Introduction to the World Socialism Research Center

The tracking and research of world socialism has been underway for nearly thirty years since its inception in 1994. In July 1994, acting upon the instructions of leading comrades of the Central Committee ^[1], the "Coordination Group for the Tracking and Research of Overseas Socialism" was established. Led by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and featuring participation from the International Liaison Department of the CPC Central Committee ^[2], the Central Compilation and Translation Bureau ^[3], Xinhua News Agency, the Central Party School of the CPC, and the State Education Commission, this group was tasked with organizing, coordinating, and conducting research on socialism abroad. It compiled the Trends in Overseas Socialist Research to provide the Central Committee with relevant materials and dynamic information. The inaugural issue of Trends in Overseas Socialist Research was published in September 1994.

To better advance this special commissioned project of the National Social Science Fund of China, CASS established the "World Socialism Research Center" in the autumn of 2001, building upon the foundation of the original coordination group. The "Center" is a non-standing ^[4] research center within the Academy. It is composed of standing directors and specially invited researchers from various government organs, universities, and research institutes. Li Shenming, a Research Fellow and Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, serves as the Director of the Center. Following more than twenty years of development, the Center has established links with key domestic universities and major research institutions, forming a part-time research team of over 500 experts and scholars.

For over a decade, our tracking and research into the theories, intellectual trends, and dynamics of world socialism has continued without interruption. The Center's research findings are disseminated across different levels through several channels: first, the editing and publication of the journal World Socialism Studies; second, the annual compilation and publication of the Yellow Book on World Socialism; third, the editing and publication of the World Socialism Research Series, which had produced over 100 monographs and translations as of 2016; and fourth, the hosting of specialized academic symposiums. We sincerely hope that the research achievements of the Center will receive your attention and recognition.

World Socialism Research Center Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS)