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On August 26, the 5th International Communist Movement Forum Hosted by the Academy of Marxism was Held in Jinan; Party Secretary and Dean Deng Chundong Attended and Delivered a Speech

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On August 26, 2017, the 5th International Communist Movement Forum was held in Jinan, Shandong. The theme of this forum was "The History and Reality of Socialism." Deng Chundong, Party Secretary and Director of the Institute of Marxism Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), and Tang Zhouyan, Party Secretary of the Shandong Academy of Social Sciences, delivered speeches at the opening ceremony, which was chaired by Fan Jianxin, Vice Director of the Institute of Marxism Studies at CASS. Ji Zhengju, Deputy Director of the Central Compilation and Translation Bureau [1], and Wu Enyuan, member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and research fellow at CASS, attended the opening ceremony and delivered keynote speeches. Over 100 experts and scholars from more than 40 institutions—including CASS, the Central Compilation and Translation Bureau, Xiamen University, Wuhan University, Nankai University, Central China Normal University, the Shandong Academy of Social Sciences, and Shandong University—gathered in the "Spring City" [2] to conduct in-depth discussions on topics such as the contemporary world and the movement of actualized socialism, the October Revolution and the historical practice of socialism, and the development of the theory and practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

In his address, Deng Chundong pointed out that regarding contemporary issues of socialism, publicity and research must be strengthened in five areas. First, strengthen the promotion of new progress in the theory and practice of contemporary world socialism. Socialism as an ideology and movement is currently undergoing a resurgence and is in the ascendant. Driven by the appeal of socialist theory and values, European communist parties continue to grow and expand, while left-wing forces in South Asia and Latin America are also developing. This fully demonstrates the correctness of Deng Xiaoping's judgment following the drastic changes in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe [3] that "Marxism is a science"; it also provides the international basis for our continuous efforts to strengthen the "Four Confidences" [4], which must be promoted to the entire world. Second, strengthen the promotion of the scientific nature, inevitability, and justice of the October Revolution. For a long time, the Western bourgeoisie has demonized the socialist movement, leading to blurred and confused views on the October Revolution within intellectual and academic circles. Accordingly, to "rectify the source and clear the stream" [5] regarding the great significance and influence of the October Revolution is a matter concerning our confidence in the system and the legitimacy of our regime. Promoting the great significance and influence of the October Revolution is a responsibility that scholars ought to shoulder. Third, research the various socialist political forces existing in the world today, analyzing their contributions to socialist theory and their reference value for socialism with Chinese characteristics. Fourth, research exactly how much of a role international left-wing forces play in the international situation and the global landscape. Fifth, research the necessity for the Communist Party of China (CPC) to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with international left-wing forces.

Tang Zhouyan noted in his speech that the October Revolution was an extremely significant event in both the history of the international communist movement and the history of socialist development. It profoundly changed the 20th-century world landscape, broke the monopolistic dominance of capitalist countries, and provided opportunities for the vast Third World nations of Asia, Africa, and Latin America to participate in the world system, exerting a major influence on China's revolution, construction, and reform. It is highly meaningful to use the commemoration of the October Revolution to review the history of the international communist movement and summarize the experiences and lessons of the development of the world socialist movement. Commemorating the October Revolution must reflect a clear "problem-orientation" [6]; it cannot remain at the level of general slogan-based definitions or a single conclusion. It should be examined from multiple perspectives, but the ultimate goal must be to provide a reference for our construction of socialism with Chinese characteristics by summarizing the lessons from the collapse of the Soviet Communist Party and the disintegration of the Soviet Union. In particular, this research must be integrated with the study and implementation of the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s July 26 Speech [7], the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and China’s exploration of the path toward socialist modernization. Socialism with Chinese characteristics has injected new vitality into the development of world socialism, provided Chinese wisdom and a Chinese approach for the exploration of modernization paths by people worldwide, and added confidence to the continuous development and expansion of socialist left-wing forces globally.

Ji Zhengju, Deputy Director of the Central Compilation and Translation Bureau, stated in his keynote speech—titled "Reform and Opening-up and the 'Four Confidences': A Refutation of Erroneous Views Qualitying Reform and Opening-up"—that the great journey of China’s reform and opening-up is a magnificent chapter in the history of socialist development. It highlights our confidence in our path, theory, system, and culture, and demonstrates that Chinese communists have successfully explored and opened a development path for how to build socialism and achieve socialist modernization in a country with backward economy and culture. To correctly understand the great achievements of reform and opening-up, one must resolutely oppose erroneous views that question it, persist in the "Four Confidences," correctly face and scientifically analyze the problems and contradictions encountered during the process of reform and opening-up, and continuously open up new realms of Marxism while enriching and developing the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and contemporary Chinese Marxism.

Wu Enyuan, member of the National Committee of the CPPCC and CASS research fellow, noted in his keynote speech "The October Revolution and the Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union" that the drastic changes in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe do not mean the failure of socialism or the "end of the era" of socialism. On the contrary, today socialism with Chinese characteristics stands tall in the world, revealing a new dawn amidst the mist of a crisis-ridden capitalism. Summarizing the historical development of the world in the century since the October Revolution can further strengthen the ideal that the victory of socialism and communism is inevitable, as well as the values of socialism with Chinese characteristics. In promoting the great significance of the October Revolution, attention must be paid to combining the basic principles of Marxism with China’s objective reality, persisting in and developing Marxism, and taking a clear-cut stand against historical nihilism [8].

Experts and scholars including CASS research fellows Liu Shuchun and Pan Jin'e, Professor Cao Yaxiong of Wuhan University, Professor Li Aihua of Shandong Normal University, Professor Zhang Chuanhe of the Shandong Provincial Party School, and Research Fellow Li Shusen of the Shandong Academy of Social Sciences delivered speeches on topics such as the world-historical significance of the October Revolution, its impact on the world socialist movement (especially its significance for the Chinese revolution), and the theory and practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics. They conducted in-depth discussions on several major historical and practical issues of world socialist development, providing theoretical support and experiential references for persisting in and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new period.

Vice Director Fan Jianxin of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies summarized the conference. He argued that many valuable experiences and insights from the October Revolution need vigorous promotion, and many scientific conclusions must be earnestly upheld. First, the "salvo of the October Revolution" [9] brought us the truth of Marxism-Leninism and scientific socialism, not a revisionist Marxism. Second, there is no causal relationship between the October Revolution and the drastic changes in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe; the disintegration of the Soviet Union was the result of violating the basic principles of scientific socialism. Third, the October Revolution was a historical inevitability, not an accidental event or a "premature birth." Only by viewing the thoughts of Marx and Engels as a whole, connecting their relevant theories and viewpoints, and accurately grasping the intellectual trajectory—including their later thoughts—can one truly understand the historical inevitability of the October Revolution. Fourth, we must correctly understand the difference between the various socialist schools in the history of the international communist movement and scientific socialism, preventing the "hollowing out," "labeling," and "vulgarization" of Marxism and scientific socialism. Fifth, the basic experience of the October Revolution is the integration of the basic principles of Marxism with the characteristics of the times and the specific practice of one's own country. The practice of the international communist movement shows that when this principle is followed, the socialist cause proceeds smoothly; otherwise, setbacks occur. Sixth, we must attach high importance to the immense role of theory as a guide for practice. The October Revolution confirmed that great practice cannot exist without the guidance of great theory. Without Marxist theory and the guidance of a series of forward-looking scientific theories such as Lenin’s Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism, the October Revolution would not have occurred. Seventh, we must dialectically understand the relationship between historical determinism and subjective agency. On the basis of a scientific understanding of historical laws, we should give full play to the subjective agency of the proletarian party to actively and initiatively create history. Lenin seized the historical opportunity and maximized the subjective agency of the proletariat. Socialism and communism cannot be achieved by sitting and waiting; they require Marxist parties to scientifically grasp the laws of human social development, the laws of socialist construction, and the laws of the Communist Party's governance. On this basis, they must be enterprising and proactive, constantly pushing the socialist cause forward.

This forum was co-hosted by the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies and the Shandong Academy of Social Sciences, and jointly organized by the Department of International Communist Movement Studies of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies and the Provincial Marxism Research Center of the Shandong Academy of Social Sciences. Media outlets including People’s Daily, Guangming Daily, Chinese Social Sciences Today, Dazhong Daily, Social Sciences Weekly, and Qilu.com were invited to attend the forum.