An Introduction to the Academy of Marxism, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
The Institute of Marxism Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) is a national-level Marxist research institution. It was reorganized on December 26, 2005, based on the original Institute of Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought, following approval by the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on May 19, 2005.
The Institute possesses a comprehensive range of academic disciplines. It is composed of five research departments—the Department of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the Department of Marxist Principles, the Department of the Sinicization of Marxism, the Department of the International Communist Movement, and the Department of Foreign Marxism—totaling 19 research offices. The Institute sponsors seven publications, including Marxist Studies (Marxisim Yanjiu), as well as websites such as the Marxist Studies Network.
The functions and tasks of the Institute are as follows: to persist in taking Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as guidance; to continually and deeply implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speech at the Symposium on Philosophy and Social Sciences, his important speech at the Symposium on Cultural Inheritance and Development, and his various congratulatory letters to CASS; to profoundly comprehend the decisive significance of the Two Establishments; and to strengthen the Four Consciousnesses [1], remain firm in the Four Confidences [2], and achieve the Two Upholds.
The Institute’s primary task is the study, research, interpretation, and promotion of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Grounded in the practice of China's socialist reform, opening up, and modernization, and guided by major theoretical and practical issues of concern to the Party, the state, and the people, the Institute conducts comprehensive and in-depth research into: classic Marxist works and fundamental principles; the history of Marxist development; Sinicized Marxism—Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Theory of Three Represents, and the Scientific Outlook on Development; Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era; the historical evolution and basic experience of the international communist movement; contemporary world socialist movements and trends of thought; and foreign Marxism.
The Institute organically integrates Marxist academic research, theoretical promotion, and practical application. It conducts extensive exchange and cooperation with domestic and foreign counterparts, actively offers suggestions and policy advice, and serves the cause of socialism in China and the world. It strives to stand at the forefront of the times, to master the changes from antiquity to the present [3], and to serve as a pioneer of thought. It seeks to better fulfill the "Three Positions" [4] responsibilities of CASS and accelerate the construction of a disciplinary system, academic system, and discourse system for philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics, as well as an autonomous knowledge system. By doing so, it aims to flourish Chinese scholarship, develop Chinese theory, and spread Chinese thought. It works to develop contemporary Chinese Marxism and 21st-century Marxism, making greater contributions to the comprehensive building of a modern socialist country and the comprehensive advancement of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
The Institute is organized into five research departments: the Department of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the Department of Marxist Principles, the Department of the Sinicization of Marxism, the Department of the International Communist Movement, and the Department of Foreign Marxism. These contain 19 research offices: the Office of Basic Theory, the Office of Basic Strategies, the Office of Party Building and Party History, the Office of Ideology and Social Trends, the Office of Clean Governance and Social Evaluation, the Office of Marxist Philosophy, the Office of Marxist Political Economy, the Office of Scientific Socialism, the Office of the History of Marxist Development, the Office of Mao Zedong Thought, the Office of the Theoretical System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, the Office of Ideological and Political Education, the Office of Marxist Atheism, the Office of the History of the International Communist Movement, the Office of Contemporary World Socialism, the Office of Contemporary World Capitalism, the Office of Foreign Left-wing Thought, the Office of Foreign Communist Party Theory, and the Office of Western Marxism.
The Institute also includes one professional department: the Information Network and Materials Room; and five administrative departments: the General Office, the Research Management Office, the Personnel Office, the "Three Offices" Comprehensive Coordination Office, and the Secretariat of the Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Its current publications and websites include Marxist Studies, World Socialism Studies (public and internal editions), Science and Atheism, International Critical Thought (English), World Review of Political Economy (English), Marxism Digest, the Yearbook of Marxist Theoretical Research and Discipline Construction, Dynamics of World Socialism Studies, The New Era, and the Marxist Studies Network.
The Institute is one of the supporting units for the CASS Division of Marxist Studies and a primary supporting unit for several professional CASS think tanks, including the Marxist Theoretical Innovation Think Tank, the Ideological Think Tank, and the Xi Jinping Thought Research Center Think Tank. It is responsible for managing four national academic associations: the Chinese Society of Historical Materialism, the Chinese Association for Political Economy, the Chinese Association for the History of Foreign Economic Doctrines, and the Chinese Atheism Society. It also manages four non-physical research centers: the CASS Research Center for Contemporary Theoretical Trends, the CASS Research Center for Marxist Economic and Social Development, the CASS Research Center for Science and Atheism, and the CASS Research Center for National Cultural Security and Ideological Construction.
The CASS Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the Research Center for the Theoretical System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, the World Socialism Research Center, the CASS Office for the Marxism Theory Research and Construction Project (Ma-Gong-Cheng), and the Office of the Ideological and Theoretical Writing Group are also located within the Institute.
Current Leadership: Luo Wendong, Secretary of the Party Committee; Cui Weihang, Director and Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee; Chen Zhigang, Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission and Deputy Director; Yu Haiqing, Deputy Director.
The Institute currently has 119 professional and technical personnel and 14 administrative personnel. Among the professional staff, 29 hold senior professional titles, 38 hold deputy-senior titles, 51 are intermediate, and one is junior; 107 hold doctoral degrees and 12 hold master's degrees. Seventeen members receive the State Council Government Special Allowance. Several scholars have been recognized as National Experts with Outstanding Contributions, and included in the National "Ten Thousand Talents Program" and the "Four Batches" talent program. Many serve as chief or lead experts for the Central Marxism Theory Research and Construction Project.
Scholars at the Institute have frequently been awarded major projects and special commissioned projects from the National Social Science Fund (Central Marxism Theory Research and Construction Project), as well as annual National Social Science Fund projects. Additionally, they have secured major CASS projects, major national condition survey projects, and base projects. The Institute also undertakes various tasks assigned by the Central Committee and CASS annually.
The Institute is the lead coordinating unit for the School of Marxism at the University of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (UCASS). Xin Xiangyang and Lin Jianhua serve as Dean and Vice Dean of the School, respectively. As one of the first twelve integrated undergraduate-graduate schools at UCASS, the School of Marxism undertakes the important task of cultivating specialized talent in Marxist theory. It enrolls undergraduates in Marxist Theory and Ideological and Political Education, and graduate students in disciplines including Basic Principles of Marxism, History of Marxist Development, Sinicization of Marxism, Scientific Socialism and the International Communist Movement, Foreign Marxism, Ideological and Political Education, Party Building, China Studies, and Literary Hermeneutics. Forty-nine scholars from the Institute serve as graduate supervisors, including 21 doctoral supervisors and 28 master's supervisors. Currently, the School has 172 undergraduate students, 86 master's students, and 74 doctoral students.
The Institute hosts a post-doctoral research station in Marxist Theory, recruiting post-doctoral researchers in fields such as Basic Principles of Marxism, History of Marxist Development, the Sinicization of Marxism, Scientific Socialism and the International Communist Movement, Foreign Marxism, Ideological and Political Education, and Party Building. It also accepts senior visiting scholars. Currently, there are 10 post-doctoral researchers and 22 visiting scholars in residence.
Address: No. 5 Jianguomennei Street, Beijing Postal Code: 100732 Websites: marxism.cass.cn / myy.cssn.cn