Ideology Guides the Era! Top 10 Theoretical Hotspots of 2021! Jointly Released by Sichuan Daily, Chuanguan Think Tank, CASS Academy of Marxism, and Think Tank for Marxist Theoretical Innovation
Editor's Note: 2021 was a truly extraordinary year. Under the guidance of the Party’s innovative theories, the cause of our country's socialist modernization has reached new heights. Simultaneously, these innovative theories have been continuously enriched and perfected through the lens of magnificent practice. The Sichuan Daily, Chuanguan Think Tank, the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, and the Think Tank for Marxist Theoretical Innovation have jointly released the "Top Ten Theoretical Hotspots of 2021" to assist cadres and the masses in systematically studying and reflecting upon Marxism in development.
At the end of last year, we analyzed and filtered tens of thousands of pieces of information from the theoretical sections of major central and provincial media outlets and websites. After consulting experts from the Central Party School, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the Sichuan Provincial Party School, and Sichuan University, we initially identified 20 theoretical hotspots. Subsequently, a questionnaire survey was launched via the Sichuan Daily and the Chuanguan News app, inviting readers to select the 10 hotspots they found most concerning. The survey also targeted 25 renowned scholars and 25 heads of Party and government departments, state-owned enterprises, and schools. Based on this comprehensive data, the "Top Ten Theoretical Hotspots of 2021" were determined (listed in no particular order).
We invited experts to explain and analyze each hotspot, reviewing their emergence and development in 2021, and explicating their primary content, theoretical origins, practical background, significance, and points of theoretical innovation. We also raised questions for further reflection by the academic community and highlighted issues requiring special attention in practice, all to provide assistance for the deep understanding, accurate grasp, and flexible application of the Party's innovative theories.
01 Upholding the Leadership of the Party
"Upholding the leadership of the Party" has long been a major subject of attention in theoretical circles, and its prominence reached new heights in 2021. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized at the Ceremony Marking the Centenary of the Founding of the Communist Party of China: "To learn from history and create the future, we must uphold the firm leadership of the Communist Party of China." The Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party over the Past Century listed "upholding the leadership of the Party" as the first of the ten items of historical experience. East, west, south, north, and center—the Party, government, military, society, and academia—the Party leads everything. The leadership of the Communist Party of China is the most defining characteristic of socialism with Chinese characteristics; it must not be wavered at any time.
In 2021, the theoretical community conducted solid and in-depth research on General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions regarding upholding and strengthening the Party’s overall leadership. The research topics mainly involved the following six aspects: first, the practices and experiences of the CPC in upholding Party leadership over the 100 years since its founding; second, the status and role of "Party leadership" in the history of the Party, the New China, reform and opening up, and the development of socialism; third, the great significance of Party leadership for achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation; fourth, the paths and methods for upholding the Party’s overall leadership—especially the centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee—in the New Era; fifth, the fact that Party leadership is comprehensive, systematic, and holistic; and sixth, the relationship between upholding Party leadership, upholding comprehensively and strictly governing the Party, and upholding the people as masters of the country.
The CPC is the core force leading our cause. The fundamental reason why the Chinese people and the Chinese nation were able to reverse their historical fate in modern times and achieve today’s great accomplishments is the leadership of the CPC. "Without the Communist Party, there would be no New China and no great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation" has become the common consensus of all Chinese people. To govern the world's largest political party and most populous country, we must uphold the Party's overall leadership, especially the centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee, adhere to democratic centralism [1], and ensure the Party always oversees the overall situation and coordinates all parties. Since the 18th National Congress, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has driven historical achievements and transformations in the cause of the Party and the state, first and foremost reflected in upholding the Party's overall leadership. Addressing problems such as the weakening, hollowization, dilution, and marginalization of Party leadership in certain departments and regions, we have continuously improved the system of Party leadership and refined the methods of leadership. The authority of the Party Central Committee has been further strengthened, effectively ensuring that the entire Party maintains a high degree of consistency with the Party Central Committee in terms of political stance, direction, principles, and path. The Party’s capacity for political leadership, ideological guidance, mass organization, and social mobilization has been significantly enhanced.
Although the theoretical community continues to focus on "upholding the leadership of the Party" and the theoretical system built around it is increasingly mature, certain issues still require more effort. For example: how to further improve the Party's leadership capacity and enhance the political judgment, political understanding, and political execution of leading cadres; what are the challenges and work priorities for deepening the reform of the Party's leadership system; how to ensure the Party plays a leading role in various organizations such as the People’s Congresses, governments, CPPCC committees [2], supervisory organs, judicial organs, armed forces, people's organizations, enterprises, public institutions, grassroots self-governing organizations, and social organizations; how to improve the leadership system for major work and strengthen the role of the Party Central Committee’s decision-making, deliberation, and coordination mechanisms; and how to further refine the system of requesting instructions from and reporting to the Party Central Committee. In practice, Party organizations at all levels should be adept at detecting shortcomings and weaknesses in strengthening Party leadership, focusing on resolving issues of blurred understanding, weak action, and ineffective execution of the Party Central Committee's major decisions. They must resolutely oppose the practice of "having policies from above but counter-measures from below," [3] and firmly oppose saying one thing while doing another or acting arbitrarily. Organizations with internal Party oversight responsibilities, such as those for discipline inspection, supervision, and inspection tours [4], must strengthen political supervision and strictly investigate acts that violate the Party's line, principles, and policies or undermine its centralized and unified leadership.
(Tian Kun, Associate Researcher, Department of Party Building and Party History, Institute of Marxism Studies, CASS)
02 The Two Establishments
The Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party over the Past Century, adopted at the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, emphasized that the Party has established Comrade Xi Jinping’s core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole, and established the guiding role of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. The "Two Establishments" are an inevitable choice of practical development in the New Era. Since the 18th National Congress, under the firm leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, the Chinese people have demonstrated self-confidence, self-reliance, upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground, creating great achievements for socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era. General Secretary Xi Jinping’s role in "navigating and steering" [5] has been crucial, earning the sincere support of the people.
The Sixth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee formally proposed "the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core," establishing Comrade Xi Jinping's core position in the entire Party. Since the 18th National Congress, Chinese Communists, with Comrade Xi Jinping as their chief representative, have gradually founded Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. The 19th National Congress summarized and proposed this Thought, establishing it as the guiding ideology the Party must adhere to over the long term and writing it into the Party Constitution. The Party's Third Historical Resolution [6] formally proposed the "Two Establishments," reflecting the consciousness, autonomy, and inevitability of the people's choice.
A great country needs a great party, and a great party needs a core; Comrade Xi Jinping is the well-deserved core of the Party Central Committee and the whole Party. A great journey requires the guidance of great thoughts; to realize the great dream, we must follow Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. This Thought is the Marxism of contemporary China and the 21st century, the guiding ideology that meets the expectations of the entire Party, military, and people of all ethnic groups. With a core in the whole Party, the Party Central Committee has authority, the Party has strength, and Party leadership is guaranteed, allowing the Party's role as the leadership core—overseeing the overall situation and coordinating all parties—to be fully realized. Deeply grasping the "Two Establishments" requires a high degree of identification in our ideological cognition, and more importantly, putting it into actual action. We must unite more closely around the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core and fully implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.
The "Two Establishments" require that the entire Party, military, and people of all ethnic groups must resolutely uphold Comrade Xi Jinping’s core status and the authority and centralized, unified leadership of the Party Central Committee with a high degree of ideological, political, and practical consciousness. We must implement and utilize Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era through study, reflection, understanding, and practice, allowing contemporary Chinese Marxism to radiate powerful vitality. This involves deeply researching the original theoretical contributions of this Thought, outlining the new heights it has reached in the history of Marxist development, and studying how it profoundly answers the major epochal questions: what kind of socialism with Chinese characteristics should be upheld and developed in the New Era and how to do so; what kind of great modern socialist country should be built and how; and what kind of long-term governing Marxist party should be built and how. It also means explaining how this Thought has achieved a new leap in the Sinicization of Marxism.
We must more deeply understand the decisive significance of the "Two Establishments" through the original ideas, transformative practices, breakthrough progress, and landmark achievements of the New Era. We must understand their significance as the fundamental guarantee for conducting the Great Struggle, building the Great Project, advancing the Great Cause, and realizing the Great Dream [7]. Implementing the "Two Establishments" is a litmus test of our absolute loyalty to the Party, a basic skill for strengthening the "Four Consciousnesses" [8], and a compulsory course for improving our political judgment, political understanding, and political execution, ensuring we voluntarily maintain a high degree of consistency with the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core in terms of ideology, politics, and action.
(Liu Xukuan, Director and Associate Researcher, Department of Ideology and Social Trends, Institute of Marxism Studies, CASS)
03 The Great Founding Spirit of the Party
On July 1, 2021, at the Ceremony Marking the Centenary of the Founding of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping provided a scientific summary of the Great Founding Spirit of the Party. This important exposition quickly triggered widespread attention. By the end of 2021, in just six months, nearly 1,500 articles related to the "founding spirit of the Party" could be retrieved from CNKI [9], meaning an average of 7.5 articles per day were researching and interpreting it, demonstrating the intensity of the topic.
The theoretical community’s focus on the Great Founding Spirit of the Party mainly revolves around General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions. The scientific connotation of the Great Founding Spirit is "upholding truth and ideals, staying true to our original aspiration and founding mission, fighting bravely without fear of sacrifice, and remaining loyal to the Party and faithful to the people." Many scholars have specifically analyzed the connotation and logic of these 32 characters [in Chinese], arguing that while their emphases differ, they encapsulate the Party's ideals, beliefs, action guidelines, fundamental purpose, and political character, answering the fundamental question of what the CPC is and what it aims to do.
Regarding the generative logic of the Great Founding Spirit, research has unfolded from theoretical, historical, and practical dimensions. From the perspective of theoretical logic, the Great Founding Spirit originates from the nature and characteristics of a Marxist party, determined by the theoretical character of Marxism’s scientific nature, truth, practice, struggle, and people-centeredness. From the perspective of historical logic, the spirit was formed under specific historical conditions and processes—specifically during the practice of the CPC’s pioneers in creating the Party—and was carried forward throughout the century-long struggle. From the perspective of practical logic, the reason for proposing the Great Founding Spirit at the historical juncture of the centenary is the practical need to conduct the Great Struggle, build the Great Project, advance the Great Cause, and realize the Great Dream in the New Era. From the perspective of the Party's self-construction, carrying forward the Great Founding Spirit in the New Era means staying true to the original aspiration and founding mission and always standing at the forefront of the times.
The theoretical community generally believes that the proposal of the Great Founding Spirit of the Party is of profound significance, revealing the source of the spiritual pedigree of the Chinese Communists. Before the Great Founding Spirit of the Party was proposed, General Secretary Xi Jinping had emphasized the great spirit of the Communist Party of China on many occasions, providing scientific interpretations of the connotations of the Red Boat Spirit [10], the Yan'an Spirit [11], and the Jinggangshan Spirit [12]. According to incomplete statistics, there are more than 90 types of revolutionary spirits cultivated and formed by the Party during different historical periods. What is the relationship between so many spirits? Since they all belong to the same spiritual pedigree, what are their common characteristics? And where is the source? These are critical questions. The proposal of the Great Founding Spirit of the Party has theoretically resolved this issue. In November 2021, the "Resolution of the CPC Central Committee on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party's Centennial Struggle," adopted at the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, stated that over the past century, the Party has adhered to its nature and purpose, upheld its ideals and beliefs, remained true to its original aspiration and founding mission, had the courage to practice self-revolution, and withstood various risks and tests amidst life-and-death struggles and arduous efforts. Through great sacrifice, the Party has tempered a distinct political character and formed a spiritual pedigree with the Great Founding Spirit of the Party as its source, and called for the vigorous promotion of this Great Founding Spirit.
How should we vigorously promote the Great Founding Spirit of the Party? This still requires deep reflection. For instance, regarding the functional role of the Great Founding Spirit, further illustration through a large volume of historical facts and cases is needed to enhance its persuasiveness, rather than remaining at the level of theory-to-theory demonstration. How to implement the Great Founding Spirit in the New Era into the practice of the Party’s overarching "Four Greats" [13] is a question that requires further in-depth research. The construction of a path for its promotion is not only about ideological identification but must also be reflected in action. Furthermore, efforts must be made in establishing regulations and systems, using the rigidity of institutional constraints to ensure the Great Founding Spirit takes root. (Fang Tao, Associate Research Fellow, Institute of Marxism Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences)
04 Whole-Process People's Democracy
Once "whole-process people's democracy" was proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping during the ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, it rapidly became a hotspot of attention and research in the theoretical community. In his speech, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized the need to "practice the people-centered development philosophy and develop whole-process people's democracy." At the Central Conference on Work Related to People's Congresses, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that whole-process people's democracy is an inevitable requirement for the development of socialist democratic politics with Chinese characteristics, and clearly explained its profound connotations. The "Resolution of the CPC Central Committee on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party’s Centennial Struggle," adopted at the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, emphasized that we "must maintain the organic unity of Party leadership, the people’s position as masters of the country, and the law-based governance of the country, and actively develop whole-process people’s democracy."
Whole-process people's democracy is a great creation of Chinese democracy. People's democracy is the lifeblood of socialism. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the Communist Party of China has led the Chinese people in unswervingly following the path of socialist political development with Chinese characteristics, continuously deepening the understanding of the laws governing the development of democratic politics. General Secretary Xi Jinping creatively proposed the major concept of whole-process people's democracy. This is the crystallization of our Party's advancement of innovation in democratic theory, institutions, and practice; it is a high-level summary of contemporary Chinese democratic concepts and practices, and it enriches and develops human political civilization.
Whole-process people's democracy is a profound summation of the practical experience of China's system of people's congresses. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "Democracy is a common value of all humanity and an important concept that the Communist Party of China and the Chinese people have always upheld." China's concept of democracy differs from the hypocritical so-called "procedural democracy" of the West. China's socialist democracy is a real people's democracy with the system of people's congresses as its fundamental guarantee. China's democracy is directly manifested in the fact that all power in China belongs to the people, the people are the masters of the country, and the people exercise their role as masters. Whole-process people's democracy is a brand-new and great creation of China's socialist democracy. Democracy is a concept, a form, and, more importantly, a content and substance. Democracy is tangibly reflected in the entire process where the people fully enjoy democratic rights, participate in political processes, and exercise political rights. Whole-process people's democracy is precisely a process for guaranteeing democracy; it is the vivid practice of the Party leading the people in the construction of democratic politics in the New Era.
Whole-process people's democracy is the vivid practice of China's democratic political construction. In the New Era, we must continuously promote the development of whole-process people's democracy to meet the people's needs for a better political life. Theoretically, it is necessary to conduct in-depth explorations of the relationship between whole-process people's democracy and Marxist democratic theory, scientific socialist democratic theory, and the theory and practice of socialist democracy with Chinese characteristics. We must further explore the organic unity between better utilizing the role of the system of people's congresses and the methods, measures, and steps for practicing whole-process people's democracy. Furthermore, we need to explore the relationship between the leadership of the Party and whole-process people's democracy. In the process of practicing whole-process people's democracy, attention must be paid to handling the relationship between the practice itself and the essence of people's democracy. We should reflect the essence of people's democracy as much as possible within the practice, fully guaranteeing the people's rights as masters of the country. Party committees at all levels should attach great importance to the work of people's congresses, develop and improve the systems and mechanisms by which the Party leads these congresses, and support them in carrying out extensive and vivid practices of whole-process people's democracy at the primary level to ensure the people's rights as masters of the country are implemented in practice. (Shen Yang, Director of the Department of the Theoretical System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and Associate Research Fellow, Institute of Marxism Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences)
05 The "Two Combinations"
In his speech at the ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping for the first time proposed the new thesis of the "Two Combinations" [14]. This new thesis indicates that to continue developing contemporary Chinese Marxism and 21st-century Marxism on the new journey, we must not only adhere to combining the basic tenets of Marxism with China's specific realities but also with China's fine traditional culture. The Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee clearly pointed out that the Chinese Communists, with Comrade Xi Jinping as their chief representative, have proposed a series of original ideas on the basis of the "Two Combinations," established Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and achieved a new leap in the Sinicization of Marxism. The new thesis of the "Two Combinations" breaks through the long-used "One Combination" [15] expression, sparking discussions in the theoretical community regarding the relationship between the two, the significance of the "Two Combinations," and particularly the significance of the first-time proposal to "combine the basic tenets of Marxism with China's fine traditional culture."
The proposal of the "Two Combinations" is a summation of the laws governing the innovative development of the Sinicization of Marxism over the Party's century-long history, and it is a deepening and expansion of the "One Combination" first proposed by Comrade Mao Zedong in Oppose Book Worship. In 1938, at the Sixth Plenary Session of the Sixth CPC Central Committee, Comrade Mao Zedong pointed out: "Marxism must be integrated with the specific characteristics of our country and realized through a certain national form," and proposed the new proposition of "making Marxism concrete in China." Currently, General Secretary Xi Jinping's proposal of the "Two Combinations" is of great significance as it specifies the objects of the combination, avoiding the problem where some people narrowly understood "specific realities" only as contemporary realities. It expands the breadth and depth of the Sinicization of Marxism, emphasizing the necessity of combining the basic tenets of Marxism with the "roots and veins" of socialism with Chinese characteristics—China's fine traditional culture. It also profoundly answers the fundamental reason why Marxism works in China. Socialism with Chinese characteristics comes from a 5,000-year-old civilization; the continuous Chinese civilization is China's unique national condition and the root and soul of the Chinese nation. Only by activating and nurturing China's fine traditional culture can socialism with Chinese characteristics have a profound historical legacy and cultural foundation. Therefore, emphasizing the "Two Combinations," and especially the combination of Marxist tenets with China's fine traditional culture, helps advance the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism—giving Marxism more of a Chinese style, manner, and spirit—and helps use the power of Marxist truth to activate the vitality of China's fine traditional culture, promoting its creative transformation and innovative development.
The new thesis of the "Two Combinations" raises a series of new topics. For example, how should we grasp the history and laws of the innovative development of the Sinicization of Marxism from the perspective of the "Two Combinations"? How should we deeply understand Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as an original contribution, as contemporary Chinese Marxism and 21st-century Marxism, as the essence of the Chinese culture and spirit of our times, and as a new leap in the Sinicization of Marxism from the perspective of the "Two Combinations"? The combination of the basic tenets of Marxism with China's fine traditional culture is a two-way process. How can we use the power of Marxist truth to activate the latent potential of China’s fine traditional culture—activating its cultural spirit that spans time and space, transcends national borders, possesses eternal charm, and has contemporary value—and how can we transform the elements of China’s fine traditional culture into elements of Sinicized Marxism? How can we use Marxist stands, viewpoints, and methods to distinguish between the essence and the dross of traditional culture, and promote its creative transformation and innovative development? This series of questions awaits in-depth research by theoretical workers. (Chen Zhigang, Director of the Department of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and Research Fellow, Institute of Marxism Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences)
06 Common Prosperity
As a theoretical hotspot in 2021, common prosperity reflects the new stage, new progress, and new deployments in the development of the cause of the Party and the state. In 2021, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core firmly pressed the "start button" for solidly promoting common prosperity. On June 10, the "Opinions of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on Supporting Zhejiang's High-Quality Development and Building a Demonstration Zone for Common Prosperity" was released. On July 1, in his speech at the ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that on the new journey, we must rely closely on the people to create history, adhere to the fundamental purpose of serving the people whole-heartedly, focus on resolving the problem of unbalanced and inadequate development and the people's pressing difficulties and anxieties, and promote well-rounded human development and more obvious, substantive progress in the common prosperity of all people. On August 17, the tenth meeting of the Central Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs emphasized that promoting common prosperity for all the people must be the focus of seeking happiness for the people, so as to continuously consolidate the Party's long-term governing foundation.
Common prosperity has profound theoretical roots, a realistic background, and significant importance. it is an ancient and long-standing aspiration and pursuit of humanity, and an unceasing internal driving force of Chinese civilization for thousands of years. Common prosperity has been an eternal persistence of socialism for five hundred years; from the beginning, it was deeply rooted in the beautiful and brilliant conceptions of the future ideal society by the great socialist pioneers. Common prosperity is an essential requirement of socialism and the consistent original aspiration and founding mission of the Party's century-long struggle. Common prosperity is the proactive response to the times and a solemn promise to the people made by the Chinese Communists in the New Era, based on a profound insight into historical trends while keeping the "two overarching situations" [16] in mind. It is a strategic deployment and long-term plan concerning the overall situation of China's future development made by the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, based on world, national, and popular conditions. It is an important feature of Chinese-path modernization.
Since the 18th CPC National Congress, socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a New Era. The CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has placed the gradual realization of common prosperity for all the people in a more prominent position, focusing on resolving unbalanced and inadequate development, promoting coordinated development between urban and rural areas and regions, taking effective measures to ensure and improve people's livelihoods, resolutely winning the battle against poverty, and completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects. This has launched a new journey to fully build a modern socialist country and laid a good foundation for promoting common prosperity. Common prosperity is a holistic concept and a systemic project; it is the prosperity of all the people, encompassing both the material and spiritual lives of the masses. It is not the prosperity of a few, and the phenomenon of "the rich accumulating millions while the poor eat husks and chaff" [17] must never occur. We must adhere to the people-centered development philosophy, promote common prosperity amidst high-quality development, promote social equity and justice, and promote well-rounded human development, so that all people move solidly toward the goal of common prosperity.
It is necessary to correctly understand and grasp the strategic goals and practical paths for achieving common prosperity. Under our country's socialist system, we must continuously liberate and develop the social productive forces to create and accumulate social wealth, while simultaneously preventing polarization. To achieve the goal of common prosperity, we must first make the "cake" bigger and better through the joint efforts of all people, and then divide and distribute the "cake" well through rational institutional arrangements. This is a long-term historical process, and we must move toward this goal steadily. We must strengthen the employment-first orientation in promoting high-quality development and increase the capacity of economic growth to drive employment. We must leverage the functions and roles of distribution, maintaining the system where distribution according to work is the mainstay while improving policies for distribution according to factors of production, and increasing the intensity of regulation through taxation, social security, and transfer payments. We support enterprises and social groups that have both the will and the capacity to actively participate in public welfare and charitable endeavors. We must persist in doing our best while acting within our means, improving the policy and institutional system for public services, and accurately providing basic public services in areas of greatest concern to the people, such as education, healthcare, elderly care, and housing. In short, we must fully estimate the long-term, arduous, and complex nature of common prosperity, strengthen top-level design, and simultaneously encourage various localities to explore effective paths based on local conditions, summarize their experiences, and gradually roll them out. (Shan Chao, Director of the Research Department at the Institute of Marxism Studies and the World Socialism Research Center, CASS)
07 Chinese-path Modernization In the speech at the ceremony marking the centenary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "As we have upheld and developed socialism with Chinese characteristics and driven coordinated progress in material, political, cultural-ethical, social, and ecological terms, we have pioneered a new and uniquely Chinese path to modernization, and created a new model for human civilization." At the CPC and World Political Parties Summit on July 6, 2021, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized once again: "The Communist Party of China will unite and lead the Chinese people in deeply advancing Chinese-path modernization, making new contributions to humanity's exploration of paths toward modernization." At the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, "Chinese-path modernization" was written into the Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party over the Past Century. Undoubtedly, Chinese-path modernization is another landmark concept within Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.
Modernization is a perennial pursuit of humanity. Different nations and countries follow different paths toward modernization; there is no single, fixed model of modernization [18]. Our Party bases itself on China's reality, follows its own path, and explores China's road to modernization. During the period of socialist revolution and construction, the strategic goal of the "Four Modernizations" and the "two-step" strategic plan were gradually proposed. During the new period of reform, opening up, and socialist modernization, the Party, on the proposed "Chinese-type modernization road," clarified the modernization strategic goal of "prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, and harmonious" and the "three-step" strategic plan. Since the beginning of the New Era, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has focused closely on the major contemporary question of "what kind of great modern socialist country to build and how to build it," explicitly putting forward the strategic goal of a "prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful great modern socialist country" and the two-step strategic arrangement, noting that the CPC has united and led the Chinese people to successfully blaze a new Chinese path to modernization.
Chinese-path modernization is the modernization of a huge population, with over 1.4 billion people—exceeding the combined population of all current developed countries—entering modernization as a whole. It is a modernization of common prosperity for all, where by 2035, more notable and substantive progress will be made in common prosperity for all, and by the middle of this century, common prosperity for all will be basically realized. It is a modernization of material and cultural-ethical coordination, emphasizing both sustained and healthy economic development to promote comprehensive material abundance, and the construction of spiritual civilization to promote the well-rounded development of the person. It is a modernization of harmony between humanity and nature, taking the lead in the world in following a path of civilized development characterized by increased production, affluent living, and a sound political ecosystem. It is a modernization of peaceful development, upholding the concept of mutual benefit and win-win results with all countries, promoting the building of a community with a shared future for humanity, and striving to contribute to human peace and development.
The Chinese-path of modernization unswervingly follows its own road while drawing on the strengths of other development models, enriching and developing the theory of socialist modernization, breaking various paradoxes of Western modernization, and forming a completely new modernization model in the process of creating the "China miracle" of human modernization. The success of Chinese-path modernization has enriched the cognition of modernization and completely redrawn the world map of modernization. At the same time, it has expanded the channels for developing countries to achieve modernization, providing a brand-new choice for countries and nations that wish to accelerate their development while maintaining their independence, and contributing Chinese wisdom and Chinese solutions to the problems facing humanity.
Deeply understanding Chinese-path modernization requires "sober reflection" [19] amidst the heated discussion. The theoretical community still needs to deepen its research into profound questions such as the intrinsic relationship between Chinese-path modernization and the new model for human civilization, the relationship between Chinese-path modernization and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, how to further advance that rejuvenation through Chinese-path modernization on the New Journey, and the intrinsic relationship between the specific laws reflected in Chinese-path modernization and the universal laws of Marxist modernization and the general laws of Western modernization. (He Xinyuan, Deputy Director and Researcher at the Department of Sinicization of Marxism, Institute of Marxism Studies, CASS)
08 A New Model for Human Civilization General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out in his speech at the ceremony marking the centenary of the founding of the Communist Party of China: "As we have upheld and developed socialism with Chinese characteristics and driven coordinated progress in material, political, cultural-ethical, social, and ecological terms, we have pioneered a new and uniquely Chinese path to modernization, and created a new model for human civilization." The Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party over the Past Century noted again: "The Party has led the people in successfully blazing a Chinese path to modernization, creating a new model for human civilization." This major proposition of a "new model for human civilization" both possesses a profound academic basis—being a theoretical innovation of contemporary Chinese Marxism and 21st-century Marxism—and a deep practical foundation, arising from the great path, great cause, and great achievements created by the Chinese people under the leadership of the CPC over the past century. Since its proposal, the academic and theoretical circles have held several seminars for in-depth discussion. Scholars have conducted multi-dimensional interpretations around its theoretical origins, rich connotations, main characteristics, and great significance, achieving relatively fruitful research results.
Marx believed that the understanding of civilization must be linked to human material and spiritual production, viewing civilization as a category that reflects the sum of the products of material and spiritual production, marking the state of enlightenment and progress of human society. The new model for human civilization created by socialism with Chinese characteristics was created by the CPC through the integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and fine traditional Chinese culture. It originates from the basic tenets of Marxism and the fine traditional Chinese culture nurtured by the Chinese nation’s 5,000-year history of civilization; it is forged from the revolutionary culture and advanced socialist culture created by the people under the Party’s leadership during revolution, construction, and reform; and it is rooted in the great practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Socialism with Chinese characteristics is socialism and not any other "ism." The new model for human civilization based on socialism with Chinese characteristics is a socialist civilization and not any other kind of civilization. This new model is both socialist and Chinese; it is a unified entity of socialism and Chinese civilization, possessing a socialist nature and distinct Chinese characteristics.
The new model for human civilization includes two aspects: the development of China and the world. It includes the new Chinese path to modernization characterized by the coordinated development of material, political, cultural-ethical, social, and ecological civilizations, as well as the new path of peaceful development for humanity centered on building a community with a shared future for humanity. The ultimate goal of the new model for human civilization created by socialism with Chinese characteristics is to promote the well-rounded development of the person and the common development of humanity. It transcends the narrowness of capitalist civilization that serves the interests of the few, demonstrating a people-centered development philosophy and value pursuit. Being people-centered, seeking coordinated and peaceful development, and inheriting fine traditional Chinese culture while fully drawing on the achievements of human civilization are the main characteristics of this new model. Its creation provides a new path for developing countries to achieve modernization, new ideas for political parties to govern, new momentum for the development of world socialism, and new strength for the development of human society.
Currently, research results on the new model for human civilization are relatively abundant, but the research topics and space still need expansion. For example, we should clarify the essential differences between Chinese-path modernization and capitalist modernization from a comparative perspective; clarify the historical status, fundamental characteristics, and significant advantages of the new model for human civilization from the grand perspective of human civilization; and focus on revealing the transcendence and Aufhebung [20] of socialist civilization over capitalist civilization from the perspective of historical materialism. Meanwhile, in interpreting the new model for human civilization, we must properly handle the dialectical relationship between universality and particularity, commonality and individuality, and learning from others versus maintaining independence. (Ren Jie, Director and Researcher of the Department of Basic Theory, Institute of Marxism Studies, CASS)
09 Persisting in Self-Revolution The century-long journey of the Communist Party of China is both a magnificent history of social revolution and a history of self-revolution that eliminated the foul and moved toward the pure. The Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party over the Past Century, deliberated and adopted at the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, condensed "persisting in self-revolution" into one of the historical experiences of the CPC's century of struggle.
Centering on the subject of self-revolution, research in 2021 mainly focused on three aspects. Scholars generally believe: First, since the 18th Party Congress [21], the Party’s ability to purify, improve, reform, and excel has been significantly enhanced. The situation of lax and soft governance over the Party has been fundamentally reversed, and the Party's creativity, cohesion, and combat effectiveness have been significantly strengthened, making the Party stronger through revolutionary tempering. Second, the courage to engage in self-revolution is a unique political character of a Marxist party. The nature and purpose of the Party are the foundation of its courage to engage in self-revolution; the Party's original aspiration and founding mission are the source of its power; and the Party's scientific theories are the guide for its action. Third, since the 18th Party Congress, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has taken overall command of the "Four Greats" [22], leading the great social revolution with the great self-revolution to achieve historical achievements, creating the distinctive characteristics of the great practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era.
To scientifically understand the ideological connotation of self-revolution, one must grasp it from three dimensions. First, understand self-revolution in the sense of comprehensively deepening reform. General Secretary Xi Jinping first proposed the concept of "self-revolution" in May 2015 at the 12th meeting of the Central Leading Group for Comprehensively Deepening Reform. He emphasized the need for the courage of self-revolution to successfully carry out the great task of comprehensively deepening reform. Second, understand self-revolution in the sense of comprehensively and strictly governing the Party. At the ceremony marking the 95th anniversary of the founding of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that the whole Party must use the political courage of self-revolution to focus on solving prominent problems existing within the Party itself. In June 2019, during the 15th collective study session of the Central Political Bureau, General Secretary Xi Jinping systematically discussed the issue of "staying true to our original aspiration and founding mission, and advancing self-revolution." In November 2021, at the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: the courage to engage in self-revolution is our Party’s "second answer" to escaping the historical cycle of rise and fall [23]. Third, understand self-revolution in the sense of guaranteeing social revolution. In January 2018, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that to successfully carry out the great social revolution of upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era, our Party must have the courage to carry out self-revolution to make the Party stronger and more powerful. This important judgment clarified the dialectical relationship between the Party's self-revolution and social revolution, demonstrating that the courage to engage in self-revolution is the powerful impetus and fundamental guarantee for the victory of the great social revolution in the New Era.
Upholding self-revolution requires, in theory, a deep study and effective accounting of how to inherit and develop the rich body of ideological achievements our Party has formed regarding self-revolution. This includes strengthening ideals and convictions, enhancing Party spirit cultivation, comprehensively and strictly governing and managing the Party, normalizing serious political life within the Party, having the courage to carry out criticism and self-criticism, strengthening intra-Party supervision while accepting the supervision of the people, and continuously purifying the Party's ideology, organization, conduct, and constitution, among other aspects. In practice, we must build the Party to be even stronger and more powerful through the spirit of self-revolution. First, we must clarify that our Party does not have any private interests of its own, and we must resolutely refute the erroneous claim that "the Party has its own interests." Second, we must remain true to the Party's original aspiration and founding mission and persist in the principle of putting the people above all else. Third, we must demonstrate a determination to confront and solve problems head-on, resolutely eliminating all factors that undermine the Party's advanced nature and purity, and removing all viruses that erode the Party's healthy constitution. Fourth, we must profoundly recognize that in the New Era, only by leading a great social revolution through a great self-revolution, and promoting a great self-revolution through a great social revolution, can the Party truly escape the "historical cycle" [24] of rise and fall, ensuring the Party remains the firm leadership core of the New Era throughout. (Dai Lixing, Deputy Director and Researcher, Department of Xi Jinping Task Force on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, Institute of Marxism Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences)
10 Carbon Peaking and Carbon Neutrality In the face of profound changes in the global climate and domestic and international economic situations, striving to achieve carbon peaking and carbon neutrality (hereafter referred to as "Dual Carbon") on schedule is a solemn commitment made by the Central Committee of the Party to the world after assessing the situation and giving it careful consideration. It is a "tough battle" [25] currently faced in achieving high-quality development as our country enters a new stage of development. As 2021 was the inaugural year of this tough battle, "Dual Carbon" became a focus of the Central Committee's work and a centerpiece of attention in theoretical circles. In March, the Central Committee integrated "Dual Carbon" into the overall layout of ecological civilization construction, researching basic approaches and major measures to achieve these goals. In July, the national carbon emissions trading market opened. In October, the "Opinions of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on Completely, Accurately, and Comprehensively Implementing the New Development Philosophy to Achieve Carbon Peaking and Carbon Neutrality" was released, followed by the accelerated establishment of the "1+N" policy system [26] surrounding "Dual Carbon." By December, the Central Economic Work Conference emphasized that "Dual Carbon" is one of the five major new theoretical and practical issues that our country needs to correctly understand and grasp, pointing out that "achieving carbon peaking and carbon neutrality is an inherent requirement for promoting high-quality development; it must be advanced unswervingly, but it is impossible to achieve full success in a single stroke" [27]. How to correctly understand and grasp "Dual Carbon" has become a research hotspot.
Currently, three aspects of "Dual Carbon" have sparked heated discussion in academic circles: first, how to scientifically understand the implementation path and internal logic of achieving "Dual Carbon" targets; second, how to view the pursuit of "Dual Carbon" targets as a broad and profound systemic economic and social transformation; and third, how to understand that achieving "Dual Carbon" targets is an inherent requirement for promoting high-quality development. In response to these discussions, three points of understanding need to be clarified. First, the on-schedule realization of "Dual Carbon" targets requires systematic planning and a scientific, orderly progression. Second, realizing "Dual Carbon" targets is a broad and profound systemic economic and social transformation, which requires focusing closely on the scientific judgment that "it is impossible to achieve full success in a single stroke." Whether emphasizing grassroots exploration within the improvement of top-level design or profoundly reflecting on "campaign-style" [28] carbon reduction in certain locales during specific implementation, the emphasis is that "Dual Carbon" is a complex and long-term systemic project. In "Dual Carbon" work, one must properly handle the relationships between the short-term and the medium-to-long term, as well as between the whole and the parts. Third, the core connotation and realization conditions of "Dual Carbon" targets are highly consistent with the inherent requirements of our country’s promotion of high-quality development. China has already entered a new stage of development, and high-quality development has become the main thread of economic and social development during the 14th Five-Year Plan period and even longer. "Green" is its distinct hallmark and universal form. Current "Dual Carbon" work centered on the green transition of the economy and energy will promote high-quality development by innovating new drivers of economic development and pioneering new models of green development.
Our country is actively constructing the "four beams and eight pillars" [29] framework for achieving "Dual Carbon" targets. Understanding of the above three aspects is becoming increasingly clear, and "Dual Carbon" work is progressing steadily and orderly. However, some issues in this process still require deep reflection, such as: how to give full play to the roles of the "effective market" and "proactive government" under the "Dual Carbon" targets to better stimulate the enthusiasm of various participants for carbon reduction; how to handle the relationship between development and emission reduction; and how to better participate in the global environmental governance system. At the same time, focus must be placed on three practical issues: first, China is currently still in the middle-to-late stages of industrialization; in the short term, total energy demand will continue to grow. Meanwhile, China's energy resource endowment is dominated by coal, making the clean transformation of traditional energy a priority for "Dual Carbon" work in the short term. Second, how to give full play to the financial resource allocation function to support the green transformation of industries and achieve a "win-win" of economic and environmental performance. Third, while considering the differences in regional development across China, how to ensure "the whole country works as a single chessboard" [30], rationally planning the emission reduction responsibilities and implementation paths of each region. (Yang Jing, Deputy Director and Researcher, Department of Marxist Principles, Institute of Marxism Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences)