secretary of the Party Committee and Director of the Institute of Health and Information, personally led a team to visit relevant departments for exchanges to gain a deep understanding of needs, putting in substantial effort to promote the precise matching of information supply and demand and effectively playing the role of a "bridge." As a pilot unit for the Academy’s "integration of research and education," the Institute of Journalism and Communication actively implemented the Leading Party Members’ Group’s deployment on this integration, requiring the Institute and the School of Journalism and Communication of the University of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences to jointly carry out field investigations; nearly 10 field investigation projects were recently launched. Hu Zhengrong, Director of the Institute of Journalism and Communication, urged everyone to focus on major national strategies and important livelihood issues, rather than sitting in a study like a "frog in a well" ^[11], but instead going out into the broad world to open new academic paths.

The Institute of Russia, Eastern Europe, and Central Asian Studies (IREECAS) formulated an application form for researchers participating in domestic investigations, comprehensively strengthening the review and control of research activities, further standardizing research activities, and organizing institute-wide exchanges and discussions on research situations to form research reports, thereby improving research quality and strengthening the application of results. The Institute of Latin American Studies and the Institute of Japanese Studies, among others, have standardized research and overseas travel activities in light of their specific realities, practiced diligence and frugality, and effectively applied the specific requirements of the Leading Party Members' Group to the practice of improving the normalized and long-term mechanisms for work-style construction in their respective institutes, pushing for new achievements in the Party's work-style construction.

Zhao Tianxiao, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, stated that The Provisions are a landmark measure by the Leading Party Members' Group in carrying out the study and education on the Eight-Point Regulations. This revision further unifies thought and action with the decision-making deployments of the CPC Central Committee and pushes the implementation of the Eight-Point Regulations to a deeper level. Today, "organized research" at the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology is continuously strengthening, with its potential and innovative vitality fully released through projects such as the national condition investigation project on forging the sense of community for the Chinese nation, the cultivation plan for excellent monographs, and the Innovation Project.

Advancing as a whole to ensure the study and education achieve practical results.

Actions speak louder than words. Practice has fully proven that the fundamental reason the deep implementation of the Eight-Point Regulations has achieved such remarkable results lies in General Secretary Xi Jinping’s position at the helm ^[12] and the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Since the launch of the study and education program for the deep implementation of the Eight-Point Regulations, and in close integration with practical work, the "Certain Provisions" (若干规定) have focused on prominent problems restricting development and deepened the treatment of both symptoms and root causes. The broad masses of CPC member-cadres and scholars across our Academy have vigorously pursued implementation with the spirit of self-revolution. Through the integrated advancement of "studying, inspecting, and rectifying," our work style has become more solid, our institutional atmosphere more pragmatic, and our academic style more clean and upright.

In the past, some scholars had a weak sense of academic mission and a lack of organized research, resulting in academic outputs with insufficient "gold content" and limited academic influence. Scholars at our Academy have deeply studied and implemented the spirit of the Eight-Point Regulations, focusing efforts on curing "fragmentation" (散) ^[13] in ideological, research, and organizational dimensions.

To radically cure "disciplinary fragmentation," break "research fragmentation," and eliminate "management fragmentation," the Institute of Ancient History and the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, among others, have gained a profound understanding of the political connotation of "moving the pole to establish trust" (徙木立信) ^[14] and the core requirements of the "Five Further Implementations." The manifestations and sources of "fragmentation" have been further rectified and cleared, research efficiency has been further enhanced, and the academic ecosystem has become clearer. The "One Academy and Six Institutes" ^[15] of the Chinese Academy of History carried out solid self-inspection work against the key contents of the "look-back" (回头看) ^[16] phase of the study and education program, sorting through items one by one, further clarifying the direction of rectification, and strengthening the implementation of responsibilities to ensure the study and education program achieved tangible results.

Currently, various forms of "formalism" within our Academy have been further curbed, with greater emphasis placed on the actual effects of investigation and research. Environmental conditions for research, scholarship, and management have been further purified, and researchers have further strengthened their sentiment for "conducting scholarship for the people" and "serving the country through research." He Dexu, Director of the National Academy of Economic Strategy (NAES), stated that implementing the spirit of the Eight-Point Regulations and its implementation rules is a long-term task. We must strictly follow the requirements of the CPC Central Committee and the Academy’s Leading Party Members' Group, maintaining constant effort without relaxation, persisting over the long term, and vigorously pursuing implementation to ensure real results and better fulfill the duty of serving General Secretary Xi Jinping and the CPC Central Committee.

The Institute of Finance and Banking (IFB) addressed integrity risks during the process of "connecting inspection with rectification," using a positive work style to promote the construction of the "Two Bases and One Platform" (两镇（阵）一平台) ^[17]. They conducted a thorough screening of publications such as the affiliated journal Financial Review, nine websites, 11 new media platform accounts, and six non-entity research centers, requiring them to focus on their primary responsibilities and strictly adhere to the "red lines" of discipline. The Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology compared itself against two "problem lists," conducting self-inspection and self-correction, and "turning the blade inward" (刀刃向内) ^[18] to identify issues.

The practice of "holding shorter meetings and giving shorter speeches" began with the Party Committee and the Director's executive meetings, improving work efficiency and solving problems pragmatically. Liao Fan, Secretary of the Party Committee and Director of the Institute of World Economics and Politics (IWEP), stated that the duration of institute-wide assemblies, work meetings, and journal review meetings has been significantly reduced, while efficiency has markedly increased.

In deeeply implementing the work deployments of the Academy’s Leading Party Members' Group, the Institute of Linguistics used academic development exchange meetings to focus on the "Top Priorities of the Nation" (国之大者) ^[19] in language and script work. Through keynote speeches by young and middle-aged core research staff and extensive in-depth discussions, the institute distilled major academic directions and promoted organized research and disciplinary construction. This resulted in an important consensus based on the "Two Combinations" ^[20], the "Three Consensuses," and the promotion of high-quality development in linguistic research for the New Era. Yu Xinhua, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Institute of Linguistics, encouraged young scholars to deepen their theoretical armament, promote an excellent work and academic style, and "be inspired by the times to strive for progress" (感时思奋发) for faster growth.

The Institute of Economics deeply studied General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions on strengthening the Party's work style, putting the Party's political construction first to cultivate a clean and upright academic ecosystem. They conducted "heart-to-heart talks" with over 120 individuals across the institute, strengthening the awareness of the institute as a political organ and the awareness of the "primary identity" of Party members. Combined with the work of "promoting rectification through case studies," they held a cumulative total of ten warning education activities. The awareness of serving the CPC Central Committee and the state, and of "conducting scholarship for the people," has been significantly enhanced, bringing a new atmosphere to the institute’s academic culture.

"By watching warning education films, we have come to profoundly realize that violating the spirit of the Eight-Point Regulations not only damages the image of the Party and the government and affects the image of the unit, but also brings serious consequences to oneself and one’s family. We must take this as a lesson, learn from one case to understand the rest, and use cases to clarify discipline, provide a mirror, promote rectification, and improve governance," said Ding Guoqi, Secretary of the Party Committee and Director of the Institute of Literature.

Today, the four words "rectifying style and tightening discipline" (正风肃纪) have truly achieved normalization and long-term effectiveness. The political awareness, integrity awareness, "red line" awareness, and responsibility awareness of all member-cadres have been further strengthened. These have been integrated into daily work and life, ensuring that both "inside and outside the eight hours" ^[21] of the workday, they maintain a sense of awe in their hearts, rectitude in their conduct, restraint in their words, and boundaries in their actions. The "strict tone," "strict measures," and "strict atmosphere" have been further reinforced.

Sun Zhuangzhi, Director of the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies (IREECAS), noted that our work style is constantly improving: we head toward problems and rectify them directly, never "closing the file" until the fix is complete. Leading member-cadres have spurred the departments they oversee to vigorously pursue work style construction and inspire a sense of responsibility. This has synergistically promoted the resolution of many problems, not only safeguarding the high-quality development of the institute's work through new achievements in work style construction but also bringing a "visible and tangible" new atmosphere to the research institute. Wang Rongjun, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Institute of Latin American Studies (ILAS), proposed that we must adhere to the philosophy that "conducting scholarship for the people is the duty and mission of researchers on the new journey." We must resolutely avoid impetuousness, reject utilitarianism, and produce results that can stand the test of history and the people through long-term, painstaking research.

The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences is a national philosophy and social science research institution under the direct leadership of the CPC Central Committee. We must hold the "bounden duty" of serving General Secretary Xi Jinping and the CPC Central Committee above our heads, on our shoulders, and in our hearts, maintaining the purity and dignity of this academic temple with excellent Party style, academic style, and institutional style. The entire Academy will continue to do a good job in study, deep inspection, thorough rectification, and strengthened supervision. We will further strictly enforce discipline and rules, strive to create a favorable atmosphere for entrepreneurship and career development, and forge a "theoretical and academic iron army" that is politically reliable, profoundly learned, strictly disciplined, and excellent in style. We will use the new achievements of work style construction to promote the accelerated construction of a Chinese independent knowledge system for philosophy and social sciences, contributing wisdom and strength to the comprehensive advancement of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization.