Tian Xinming: On the Spirit of Historical Initiative

[Abstract] The spirit of historical initiative is the spirit by which the working class and the masses of the people, under the guidance of Marxism, actively create history and push social history toward the distant goal of communism. It is the product of the development of human subjective agency within the process of social history. Marxism is the conscious expression and embodiment of the working class’s spirit of historical initiative. The spirit of historical initiative is a spiritual quality unique to Marxism that distinguishes it from all other ideological theories. It is an innate spiritual quality of the Communist Party of China. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is both the latest achievement of advancing the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism through a great spirit of historical initiative and a concentrated embodiment of the spirit of historical initiative of Chinese Communists. To promote the development of the cause of the Party and the state, we must carry forward the spirit of historical initiative. Adhering to the guidance of Marxism is the fundamental basis for grasping historical initiative. Realizing the benign interaction between theoretical innovation and practical innovation through the "Two Combinations" ^[1] is the realistic path to attaining historical initiative. Self-criticism and self-revolution are powerful weapons for winning historical initiative. To dare to struggle is an inherent meaning within the spirit of historical initiative.

[Keywords] spirit of historical initiative; the "Two Combinations"; self-revolution

Author Profile: Tian Xinming (1947– ), Researcher at the Center for the Development of Science and Research, Ministry of Education (Beijing, 100091).