Fan Xin: Approaching Lenin from this Dimension — A Study of Lenin's Thoughts on the Party's Political Construction
Abstract
Lenin's thought on the political building of the Party is a profound and extensive ideological system, serving as a critical component of Leninist theory—particularly his theory of the new-type proletarian party. Thought on the political building of the Party constitutes the very essence of this theory. In Lenin’s view, "In a society based upon class divisions, the struggle between the hostile classes boundly, at a certain stage of its development, becomes a political struggle. The most purposeful, most comprehensive and specific expression of the political struggle of classes is the struggle of parties." The political building of the Party is a matter of life and death, determining the Party's ultimate future and destiny. Lenin treated the political building of the Party as a "red thread" [1] running through his entire theory of the new-type proletarian party. Consequently, Lenin's thought on the political building of the Party, formed on the foundation of the theory of the new-type proletarian party and guided by Leninism, stands as a monumental landmark in the history of socialist thought.
The basic framework of Lenin's thought on the political building of the Party—its "four beams and eight pillars" [2]—is composed of two "musts" and three "requirements": the Party must maintain its advanced nature; the Party must adhere to democratic centralism; the Party must resolutely struggle against erroneous tendencies existing both within and outside its ranks; the Party must safeguard the authority of the Central Committee and the Party's leaders; and the Party must maintain its leading position in the life of the state and society. Lenin’s approach to the political building of the Party encompasses vital functions, fundamental principles, basic characteristics, and methodological implications. This represents a major development of the Marxist-Engelsian doctrine of party building and remains a precious ideological legacy bequeathed by Lenin to subsequent generations of communists worldwide.
In the process of leading the Chinese people through revolution, construction, and reform—that is, the "social revolution" [3]—the Communist Party of China (CPC) has taken Lenin’s thought on the political building of the Party as its guide, continuously advancing the "great project" of Party building through self-revolution. This is a vivid manifestation of how Chinese communists consistently adhere to Marxism-Leninism as their guide and possess the courage to transform both the objective world and their own subjective world.
Author Biography
Fan Xin is an Associate Research Fellow at the Institute of Marxism Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), a Doctor of Laws, and a Master’s supervisor. She has presided over more than ten research projects, including those funded by the National Social Science Fund of China, the CASS Fundamental Research Scholars Program, the CASS Project for the Study and Development of Marxist Theory (Marxist Project), key projects of the CASS Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and projects for the CASS New Era Party Building Research Center and the CPC Inspection and Supervision Theory Research Center. She has participated in major special projects of the National Social Science Fund, general projects of the National Social Science Fund, and projects commissioned by the Central Propaganda Department. She has published over 60 papers, including more than 30 in core journals. She has authored three books and co-authored five. Her research has been reprinted in full or in part by Social Sciences in China Internal Digest, the Renmin University of China Information Center for Social Sciences, and China Inspection and Supervision News. She is a recipient of the Ministry of Education’s Academic Newcomer Award for Doctoral Students and the CASS Award for Excellent Policy Information. She independently received the Heilongjiang Provincial Award for Excellence in Social Science Achievements. She currently serves as an Executive Director of the (National) Association for Leninist Research and a Director of the Chinese Atheism Society.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1: The Epochal Background of the Formation of Lenin’s Thought on the Political Building of the Party Section 1: Lenin’s Assessment of the Era Section 2: Lenin’s Assessment of Russia’s National Conditions Section 3: Lenin’s Assessment of the World Socialist Movement
Chapter 2: The Practical Basis for the Formation of Lenin’s Thought on the Political Building of the Party Section 1: Lenin’s Early Participation in Revolutionary Activities Section 2: Lenin’s Proposal of Party Building Ideas during the Promotion and Defense of Marxism Section 3: Lenin’s Proposal and Formation of the Theory of the New-Type Proletarian Party
Chapter 3: The Theoretical Foundations of Lenin’s Thought on the Political Building of the Party Section 1: The Doctrine of Party Building by Marx and Engels as the Theoretical Basis Section 2: Lenin’s Scientific Attitude toward the Marx-Engels Doctrine of Party Building
Chapter 4: The Socio-Historical Conditions for the Formation and Development of Lenin’s Thought on the Political Building of the Party Section 1: Engaging in Political Struggle as the Necessary Path for the Formation and Development of Lenin’s Thought Section 2: Historical Conditions for the Formation and Development of Lenin’s Thought Section 3: Lenin’s Strategy, Tactics, and Political Vision
Chapter 5: The Basic Framework, Main Content, and Logical Progression of Lenin’s Thought on the Political Building of the Party Section 1: Basic Functions of the Political Building of the Party Section 2: Fundamental Principles for Strengthening the Political Building of the Party Section 3: Main Content of the Thought on the Political Building of the Party Section 4: Fundamental Characteristics of Lenin’s Thought Section 5: Methodological Implications of Lenin’s Thought
Chapter 6: The Enrichment and Refinement of Lenin’s Thought on the Political Building of the Party Section 1: Lenin’s Thought on the Political Building of the Governing Party after the Victory of the October Revolution Section 2: Thought on the Political Building of the Governing Party in Lenin’s Political Testament Section 3: Lenin’s Founding of the Communist International and Guidance of Proletarian Parties in Various Countries
Chapter 7: The Contemporary Value of Lenin’s Thought on the Political Building of the Party Section 1: Lenin’s Thought as an Action Guide for the CPC’s Advancement of Self-Revolution Section 2: The Adherence to and Development of Lenin’s Thought by the New Era Theory of Self-Revolution
Conclusion