Constantly Opening Up New Frontiers in Marxist Theoretical Research and Discipline Development

Report from Chinese Social Sciences Net (Reporter: Gao Ying). From December 26 to 27, an academic symposium themed "Continuously Advancing the Sinicization and Modernization of Marxism and the 20th Anniversary of the Founding of the Institute of Marxism Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences" was held in Beijing. Gao Xiang, President and Secretary of the Leading Party Members’ Group of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), attended the meeting and delivered a speech. Jin Minqing, member of the Leading Party Members’ Group and Director of the Institute of Contemporary China, delivered a keynote report.

The conference was photographed by Zhu Gaolei, a reporter for this website.

Gao Xiang stated that since the 18th CPC National Congress ^[1], the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has attached great importance to the study and construction of Marxist theory. With a high degree of theoretical consciousness and profound theoretical insight, General Secretary Xi Jinping has delivered a series of important discourses and issued a series of important instructions surrounding the strengthening of Marxist theoretical research. He has profoundly answered a series of directional, fundamental, and long-term questions regarding upholding and developing Marxism, and systematically elucidated the directions, goals, basic principles, fundamental tasks, and key work in the study and construction of Marxist theory. These provide scientific guidance and fundamental compliance ^[2] for Marxist theoretical research in the New Era. The CASS Leading Party Members’ Group has deeply studied and implemented the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important instructions and the decision-making deployments of the Party Central Committee. It insists on taking the research and explanation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as the primary political, theoretical, and academic task. By adopting a series of powerful measures, the Group has promoted the continuous improvement of the quality and efficiency of Marxist theoretical research throughout the Academy.

Gao Xiang emphasized that adhering to Marxism as a guide was the inevitable choice of 20th-century Chinese history and Chinese scholarship, and it is also the fundamental hallmark that distinguishes contemporary Chinese philosophy and social sciences from others. We must always uphold the guiding position of Marxism in the field of philosophy and social sciences in our country, persist in studying Marxism with a scientific attitude, deeply advance the systematic and theoretical research and explanation of the Party’s innovative theories, and accelerate the construction of the basic theoretical system of the discipline of Marxist theory. We must keep the “greatest concerns of the state” ^[3] in mind, maintain a global vision, stand firm on a people-centered position, and carry forward the fine academic style of integrating theory with practice to continuously improve our capacity to serve the overall development of the Party and the state. We must resolutely build a strong defense line for ideological security, consolidate platforms for the research and dissemination of Marxist theory, and comprehensively enhance the international discourse power of Sinicized Marxism. The Institute of Marxism Studies at CASS was the first comprehensive research institution for Marxist theory in the country established under the direct care of the Party Central Committee. Standing at a new historical starting point, the Institute must fully carry forward its fine academic traditions, further refine the disciplinary layout, build disciplinary clusters, and promote academic innovation. It should strive to build a school of Marxist theory with Chinese characteristics that takes Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as its banner and soul. It should also unite and cultivate a theoretical and academic "iron army" ^[4] that is loyal to Marxism and dedicated to the cause of Marxist research, continuously opening up new frontiers in Marxist theoretical research and making new and greater contributions to the cause of comprehensively advancing the construction of a strong country and national rejuvenation through Chinese-path modernization.

Jin Minqing pointed out that Marxism is a continuously developing and open theory; it can only take root through localization and can only be full of vitality through modernization. The more than 100-year history of the Chinese Communist Party's struggle is a process of continuously advancing the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism and achieving one theoretical leap after another. This magnificent historical process has not only produced rich results in theoretical innovation but has also accumulated scientific experience in theoretical innovation. This experience includes: we must persist in putting the people first and correctly handle the relationship between the Party’s theoretical innovation and the practice of the masses; we must maintain self-confidence and self-reliance, correctly handling the relationship between autonomy and external reference; we must uphold the fundamentals and break new ground, correctly handling the relationship between persistence and development; we must persist in a problem-oriented approach, correctly handling the relationship between "problems" and "isms" ^[5]; we must persist in a systems-oriented concept, correctly handling the relationship between various elements of theoretical innovation; and we must persist in maintaining a global perspective, correctly handling the relationship between China and the world. On the new journey of advancing the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism, inheriting successful experience, deepening the understanding of underlying laws, and serving the Party’s theoretical innovation are important responsibilities and glorious missions for the broad ranks of Marxist theoretical workers.

Li Shenming, former Vice President of CASS and Director of the World Socialism Research Center, stated that on the occasion of the 132nd anniversary of Comrade Mao Zedong’s birth ^[6], reviewing the 20-year development history of the Institute of Marxism Studies and jointly discussing major issues in Marxist theoretical research in the New Era carries special and important significance. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is the latest achievement in the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism. The people-centered development philosophy proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping is in the same line of descent as Comrade Mao Zedong’s dictum on "the question of who we serve." The "question of who we serve" is a fundamental and principled issue in philosophy and social science research. Workers in philosophy and social sciences should always keep this question in mind, persist in doing scholarship for the people, and consciously integrate their personal academic pursuits into the currents of the times.

Jin Nuo, convener of the Discipline Appraisal Group for Marxist Theory and CPC History and Party Building under the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council and former Party Committee Secretary of Renmin University of China, stated that in 2005, the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council and the Ministry of Education made the major decision to adjust and add Marxist Theory as a first-level discipline ^[7]. In the same year, the Institute of Marxism Studies at CASS was formally established, creating a strategic synergy between the two. Over the past 20 years, the discipline and the Institute have moved forward hand-in-hand through an extraordinary journey, achieving remarkable results. Practice has proven that establishing a first-level discipline in Marxist theory and creating specialized research institutions were major strategic moves of great foresight. They have consolidated and strengthened the guiding position of Marxism in our country’s philosophy and social sciences, vigorously promoted innovation in ideological theory and the construction of ideology, laid a solid foundation for constructing China’s independent knowledge system, and provided a strong guarantee for cultivating the "new people of the era" who will shoulder the heavy responsibility of national rejuvenation.

Cui Weihang, Director and Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the Institute of Marxism Studies at CASS, stated that after 20 years of development, the Institute has become a national-level comprehensive Marxist research institution with profound influence and broad leadership both at home and abroad. Under the strong leadership of the CASS Leading Party Members’ Group, all comrades of the Institute will continue to adhere to the correct political and academic directions, fulfill the primary task of serving General Secretary Xi Jinping and the Party Central Committee, and carry through the spirit, attitude, and style of seeking truth from facts. They will pool their strength, act with enterprise, and write academic chapters worthy of this great era with even more outstanding achievements.

Luo Wendong, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Institute of Marxism Studies at CASS, gave the concluding remarks. The conference featured keynote speeches and four parallel sub-forums. Responsible officials from the functional departments of CASS and various units of the Division of Marxist Studies, members of the Discipline Appraisal Group for Marxist Theory and CPC History and Party Building of the State Council’s Academic Degrees Committee, and experts and scholars in the field of Marxist theoretical research in China participated in the discussions.