The "2023 National Forum on the Basic Principles of Marxism" Academic Seminar Held at Shandong University
From August 19 to 20, the “2023 National Forum on the Basic Principles of Marxism” was held at Shandong University. This year's forum was co-hosted by the Institute of Marxism Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), the Beijing Collaborative Innovation Center for the Theory of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics (China University of Political Science and Law), the School of Marxism at Shandong University, and the editorial departments of Marxism Studies (Makesizhuyi yanjiu), World Socialism Studies (Shijie shehuizhuyi yanjiu), and International Critical Thought. The theme of the forum was “The Marxist Worldview and Methodology.” Attendees included Cheng Enfu—Member of the CASS Academic Divisions and its Presidium, Deputy Director of the Academic Committee of the University of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and Chief Professor; Lin Jianhua, Deputy Director of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies; Gao Huanyue, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, Director of the Organization Department, and Dean of the School of Marxism at China University of Political Science and Law; and Zhang Yongbing, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Shandong University. Approximately 150 experts and scholars from nearly 80 research institutes, higher education institutions, and academic journals nationwide—including CASS, Tsinghua University, Peking University, Renmin University of China, and Beijing Normal University—participated through a combination of online and offline formats.
The opening ceremony on the morning of the 19th was chaired by Professor Zhang Shihai, Dean of the School of Marxism at Shandong University. Opening remarks were delivered by Lin Jianhua, Gao Huanyue, and Zhang Yongbing.
In his address, Lin Jianhua argued that the report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC [1], by summarizing historical experience, proposed and elucidated scientific methods for advancing theoretical innovation, such as the “Two Combinations” [2] and the “Six Must-Upholds” [3], providing a fundamental guide for the continued advancement of the Party’s theoretical innovation. Regarding the forum's theme, Professor Lin shared three learning insights: first, that dialectical materialism and historical materialism constitute the Marxist worldview and methodology; second, the need to profoundly grasp the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era; and third, that the “Six Must-Upholds” constitute the basic content of the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.
Gao Huanyue stated in her address that by focusing on the Marxist worldview and methodology, this forum grasped the core of the basic principles of Marxism. She noted that as practice knows no bounds, theoretical innovation likewise has no end. It is essential to persist in and apply the stances and viewpoints [4] inherent therein while directly confronting Chinese realities and problems. By continuously adhering to the “Two Combinations” and promoting theoretical innovation, we can steadily write new chapters in the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism.
Representing Shandong University, Zhang Yongbing extended a warm welcome and sincere greetings to the participating scholars. He remarked that convening this forum to collectively interpret the Marxist worldview and methodology, establish academic viewpoints, and discuss academic development is of special and significant importance for the comprehensive implementation of the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the CPC and for injecting academic wisdom into the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism.
Cheng Enfu delivered the keynote report for the plenary session. Professor Cheng proposed the need for a dialectical understanding of the “Six-in-One” essential connotative system of socialism with Chinese characteristics. He emphasized that the essential connotations of socialism and their specific manifestations will continue to be refined and enriched through continuous practice, and that Marxism—which advances with the times—especially Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, will provide more extensive and profound scientific interpretations of these developments.
The second half of the morning session on the 19th was chaired by Research Fellow Zhang Jianyun of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies. Professor Hao Lixin of the School of Philosophy at Renmin University of China, in a speech titled “The Unique Worldview and Methodology Implied in the Theory of Chinese-path Modernization,” pointed out that the process of Chinese-path modernization is a unified process of practical and theoretical innovation, containing rich and unique philosophical concepts. Research Fellow Yu Bin of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, speaking on “The Categorization of Social Formations and the New Form of Human Civilization,” noted that through an understanding of the five social formations [5] theory proposed by Marx himself, the question of leaping across social formations is not a theoretical issue but a practical one. Professor Zhou Xiangjun of the School of Marxism at Shandong University delivered a speech titled “Two Issues Regarding the Grasp of the Worldview and Methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era,” approaching the topic from the perspectives of why and how this worldview and methodology should be mastered. Professor Tai Lihua of the School of Marxism at China University of Political Science and Law focused on the “Contemporary Value of Capital,” revealing its contemporary inspirations through five aspects: human society as a dynamic process of development and change; the vigorous increase of wealth as an eternal requirement of human society; the limitations of wealth production dominated by the logic of capital; the inevitability of global economic crises; and the logic of wealth that persists in being people-centered. Professor Wang Chuanli of the School of Marxism at Tsinghua University, in a speech titled “The Cycle of Order and Chaos, Rise and Fall [6] from the Perspective of Historical Materialism,” argued that Marxism is adept at revealing the phenomena of order and chaos or rise and fall from the level of social systems, and that the light of historical materialism must shine into the research of these historical cycles. Professor Sun Lainbin of the School of Marxism at Peking University, speaking on “The Revolutionary Dialectics of Modern Civilizational Development in Economically and Culturally Backward Countries—The Intersecting Intellectual Brilliance of the 'Letter to the Editorial Board of Otechestvennye Zapiski' and 'Our Revolution',” argued that the ideas of revolutionary dialectics are of great significance for deeply understanding the universality and specificity of the paths toward modern civilization and for grasping the rich connotations of Chinese-path modernization. Professor Xu Bin of the School of Marxism at Beijing Normal University, in a speech titled “The Implications of the Materialist Conception of History for the Development of Human Civilization,” pointed out that human civilization belongs to the category of social consciousness; it corresponds to social existence, serves as an important dimension for measuring social development, and requires us to grasp it through the lens of historical materialism.
The afternoon sub-forums on the 19th were chaired respectively by Professor Gong Peihe of the School of Marxism at Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Professor Wu Wenxin of the School of Marxism (Weihai) at Shandong University, and Associate Professor Yuan Fumin of the School of Marxism at China Agricultural University. Sub-forum One focused on the study of the basic principles of Marxism and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Sub-forum Two centered on four issues: the connotation and application of the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought; the understanding and mastery of Xi Jinping Thought; the connotations, paths, and experiences of Chinese-path modernization; and research by foreign Marxist scholars on socialist thought. Sub-forum Three focused on natural ecological civilization, ideology and socialist core values, Chinese-path modernization, the laws of human development, and the political and academic nature of the “Six Must-Upholds.”
The first half of the morning session on the 20th was chaired by Research Fellow Han Xiaofeng, Deputy Director of the editorial department of Dongyue Tribune (Dongyue luncong). Presentations were delivered by Research Fellow He Xinyuan (CASS Institute of Marxism Studies) on “A Brief Discussion on the Laws of Development of Chinese-path Modernization”; Professor Jia Shupin (Shanghai Normal University) on “Lenin’s Understanding of the Harms of Erroneous Non-Marxist Trends of Thought”; Professor Han Sheng (Shandong University) on “The Intersubjective Logic of Globalization in the 21st Century Guided by Common Values for All Humanity”; Professor Liu Mingming (Nankai University) on “Marx and Engels' Thoughts on the Solidarity and Unity of the Proletarian Party and Their Contemporary Value”; Professor Li Xiaoguang (University of Science and Technology Beijing) on “Studying Classical Works to Advance Education in Marxist Theory”; and Associate Professor Zhang Yang (China University of Political Science and Law) on “Research on the Political Relations of Data Power in Contemporary Capitalism.”
The second half of the morning session on the 20th was chaired by Lin Qingchun from the School of Marxism at China University of Political Science and Law. Presentations were delivered by Research Fellow Sun Yingshuai (CASS) on “Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era Driving Scientific Socialism to Radiate New Vigor”; Associate Professor Gao Jiankun (Fudan University) on “A Marxist Political Economy Analysis of Prosperity through Diligence and Innovation and Common Prosperity”; Associate Professor Xia Weiguo (Shandong University) on “An Analysis of the Philosophical Foundations of the Theoretical System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics”; Professor Wang Shuixing (Jiangxi Normal University) on “Communistic Reflections on Intelligent Civilization”; Associate Professor Wu Chuanpeng (Qinghai University) on “The Genes of Fine Traditional Chinese Culture in Xi Jinping's Thought on Ecological Civilization”; Associate Professor Fan Yuxian (Xi'an Jiaotong University) on “The Theoretical Connotations and Realistic Significance of the People's 'Better Life' in the New Era”; and Lecturer Zhang Xinran (China University of Political Science and Law) on “The Critique of Spatial Alienation in Urban Marxism and Its Limitations—Based on the Perspective of Historical Materialism.”
Research Fellow Yang Jing, Deputy Director of the Principles Department of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, provided the closing summary. She summarized the forum's scale, level, and the depth of its ideas using the keywords “abundant” (feng), “new” (xin), and “profound” (shen). First, “abundant” referred to the abundance of submissions, the high level of the participants, and the wealth of shared viewpoints. Second, “new” referred to the new titles, new approaches, and new views presented, all of which converge to show that significant progress has been made in theoretical innovation. Third, “profound” referred to both the in-depth study of the basic principles of Marxism from the perspective of combining traditional and developmental forms, and the research that integrates Marxist classical texts with contemporary issues and realities. She concluded that the insights provided by the experts and scholars were profound and full of highlights, presenting a high-end intellectual feast and making the forum a complete success. Associate Professor Tong Xiancheng of the School of Marxism at Yunnan Normal University spoke on behalf of the next host institution; the 2024 National Forum on the Basic Principles of Marxism will be held in Kunming, Yunnan.