2025 Young Academic Forum of the Academy of Marxism, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Held Successfully
On December 10, 2025, the 2025 Youth Academic Forum of the Institute of Marxism Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), was held in Conference Room 1345 of the Scientific Research Building. Centered on "Major Theoretical and Frontier Issues of Marxism," the forum aimed to strengthen theoretical discussion and exchange among youth, assist in the academic growth of young scholars, and promote the production of high-quality results. Luo Wendong, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Institute of Marxism Studies, delivered an address. Approximately forty participants attended, including directors of research departments, heads of journal editorial departments, external experts, and young scholars from various departments. The forum was organized by the Youth Working Group and the Scientific Research Department of the Institute of Marxism Studies.
Scene of the 2025 Youth Academic Forum of the Institute of Marxism Studies
The forum consisted of three segments: opening remarks, keynote speeches, and a summary.
Luo Wendong, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Institute of Marxism Studies, first represented the Party Committee and the leadership team in congratulating the opening of this Youth Academic Forum and expressed gratitude to the experts from both within and outside the institute for taking time out of their busy schedules to attend. He pointed out that this forum is a grand event for the academic deliberations of the institute's youth and an important platform for their growth and development. Compared to specialized youth seminars, the annual Youth Academic Forum must place greater emphasis on systematization and theoretical rigor [1], combining basic theoretical research with applied policy research to produce more high-quality outcomes. He expressed his hope that the young scholars of the institute would maintain a vigorous and enterprising spirit, carry forward a refined style of work characterized by seeking truth from facts and striving for excellence, actively participate in the youth forum, and achieve self-transcendence more effectively and rapidly.
The morning keynote speech segment featured presentations by six youth representatives and comments from four experts.
Liu Yan, Associate Researcher at the Department of Research on Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, delivered a speech titled "The Core Inner Meaning and Theoretical Innovation of the Concept 'Lucid Waters and Lush Mountains are Invaluable Assets'" [2]. She delved into the theoretical sources of the "Two Mountains" concept, elaborated on its theoretical connotations, and pointed out that the concept embodies the unity of history and logic, science and values, and possibility and reality. She argued that this concept has achieved theoretical breakthroughs on three levels: the outlook on development, the outlook on values, and the outlook on civilization. Zhang Ge, Associate Researcher at the Department of Research on the Sinicization of Marxism, spoke on "The Construction of the Discursive System of Marxist Atheism in the New Era." Starting from the practical difficulties faced by the discipline of atheism and the practical need to respond to current hot-button issues and promote atheistic propaganda and education, he proposed three links for constructing the discursive system: the construction of "atheistic" discourse; the deconstruction of "theistic" discourse; and the analysis of the contradictory discourse between "theism" and "atheism." Bi Guoshuai, Assistant Researcher at the Department of Research on Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, spoke on "An Analysis of the Logical Framework of the Cultural Form of Chinese-path Modernization." Based on the historical materialist view of culture, he explored the internal dimensions and basic components of "cultural forms" at the level of first principles. On this basis, he analyzed the subjective, cognitive, practical, and communicative logics of the "cultural form" of Chinese-path modernization.
He Xinyuan, Director of the Department of Research on the Sinicization of Marxism, and Ren Jie, Executive Editor-in-Chief and Director of the Editorial Department of Marxist Studies (Makesizhuyi yanjiu), commented on the presentations of the three young scholars. They pointed out that articles in the category of Marxist theoretical research should increase philosophical analysis as much as possible to enhance theoretical depth and abstract height. They emphasized the need for innovation in structural frameworks to avoid formulaic approaches, ensuring that titles and content are mutually consistent, exercising great caution in the use of conceptual terminology, and avoiding grammatical errors in written expression.
Li Yan, Assistant Researcher at the Department of Research on the Principles of Marxism, spoke on "The Valorization Mechanism and Power Maintenance of Technocratic Monopoly Capital." She analyzed the essence of the combination of technology and capital and its primary manifestations in contemporary capitalism. She argued for the mechanisms through which technocratic monopoly capital undergoes valorization and the primary ways monopoly capitalism maintains its power over technology. She pointed out that in seeking new profit spaces, contemporary monopoly capitalism shapes technology into a scarce economic resource, leveraging advantages in technological accumulation to extract rent from non-core segments of global industrial chains. By dominating the reproduction of technology, monopoly capitalism forms unequal power relations in global industrial chain activities and, with the support of capitalist state power, maintains and consolidates its technological monopoly. Thus, the combination of technology and capital has become a relatively independent capital force; on one hand, it is based on the highly developed socialization of production, while on the other, it exacerbates uneven development, causing the inherent contradictions of capitalism to deepen further. Sun Jinya, an editor at the Marxist Studies editorial department, spoke on "The Logical Rationale and Theoretical Contributions of Comprehensively Deepening Reform in the New Era: An Analysis Based on Political Economy." She pointed out that from Reform and Opening-up to the comprehensive deepening of reform in the New Era, China's reforms have consistently embodied the scientific understanding and innovative development of the laws of reform found in Marxist political economy. Comprehensively deepening reform in the New Era is situated at the historical coordinate of the critical moment of advancing Chinese-path modernization and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Taking the basic principles of Marxist political economy as scientific guidance, it has achieved great successes in the reform practice of promoting the dialectical unity of the productive forces and relations of production, and the economic base and superstructure. It has also made important theoretical contributions, successfully opening up a new frontier for Marxist political economy. Zhang Ting, an editor at the Studies on World Socialism (Shijie shehuizhuyi yanjiu) editorial department, spoke on "A Conceptual Analysis of the View of Capital with Chinese Characteristics." She pointed out that the New Era has given rise to the task of shaping a view of capital with Chinese characteristics, answering the question of how to guide and regulate the development of capital under the conditions of a socialist market economy. The key and primary issue in researching the view of capital with Chinese characteristics is the definition of the concept of capital. It is necessary to clarify the "Chinese characteristics" across four dimensions—the nature, status, role, and characteristics of capital—through the conceptual differentiation of "capital" versus "funds," "capital" versus "the view of capital," and the "capitalist view of capital" versus the "socialist view of capital."
Yu Bin, Director of the Department of Foreign Marxist Studies, and Shan Chao, Deputy Director of the Studies on World Socialism editorial department, commented on the presentations of the three young scholars. They pointed out that their articles still suffered from issues such as unclear main arguments, inconsistency between content and titles, and contradictions between analytical tools and central theses.
The afternoon keynote speech segment featured presentations by seven youth representatives and comments from six experts.
Ma Zhengli, Associate Researcher at the Department of Research on Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, spoke on "Comprehensively and Strictly Governing the Party to Escort High-Quality Economic Development." She explored the fundamental logic, historical evolution, practical paths, and long-term mechanisms of how comprehensively and strictly governing the Party safeguards high-quality economic development. She sought the theoretical foundations of the interaction between Party leadership, strictly governing the Party, and economic development in classic Marxist literature. She traced the practical thread of how strictly governing the Party has escorted economic development over the past century from a historical dimension, attempting to construct an innovative framework to explain the great achievements of high-quality Party building leading high-quality economic development using Chinese academic discourse. Liu Ying, Associate Researcher at the Department of Research on the Principles of Marxism, spoke on "Marx and Engels' Thought on Strategic Resolve and its Contemporary Value." She discussed the logical premises, core essence, and methodological principles of Marx and Engels' thought on strategic resolve. She pointed out that the contemporary value of this thought lies in adhering to the correct strategic direction of reform and opening up, cultivating the strategic patience to persist over the long term, consolidating the strategic will to have the courage and the ability to fight [3], maintaining the unity of strategic firmness and tactical flexibility, and improving the scientific level of governance. Chen Ni, Assistant Researcher at the Department of Research on the Sinicization of Marxism, spoke on "An Analysis of Problem-Orientation in the Party's Leadership over the Formulation of Five-Year Plans in the New Era." She pointed out that adhering to a problem-oriented approach is an important methodology for the Party’s leadership in formulating Five-Year Plans in the New Era, as reflected in the principles of formulation and throughout the entire process. Yang Wen, Assistant Researcher at the Department of Research on the Sinicization of Marxism, spoke on "Historical Explorations and Lessons from the Party’s Conduct Building in the Early Period of the People’s Republic of China." She argued for the necessity and feasibility of the Party’s conduct building in the early PRC. Using literature and data related to Party history and Party building from 1949–1956, she summarized the specific measures taken and the valuable historical experience and insights they provide for the Party’s conduct building in the New Era.
Wang Bingquan, Deputy Director of the CASS Institute of Political Science and Director of the Political Science Research (Zhengzhixue yanjiu) editorial department; Li Ruishan, an editor from Studies on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics (Zhongguo tese shehuizhuyi yanjiu); and Dai Lixing, Director of the Department of Research on Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, commented on the four scholars' presentations. They noted that a good paper needs to refine its thesis, focus on the problem, and concentrate its discussion. Core conceptual categories should be as concise as possible, with definitions provided before the discussion begins. The problem-oriented approach should be discussed in conjunction with objectives. The exploration of Marxist classics must have depth, and historical analysis should pay particular attention to the synthesis of materials. Academic articles differ from propaganda pieces and must possess theoretical depth.
Zhuo Mingliang, Associate Researcher at the Department of Foreign Marxist Studies, spoke on "The Political Logic of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era Promoting the Development of the World Socialist Movement." He proposed three points: first, that socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era is continuously dispersing the "haze" hanging over the world socialist movement; second, that socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era has brought about a major shift in the contest between the two systems [4] in favor of socialism; and third, that socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era is becoming the power engine leading the world socialist movement toward revival. Zhao Dingqi, Assistant Researcher at the Department of Foreign Marxist Studies, spoke on "Chantal Mouffe’s Left-Populist Strategy and its Limitations from a 'Post-Political' Perspective." He pointed out that after 2013, the European left-nationalist movement was deeply influenced by Chantal Mouffe’s left-populism. Mouffe’s left-populism emerged in the context of the crisis of neoliberal hegemony and the post-political landscape as a surge to counter the threat posed by right-wing populism to global society. In practice, it has suffered repeated setbacks, and theoretically, it has significant limitations, completely departing from the basic Marxist standpoint and essentially constituting a form of bourgeois reformism.
Wang Zhen, Assistant Researcher at the International Critical Thought (Guoji sixiang pinglun) editorial department, spoke on "Analyzing the Institutional Advantages of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics from the Perspective of the Generalized Sharing Economy." She proposed that economic and social development objectively requires regulators, commodity/service providers, and consumers to fully share information. Simultaneously, it requires a "regulator" to plan and regulate by synthesizing the needs of all parties. From an economic perspective, she argued that the CPC is the "regulator" that meets the requirements of economic development, and that the leadership of the CPC is the most defining feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the greatest strength of the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
Wang Jin, Second-level Inspector of the Fourth Research Department of the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee and Executive Editor-in-Chief of Contemporary World and Socialism (Dangdai shijie yu shehuizhuyi); Liu Haixia, Deputy Director of the Department of Research on the International Communist Movement; and Wang Zhongbao, Executive Editor-in-Chief and Director of the Editorial Department of International Critical Thought, commented on the three scholars' presentations. They noted that the selection of topics for academic papers should be novel; abstracts should highlight the main viewpoints and highlights of the article; the analytical framework and logical threads should be clear; the sources of evidence should be diversified rather than singular; and references should be substantial.
Three external experts from journal editorial departments emphasized that the core standard for selecting articles for excellent journals does not lie in how well the "surface work" is done, but in how much time, effort, and heart the author has invested. Articles written with genuine care, effort, and time will not have many loopholes. Young scholars should not pursue "short, smooth, and fast" [5] results; although chasing hot topics can lead to published articles, it is not conducive to academic growth. "Youth-friendly" journals do not discriminate based on an author's seniority—"heroes are not judged by their origins"—and young scholars should have the confidence to submit to top-tier journals.
Luo Wendong pointed out that in the New Era, the Party and the state have provided an excellent research environment and conditions for workers in the philosophy and social sciences. Young scholars should carry forward the spirit of struggle and innovation, work diligently and arduously, be rigorous and realistic, and integrate themselves into organized research teams and the community of national Marxist discipline construction, giving full play to their abilities and talents. To do good scholarship, young scholars should read more articles, read good articles, seek advice from experienced seniors, engage in interdisciplinary academic exchanges, and combine theory with practice to increase knowledge and broaden their horizons. The Party Committee and leadership team of the Institute of Marxism Studies will continue to provide strong support for the growth of young people.
Yang Jing, Deputy Director of the Department of Research on the Principles of Marxism and head of the Youth Working Group, concluded by noting that the presentations of the 13 young scholars reflected the research characteristics of various departments. From the keynote speeches and expert comments, one can see...
He summarized three relationships that must be properly handled to write high-quality articles: first, the relationship between the "large, medium, and small." "Large" [6] refers to the necessity for the selected topic, framework, and argumentation to possess value and originality; "medium" requires logical coherence and a precise correspondence between the text and the title; and "small" refers to paying attention to details and putting in hard work. Second is the relationship between "what cannot be rushed" and "what cannot wait." On one hand, one must learn to "sit on a cold bench" [7], consolidating the theoretical foundation and building a theoretical accumulation for long-term research; on the other hand, one must have a sense of "time waiting for no one," optimizing work methods and increasing efficiency to achieve comprehensive development across multiple dimensions. Third is the relationship between collective scientific research and individual research; one must actively carry out individual research on the basis of completing collective projects, achieving the mutual promotion and transformation between collective and individual results.
Yang Jing proposed three suggestions for the study and growth of young scholars: first, to deeply cultivate classical texts, engaging in a holistic and systematic study of the history of the development of Marxist theory. This involves grasping its consistent internal logic and its theoretical character of advancing with the times, thereby promoting its development and innovation in the contemporary era. Second, to strengthen the contemporary interpretation of the basic principles of Marxism, actively exploring the intersection between these basic principles and different disciplines, as well as their points of integration with Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Third, to contribute to the systematization and academic theorization [8] of the Party’s innovative theories, focusing on seizing opportunities and deepening research. Finally, on behalf of the Youth Work Group, Yang Jing extended sincere gratitude to the participants, stating that the Youth Work Group will resolutely implement the deployments and requirements of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies Party Committee and leadership team. They will continue to optimize youth work, actively build platforms for growth, and strive to create a better environment and provide solid support for the development and success of young scholars.
(Text and images provided by Wang Yi)