Introduction to the Department of Marxist Principles Research
The Department of Marxist Principles (hereafter referred to as the Department of Principles) is a department dedicated to the profound study of classical Marxist works, the systematic mapping of the historical process of Marxism’s emergence and development, and the distillation of the laws of governance by Communist parties, the laws of socialist construction, and the laws of the development of human society. It continuously promotes the "Two Combinations"—integrating the basic principles of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with China’s fine traditional culture [1]—to strengthen the Party’s theoretical armament and advance theoretical innovation on the New Journey of the New Era. Established in 2005, the department comprises the Research Section of Marxist Philosophy, the Research Section of Marxist Political Economy, the Research Section of Scientific Socialism, and the Research Section of the History of Marxist Development. Currently, the department has 20 faculty members, including 5 professors, 8 associate professors, and 7 assistant professors, as well as 4 doctoral supervisors and 5 master’s supervisors. Prof. Yang Jing serves as the Director, and Prof. Sun Yinshuai serves as the Deputy Director.
The primary research fields and directions of the Department of Principles include basic principles of Marxism, the history of Marxist development, Marxist philosophy, Marxist political economy, and scientific socialism. The department has undertaken various projects, including: "Research on the Worldview and Methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era"; "Research on Major Theoretical Issues Concerning the Primary Stage of Socialism [2] and the New Development Stage"; "Research on Combining the Basic Principles of Marxism with China’s Specific Realities and China’s Fine Traditional Culture"; "Research on the History of Marxist Development"; "Research on Major Issues Concerning the Primary Stage of Socialism"; "Common Prosperity in the Process of Chinese-path Modernization"; "Research on the Application and Development of Basic Marxist Theory in Practice"; "An Inquiry into Digital Labor Issues from the Perspective of Marx’s Labor Theory of Value"; "Research on Basic Marxist Principles in the Internet Era—Fundamental Changes in the Material Mode of Production and Their Profound Significance"; and "Research on the Sinicization of the Economic Thought of Marx and Engels." These include several major projects under the CASS Innovation Program and the National Social Science Fund of China.
Currently, the department is focusing on promoting research such as the Annual Compendium of Research on Classical Marxist Works and Research on Marxist Worldview and Methodology. Related results include The Worldview and Methodology of Marx and Engels, Annual Compendium of Research on the Communist Manifesto, Annual Compendium of Research on the Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844, and Annual Compendium of Research on The German Ideology. The department hosts or organizes academic exchange activities such as the National Annual Conference on Marxist Principles, the National Forum on Marxist Economics, the National Youth Forum on Marxist Economics, the Annual Meeting of the Chinese Society of Political Economy, the Annual Meeting of the Chinese Association for the History of Foreign Economic Thought, and the "General Lecture Series on the Introduction to Basic Principles of Marxism" training seminar.
Researchers in the department have received the 4th Liu Shibai Economics Award (2018), the 5th Xinghua Excellent Paper Award (2020), First-Class Research Achievement for National High-End Think Tanks (2022), National Excellent Science Popularization Work (2022), and the CASS Award for Excellent Policy Information (Special Prize in 2022 and First Prize in 2023). The Party branch of the Department of Principles has been successively honored as an "Advanced Primary-level Party Organization of Central and State Organs" (2021) and a "Four-Strong Party Branch" [3] by the Working Committee of the Central and State Organs (2022), and won the Bronze Award for Ten Best Cases in the "3rd Party Building Innovation Achievement Exhibition and Exchange Activity."
The following are representative research achievements of the Department of Principles in recent years:
History of Marxist Development (Volumes I and II), China Social Sciences Press, 2021 edition. These volumes systematically present the process through which Marx and Engels created, enriched, and perfected Marxism. The work emphasizes "leading theory with history and deriving theory from history," striving for a synthesis where theory serves as the foundation and history as the framework. It focuses on the systematic, practical, and developmental nature of thoughts and perspectives, aiming to summarize ideological viewpoints and reveal historical laws. Simultaneously, it provides a concise overview of the major contributions made by their comrades-in-arms in disseminating, defending, enriching, and developing Marxism. The book was awarded the Third Prize for "Excellent Achievements in Marxist Research" (8th Edition) by the China Foundation for Marxist Studies, selected for the release of major achievements of the CASS 2021 Innovation Program, and included in the 2022 recommended reading list for Party members and cadres.
A Chronological Bibliography of Marx’s Thought (2 volumes), China Social Sciences Press, 2021 edition. This two-volume work is a significant achievement for revisiting Marx’s rich ideas and historical contributions while demonstrating his theories and viewpoints, carrying substantial theoretical value. Through extensive content including Marx’s works, articles, manuscripts, and notes, it comprehensively and systematically reflects Marx’s theoretical system, reveals his intellectual trajectory and the formation process of his scientific theory, and provides a guide for readers to study and understand Marx’s thought scientifically. This work won the Second Prize of the 17th Beijing Philosophy and Social Sciences Excellent Achievement Award, was named a "Good Book for Party Building" (December 2021) by Dangjian [4] magazine of the Central Publicity Department, and was recognized as a major research achievement of the 2021 CASS Innovation Program.
Series on the Popularization of Basic Principles of Marxism, Shandong People's Publishing House, 2023 edition. This six-volume series uses the development of Marx’s thought as a thread to systematically sort through the evolution of basic Marxist principles, providing a panoramic display of their scientific connotations and practical significance. The series includes: Entering the Temple: An Introduction to Marxism; Based on the Totality: Accurately Grasping the Theoretical System of Marxism; Unlocking the Key: Laws of Human Social Development; Clearing the Mist: Correctly Understanding Capitalism; Where Lies the Path Ahead: The Development of Contemporary Capitalism; and Carrying on the Past and Opening the Way: Scientific Socialism. This series was selected for the National Key Publishing Plan for Books, Audio-Visual, and Electronic Publications during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period and received support from the National Publication Foundation.
Marx’s Circle of Friends, People's Publishing House, 2023 edition. Based on authoritative historical facts and using accessible, engaging language, this book tells stories of the friendship between Marx and his associates, reflecting Marx’s great ideas, character, and practice. These friends include Engels—whom Marx called his "second self"—the "starred friend" Heinrich Heine, and important intellectual partners such as Wilhelm Wolff, Ludwig von Westphalen, and Ludwig Feuerbach. Additionally, it covers comrades and students like Wilhelm Liebknecht and August Bebel, as well as theoretical opponents such as Pierre-Joseph Proudhon, Bruno Bauer, Ferdinand Lassalle, and Mikhail Bakunin. In the month of its publication (May 2023), the book was named a "Chinese Good Book" by the Publishing Bureau of the Central Publicity Department and the China Book Review Association. It has been widely reported by central media outlets including Xuexi Qiangguo [5], China News Publishing and Broadcasting Gazette, Chinese Social Sciences Today, China Reading Weekly, and China Discipline Inspection and Supervision Daily.