Yu Haiqing: Exploring the Direction of Human Progress Amid the Deep Evolution of Great Changes
In 2023, the relationships between major powers were complex and volatile, geopolitical competition ebbed and flowed, and contradictions and conflicts emerged one after another; the world entering the post-pandemic era was full of variables. In this world where change and disorder are intertwined, foreign Communist Parties have upheld the mission of proletarian political parties. They continue to hold high the great banner of Marxism, engaging in tit-for-tat struggles against hegemonism, power politics, and various forms of anti-communism. Based on a deep synthesis of developmental experiences and lessons, they have clarified their directions and programs for growth, strived to defend the fundamental rights and interests of laborers, and joined hands with left-wing forces to seek a new future. In a world fraught with uncertainty, they seek greater certainty for the development of human society.
I. Solemnly Commemorating Important Historical Milestones; Looking Back to Move Forward with Strengthening Resolve
In 2023, Communist Parties in many countries reached anniversaries of their founding. On the important occasion of the 30th anniversary of the re-establishment of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF), Gennady Zyuganov, Chairman of the CPRF Central Committee, delivered a speech. He looked back on the journey of the CPRF from being banned to restoring its party organization and developing into the strongest Communist Party in the former Soviet region. He emphasized that for the past 30 years, the CPRF has stood at the forefront of the people’s struggle, playing an important role in opposing destructive reforms, supporting and protecting collective enterprises, and defending Russia’s security and sovereignty. He declared that the CPRF will never give up and will forge ahead courageously along a thorny path, fighting the great battle to promote the cause of justice and progress.
2023 also marked the 30th anniversary of the re-establishment of the Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova (PCRM). On November 7, 2023, a day of commemorative significance marking the 106th anniversary of the victory of the October Revolution, the PCRM held a celebratory assembly attended by more than 900 delegates from across the country. Party Chairman Vladimir Voronin delivered a speech, affectionately recalling the great achievements during the period of Soviet socialist construction, speaking highly of the PCRM’s governance achievements under a harsh external environment, thanking loyal PCRM members, and calling on young people to join the party to strive unremittingly for truth and hope, and for the establishment of a new society of equality and justice. Furthermore, 2023 was the 10th anniversary of the Party of Labour of Austria, the 30th anniversary of the Communist Party of Malaysia [1], the 70th anniversary of the Communist Party of Australia, the 80th anniversary of the Communist Party of Sri Lanka, and the 105th anniversary of the Communist Party of Argentina; each party organized a diverse array of commemorative activities.
December 26, 2023, was the 130th anniversary of the birth of Comrade Mao Zedong. Leading up to this important date, various foreign Communist Parties, especially Maoist parties, posted posters and painted slogans, holding various forms of commemorative activities. Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda), Chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) and Prime Minister of Nepal, delivered a speech at a commemorative event at party headquarters. He declared that the world in the post-Mao era has undergone major changes; as firm Maoists, they must learn to adapt to the environment and fundamentally understand the connotations of ideology and revolution, while defending Marxism remains the primary task currently facing the communist movement. Several Maoist parties, including the Communist Party of Afghanistan (Maoist) and the Communist Party of Turkey/Marxist-Leninist, issued a joint statement highly evaluating the historical status and contemporary significance of Mao Zedong Thought, calling on the global proletariat and the oppressed to unite.
2023 also saw other important historical milestones, such as the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the Cuban Revolution, the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Battle of Stalingrad, and the 175th anniversary of the publication of the Manifesto of the Communist Party. Communist Parties of various countries commemorated these through wreath-laying ceremonies, celebratory meetings, and writing prefaces for new editions of the Manifesto.
In 2023, several important leaders of foreign Communist Parties passed away, such as Munir Hamarneh, former General Secretary of the Jordanian Communist Party; Chris Matlhako, Second Deputy General Secretary of the South African Communist Party; Tom French, former President of the Workers' Party of Ireland; Guillermo Teillier del Valle, President of the Communist Party of Chile; as well as Communists with significant social influence such as Francesco Maselli, the renowned director and member of the Movement for the Refoundation of the Communists (Italy). Their passing not only impacted the development of their respective parties to varying degrees but also constituted a major loss for the cause of the international communist movement.
II. Convening Party Congresses and Important Meetings to Anchor the Direction of Party Development
In 2023, Communist Parties in power in socialist countries held Central Committee plenums to deeply summarize the achievements and problems of the previous stage of work and to determine the main focus of future tasks. The Communist Party of Vietnam convened the 7th and 8th Plenary Sessions of its 13th Central Committee in May and October 2023, respectively. On the basis of fully affirming achievements in economic and social development, they conducted extensive discussions on issues such as consolidating the macroeconomic foundation, promoting the steady and healthy development of markets at all levels, improving the quality of social policies, and building the ranks of intellectuals in the New Era.
The Lao People's Revolutionary Party held the mid-term meeting of its 11th Central Committee in August 2023. The meeting reviewed the implementation of the resolutions of the 11th National Congress and the 9th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development. It emphasized that the Party's future efforts will mainly focus on ensuring political stability, creating conditions to graduate from the category of Least Developed Countries, strengthening Party leadership to promote the implementation of innovation policies, and continuing to promote economic growth in line with green and sustainable development trends while reducing poverty.
The Communist Party of Cuba held the 6th and 7th Plenary Sessions of its 8th Central Committee in May and December 2023, respectively. These meetings evaluated the work of the Political Bureau and analyzed political-ideological work based on the ideas, concepts, and guiding principles [2] put forward by the 8th National Congress of the CPCu. They condemned the cruel imperialist blockade against Cuba and its serious impact, calling for the vigorous development of productive forces and the stimulation of the spiritual strength of the revolution. They emphasized that only by doing so can the national pride of the Cuban people be strengthened.
The Workers' Party of Korea held enlarged meetings of the 7th and 8th Plenary Sessions of its 8th Central Committee in February and June 2023. These meetings summarized the implementation of the rural revolutionary program for the New Era in 2022 and conducted a mid-term evaluation of the work in 2023 regarding the implementation of major policies to safeguard national interests and the security environment, as well as the realization of the comprehensive development of Korean-path socialism. They required major economic sectors to consolidate the growth lines already achieved and to drive a new upsurge in the entire economy through a more powerful struggle, while simultaneously tapping into military potential and making faster progress in enhancing self-defense capabilities.
Several non-governing Communist Parties convened national congresses in 2023 to analyze international and domestic situations and the Party’s struggle practices, clarifying specific tasks and directions of action for the Party’s future development. From March 17 to 19, 2023, the German Communist Party (DKP) held its 25th National Congress in Gotha. About 175 delegates from almost all regional organizations of the DKP participated. Party Chairman Patrik Köbele delivered a speech analyzing changes in the international balance of power and the DKP’s tasks in social struggles and peace movements. The congress ultimately passed the motion "Heating, Bread, and Peace: Into the Classrooms, Into the Factories and Unions, Into the Communities, Onto the Streets." Köbele was re-elected Party Chairman with over 90% of the vote.
In April 2023, the French Communist Party (PCF) held its 39th National Congress in Marseille. At this meeting, Fabien Roussel was re-elected National Secretary of the PCF with 80.4% support. The congress planned the PCF’s development roadmap for the next three years, calling for the establishment of a "New Popular Front" that transcends the "New Ecological and Social People's Union" (NUPES), continuing the struggle against pension reform, regaining the support of the vast majority of the people, and striving to return to the governing stage by 2027 to build a "free, strong, and happy France."
The Communist Party of Pakistan held its 10th National Congress in June 2023 with the theme "Liberation from Imperialism, Warlordism, and Feudalism; Establishment of a Secular Socialist Society." The congress emphasized the significance of revolutionary struggle and advocated for instilling class consciousness among the working class and the masses through class struggle, thereby launching a revolutionary uprising. The party especially emphasized the vital importance of conducting work among the masses, calling on members to establish close ties with the masses using everyday life issues as a solid bond.
The Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV) held its 16th National Congress in October 2023. More than 100 delegates from across the country attended and deeply discussed the PCV's line of work. General Secretary Oscar Figuera delivered a speech proposing that the PCV reorganize political and social forces to better achieve unity, emphasizing that the PCV's mission is to "strive to unite people's movements, revolutionary movements, and democratic and patriotic trends to continuously advance in the struggle for a true revolution."
The 57th Congress of the Communist Party of Britain (CPB) was held in London on November 4–5, 2023. The slogan of the congress was "Build a United Front Against Monopoly Capitalism and War." The meeting conducted in-depth discussions on the international and domestic environments facing British Communists, expressing concern over the emergence of a "New Cold War" and increasing militarization. It emphasized that building a stronger, more influential Communist Party and a militant united front is crucial for helping the labor movement and the Left determine their strategy and direction. The CPB has achieved new progress in organization in recent years, with its membership growing by 5% since its last congress, most of whom are young members. Consequently, this meeting also raised the necessity of strengthening political education within the Party.
In November 2023, the Workers' Party of Ireland held its annual conference. Delegates unanimously agreed on the re-election of Ted Tynan as President and discussed a range of economic, political, social, and international issues. The meeting emphasized the importance of class analysis, arguing that only through a detailed class analysis of history, events, and political movements can the surrounding world and its future direction be more fully understood. To this end, the Workers' Party issued a call to transform protest actions into class politics, proposing that the important role of the Workers' Party is to provide a socialist alternative for turbulent times.
III. Breakthroughs in Local Elections; Overall Strength Remains Weak
Participating in domestic elections at various levels and winning more public support to expand their social base is an important aspect of the political activities of foreign Communist Parties. In 2023, although performance in national-level elections was not entirely satisfactory, some Communist Parties showed strong momentum and achieved new breakthroughs in regional or local elections.
The Communist Party of Austria (KPÖ) is a representative party in this regard. Following its significant results in the 2019 Graz city council elections, the KPÖ achieved excellent results in the elections for the state of Salzburg and its capital city, Salzburg, in April 2023. In the Salzburg state election, the "KPÖ Plus" electoral list, composed of the KPÖ and non-party individuals, made history as its support jumped from 0.31% to 11.66%. In the Salzburg city election, this list ranked second with 21.51% of the vote (an increase of 20.32%), second only to the governing People's Party. When asked about the secret of the party’s success, KPÖ Chairman Günther Hopfgartner specifically emphasized the importance of "common action" for the KPÖ. He pointed out that ideological disputes must take a backseat at critical moments and theoretical arguments must be measured in practice; that is, the Party's focus should not be on ideological differences but on the possibility of common action, because in such common action, many differences will weaken. Politics will no longer be oriented toward abstractly constructed objects but will revolve around real subjects.
The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) also achieved breakthroughs in local elections. In the Greek regional and municipal elections held in October 2023, the KKE continued its upward trend of recent years, demonstrating strong political strength. The KKE fielded candidates in all 13 regions and 262 municipalities across the country. After two rounds of elections, a total of six Communists were elected as mayors, and hundreds of Communists were elected as municipal and regional councilors. Looking nationwide, the KKE's support rose from 6.86% in 2019 to over 10%.
Beyond this, foreign Communist Parties participated in several important elections in 2023. These parties experienced various gains and losses, ebbs and flows, with their overall strength remaining relatively stable. In the Cypriot presidential election held in February 2023, Andreas Mavroyiannis, an independent candidate supported by the Progressive Party of Working People (AKEL), suffered a narrow defeat by a margin of less than 4%. Nevertheless, this election demonstrated the formidable strength of left-wing forces, leading AKEL to express full confidence in the party's future development prospects. In 2023, legislative elections were held in several Indian states. In the election in Tripura, a traditional "Red Belt" [3] area, the Left Front—formed by the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Communist Party of India, and others—contested 43 of the 60 total seats in an attempt to reclaim control of the state lost in 2018. Ultimately, they failed to challenge the dominance of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), securing only 13 seats. Some observers believe that public fatigue with the Left Front’s long tenure, combined with internal left-wing infighting and a failure to actively engage young voters, were the primary reasons for the electoral setback. In the Spanish general election held in July 2023, the Communist Party of Spain (PCE) joined "Sumar" [4], a left-wing electoral platform established by Yolanda Díaz, a PCE member and Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Labour, capturing 10 seats. In November 2023, Sumar formed a coalition government with the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE); in addition to Díaz, another Communist, Sira Rego, was appointed Minister of Youth and Children. In the Russian regional elections held in September 2023, the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) contested gubernatorial races in 19 out of 21 provinces, ultimately winning governorships in the Oryol Oblast and the Republic of Khakassia. The party also strengthened its vertical distribution in several regions not traditionally considered CPRF strongholds, winning seats in nearly every municipal council in the Kherson region. In the November 2023 regional and local elections, the Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova won 4.33% of the vote, securing 47 councillor seats—a decrease of four seats compared to the 2019 elections. In the Serbian parliamentary elections held in December 2023, the New Communist Party of Yugoslavia achieved a new breakthrough; appearing on the ballot for the first time in 23 years as representatives of the "Pro-Russian and Patriotic Alliance," the coalition ultimately received 4.79% support.
IV. Focusing on the practical critique of capitalism and joining hands with left-wing forces in common struggle
In 2023, foreign Communist Parties continued their struggles against capitalism and in defense of workers' rights, offering mutual solidarity and support. Through the practice of struggle, they continuously synthesized experiences and deepened theoretical reflections, striving to explore the laws of capitalist development and change—as well as the laws of working-class struggle—under new historical conditions, seeking to forge consensus and formulate joint action plans.
First, they actively engaged in struggles for the basic rights of the people. For example, inspired by the October Revolution, the South African Communist Party (SACP) has in recent years launched an annual "Red October Campaign" aimed at meeting the people's needs. The 2023 campaign focused on "Land, Food, and Jobs," protesting the rising cost of living through diverse forms of struggle. Facing government policies protective of multinational energy corporations, the Workers' Party of Belgium (PTB/PVDA) launched the "Revolt of the Angry" (Colère/Woede) campaign, calling for lower energy prices and organizing weekly protests in various cities and towns to pressure the government into action.
Second, they maintained a resolute struggle against hegemonism and power politics. Given the frequent international conflicts and confrontations in 2023, opposing war, maintaining peace, and defending justice constituted central elements of the practical struggles of foreign Communist Parties. Communist organizations in many countries held protest marches and demonstrations opposing their governments' provision of weapons to Ukraine, condemning the attack on the Cuban Embassy in the United States, opposing the U.S. designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism, and calling for an immediate end to the blockade against Cuba. The Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) launched a "Human Chain" action, while Communist Parties from many countries issued a declaration of "Solidarity with Palestine," participating in the organization of large-scale marches, anti-war, and anti-fascist rallies. They voiced support for Palestine, called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire and an end to the blockade of Gaza, and emphasized that the only path to lasting peace in the Middle East is respecting and ensuring the realization of the people’s free will.
Third, they engaged in tit-for-tat struggles against various anti-communist and "de-communization" [5] activities. In July 2023, the House of Representatives of the Netherlands passed a motion regarding the Soviet famine of the 1930s (Holodomor), describing the famine as a "genocide" against the Ukrainian people and claiming it was "deliberately planned and implemented by the Soviet regime of the time to oppress the Ukrainian people." In response to this historical nihilism [6] aimed at demonizing communism, the New Communist Party of the Netherlands (NCPN) issued public statements to clarify historical truths, defend the October Revolution and the great achievements of Soviet socialism, and expose the motion’s objective of manipulating public opinion to tarnish the image of Communist Parties. They highly praised the history of Soviet socialism as a history of cooperation, friendship, and solidarity, while criticizing capitalist restoration for bringing war, hunger, and fascism back to the region. Regarding the Kazakh government's actions to rehabilitate those repressed between 1918 and 1953 and rename cities and streets, Kazakh communist parties actively launched protest actions. They pointed out that the goal was to erase the memory of an alternative social and political structure from the younger generation and appealed to global left-wing forces to jointly resist such destructive acts of falsifying history and de-communization.
Additionally, foreign Communist Parties actively participated in various international left-wing forums and seminars, strengthening cooperation with left-wing and progressive forces to draw strength for the journey ahead. On April 22, 2023, Communist Parties from many countries attended the International Anti-Fascist Forum in Minsk, Belarus, calling on progressive forces to unite and protect humanity from the threat of fascism. On October 27–28, 2023, parties attended the World Peace Conference in Rome, Italy, where 40 international left-wing and anti-fascist organizations from approximately 30 countries discussed new challenges facing humanity in the 21st century. From November 10–12, 2023, multiple Communist Parties participated in the 7th European Forum of Left, Green, and Progressive Forces, directly confronting the multiple crises facing European society and exploring the formulation of alternative, fairer, and greener solutions.
V. Maintaining international solidarity enters a critical period, with tendencies of division and anti-division coexisting
In recent years, contradictions and differences of opinion among foreign Communist Parties on major theoretical and practical issues have deepened. The outbreak of the Ukraine crisis exacerbated cognitive fractures between various parties, even sparking public debates and bringing internal contradictions within the International Communist Movement (ICM) into the open. In 2023, these differences led to the dissolution of old coordinating organizations and the emergence of two new exchange channels with diametrically opposed basic positions, signaling a deepening of internal contradictions that may trigger further debate or even conflict.
On the eve of the 22nd International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties (IMCWP) in October 2022, a new international liaison organization—the World Anti-Imperialist Platform (WAP/PMA)—was established in France. The platform aims to coordinate anti-imperialist forces worldwide and conduct effective anti-imperialist struggles by formulating a correct line of struggle. Following its founding, WAP held its first and second meetings in Paris and Belgrade; in 2023, it held its third, fourth, and fifth meetings in Caracas (Venezuela), Seoul (South Korea), and Athens (Greece), respectively. The WAP platform states that the Ukraine crisis is the result of war instigated by Western imperialism, particularly the United States. It posits that countries like Russia and China, by maintaining their own independence and helping others achieve theirs, effectively restrain imperialist world hegemony and offer the people of the world a new hope as an alternative to imperialist over-exploitation. Consequently, a new channel for international contact and exchange, positioned in opposition to the Initiative of Communist and Workers' Parties (ECI), has gradually taken shape.
Several participating parties within the ECI that held opposing views—such as the Hungarian Workers' Party, the Communist Party (Italy), the New Communist Party of Yugoslavia, the Russian Communist Workers' Party, and the Lebanese Communist Party—actively participated in WAP activities. In September 2023, the ECI held its final online meeting. The Communist Party of Greece (KKE), a primary founder of the Initiative, spoke highly of the struggles and achievements of the ECI prior to the Ukraine crisis but explicitly noted the serious internal divisions and issued a public statement of dissolution. Thus, this cooperation channel, which had played a role in the European communist movement for the past decade, ceased to exist. In November of the same year, the KKE launched and organized a new regional cooperation and exchange platform named "European Communist Action" (ECA). Twelve Communist Parties, including the Party of Labour of Austria, the Workers' Party of Ireland, and the Communist Party of Sweden, attended the founding meeting. The ECA founding declaration emphasized further refining the ideological-political framework to organize struggles on a more solid ground, while noting that the ECA aims to promote research into issues concerning Europe—especially the EU—and assist in establishing common positions and struggles for participating parties.
At the same time, influenced by multiple factors such as historical splits, the phenomenon of two or even multiple Communist Parties coexisting and competing within a single country has become a major obstacle to the unity and development of the ICM in recent years. In many countries, such as Italy and the United Kingdom, multiple Communist Parties exist with prominent contradictions and differences in their understanding of major theoretical and practical issues. They often exclude one another and fight separate battles, leading to a long-term malaise in their respective national communist movements. In 2023, new splits continued to emerge within national movements. In December, several former members of AKEL in Cyprus formed a political organization called the "Cypriot Communist Initiative." Using the hammer and sickle as its symbol and "class struggle" as its slogan, the organization claims to challenge all systemic forces and aims to fill the political vacuum that has existed in Cypriot society for years, seeking to become a rallying point for the struggles of the working class and the broader masses. Although its current strength is limited, the fact that it receives significant support from the KKE has sown seeds of instability for the unity of the Cypriot communist movement.
It should also be noted that as international solidarity faces challenges, Communist Parties in many countries are striving to strengthen contact and coordination, seeking to expand consensus, bridge differences, and promote the ICM toward a more positive and healthy direction. On one hand, they are actively strengthening domestic or intra-regional ties and cooperation. On the other hand, on July 8–9, 2023, the German Communist Party (DKP), the NCPN (Netherlands), and the Communist Party of Luxembourg (KPL) held a joint meeting to discuss the role of Communists in opposing imperialist war and capitalist crisis. The attending parties acknowledged differing positions on certain issues but emphasized that discussions should be constructive, aiming for joint action and providing an intellectual foundation for further discussion. In 2023, Danish communist parties achieved a significant breakthrough on the path of unity. After 30 years of division, on September 3, 2023, the Communist Party of Denmark (DKP) and the Communist Party in Denmark (KPiD) issued a public statement announcing their merger, pooling their experience and strength to strive for a strong Communist Party capable of advancing the labor movement and class struggle.
On the other hand, traditional channels for contact and coordination continue to play an active role. From October 19–22, 2023, the 23rd IMCWP was held in Izmir, Turkey, attended by 121 representatives from 68 Communist and Workers' Parties from 54 countries. The theme was "The Political and Ideological Struggle against Capitalism and Imperialism." Participating parties exchanged views on the recent international political, military, and economic situations, calling for ideological and political struggles to expose the lies of the bourgeois media and imperialism. During this meeting, the Ukraine crisis again drew the attention of many parties. Although differing understandings and views regarding the origins and nature of the conflict persist, the parties were generally able to seek common ground while preserving differences [7] and shelving disputes. The meeting concluded with the release of a common "Action Plan," emphasizing continued strengthening of interaction and contact between the world's Communist and Workers' Parties, thereby opening new prospects for parties to build consensus and collaborate.
VI. Conclusion
Looking back at 2023, the positions and propositions of foreign Communist Parties remained firm and the focus of their struggles clear, manifesting the distinct political image and ideological attributes inherent to communist parties. At the same time, the drastic changes in international and domestic situations have continuously birthed new problems and contradictions. Communist parties in various countries have carried out timely adaptive adjustments, leading to certain new shifts in their points of emphasis, agendas, strategies, and even the outcomes of their struggles. Generally speaking, the developmental trend of foreign Communist Parties in recent years has exhibited a degree of continuity and stability; the overarching characteristic of forging ahead while in a period of low ebb [8] is highly prominent. Amidst the profound evolution of the Great Changes [9], solidarity, cooperation, and coordinated action possess striking practical significance, as these will facilitate accelerating the historical pace of the revival of world socialism. Therefore, how to strive toward expanding consensus, bridging differences, and achieving cooperation has become the primary issue that foreign Communist Parties must communicate deeply upon and focus on resolving in the period ahead.
(Author: Yu Haiqing, Deputy Director and Researcher, Institute of Marxism Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences) Web Editor: Youheng Source: Contemporary World, No. 2, 2024