Marxism Research Network
Unofficial English Translation

Introduction to the Department of Overseas Marxist Studies

About the Institute

The Department of Overseas Marxism Studies is a department dedicated to the study of theories, intellectual trends, and schools of thought related to Marxism outside of China. Established in 2005, the department consists of the Research Office of Foreign Communist Party Theory, the Research Office of Western Marxism, and the Research Office of Foreign Left-wing Thought. It currently has 16 researchers, including four professors (researchers), eight associate professors (associate researchers), two doctoral supervisors, and six master's supervisors. The current Director of the Department is Professor Yu Bin.

The primary research areas of the Department of Overseas Marxism Studies include overseas Marxist philosophy, overseas Marxist schools of thought, the theories of foreign communist parties, foreign left-wing thought, and the overseas dissemination of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for the New Era.

In terms of fundamental theoretical research, major and key projects currently under investigation include the CASS Innovation Program project [1] "Research on Contemporary World Marxist and Socialist Intellectual Trends," the Institute of Marxism Studies key project "The History of the Development of Marxism: Volume on Overseas Marxism," and the Central Marxism Theory Research and Construction Project (Ma-Gong-Cheng) [2] major projects "Research on New Developments in Foreign Socialism under the Great Changes Unseen in a Century" [3] and "The World Socialist Movement from the Perspective of the Changing International Landscape."

The department translates and publishes several series, including the "World Marxism and Left-wing Studies Translation Series," the "World Marxism and Left-wing Studies Monograph Series," and the "World Communist Party History Series," as well as compiling the Overview of World Communist and Workers' Parties.

Regarding research on the overseas dissemination of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for the New Era, major and key ongoing projects include: the National Social Science Fund of China [4] major project "Compilation and Research of Overseas Marxist Discourses on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics"; the CASS major commissioned project "Overseas Research on Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for the New Era and Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era"; and the Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for the New Era major projects "Research on the Overseas Dissemination and International Recognition of the Concept of a 'Community with a Shared Future for Humanity'," "Research on the Global Significance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for the New Era," and "Research on Foreign Scholars' Discourses on Xi Jinping’s Important Assertions Regarding Democracy and Human Rights."

The department has published numerous works, including New Era Revisited: Views of Leaders and Notables from the Former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe on the New Era (Chinese and English editions), The International Contribution and Global Significance of China’s Fight Against the Epidemic (Chinese and English editions), Witnessing a Century-Old Party: Accounts from One Hundred Foreign Communists (Chinese and English editions), and the "Foreigners' Views on the New Era" series (Chinese and English editions).

The department assists in organizing the World Socialism Forum and local forums sponsored by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. It also participates in the teaching activities of the University of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (UCASS), offering undergraduate courses such as "Special Topics on the Study of Communist Parties in Major Countries of the World" and "Special Topics on the Study of Foreign Socialist Intellectual Trends," as well as a doctoral course on "Research in Overseas Marxism."

The Party Branch of the Department of Overseas Marxism Studies has been awarded the title of "Four-Strong" Party Branch [5] of Central and State Organs. Its case study, "Using Scholarship as a Bond, Innovating Publicity Methods, and Actively Promoting Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for the New Era Domestically and Abroad," won third prize in the Creative Grassroots Party Building Cases in Central and State Organs.