Chen Xiangqin: Academic Symposium on "Twenty Years of Discipline Construction in Marxist Theory" Convened

In December 2005, the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council and the Ministry of Education issued the "Notice on Adjusting and Adding the First-Level Discipline of Marxist Theory and its Subordinate Second-Level Disciplines," deciding to add the first-level discipline of Marxist Theory and its subordinate second-level disciplines ^[1] to the Catalogue of Disciplines and Specialties for the Conferral of Doctoral and Master's Degrees and the Cultivation of Graduate Students. On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Marxist Theory discipline, an academic symposium titled "Twenty Years of Marxist Theory Discipline Construction: Retrospect and Prospect," co-hosted by the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences and the University of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, was recently held in Shanghai. More than 80 participating experts and scholars gathered to discuss the achievements and experiences of the Marxist Theory discipline since its establishment 20 years ago, and conducted deliberations centered on Marxist theoretical research and discipline construction.

Reviewing the developmental course of the past 20 years, the construction of the Marxist Theory discipline has achieved remarkable results. Gu Hailiang, a consultant for the Central Project for Marxist Theoretical Research and Construction ^[2] and Boya Chair Professor at Peking University, pointed out that under the guidance and impetus of the Central Project for Marxist Theoretical Research and Construction, the Marxist Theory discipline has undergone several adjustments centered on its fundamentals, foundations, core, and framework, forming a scientific and rational layout of second-level disciplines. Quan Heng, Party Committee Secretary of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, noted that over the past 20 years, Marxist Theory has been one of the fastest-growing disciplines within the system of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics. It has played an active role in serving national ideological security, supporting the construction of "ideological and political courses" ^[3], and cultivating reserve talent. Cui Weihang, Party Committee Secretary of the University of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, pointed out that since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the foundational, holistic, innovative, and sustainable nature of Marxist Theory discipline construction has increasingly strengthened. Remarkable achievements have been made in the translation and compilation of classical works, the research and interpretation of theory, the study of major issues, the construction of the textbook system, and the cultivation of talent teams, providing powerful theoretical support for the New Era and the new journey.

In the New Era and on the new journey, we face new questions of the times and practical tasks; the Marxist Theory discipline has a responsibility to subject these to theoretical inquiry and academic research. Participating scholars believe that the construction of the Marxist Theory discipline must take the study, publicity, and implementation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as the top priority, deepening the systematic and academic ^[4] research and interpretation of the Party's innovative theories. Li Junru, former Vice President of the Central Party School of the CPC, used the systematic construction and academic research of Deng Xiaoping Theory as a case study, pointing out that advancing the systematic and academic research and interpretation of the Party's innovative theories requires effectively resolving issues of logic, theory, academia, and discourse. Wang Yonggui, head of the Marxist Theory Discipline Cluster (Faculty) at Nanjing Normal University, pointed out that the basic positioning of the Marxist Theory discipline should be comprehensive. Efforts should be made in the comprehensive standardization and characteristic innovation of the disciplinary system, integrating deeply with other disciplines to consolidate the disciplinary foundation for the research and interpretation of the Party's innovative theories. Yan Xiaofeng, Dean of the School of Marxism at Tianjin University, pointed out that deepening systematic and academic research and interpretation requires unifying systemic logic, historical logic, and practical logic, while combining theoretical demonstration with practical demonstration, focusing on the innovativeness of thought, the scientific nature of theory, and the supporting power of scholarship. Xin Xiangyang, Director of the Institute of Marxism Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, argued that constructing an autonomous knowledge system for the Marxist Theory discipline is an important handle for advancing the systematic and academic research and interpretation of the Party's innovative theories. In this process, it is necessary to conduct comprehensive research on the Marxist worldview and methodology, deeply study fine traditional Chinese culture, and absorb and learn from the achievements of philosophy and social science research.

To promote the better development of the Marxist Theory discipline, one must penetrate the social reality of contemporary China and the world, deeply grasp the developmental pulse of the era, and cultivate deep academic roots. Han Xiping, Deputy Party Committee Secretary of Jilin University, pointed out the need to strengthen leadership, enhance holism, reinforce academic rigor, highlight practicality, implement autonomy, and increase indigeneity, consciously strengthening the leading role of the Marxist Theory discipline within philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics. Yang Haifeng, Dean of the School of Marxism at Peking University, pointed out that one should deeply grasp historical development trends, China's own history and culture, and Western history and culture. Based on the era and reality, one should deepen academic research, theoretical inquiry, and disciplinary construction of Marxism in contemporary China. Zhang Zhanbin, Director of the Research Center for Chinese-path Modernization at the Central Party School (National Academy of Governance), pointed out that Marxist theoretical research and discipline construction must face practice and be advanced in the process of leading Chinese-path modernization with the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism. Zhu Huanghe, Dean of the Institute of Marxism Studies at Jiangxi Normal University, argued that we must clarify what the general laws and specific laws of the Marxist Theory discipline are compared to other disciplines, and whether we have followed these laws; these are issues that must be accurately grasped to advance the construction of the Marxist Theory discipline. Jiang Youfu, Director of the Institute of Chinese Marxism at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, pointed out that we should take root in China and stand on the basis of the era, cultivating deep ideological and academic foundations in the process of continuing Chinese civilization and leading human civilization, deeply researching major theoretical and practical issues to promote the high-quality development of the Marxist discipline.