Wang Yanlong and Xu Kangzhou: Lenin's Cultural Views in His Later Years and Their Enlightenment for Cultural Inheritance and Development
At the turn of the 20th century, facing the complex currents of cultural thought in Russia, Lenin resolutely defended Marxist cultural theory, conducting in-depth critiques of Narodnik [1] ideology and Machism [2]. After the October Revolution, Lenin actively explored the path of socialist cultural construction, proposing a series of feasible practical guidelines and specific measures. In his later years, Lenin systematically expounded on the essence of socialist culture, its direction of development, and its relationship with economy and politics. He emphasized the vital role of the "cultural revolution" [3] in socialist construction and reflected deeply on the strategic goals, methodological paths, and realistic challenges surrounding cultural development. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out at the Seminar on Cultural Inheritance and Development that continuing to promote cultural prosperity and building a leading cultural nation from a new starting point is our new cultural mission in the New Era. Deeply investigating Lenin's late-stage views on culture holds significant reference value for promoting the innovative development of socialist culture and strengthening the construction of Chinese-style socialist culture.
I. Lenin's Multidimensional Interpretation of Culture
Lenin's multidimensional interpretation of culture, combined with the social reality and historical context of Soviet Russia, not only expanded and deepened the understanding of the concept and category of culture but also put forward critical insights of profound theoretical value. This demonstrated his keen insight into cultural development and reflected his deep theoretical innovation and practical exploration.
(1) The Connotative Dimension: Exploring the conceptual scope of culture from broad and narrow perspectives
Although Lenin did not explicitly formulate a definition of culture, his frequent use of terms such as "political culture," "spiritual culture," and "pure culture" demonstrates his profound reflection on the concept. Building upon the cultural analysis of Marx and Engels, Lenin further expanded the scope of the concept of culture from both broad and narrow dimensions.
In the broad sense, Lenin analyzed the material and spiritual categories of the concept of culture. His broad exploration of culture is deeply reflected in his analysis of the overall state of Russian society, his explanation of the historical laws of the revolutionary process, and his discourse on the conditions required for socialist construction. Lenin noted: "This cultural revolution would now suffice to make our country a completely socialist country; but it presents incredible difficulties to us, for it is both of a purely cultural nature (for we are illiterate) and of a material nature (for to be cultured we must achieve a certain development of the material means of production, must have a certain material base)." [4] Culture here involves not only "pure culture" at the spiritual level but is also closely related to material conditions. Thus, in Lenin's view, culture encompasses both material and spiritual categories, forming a broad conceptual framework. In the narrow sense, Lenin explored the explicit and implicit categories of the concept of culture. When discussing the professional quality of state apparatus personnel, Lenin emphasized that they "have not yet reached the level of culture required for this. It is culture that is required here." [5] Here, culture explicitly refers to the manifest form of narrow culture, covering educational levels, professional skills, and practical abilities. In his analysis of the backward state of Soviet Russian culture, Lenin delved deeper into the implicit categories of narrow culture. He pointed out: "These vices are rooted in the past, which, although it has been overturned, has not yet been overcome, has not yet reached the stage of a culture that has receded into the distant past." [6] Culture here involves old Russian cultural traditions and habits, such as the "deplorable culture that preceded the bourgeois system, i.e., bureaucratic or serf-based culture." Furthermore, in analyzing "Oblomovism" [7] and "Great-Russian Chauvinism," [8] Lenin further revealed the complex role of implicit narrow cultural categories in shaping national identity and political psychology.
(2) The Political Dimension: Elucidating the class attributes of culture based on the fundamental standpoint of the proletariat
In a class society, different classes form their own modes of cultural expression, thereby reflecting the class attributes of culture. Lenin pointed out: "If we leave aside the international relations and confine ourselves to internal economic relations, the center of gravity of our work at present is changing; it is shifting to peaceful, 'cultural' organizational work." This indicates that culture is not only a product of social development but also directly serves the class struggle. Feudal patriarchal culture and bourgeois culture, as tools for the ruling classes to maintain their dominance, must be destroyed through a proletarian "cultural revolution," thereby laying a solid ideological foundation for the establishment and consolidation of proletarian political power. Therefore, the "cultural revolution" must be closely integrated with political transformation to enhance the cultural literacy of the working class and the masses, strengthening their support for and identification with socialism.
In the late 19th century, the Russian bourgeoisie used the slogan of "national cultural unity" to attempt to dilute the class attributes of culture as a means of resisting the workers' movement. Lenin criticized this: "Bourgeois nationalism always talks about 'national culture' in general and emphasizes what distinguishes one nation from another, thereby dividing the workers of different nations and fooling them with 'national slogans.'" The bourgeoisie used nationalist discourse to try to mask the class contradictions within culture. Lenin conducted an in-depth analysis of this and, based on the differentiation of cultural discourse power, creatively proposed the "two cultures" theory: "There are two nations in every modern nation... There are two national cultures in every national culture." The "two nations" essentially referred to the ruling class and the exploited class. Because these two classes have fundamental differences in values, political demands, and moral norms, the two classes within the same nation actually exhibit completely different cultural characteristics. Thus, the "two national cultures" correspond respectively to the culture of the ruling class and the culture of the exploited. The differences in political status and living environments also profoundly influenced the primary content and forms of these two cultures. Specifically, "the elements of democratic and socialist culture are present, if only in rudimentary form, in every national culture, since in every nation there are exploited working masses, whose conditions of life inevitably give rise to a democratic and a socialist ideology." However, before the working masses achieve revolutionary victory, these ideological systems are often in a weak position and have not yet become the dominant culture. As Lenin stated, "every nation also possesses a bourgeois culture (and most nations a Black-Hundred and clerical culture as well) [9] in the form, not merely of 'elements,' but of the dominant culture." Because the bourgeoisie controls state power and the dominance of cultural dissemination, its culture holds the ruling position in society, while proletarian culture remains suppressed for a long time. However, as the revolutionary struggle advances, proletarian culture will continuously grow and eventually become the dominant culture of socialist society. Therefore, the historical mission of the proletariat is not only to overthrow the old system but also to extract the democratic and socialist core from the deep soil of national culture, making it a powerful weapon against bourgeois culture, and to examine and transform national culture from the standpoint of proletarian internationalism.
(3) The Economic Dimension: Developing a production-based analysis of culture starting from productive forces and relations of production
The socio-economic formation determines all aspects of the superstructure—including politics, law, and ideology—and constitutes a system of relations of production compatible with the level and nature of the productive forces at that time. When analyzing socio-historical development, Lenin once cited the crucial judgment from Marx’s Preface to A Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy: "In considering such transformations a distinction should always be made between the material transformation of the economic conditions of production, which can be determined with the precision of natural science, and the legal, political, religious, artistic or philosophic—in short, ideological forms in which men become conscious of this conflict and fight it out... In broad outline, the Asiatic, ancient, feudal and modern bourgeois modes of production may be designated as epochs marking progress in the economic development of society." Based on this view, Lenin emphasized that ideological forms must be transformed into social reality through practical activities, improving the cultural level of the entire society, promoting scientific and technological progress, increasing labor productivity, and providing continuous talent support for national industrialization.
As a vital component of the ideological superstructure, culture not only reflects the development of the economic base but also influences the evolution of the relations of production. Lenin pointed out: "If we leave aside the international relations and confine ourselves to internal economic relations, the center of gravity of our work at present is indeed culturalism." [10] This indicates that the formation of new relations of production cannot be separated from the impetus of culture; different cultural forms affect changes in social values, ideology, and organizational systems. Furthermore, Lenin particularly emphasized the important role of culture in promoting the development of productive forces. He noted: "The cultural work which we are performing among the peasants has as its economic objective cooperation," and "the application of electricity to satisfy the requirements of modern technique and to end the old peasant farming... requires a higher degree of culture and education." It can be seen that culture, especially education and science and technology, not only promotes the transformation of relations of production but also constitutes the core driving force for the development of productive forces. Culture enhances the skills and production efficiency of workers by shaping their ways of thinking, values, and behavioral habits. Therefore, Lenin attached great importance to the development of education and the popularization of knowledge, emphasizing that "to enable the exploited working people to actually enjoy the benefits of culture, civilization, and democracy is precisely one of the most important tasks of Soviet power." This approach helps accelerate the transformation of labor knowledge and the progress of science and technology, awakening the independent spirit and self-awareness of workers, and breaking the "old, narrow conditions of life which made the producer dull and impossible for him to master his own destiny." Ultimately, the liberation and enhancement of productive forces are promoted through the development of culture, fundamentally driving socio-economic progress.
(4) The Critical Dimension: Conducting an in-depth analysis of culture against reactionary Narodnik thought
In his polemics with various ideological schools, Lenin consistently adhered to the proletarian standpoint, creatively applied Marxism to the practice of the Russian Revolution, and profoundly criticized various reactionary bourgeois cultural trends. In this process, he enriched and developed the materialist conception of history and gradually formed a unique system of cultural theory.
Narodnism (Populism), as a social trend representing the interests of the petty bourgeoisie, underwent two stages of development—"Old Narodnism" and "Modern Narodnism"—but it never escaped the limitations of the idealist conception of history and subjective sociology. Combining the historical background and the context of the times, Lenin deeply compared the views of the modern Narodniks with the ideological legacy left by the Russian revolutionary democrats of the 1860s. Using "social being determines social consciousness" as a theoretical foundation, he systematically analyzed the cultural roots of Narodnism, revealing its internal contradictions and limitations. Lenin pointed out: "The essence of Narodnism lies deeper: not in the doctrine of a unique development, nor in Slavophilism [11], but in representing the interests and ideas of the Russian small producer." This class limitation not only led to chaos and disorder in Russian social thought but also hindered the modernization of culture. He criticized Narodnism, stating that "this democracy, as a socialist utopia, is false," and believed that it reflected an anti-modernization tendency, lacking both a scientific path for social transformation and the ability to truly promote the progress of relations of production. However, Lenin did not totally negate the historical role of Narodnism. He pointed out that at a specific historical stage, the Narodnik theory was "'rational' (in terms of specific historical tasks) and progressive in this bourgeois struggle against serfdom," [12] creating favorable conditions for promoting bourgeois reform. In the struggle against feudal culture, bourgeois culture did not serve bourgeois interests alone; to a certain extent, it also reflected the demands of the working masses and became one of the driving forces of social change. As Lenin emphasized: "Every change in the old economic system caused by capitalism inevitably causes a change in the mental outlook of the people... causing a profound change in the character of the producer." Therefore, compared to the medieval feudal patriarchal system, capitalism possessed a certain progressive significance in terms of culture, especially in playing a positive role in awakening the revolutionary consciousness of the proletariat.
II. The Logical Framework of Lenin’s Late-Stage Cultural Views
The core of the construction of Lenin’s late-stage cultural views lay in responding to the broad spiritual and ideological needs of the Russian people. Particularly during the period of the New Economic Policy (NEP), his works deepened the understanding of socialist cultural construction and further integrated cultural development into the overall framework of national construction, ensuring it advanced in synchronization with political and economic construction as one of the vital tasks in Russia's transition to socialism.
(1) The Scientific Method of the Framework of Lenin’s Late-Stage Cultural Views
In his later years, Lenin increasingly emphasized the application of historical materialist analytical methods to deeply explore the backward elements existing within Russian culture and their deleterious effects on socialist construction and Communist Party governance. Drawing upon the basic principles of Marxist cultural theory, Lenin systematically analyzed Russia's national history, specific modes of production and daily life, and deeper civilizational forms, focusing his research on the customs, psychology, and social habits within its cultural traditions.
First, applying a materialist perspective, he systematically elucidated the dialectical relationship between culture, economy, and politics. As a reflection of socio-economic and political phenomena at the conceptual level, the development and evolution of culture are closely linked to the actual state of the productive forces and realistic transformations in the socio-economic and political spheres. In Lenin’s view, "Hitherto, sociologists had found it difficult to distinguish, in the complex network of social phenomena, which was the important and which the unimportant... they did not know how to probe down to such simple and primary relations as the relations of production, but began immediately with the investigation and study of political and legal forms... and stopped short when they found that these forms were produced by certain ideas of mankind... Materialism continued the analysis further and discovered the origin of these social ideas of man themselves." Based on this view, while promoting economic and political transformation, Lenin also actively promoted Russia’s "cultural revolution" to facilitate the comprehensive development of socialist construction.
Second, applying the theory of the social organism, he understood and reflected on cultural issues from a holistic perspective. In Lenin’s view, society is an organic whole within the process of historical development, encompassing political, economic, cultural, and social aspects. He noted: "In Marx's words... the dialectical method requires that we look upon society as a living organism in a state of constant motion and development." Therefore, when analyzing cultural issues, Lenin did not limit himself to culture alone but considered it within the overall layout of socialist construction. This perspective broke through the framework of singular cultural studies and provided an effective path for cultural development in backward countries.
Third, based on the reality of Russian society, he explored the special laws governing the construction and development of culture. Any specific social formation both follows the universal laws of human social development and possesses its own unique developmental patterns. Culture, as an important carrier of social ideology, likewise embodies this combination of universality and specificity. Based on this understanding, Lenin conducted an in-depth investigation into the specific conditions of Russian society, studied the long-term nature and regularity of cultural phenomena, and emphasized that "cultural tasks cannot be fulfilled as rapidly as political and military tasks." This assertion profoundly revealed the unique challenges faced by socialist states in the process of cultural construction and the development of advanced culture.
(2) Realistic Considerations in the Framework of Lenin's Later Cultural Outlook
Lenin's reflections on Russian cultural issues embodied a high degree of self-awareness, a critical attitude, and profound insight into the issues of the era, and were closely linked to the practice of the Russian proletarian revolution and socialist construction. With the complete shattering of foreign armed intervention and the victorious conclusion of the Civil War, Soviet Russia entered a new stage of peaceful construction. Lenin noted: "After we have solved tasks of the greatest political change in the world, we are faced with another kind of task, which may be called 'small matters'—cultural tasks." At this historical stage, based on the reality of Russia's general cultural backwardness, Lenin emphasized the core role of cultural construction in socialist development and placed it on par with economic and political construction.
Before the October Revolution, Russia suffered from serious deficiencies in political ideology, public cultural services, and literacy levels, leaving the overall cultural foundation of society weak. After the victory of the revolution, although the Bolshevik Party vigorously promoted socio-cultural construction, cultural backwardness continued to severely restrict Russia's socialist construction. With the implementation of the New Economic Policy (NEP), Russia's socialist construction unfolded in full. Lenin pointed out: "The NEP sufficiently guarantees us, economically and politically, the possibility of laying the foundations of a socialist economy. The question is 'only' one of the cultural forces of the proletariat and its vanguard." This indicates that cultural construction is not only closely related to economic development and political change but is also a key link in advancing the cause of socialism. Aiming at the reality of cultural backwardness, Lenin proposed a series of solutions and emphasized that cultural development is an important support for socialist construction. He noted: "If a definite level of culture is required for the building of socialism (although nobody can say just what that definite 'level of culture' is, for it differs in every West-European country), why cannot we began by first achieving the prerequisites for that definite level of culture in a revolutionary way, and then, with the aid of the workers' and peasants' government and the Soviet system, proceed to overtake the nations?" This discourse fully reflects Lenin's profound consideration of the realistic problems of cultural construction—that is, after the establishment of proletarian political power, the development of culture is both one of the goals of socialist construction and an important means of achieving that goal. At the same time, Lenin emphasized, "Owing to our cultural backwardness, we cannot crush capitalism by a direct attack," which necessitates "intermediate paths, methods, means, and auxiliary measures to enable the transition of pre-capitalist relations to socialism." Under the guidance of this thought, Lenin not only conducted in-depth discussions on core issues of cultural construction during the transition period but also proposed corresponding policy measures to actively promote the construction of a socialist cultural system.
(3) Theoretical Depth in the Framework of Lenin's Later Cultural Outlook
On the basis of the effective application of scientific theoretical methods and a profound understanding of Russia's reality, Lenin in his later years more prominently placed cultural construction at the core of socialist construction. He proposed theoretical conceptions such as implementing literacy campaigns, promoting rural cultural development, and enhancing the cultural quality of the cadre force, aiming to shape a new socialist civilization through a "cultural revolution" and create the necessary conditions for the realization of communism.
First, he expanded and enriched the overall approach to socialist cultural construction. After the implementation of the NEP, Russia made significant progress in socialist economic construction, but cultural stagnation became a major obstacle to the comprehensive advancement of socialist construction. Lenin noted: "A communist society cannot be built in an illiterate country." Raising the cultural level of the masses was an important foundation for promoting socialist economic construction; whether advancing national industrialization or guiding peasants toward collectivization, raising the masses' cultural level was a prerequisite: "Without a cultural revolution, complete cooperation [collectivization] is impossible."
Second, he explored and clarified the ideological principles of socialist cultural construction. Lenin emphasized: "The younger the socialist movement in any given country, the more vigorously it must struggle against all attempts to entrench non-socialist ideology." This view, based on the nature of the state power of the dictatorship of the proletariat, emphasized that socialist culture must adhere to the guidance of Marxist theory to effectively resist the erosion of backward ideas and promote socialist cultural innovation, so that "Communists do not fall into illusions or lose heart, but maintain the vitality and flexibility of the organism."
Third, he highlighted the issue of leadership (hegemony) in socialist cultural construction. The working class is not only the vanguard force in the political and military fields but should also play a core role in cultural construction. Only by continuously nurturing cultural forces and strengthening cultural influence and dissemination can cultural backwardness be effectively addressed and the risk of cultural degeneration within the class be prevented. Lenin profoundly pointed out: "The proletariat, through its vanguard, the Communist Party, and all proletarian organizations, should participate as the most active and primary force in the entire cause of national education." This discourse clarified the leading position of the proletariat in cultural construction and highlighted its core role in shaping socialist ideology.
(4) Systematic Summary of the Framework of Lenin's Later Cultural Outlook
In his later years, Lenin conducted a deep analysis of many fundamental issues regarding socialist cultural construction, covering the roles, goals, and paths of cultural construction, forming a systematic and complete theoretical framework.
First is the important role of socialist cultural construction. Raising the cultural level of the masses is crucial for the development of socialist democratic politics. Lenin noted: "An illiterate person stands outside politics; he must first be taught the ABCs. Without this, there can be no politics; without this, there are only rumors, gossip, lies, and prejudices, but not politics." This shows that although proletarian democracy grants the masses real political rights, a low cultural level limits their ability and initiative to participate in national management. Addressing this, Lenin emphasized: "Illiteracy must, of course, be eliminated, but literacy alone is not enough; we also need the cultural level that teaches people to fight against red tape [bureaucracy] and corruption." Therefore, he called upon the masses to strive to learn scientific and cultural knowledge and cultivate "new people" who can adapt to the needs of socialist development.
Second are the goals and tasks of socialist cultural construction. Based on Russia's special national conditions, Lenin in his later years proposed that "raising the cultural level is one of the most urgent tasks" and discussed the core goals of socialist cultural construction from multiple levels. Specifically, these goals mainly involved the fields of education, science, literature, and art, covering a wide range of content from universalizing basic education to scientific and technological innovation. These goals are interrelated and collectively reflect Lenin's strategic thinking and theoretical exploration in solving the problem of cultural backwardness and promoting the development of advanced culture.
Third is the practical path of socialist cultural construction. The task of cultural transformation and construction is complex and arduous, requiring long-term accumulation and development. Lenin noted: "To reform the small farmer, to transform his whole psychology and habits, is a task that will take generations"; this means that cultural construction cannot be accomplished overnight and must follow the laws of social development and proceed steadily. At the same time, he emphasized, "Old Oblomovs [13] still exist, and they must be washed, scrubbed, and shaken for a long time before any result will be achieved." This indicates that cultural construction requires not only institutional guarantees but must also be supplemented by long-term social practice and ideological education. In this process, Lenin proposed, "We must adapt ourselves to this longer period, plan our work accordingly, and display persistence, perseverance, and consistency." Cultural development must be gradual and avoid impulsive haste; otherwise, it will affect the steady progress of socialist construction. Thus, he clearly stated, "In matters of culture, haste and sweeping measures are most harmful."
III. Realistic Enlightenments of Lenin's Later Cultural Outlook
As the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics advances in depth, China is facing a series of unprecedented challenges in cultural construction. Xi Jinping has pointed out: "We must adhere to the path of socialist cultural development with Chinese characteristics, promote advanced socialist culture, deepen the reform of the cultural system, promote the great development and prosperity of socialist culture, enhance the cultural creative vitality of the entire nation, and let all sources of cultural creation flow fully." This requirement emphasizes the important position of cultural construction in national development and echoes the realistic needs of the process of Chinese-path modernization. To this end, it is necessary to deeply draw upon the theoretical insights of Lenin’s later cultural outlook and, combining them with the current reality of China's cultural development, innovate the strategic layout and overall planning of cultural policies, promoting the coordinated advancement and mutual reinforcement of cultural construction and socio-economic development.
(1) Adhering to Independence and Autonomy to Promote Socialist Cultural Prosperity
In Lenin's later expositions on socialist cultural construction, he deeply explored the issues of independence and integrity in the development of Russian national culture. Through the historical practice of promoting national cultural construction, Lenin effectively consolidated national sentiment, promoted the national spirit, and facilitated the unity, solidarity, and prosperous development of all ethnic groups in the country. Xi Jinping has pointed out: "For any culture to stand firm and go far, and to have leadership, cohesion, shaping power, and radiation power, it must have its own subjectivity." Cultural subjectivity is a characteristic formed by a country and nation during the long process of historical evolution, embodied in cultural traditions, values, and thought and morality. The subjectivity of Chinese culture is the spiritual pillar of the Chinese nation's continuous existence; it is reflected not only in the behavioral norms and social regulations shaped by values such as emphasizing family harmony, integrity, and respect but also in the social organization and governance systems constructed by the rites and systems (礼仪制度, lǐyí zhìdù) and the imperial examination system (科举制度, kējǔ zhìdù). These characteristics have shaped the unique cultural genes of Chinese civilization, allowing it to maintain continuity and stability amidst the changes of the times. Therefore, consolidating the subjectivity of Chinese culture is not only the foundation upon which Chinese civilization continues but also an important support for strengthening cultural confidence and promoting cultural prosperity.
Cultural prosperity is a significant marker of national prosperity. Xi Jinping has emphasized: "Socialism with Chinese characteristics is a great cause of all-around development and progress. Without the prosperity and development of socialist culture, there would be no socialist modernization." Against the backdrop of economic globalization, the shock and influence of various foreign cultures have become increasingly evident. Maintaining autonomy and independence in socialist cultural construction, while holding fast to the foundations and characteristics of socialist cultural development, is the key to achieving cultural prosperity. First, we must ensure the Leadership of the Communist Party of China over socialist cultural construction to pool and lead the cultural forces of the age. Party leadership is the fundamental guarantee for the development of socialist culture, providing solid organizational support and political guidance for cultural construction. We must uphold the Party's leading position in cultural development, while simultaneously promoting cultural construction under principles of openness, transparency, and accountability. By adhering to the principles of legitimacy, justice, and democracy, we must respect the principal position and right of choice of the people in cultural construction, and push socialist culture to advance with the times in terms of ideological concepts, norms of behavior, spiritual outlook, and civilized customs. Second, we must actively promote the construction of culture with Chinese characteristics to consolidate the practical foundation of cultural confidence. Socialist culture is a vital component of the socialist spiritual lineage, embodying the unique cultural charm of a socialist country and holding great significance for strengthening national unity, stimulating innovative vitality, and enhancing the international image. We must strengthen educational propaganda and public opinion guidance to improve social awareness and identification with socialist culture, thereby increasing the attraction and cohesion of socialist ideology. We must deeply tap into the ideological wisdom and spiritual connotations of socialist culture, elevating the cultural literacy and moral standards of the entire nation to further stimulate innovative and creative vitality. We must fully utilize the resource advantages of socialist culture to promote the coordinated development of cultural industries and cultural undertakings, continuously enhancing the country's cultural soft power. Third, we must deepen the reform of cultural systems and mechanisms to build a sound public cultural service system. The reform of the cultural institutional system is a complex and systemic project involving multiple fields and levels. It is of great significance for adapting to trends in information technology development, enriching the people's spiritual and cultural lives, and improving national cultural resonance governance capabilities. Guided by the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, we should deepen the reform of cultural systems and mechanisms, constantly optimize the supply models for cultural services, and improve the efficiency of cultural resource allocation. Specifically, this involves perfecting the public cultural service system, increasing fiscal investment, and raising the construction standards and service capacities of public cultural facilities; improving policies and regulations for cultural construction to facilitate the rational allocation of cultural resources and increase resource utilization efficiency; and strengthening the cultivation of cultural talent, perfecting incentive mechanisms, and optimizing the development environment for cultural professionals to provide strong human resource support for the cause of socialist culture.
(2) Upholding Openness and Inclusivity to Build a Socialist Cultural Power
In his later years, based on a deep analysis of the social and cultural conditions of Russia and the cultural level of the proletariat, Lenin discussed the importance of absorbing and drawing lessons from excellent cultural heritage from multiple perspectives. He emphasized that while critically inheriting the culture left over from capitalism, one must develop socialist culture to enrich the theoretical system of socialist cultural construction. "The grand atmosphere of Chinese civilization has benefited from the open posture and inclusive heart of Chinese culture since ancient times." [14] The openness of Chinese culture is reflected not only in its tolerance and absorption of diverse cultures but also in its inheritance and innovation of historical culture, and the mutual integration of ethnic, regional, and foreign cultures. This characteristic not only highlights the intellectual tradition of "harmony in diversity" [15] but also nurtures a cultural temperament of inclusiveness and peaceful coexistence. Xi Jinping has emphasized: "We must persist in the path of socialist cultural development with Chinese characteristics, stimulate the cultural innovation and creativity of the entire nation, and build a socialist cultural power." This requires that in the process of promoting cultural construction, we extensively absorb the outstanding cultural achievements of humanity, respect the customs, traditions, value concepts, and ideological systems of different cultures, transcend the "dispute between the ancient and the modern, the West and the East," [16] and promote the deep integration of different cultures to lay a solid foundation for building a socialist cultural power.
On one hand, we must adhere to the socialist core values to lead the direction of cultural development. Persisting in the guidance of socialist core values is the key to enhancing the cohesion and appeal of socialist culture. Socialist core values not only encompass basic moral codes and behavioral norms but also align with spiritual qualities such as family-country attachment [17], loyalty, and dedication found in fine traditional Chinese culture, together forming the ideological core and spiritual foundation of socialist culture. Xi Jinping has emphasized: "Strengthen the building of socialist spiritual civilization and integrate socialist core values into all aspects of social development." Using socialist core values as a guide not only helps consolidate the social moral system but also promotes cultural inheritance, improves citizen quality, and drives harmonious social development. First, we must construct a good social moral foundation to consolidate the value support for socialist cultural development. By strengthening education and propaganda, we guide citizens to consciously practice social ethics and promote the formation of a social atmosphere that honors virtue and goodness, enabling socialist culture to play a greater role in practice. Second, we must enrich cultural connotations to enhance the ideological attraction of socialist culture. Combining the needs of the times, we should present the spirit of the age through diverse cultural carriers, creating a positive cultural atmosphere that makes socialist culture more vibrant. Third, we must promote social harmony to enhance the vitality of socialist culture. We should use socialist core values to drive harmony in society, families, and between humanity and nature, providing value guidance for promoting fairness and justice, optimizing interpersonal relationships, and driving green, sustainable development, ultimately achieving benign interaction between individuals, between people and society, and between humanity and nature.
On the other hand, we must persist in the bedrock of fine traditional Chinese culture to enhance cultural communication and international influence. In the context of economic globalization and the coexistence of diverse cultures, cultural exchanges between countries are becoming increasingly close, and the international dissemination of Chinese culture faces new opportunities and challenges. To enhance the communication capacity and influence of Chinese culture, we need to respond to cultural differences with an open and inclusive mind. While absorbing and learning from the excellent achievements of other cultures, we must promote the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture, allowing it to demonstrate stronger vitality within the international cultural system. First, we must promote the popularized dissemination of fine traditional Chinese culture and expand international recognition channels. As important carriers of Chinese culture, items such as porcelain, Chinese knots, the Spring Festival, and the Mid-Autumn Festival not only carry deep cultural connotations but have also become important symbols of Chinese culture. We should give full play to the forces of educational institutions, cultural organizations, and enterprises, using means such as cultural education and promotion, cultural event planning, and cultural industry support to integrate traditional culture more broadly into social life. At the same time, we should expand overseas communication platforms, using diverse forms such as new media, documentaries, and cultural exhibitions to enhance the international community's understanding and identification with Chinese culture. Second, we must deepen the interactive integration of Chinese culture and world cultures to enhance cultural innovative vitality. While protecting and inheriting fine traditional Chinese culture, we should actively absorb foreign cultural elements and use fused innovation to drive the development of cultural forms, allowing Chinese culture to present a richer face on the international stage. By organizing cultural exhibitions, artistic performances, and academic exchanges, and by inviting international friends to participate and deeply interpret the core values of Chinese culture, we can enable people of all countries to understand its unique charm through interactive experiences. Through this cross-cultural integration, we can promote mutual learning between Chinese culture and world cultures and drive the prosperity and development of global culture.
(3) Practicing Upholding the Fundamentals and Breaking New Ground to Develop Advanced Socialist Culture
In his later years, while summarizing the practice of the Russian socialist revolution and construction, Lenin deeply analyzed the developmental characteristics of capitalist culture and traditional Russian culture, proposing innovative ideas for socialist cultural construction. The fact that Chinese culture has been able to stretch for thousands of years and continuously radiate vitality is precisely due to its inherent spirit of innovation. Xi Jinping has pointed out: "We must base ourselves on China, face modernization, the world, and the future, consolidate the guiding position of Marxism in the ideological field, and develop advanced socialist culture." To develop advanced socialist culture, we need to actively practice the innovative character of Chinese culture. By utilizing modern communication methods and innovative paths, we should advance with the times to drive development in cultural industries, cultural education, and cultural propaganda, ensuring that socialist culture continuously radiates new vigor and vitality. Xi Jinping has emphasized: "Cultural workers in the New Era must use the integrity and mettle of upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground to continue the historical cultural lineage and write the chapters of the present age." This discourse highlights the dialectical unity between upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground, providing a basic framework for cultural construction in the New Era. In socialist cultural construction, we must grasp the special laws of the development of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics, find the correct positioning and direction for cultural development while upholding the fundamentals, and follow and lead the trend of the times while breaking new ground. On this basis, we will continuously promote the modern development of advanced socialist culture.
On one hand, we must find the basic positioning for the development of advanced socialist culture through cultural "upholding of fundamentals" (shouzheng). Upholding the fundamentals is not only about the persistence and development of Marxist cultural theory; it also carries the cultural traditions of the CPC and the continuation of Chinese civilization, forming the foundation for promoting cultural innovation. First, upholding the fundamentals emphasizes the fundamental guidance of Marxist cultural theory. From the height of the laws of social development, Marxism profoundly reveals the role of culture in historical evolution and is the fundamental theoretical basis for socialist cultural construction. We must adhere to the important principle of the "Two Combinations," [18] closely integrating Marxism with the specific practices, temporal demands, and people's needs of China's socialist cultural construction, making it the core ideological system guiding the development of advanced socialist culture. Second, upholding the fundamentals emphasizes the inheritance and development of the CPC’s century-long cultural tradition. The CPC plays a key role in ideological guidance, cultural inheritance, and the shaping of the national spirit. We must fully implement the Party's cultural policies, promote the innovation of cultural theory and the expansion of practice, and strengthen the Party's organizational leadership over cultural work—including cultural market supervision, the building of a cadre of cultural workers, and the construction of the public cultural service system—to provide a solid political guarantee for the prosperity and development of advanced socialist culture. Third, upholding the fundamentals emphasizes the historical responsibility of holding fast to the foundations of Chinese civilization. Chinese civilization is not only an important source of cultural innovation but also plays an irreplaceable role in shaping the spirit of the age and consolidating social consensus. We must deeply excavate the ideological essence of Chinese civilization, making it a spiritual support for promoting the development of advanced socialist culture, and integrate it into the new pattern of global civilizational exchange and mutual learning, helping to build a new form of human civilization.
On the other hand, we must grasp and lead the development of advanced socialist culture in light of the times through cultural innovation. Cultural innovation entails exploring the content and developmental models of advanced socialist culture while adhering to the principle of upholding the fundamentals. Facing the new challenges brought by modern society, advancing the construction of advanced socialist culture must conform to the developmental needs of the era. This requires constantly innovating forms of cultural expression, promoting the deep integration of cultural concepts with technical means, and creating cultural achievements that meet the requirements of the New Era.
First, deepening the basic logic of cultural innovation is the prerequisite for promoting the construction of advanced socialist culture. We must stimulate awareness of cultural innovation and creativity through education and training, cultivate high-quality cultural talent, and foster a social atmosphere conducive to cultural innovation. Through policy guidance, we should increase support for cultural and creative industries, providing a favorable social environment and material conditions for cultural innovation, thereby promoting the practical transformation and wide application of innovative achievements.
Second, constructing a discourse system for cultural innovation is key to promoting the prosperity of advanced socialist culture. By integrating basic national conditions with the characteristics of the times, we must persist in the value orientation of cultural innovation. This ensures that cultural construction is closely integrated with the social, historical, and political spheres, forming a pattern of cultural innovation in which diverse subjects participate extensively. We should emphasize the improvement of citizens' cultural literacy, conduct scientific evaluations and dynamic adjustments of cultural policies, projects, and achievements, and constantly optimize the direction and strategy of cultural innovation to ensure the long-term development of advanced socialist culture.
Third, enriching the forms of expression for cultural innovation is an important avenue for promoting the dissemination of advanced socialist culture. We should fully utilize modern technologies such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and digital technology to promote the creative transformation and innovative development [19] of traditional culture. By expanding the carriers and channels of cultural dissemination, we can create more vivid and diverse modes of cultural expression and experiential forms, thereby enhancing the appeal and influence of advanced socialist culture.
Fourth, improving the institutional mechanisms for cultural innovation is an important guarantee for the sustained development of advanced socialist culture. We must establish and improve laws and regulations related to cultural innovation, strengthen mechanisms for the cultivation and development of cultural talent, and actively build collaborative innovation platforms that bridge cultural construction with the fields of economy, technology, and education. Through diversified cooperation models, we can stimulate new ideas and drivers for cultural innovation, providing long-term and stable institutional support for the prosperity and development of advanced socialist culture.
(Author's affiliation: Faculty of Marxism, Northeast Normal University) Source: World Socialism Studies, 2025, Issue 5 Web Editor: Jing Mu