Wang Wenli: New Paths for Safeguarding Ideological Security in Universities in the New Era
Social existence determines social consciousness, and social consciousness reflects social existence while reacting back upon it; it constitutes the spiritual aspect of social life. Social consciousness possesses a rich connotation and is divided into social psychology and forms of social consciousness according to different levels. Social psychology is primarily based on perceptual cognition, manifesting as people's sensations, perceptions, and mental images. Forms of social consciousness represent a higher level of social consciousness, primarily based on rational cognition, manifesting as concepts, judgments, and reasoning. These include political and legal thought, morality, art, religion, philosophy, and science. Forms of social consciousness are grounded in social psychology and play a leading role in guiding it.
Within the forms of social consciousness, a distinction exists between ideology and non-ideology, wherein ideology refers to the social consciousness that reflects socio-political relations.
Ideological security is the foundation for maintaining political stability and serves as an important hallmark thereof. Ideology functions to legitimize specific regimes, stabilize political operations, and facilitate socio-political mobilization; these functions exhibit a clear political character when they are exercised.
National ideological security is a vital component of national interests. Ensuring ideological security and the cultural security it upholds are core national interests; achieving the stability of the mainstream social ideological security is itself the greatest interest of a socialist state.
We must, with a high sense of historical mission and responsibility, attach great importance to new changes in the ideological field, strengthen the construction of the socialist core value system, cultivate and practice socialist core values, and consolidate the guiding position of Marxism in the ideological field.
The construction of ideological security in higher education institutions (HEIs) is a vital part of national ideological security construction. Ideological security in HEIs is not only an important foundation for consolidating national ideological security but also a critical element of maintaining national security. HEIs are places for cultivating talent and developing science and technology; they are gravity centers for training builders of national construction and important bases for serving society and cultural innovation. However, in the face of network information technology and the complex international situation, the environment for ideological education in China's HEIs has become exceptionally complex and diverse. For example, network media has broadened the horizons of university students and facilitated their learning, yet the sheer volume of network information—with its complex content and diverging perspectives—may cause inner hesitation or a lack of moral anchoring among students. At the same time, the displays of wealth and extravagance in real life stand in contrast to the thrift and simplicity taught in the classroom. These conditions may cause anxiety and a drive for "quick success and instant benefits" [1] among some students, even seriously affecting the worldviews, outlooks on life, and values of some.
To effectively resolve this objective reality, better maintaining ideological security in HEIs has become an important practical task. The book The Dissemination of Social Trends and the Maintenance of Ideological Security in Higher Education Institutions (authored by Bu Jianhua, Hu Yuning, and Wang Qunlin; published by Shandong People's Publishing House, December 2016) provides an excellent answer to this question. It is farsighted, comprehensively clarifying the research direction of this task and scientifically constructing the overall framework of this study. Based on reality and explaining profound concepts in simple terms [2], it combines specific points with broader contexts through sound argumentation and clear countermeasures, advancing the progress of this research to a certain extent and possessing significant theoretical and practical meaning. The book discusses seven aspects: national ideological security and HEI ideological security; the impact of the dissemination of social trends on HEI ideological security; an analysis of the current status and causes of HEI ideological security in China; research on the influence of social trends on contemporary youth; research on the influence of social trends on "ideological and political theory courses" [3] in HEIs and corresponding countermeasures; the operating mechanisms of HEI ideological security construction; and strengthening the platform construction for ensuring HEI ideological security. With a unique perspective, it explains the connotation of national ideology and the status and significance of mainstream ideology in HEIs, proposing keys and countermeasures for maintaining HEI ideological security in light of the national conditions of China having entered the socialist New Era and its current international background. On one hand, these research conclusions provide theoretical problem-solving ideas and a construction framework for the diversity and urgency currently facing HEI ideological security construction, analyzing the characteristics and status of the formation and dissemination of social trends among contemporary youth groups. On the other hand, it proposes specific implementation paths for HEI ideological security construction in practice, mentioning the important roles of "Ideological-Political Courses" (sīzhèng kè) and "Curriculum-based Ideological-Political Education" (kèchéng sīzhèng) [4], as well as campus culture construction, further building the operating mechanism and platform construction for HEI ideological security. The reference value of this book for maintaining ideological security in our HEIs is mainly reflected in the following aspects.
First, it provides a new perspective for China's ideological security construction in the New Media era. Socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a New Era, which is a new historical orientation for our country's development. National ideological security plays the role of an ideological guarantee in the construction of socialism with Chinese characteristics. HEI ideological security construction is a vital front for national ideological security construction. The book mentions that since Reform and Opening-up, China has undergone daily and monthly changes [5], which manifest prominently in the ideological sphere as the multi-dimensional coexistence and clash of various social trends. Therefore, to cope with diverse social trends, China should strengthen the positive guiding role of ideological and political theory courses in HEIs. These courses are the main channel for leading social trends; by improving their effectiveness, we can strengthen the guidance and education of university students regarding social trends, while "Curriculum-based Ideological-Political Education" must also advance with the times to permeate these efforts. These viewpoints provide a new perspective for our ideological security construction. They are conducive to HEIs deeply studying and implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, implementing the general requirements for Party building in the New Era and the Party's organizational line in the New Era, and integrating Party leadership and Party building throughout the entire process of school management and operations. This provides a strong guarantee for cultivating socialist builders and successors who are well-developed in ethics, intellect, physique, aesthetic appreciation, and labor.
Second, it provides new ideas for HEI ideological security construction in the New Media era. With the rapid development of information technology, the use of the internet has become ubiquitous. The daily lives of university students are closely linked to the internet, and the massive amount of information and worldviews brought by the internet have quietly influenced the younger generation. Consequently, the network environment has become an ideological construction front that cannot be ignored. To tackle the negative influences brought by the network, the book proposes that China's HEIs must further firm up the socialist direction of schooling, comprehensively strengthen Party building in HEIs, tighten the Party's organizational system, and improve political standing to fulfill the fundamental task of "fostering virtue through education" (lìdé shùrén) [6]. Importance must be attached to the role of primary-level Party organizations, highlighting political standards, strengthening the education and management of Party members, establishing an advanced image, and playing an exemplary leading role. In particular, we must strengthen education on socialist core values so that they may lead social trends. We must consolidate the dominant position of Marxism in HEI ideology, innovate the discourse system of mainstream ideological and political education, and spread positive energy. Ideological and political education is the main channel for disseminating the mainstream socialist ideology. Therefore, innovating the discourse system of mainstream ideological and political education is an inherent requirement for advancing the construction of an ideological discourse system with Chinese characteristics. We must comprehensively strengthen ideological and political work in HEIs, promote excellent teacher ethics and professional conduct, and educate students to firm up their ideals and convictions, cultivate deep feelings of patriotism, strengthen moral cultivation, increase comprehensive quality, and foster a spirit of courage in taking up responsibilities. Simultaneously, we should construct a discourse system for New Media ideology and strengthen the construction of the primary front.
Finally, it proposes new measures for HEI ideological security construction in the New Media era. We must persist in and consolidate the guiding position of Marxism and grasp the leadership of Chinese discourse in the ideological realm. Unswervingly adhering to the guiding position of Marxism in the ideological field, taking a clear-cut stand in grasping the political stance and orientation of the mainstream ideology, and increasing the power to lead social trends are practical issues facing HEI ideological construction. The book scientifically proposes solutions: namely, establishing prevention mechanisms, building emergency mechanisms, and creating guarantee mechanisms for HEI ideological security construction. Classroom education is the main channel for ideological security education, campus culture is the focal point for ideological security construction, student associations are the new front for ideological security education, and campus media is the grand stage for ideological security construction. HEIs must combine the actual thinking of teachers and students, emancipate the mind, seek truth from facts, advance with the times, and unremittingly promote the process of the Sinicization of Marxism. Relying on scientific theoretical quality and the spirit of the times, they must seize the initiative of Chinese discourse in the ideological field.
In short, "if the youth are prosperous, the nation will prosper; if the youth are strong, the nation will be strong." Under the widespread dissemination and influence of various current social trends, the Party and the government should attach great importance to the current mainstream ideological education in HEIs, striving to improve the ideological and moral quality of young university students and enhancing their ability to distinguish right from wrong. This book scientifically constructs countermeasures for this contemporary issue and dialectically analyzes the essence of various social trends. It mentions that only by firming up the socialist faith of university students can we continuously enhance the guiding power of mainstream socialist ideology over them. To this end, HEIs should strengthen ideological and political education work, change the methods of ideological and political education, update modern concepts of ideological and political education, guide students toward heuristic methods, fully utilize New Media technology, increase the technical content of ideological and political education, leverage the efficacy of online ideological and political education, and increase the interest level of classroom content in ideological and political theory. In the internet age, this holds important reference value for improving students' ability to distinguish right from wrong—taking the essence and discarding the dregs [7]—guiding them to establish correct thoughts, and cultivating correct social ideology. This can effectively promote students' understanding and practice of socialist core values, thereby consolidating social consensus.