Introduction to the Department of International Communist Movement Studies

The Department of International Communist Movement Studies is a department dedicated to the study of scientific socialism and the international communist movement. Established in 2005, it comprises three research offices: the Research Office for the History of the International Communist Movement, the Research Office for Contemporary World Capitalism, and the Research Office for Contemporary World Socialism. Currently, the department has 13 researchers, including five researchers (one of whom is a Grade-II researcher), one expert receiving the State Council Special Allowance ^[1], three associate researchers, and five assistant researchers. The staff serves as supervisors for doctoral and master's degree candidates. The current Director of the Department is Yuan Xiuli, and the Deputy Director is Liu Haixia.

Primary research fields and directions include: the theory and practice of scientific socialism; the history and contemporary reality of the international communist movement; the theory, practice, history, and reality of socialist countries; the global landscape; the relationship between the two systems of socialism and capitalism; contemporary capitalism; the history, theory, and new developments of labor and social movements; tracking research on new progress and trends in contemporary world socialism; Western Marxism; tracking research on world left-wing parties and Communist parties; and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.

The department's personnel lead projects funded by the National Social Science Fund of China, major innovation projects of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), major Marxism Theory Research and Construction Project (Marxist Project) ^[2] projects of CASS, foundational research projects of the CASS National High-End Think Tank, foundational research projects of the CASS Think Tank, and the CASS "Youth Enlightenment Program" (Qingqi Jihua), among others.

Key ongoing research projects include: The History of the Development of Marxism (A General History of the First International); New Progress in the Study of World Socialist Movements and Ideological Trends; Historical Lessons from the International Communist Movement; Five Hundred Years of Two "Isms": A Study of the Historical Evolution of the Relationship between Capitalism and Socialism; A Study of Latin American Communist Parties under the Great Changes Unseen in a Century ^[3]; New Dynamics in the Development of Foreign Socialist Countries; An Academic General History of International Communist Movement and World Socialist Research; and The History of the Indian Communist Movement.

Representative research achievements of the department include: the publication of the annual report series Report on the Development of the International Communist Movement in China, with editions also published in English and Italian in Italy, and in Vietnamese in Vietnam. The department participated in the completion of works such as A Chronology of Engels's Thought, the third volume of The History of the Development of Marxism, A Chronology of Marx's Thought (Correspondence Volume), and Lenin’s Theory and Practice of Party Building. Published works and articles include: "An Analysis of the Era of Gramsci’s Socialist Thought," "A Study on the Deepening Crisis of Inequality in Contemporary Capitalist Societies," "Enterprising Chinese Entrepreneurs," "The 'Ten-Hour Act'—The Story Behind the Only Surviving Page of the Manuscript of the Communist Manifesto by Jenny Marx," "Lenin’s Thought on Proletarian International Unity and Its Contemporary Implications," "Persisting in the 'Two Combinations' ^[4] to Resolve the 'Controversy over Ancient vs. Modern and Chinese vs. Western'," "The Global Significance of the Tenth Anniversary of the 'Belt and Road' Initiative from a Foreign Left-Wing Perspective," "The Rise and Limitations of the New Round of Labor Movements in Europe and America," "The Two-Way Adjustment of European and American Welfare Systems and Its Impact on Anti-Capitalist Movements," "Comparison and Mutual Learning: Similarities and Differences in the Socialist Modernization of China and Vietnam," "The Theoretical Value and Practical Significance of Lenin’s Intellectual Heritage for the World Revolution and the Vietnamese Revolution," "Updating the Cuban Socialist Model: A Development Path Toward Prosperity, Democracy, and Sustainability," "A Study of the Theory and Practice of the Communist Party of India (Maoist)," "On the Requirements of the Times and Essential Characteristics of Socialist Modernization," "The Strategic Reshaping of the Indian Left under the Context of Neoliberalism," "The Strategic Intent and Cognitive Logic of the U.S. Promotion of the 'Millennium Challenge Corporation' in Nepal," "'The Global South' and China: The Mission and Vision of Reshaping the Process of Human Civilization," and "The Continuously Growing and Strengthening South African Communist Party."

The department hosts and organizes the International Forum on Socialism and the International Forum on the International Communist Movement. The International Forum on Socialism is hosted in rotation by the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, and the Lao Academy of Social and Economic Sciences, focusing on thematic discussions regarding major theoretical and practical issues in the process of building socialist countries. The International Forum on the International Communist Movement is a national academic forum. These forums have received positive responses both domestically and internationally, building a high-level exchange platform for Chinese and foreign scholars.

Departmental personnel have won numerous research awards, including the CASS Award for Outstanding Research Achievements. Several achievements have been featured in the annual release of major research results of the CASS Innovation Project. They have also received the Special Prize, Second Prize, and Third Prize of the CASS Award for Outstanding Policy Information, and research papers have been honored as "Excellent Articles for Propagating Marxist Theory of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences." Members have been selected for the second cohort of the CASS "Peiyuan Program" (Peiyuan Jihua) for young talents, among others.

Staff members from this discipline serve as Deputy Secretary-General of the Chinese Association of Scientific Socialism, Standing Director of the Research Association of Lenin’s Thought of the Chinese Society for the History of Marxist Philosophy, Vice Chairman of the World Socialism Professional Committee of the Chinese Association of Scientific Socialism, Standing Director of the Chinese Society for the History of the International Communist Movement, and Standing Director of the Beijing Society for the History of the International Communist Movement.