Forging a Disciplined Academic Force with Excellent Conduct: Continuously Implementing the Spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulation through New Achievements in Conduct Construction
"Self-revolution is the second answer our Party has found to escape the historical cycle of rise and fall [1], and advancing the comprehensive and strict governance of the Party by starting with the improvement of conduct is an important experience of the Party’s self-revolution in the New Era." Carrying out in-depth study and education on the implementation of the Eight-Point Regulations throughout the whole Party is a major strategic decision and deployment made by the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, and a key task of Party building work this year.
Since March of this year, in accordance with the unified deployment of the Central Committee, the Party Leadership Group of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) has deeply implemented the spirit of the Eight-Point Regulations. Through meticulous organization and overall planning, and by adhering to rigorous standards, measures, and requirements, they have solidly carried out study and education, driving positive transformations in the Academy's institutional atmosphere, academic style, and work conduct. On June 4, the Academy’s Party Leadership Group formally issued the Certain Provisions of the CPC CASS Party Leadership Group on Deeply Implementing the Spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulations and Their Implementing Rules (hereinafter referred to as the "Certain Provisions"). This further clarified disciplinary requirements and refined the division of responsibilities, providing a solid institutional guarantee for the continued consolidation and deepening of the achievements of study and education. It also laid a firm foundation for fostering a clean and upright academic ecosystem and promoting the high-quality development of the philosophy and social sciences. On July 10, the Party Leadership Group issued the Certain Measures of the CPC CASS Party Leadership Group on Deepening the Implementation of the Spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulations to Promote the Deep and Substantive Development of Conduct Construction (hereinafter referred to as the "Certain Measures"). This released the firm determination that "to forge iron, one must be strong oneself" and "to forge the hardest iron, one must be a person made of iron," providing concrete measures for the in-depth implementation of the Eight-Point Regulations study and education and the "Certain Provisions." (A detailed report on the "Certain Measures" will be released by this paper on July 29).
Raising the Party's Conduct Construction to New Heights
Since the 18th CPC National Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping has stood at a global and strategic height, delivering a series of important expositions on strengthening the Party's conduct construction. These expositions are important components of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s Thought on Party Building and his Thought on the Party’s Self-Revolution. They systematically answer major theoretical and practical questions such as "why," "what," and "how" to grasp conduct construction. They vividly demonstrate the powerful strength of truth and the immense personal character of our Party, elevating the Party's understanding of the laws governing conduct construction to a new height, and providing scientific guidance and a fundamental following for the entire Party to deeply implement the spirit of the Eight-Point Regulations.
To promote the in-depth and substantive development of the study and education of the Eight-Point Regulations in our Academy, and to better leverage the Party Leadership Group's role as a model and example in conduct construction, the Bureau of Functional Organs (直属机关党委) conducted extensive foundational work based on the Party Leadership Group's deployments. After soliciting and incorporating opinions from the Party Leadership Group and officials at the institute and bureau levels, they revised the Implementing Measures of the CPC CASS Party Leadership Group on Deeply Implementing the Spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulations and Their Implementing Rules (renamed as the "Certain Provisions"). Gao Xiang, President and Secretary of the Party Leadership Group, attached great importance to the revision work, planning in advance, deploying personally, and providing guidance throughout the process to ensure all work was highly coordinated and proceeded in an orderly manner.
From May 13 to 16, during the study and education reading class for institute- and bureau-level leading officials, participating officials held in-depth discussions on the "Certain Provisions." Comparing central standards with the actual conditions of the Academy and aligning detailed rules with specific implementation, 77 representatives put forward 238 suggestions for revision, most of which were adopted. After review and approval by the Academy’s Party Leadership Group, the "Certain Provisions" were formally issued to the whole Academy on June 4.
The "Certain Provisions" are characterized by a distinct theme, comprehensive content, and clear logic. Across 9 sections and 40 specific items, they fully demonstrate the confidence and determination of the new term of the Academy’s Party Leadership Group to strengthen conduct construction and govern the Academy with strict discipline. They establish rules and clarify "red lines" and bottom lines for all Party members, officials, and scholars in the Academy.
Notably, in the section "Taking the Lead in Observing Political Discipline and Political Rules," the Academy’s "Three Points of Consensus," "Three Commitments," and "Three Measures" [2] were clarified for the first time in the form of an institutional document. This fully reflects the Party Leadership Group’s strong political stance and sense of responsibility. It is a powerful measure to lead all Party members, officials, and scholars in the Academy to comprehensively strengthen conduct construction and consolidate the new pattern of political construction in our Academy.
The focus remains on weak links to improve the effectiveness of rectification—successfully handling study and discussion, identifying problems, and carrying out centralized rectification, correcting one flaw after another and breaking through one issue after another.
Members of the Academy’s Party Leadership Group took the lead in adhering to the correct direction of running the Academy. That is: running the Academy in accordance with the requirements of General Secretary Xi Jinping and the Party Central Committee; serving General Secretary Xi Jinping and the Party Central Committee as the sacred duty of CASS; and taking Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as the banner and soul of philosophy and social sciences in China in the New Era.
Members of the Academy’s Party Leadership Group took the lead in purifying the academic ecosystem. Unless specifically authorized by the organization, they shall not participate in the selection of Academic Members (学部委员) [3], shall not apply for professional titles, shall not publish articles in academic journals within their direct area of responsibility, and their individually signed works shall not participate in various intra-Academy award evaluations.
Members of the Academy’s Party Leadership Group took the lead in implementing the Implementing Measures for the Responsibility System of Discipline Construction Work of CASS (Trial) and the “Ten Strict Prohibitions” for Staff of CASS to Strictly Abide by Discipline. They took the lead in signing and earnestly fulfilling the commitment letters for responsibility in the Party's discipline construction.
The "Three Points of Consensus" consolidate the foundation, the "Three Commitments" rectify conduct, and the "Three Measures" guard the bottom line. With the Party Leadership Group leading and the whole Academy taking action, every unit has adopted pragmatic measures. The broad masses of Party members, officials, and scholars have earnestly implemented the spirit of the "Certain Provisions," using it as a powerful "weapon" to strictly manage institutes and heavily strike at "laxity" (散) [4]. They are grasping conduct construction on a normalized and long-term basis to continuously consolidate the new pattern of political construction in our Academy.
Putting the Spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulations into Practice
"When the single chess piece of the Eight-Point Regulations is placed, the whole game of conduct construction comes alive." With the in-depth development of study and education, all units in our Academy have deeply studied and understood General Secretary Xi Jinping's important expositions on strengthening the Party's conduct construction. They have gained a profound understanding of the decisive significance of the "Two Establishments" and resolutely achieved the "Two Upholds," effectively enhancing their political, ideological, and active consciousness in carrying out study and education.
Various institutes have actively responded to the "Certain Provisions," emphasizing institutional construction and formulating a series of related measures in light of their own realities. Through diverse actions, they have put the practical requirements of strengthening the Party's conduct construction in the New Era into practice.
Based on the "Certain Provisions," the National Academy of Economic Strategy (财经院), the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Evaluation Studies (评价院), the Institute of Sociology, and the Institute of Law have respectively formulated specific implementing rules and work plans for their institutes. They have proposed strict, clear, and detailed normative requirements regarding observing political discipline and rules, conducting in-depth social investigations and research, promoting fine styles of study and writing, streamlining meetings and activities, simplifying documents and newsletters, improving publicity and reporting, regulating overseas visits, and practicing strict economy. Members of the leadership teams have led by example, fully playing their role as vanguards.
The Institute of Philosophy formulated multiple institutional mechanisms to address identified problems, such as a supervisory mechanism for the Standing Committee, a work reporting system for Party branches, a quarterly reporting system, a work mechanism for the construction of the discipline of Marxist philosophy, management measures for academic secretaries, and confidentiality commitments. The Institute of Ancient History emphasized both the perfection of systems and rigid execution; its leadership team solemnly made "Three Commitments," setting a benchmark for integrity through self-revolution. While revising systems, they also strictly implemented existing regulations to ensure the system is "managed and strict." Addressing prominent problems found during self-inspection—such as "insufficient methods for taking responsibility," "the need to strengthen conduct construction," "the need to improve research quality," and "the need to enhance the ability to rectify formalism"—the National Academy of Economic Strategy proposed a series of targeted measures for centralized rectification after listening to opinions and suggestions. The Institute of Industrial Economics formulated implementation measures to solidify the institutional foundation, requiring the formation of a "Listing of Problems Identified in Study and Education" and a "Ledger of Centralized Rectification in Study and Education." Discipline and service consciousness have continued to rise, and problems like formalism and bureaucratism have been effectively rectified.
Ni Feng, Director of the Institute of American Studies, stated that members of the Party Committee must take the lead in purifying the academic ecosystem: they should not undertake lateral projects (横向课题) [5] unrelated to their main business, stay away from publishing in journals they directly supervise, avoid academic activities unrelated to their main business, and not sign their names to works or articles to which they have not made a major contribution. They must take the lead in complying with CASS systems and the requirements of the Party Leadership Group, resolutely rectifying the phenomenon of "laxity," eradicating its source, and resolutely handling all words and deeds that disregard the organization and discipline in accordance with laws and regulations.
Theoretical study is the basis and prerequisite for carrying out study and education; political loyalty must be forged through the integration of study, thought, practice, and realization. Only by studying well can one understand and act well. All units attach great importance to theoretical study, strictly implementing the "First Agenda" system (第一议题) [6] and regarding it as the foundational project for implementing the spirit of the Eight-Point Regulations. By using various forms such as the Party Committee Theoretical Study Center Group, the "Three Meetings and One Lesson" (三会一课) [7], and Theme Party Days, they have organized Party members and officials to carry out centralized and individual study. The Institute of Marxism Studies (马研院) took study and discussion as the primary task and the main thread throughout, organizing study and discussion through the "21st Century Marxism Grand Lecture" and youth theoretical group reading sessions to continuously push theoretical armament deeper. The Institute of Literature held 22 meetings of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee and 3 enlarged meetings of the Party Committee Theoretical Study Center Group to relay and study General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speeches and instructions. They persist in taking these as the "first agenda" for study, the "first following" for implementation, and the "first political task" for execution. The Institute of Sociology strengthened ideological leadership and consensus through deep study of the Party's innovative theories, clarifying the route for "organized research" [8], innovating management mechanisms, and further strengthening the leadership of department heads over organized research. They also strengthened the "Four Ones" construction of research offices [9], analyzed the institute's resource advantages, and improved the ability to use valuable resources for organized research. The National Institute of International Strategy (亚太院) launched a "Party Building Micro-Classroom" column to actively spread the Party's "good voice," completing the "last kilometer" of educational outreach.
Luo Wendong, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Institute of Marxism Studies, stated that officials and scholars should carry out academic research and interpretation centered on General Secretary Xi Jinping's important expositions on conduct construction and the significant achievements made in implementing the Eight-Point Regulations since the 18th National Congress.
"Strengthening the Party's conduct construction is an important historical experience for our Party to dare to 'turn the blade inward' (刀刃向内) [10], dare to achieve self-revolution, and ultimately remain progressive and maintain eternal vitality." Liu Huichun, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Institute of Chinese Borderland Studies, required the whole institute to actively practice the Academy's "Three Points of Consensus," earnestly implement the "First Agenda" system, research and interpret Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and build a theoretical system of disciplinary foundations with this Thought as the fundamental following, thereby putting political loyalty into practice and constantly improving work conduct.
Investigation and research (调查研究) is the basis for planning and the way to success; it is the basic skill for doing all work well. The Central Eight-Point Regulations put "improving investigation and research" in the first place. Regarding investigation and research, and focusing on the high-quality development of information work, Feng Weijiang, Secretary of the Party Committee and Director of the Institute of World Economics and Politics (信息情报研究院), personally led a team to visit relevant departments for exchanges to understand needs deeply, working hard to promote the precise matching of information supply and demand and playing the role of "threading the needle." As a pilot unit for the Academy’s "Integration of Science and Education" (科教融合), the Institute of Journalism and Communication actively implemented the Party Leadership Group’s plans, requiring the institute and the School of Journalism and Communication of the University of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (UCASS) to jointly conduct field investigations, recently launching nearly 10 projects. Hu Zhengrong, Director of the Institute of Journalism and Communication, required everyone to focus on major national strategies and important livelihood issues, urging them not to be "frogs at the bottom of a well" sitting in their studies, but to go out into the vast world to open new academic paths.
The Institute of Russian, Eastern European, and Central Asian Studies (俄欧亚所) formulated an application form for researchers participating in domestic investigations, strengthening the review and oversight of research activities. They organized exchanges and discussions on research findings and formed research reports to improve quality and strengthen the application of results. The Institute of Latin American Studies and the Institute of Japanese Studies, among others, regulated research and overseas visits in line with their actual conditions, practiced strict economy, and effectively applied the specific requirements of the Party Leadership Group to the practice of improving long-term mechanisms for conduct construction.
Zhao Tianxiao, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, stated that the "Certain Provisions" are a landmark measure of the Academy's study and education program. This revision further aligns thoughts and actions with the decisions of the Party Central Committee. Today, organized research at the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology is continuously strengthening, fully releasing research potential and innovative vitality through projects such as the "National Condition Research Project on Forging the Sense of Community for the Chinese Nation," the cultivation plan for excellent monographs, and the Innovation Project.
Advancing as one ensures that study and education achieve practical results.
Actions speak louder than words. Practice has fully demonstrated that the fundamental reasons for the significant results achieved in deeply implementing the spirit of the Eight-Point Regulations lie in General Secretary Xi Jinping’s role at the helm and the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Since the launch of the study and education program for the deep implementation of the spirit of the Eight-Point Regulations, and in close connection with actual work, the "Certain Provisions" [11] have focused on prominent problems restricting development. By deepening the treatment of both symptoms and root causes, the broad masses of Party members, cadres, and scholars in our Academy have vigorously pursued implementation with the spirit of self-revolution. Through the integrated advancement of "studying, inspecting, and reforming," the work style has become more solid, the institute culture more pragmatic, and the academic style cleaner and more upright.
In the past, some scholars had a weak sense of academic mission and lacked organized scientific research, resulting in research outputs with insufficient "gold content" and limited academic influence. Scholars across our Academy have deeply studied and implemented the spirit of the Eight-Point Regulations, focusing on rectifying "looseness" (sàn) in ideological, research, and organizational dimensions.
To root out "disciplinary looseness," break through "research looseness," and clear away "management looseness," the Institute of Ancient History and the Institute of ethnic literature, among others, have gained a profound understanding of the political connotation of "moving the pole to establish trust" [12] and the core requirements of the "Five Further Completions" [13]. The manifestations and sources of "looseness" have been further rectified and cleared, research efficiency has been further enhanced, and the academic ecosystem has become clearer. The "One Academy and Six Institutes" [14] within the Chinese Academy of History carried out solid self-inspection work based on the key contents of the "Look Back" [15] phase of the study and education program. They sorted and inventoried items one by one, further clarified the direction of rectification, strengthened the implementation of responsibility, and promoted the study and education program to see tangible actions and results.
Currently, various forms of formalism within our Academy have been further curbed, with greater emphasis placed on the actual effects of investigation and research. The environments for research, scholarship, and management have been further purified, and researchers have further strengthened their sentiment for "doing scholarship for the people" and "serving the country through research." He Dexu, Director of the National Academy of Economic Strategy, stated that implementing the spirit of the Eight-Point Regulations and its implementation rules is a long-term task. It is necessary to strictly follow the requirements of the CPC Central Committee and the Academy’s Leading Party Members' Group, grasping it tirelessly and persisting over the long term to achieve lasting results, vigorously pursuing implementation to produce real results, and better fulfilling the duty of serving General Secretary Xi Jinping and the CPC Central Committee.
The Institute of Finance and Banking rectified integrity risks through the "integration of inspection and reform," using a good work style to promote the construction of "Two Towns (Fronts) and One Platform" [16]. They conducted a thorough screening of publications such as the affiliated journal Financial Review, nine websites, eleven new media platform accounts, and six non-physical research centers, requiring them to focus on their primary responsibilities and core business while strictly adhering to the disciplinary "red line." The Institute of Ethnic Literature conducted self-inspection and self-correction against two problem lists, "turning the blade inward" [17] to identify issues.
"Holding shorter meetings and speaking shorter words" began with the Party Committee meetings and the Director's executive meetings to improve work efficiency and solve problems pragmatically. Liao Fan, Secretary of the Party Committee and Director of the Institute of World Economics and Politics, stated that now, the duration of plenary meetings, work meetings, and journal review meetings has been significantly shortened, and efficiency has notably improved.
In deeply implementing the work deployments of the Academy’s Leading Party Members' Group, the Institute of Linguistics used discipline construction and development exchange meetings to focus on the "Greatest Concerns of the Nation" [18] regarding language and script work. Through exchange speeches by young and middle-aged core researchers and extensive, in-depth discussions, the institute distilled major academic directions and promoted organized research and discipline construction. They formed an important consensus on grounding work in the "Two Combinations," practicing the "Three Consensuses," and promoting the high-quality development of language research in the New Era. Yu Xinhua, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Institute of Linguistics, encouraged young scholars to deepen their theoretical equipment, carry forward fine styles of work and scholarship, remain mindful of the times and strive for progress, and accelerate their growth.
The Institute of Economics deeply studied General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions on strengthening the Party's work style construction, putting the Party’s political construction in the first place to create a clean and upright academic ecosystem. The institute conducted more than 120 person-times of heart-to-heart talks, strengthening the awareness of being a "political organ" and the awareness of the "primary identity" of Party members. Combining this with work to promote reform through case studies, they cumulatively held 10 warning education activities. The consciousness of serving the CPC Central Committee and the state, and of "doing scholarship for the people," has been significantly enhanced, and the institute and academic climate show a new outlook.
"By watching warning education films, we profoundly realized that violating the spirit of the Eight-Point Regulations not only damages the image of the Party and the government and affects the image of the unit, but also brings serious consequences to oneself and one's family. We must take this as a warning, learn from one case to understand a whole category, clarify discipline through cases, use cases as a mirror, promote reform through cases, and promote governance through cases," said Ding Guoqi, Secretary of the Party Committee and Director of the Institute of Literature.
Today, the four words "rectifying style and strictly enforcing discipline" (zhèng fēng sù jì) have truly achieved normalization and long-term effectiveness. The political awareness, integrity awareness, "red line" awareness, and responsibility awareness of all Party members and cadres have been further strengthened. These have been integrated into daily work and life, ensuring that "inside and outside the eight hours" [19], one has awe in the heart, rectitude in the body, restraint in speech, and limits in action. The strict keynote, strict measures, and strict atmosphere have been further reinforced.
Sun Zhuangzhi, Director of the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies, said that our work style is constantly improving. We go toward problems and reform against problems, not closing the file until the reform is complete. Leading Party cadres have led their respective departments to vigorously pursue work style construction and stimulate responsibility and action, collaboratively solving many problems. This not only guarantees the high-quality development of the institute's work through new achievements in style construction but also brings a "visible and tangible" new atmosphere to the research institute. Wang Rongjun, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Institute of Latin American Studies, proposed upholding the concept that "doing scholarship for the people is the duty and mission of researchers on the new journey," resolutely resisting impetuousness and rejecting utilitarianism, and producing results that can withstand the test of history and the people through long-term, intensive study.
The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences is a national philosophy and social science research institution under the direct leadership of the CPC Central Committee. It must hold high the vocation of serving General Secretary Xi Jinping and the CPC Central Committee, carrying it on its shoulders and keeping it in its heart, maintaining the purity and dignity of the academic hall with a fine Party style, academic style, and Academy style. The entire Academy will continue to grasp study, conduct in-depth inspections, deepen rectification, and strengthen supervision. It will further strictly enforce discipline and rules, strive to create a good atmosphere for entrepreneurship and career development, and forge a "iron army" of theoretical scholarship that is politically reliable, academically profound, strictly disciplined, and excellent in style. It will promote the accelerated construction of an internal knowledge system of Chinese philosophy and social sciences with new achievements in work style construction, contributing wisdom and strength to the comprehensive promotion of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization.