Li Suxia and Lu Yidan: Basic Experience in the Construction of Marxist Theory as a Discipline in the New Era
Socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a New Era; this is the new historical coordinates of our country’s development. Great eras call forth and give birth to great ideological theories, but they also urgently require strong and vigorous ideological and theoretical leadership. The original intention and mission of establishing the discipline of Marxist theory is to fundamentally consolidate the guiding position of Marxism in the ideological sphere, providing solid academic support and reliable human resources to advance the Party's ideological and theoretical construction and to cultivate the young people of the era who are capable of shouldering the heavy responsibility of national rejuvenation. Since entering the New Era, the discipline of Marxist theory has encountered unprecedented development opportunities: the disciplinary system has become increasingly robust, the quality of talent cultivation has significantly improved, scientific research achievements have emerged in an endless stream, and the capacity for social service has continuously strengthened.
Maintaining a Firm Political Direction in Disciplinary Construction
Whether it is the Party, the government, the military, society, or schools; east, west, south, north, or center—the Party leads everything. The Party’s centralized and unified leadership is the fundamental guarantee for the construction of the Marxist theory discipline, permeating the entire process of directional guidance, overall planning, and task implementation, ensuring that the discipline always moves forward along the correct path.
Upholding the Party's leadership means grasping the correct direction of disciplinary construction. Since the New Era began, the Party Central Committee has consistently incorporated the construction of the Marxist theory discipline into the overall cause of the Party and the state, emphasizing that the guiding position of Marxism must be upheld without wavering and that the Party's educational policy must be implemented throughout the entire process of disciplinary construction. Whether in the construction of the textbook system, the reform of the curriculum system, the establishment of research directions, or the formation of the discourse system, we must firmly grasp the political direction, value orientation, and theoretical guidance. It is precisely under the strong leadership of the Party that disciplinary construction can ensure it does not deviate from the source, guaranteeing that disciplinary development remains consistent with the cause of the Party and the state. Upholding the Party's leadership also means coordinating the overall deployment of disciplinary construction. Since the start of the New Era, the Party Central Committee has attached great importance to the construction of the Marxist theory discipline. From the central to the local levels, and from educational administrative departments to various universities, powerful support has been provided across all dimensions and levels—be it in institutional setup, platform building, funding investment, or policy guarantees. This favorable atmosphere and collaborative mechanism—in which the entire Party and society care for, support, and participate in the construction of the Marxist theory discipline—has injected powerful momentum into the discipline's development and constructed a solid guarantee. Upholding the Party's leadership further ensures the comprehensive implementation of disciplinary construction. The Party's centralized and unified leadership guarantees the political foundation of the Marxist theory discipline. This discipline bears the important mission of cultivating the young people of the era to undertake national rejuvenation. Since the New Era, disciplinary construction has strictly implemented the fundamental task of "fostering virtue through education" [1], organically integrating value shaping, knowledge transmission, and capacity cultivation. This allows students not only to "know what is so" but also to "know why it is so," [2] and not only to master theory but also to solidify their faith. In this way, a large number of useful talents have been cultivated who unswervingly listen to and follow the Party, and who consciously struggle for the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics throughout their lives. This is the ultimate landing point and value manifestation of upholding the Party's leadership in disciplinary construction.
Constructing an Independent Knowledge System for the Discipline
Disciplinary self-awareness and disciplinary self-confidence are the internal driving forces for the development of the Marxist theory discipline. They help push the discipline to break free from the shackles of Western academic paradigms and form a theoretical system and discourse style with Chinese characteristics.
Disciplinary self-awareness is an important prerequisite for constructing the Marxist theory discipline. It requires a profound realization that the Marxist theory discipline plays an irreplaceable role in the Party’s ideological and theoretical construction, the prosperity of the philosophy and social sciences, and even the long-term stability of the state. This self-awareness drives discipline builders to no longer be satisfied with passively following others, but to actively plan their own long-range development, reflecting on how to shoulder their mission in theoretical innovation and how to play a role in cultural inheritance. It is this strong sense of mission and responsibility that drives continuous progress in disciplinary construction. Disciplinary self-confidence is an important support for constructing the Marxist theory discipline. This confidence stems from the truth of Marxist theory itself and the powerful vitality it has demonstrated in Chinese practice. it stems from the historic achievements and transformations [3] in the cause of the Party and the state during the New Era; and it also stems from the discipline’s own significant results in system construction, talent cultivation, and academic output. Based on this confidence, the construction of the Marxist theory discipline can break away from blind superstition toward Western academic paradigms with a more composed stature, taking a foothold in Chinese reality, projecting a Chinese voice, and highlighting the power of contemporary Chinese Marxism. Constructing an independent knowledge system is the vital task of building the Marxist theory discipline. Disciplinary self-awareness and self-confidence must ultimately be transformed into practical actions to construct a Marxist theoretical disciplinary system, academic system, and discourse system with Chinese characteristics, Chinese style, and Chinese spirit. Since the New Era began, series of research projects centered on major contemporary themes—such as Chinese-path modernization, the new form of human civilization [4], whole-process people’s democracy, and common prosperity—have been vivid practices in constructing China’s independent knowledge system. Textbook, curriculum, and evaluation systems have undergone systematic innovation accordingly. The goal is to ensure that the research and education of Marxist theory are truly rooted in Chinese soil, forming an independent knowledge system that is logically rigorous, explanatory, and leading, thereby promoting the high-quality development of the Marxist theory discipline.
Fortifying the Foundations of Disciplinary Development
The powerful vitality of the Marxist theory discipline lies in its continuous integration with China’s specific realities and with China’s fine traditional culture. Adhering to the integration with China’s specific realities ensures that theoretical research is rooted in Chinese soil. Disciplinary construction has always adhered to a problem-oriented approach, focusing on the great practice of reform, opening up, and socialist modernization in the New Era. It focuses on resolving the problem of "unbalanced and inadequate development" [5] and provides good answers to the "Questions of China, the World, the People, and the Times." [6] None of the theoretical research starts from "the books" (dogmatism); rather, it starts from the national conditions, seeking topics from real life, which gives Marxist theoretical research a solid practical foundation and distinct characteristics of the era. Adhering to the integration with China’s fine traditional culture ensures that theory manifests Chinese characteristics. Disciplinary construction emphasizes deeply excavating and drawing upon the spiritual symbols and ideological essence accumulated over five thousand years of Chinese civilization, connecting the essence of Marxist thought with the cream of China’s fine traditional culture. This integration [7] not only endows Marxist theory with more distinct national features and richer cultural connotations—making it more approachable and moving—but also effectively enhances the sense of national cultural identity, consolidating the historical and mass foundations for the construction of the Marxist theory discipline. Adhering to the "Two Integrations" promotes the formation of original achievements. The "Two Integrations" constitute the fundamental path for the construction of the Marxist theory discipline; they allow theory to take root in Chinese soil while injecting it with deep cultural genes, giving rise to a series of original theoretical achievements. The most concentrated expression of this is the formation of the Party's scientific and systematic "innovative theories" [8]. These theories are the concentrated manifestation of the "Two Integrations" and are the greatest and most core achievement of the Marxist theory discipline in the New Era, guiding the future direction of the discipline’s development.
Highlighting the Value Standpoint of the Discipline
Disciplinary construction consistently links academic pursuits with the people's aspirations for a better life. The focus of theoretical research is always aimed at people's livelihood concerns and social hotspots, striving to solve the problem of unbalanced and inadequate development. Whether it is research on common prosperity, discussions on social governance, or reflections on the construction of an ecological civilization, the value orientation is always to realize, safeguard, and develop the fundamental interests of the broadest possible masses of the people. We must ensure that the achievements of Marxist theoretical disciplinary construction benefit the people. The fruits of disciplinary development are transformed into the spiritual wealth and ideological weapons of the people through multiple channels. On the one hand, in-depth theoretical research provides decision-making references for the Party and government to formulate policies that benefit the people, allowing the fruits of development to benefit all people more fairly and equitably. On the other hand, through extensive theoretical propaganda and popular, easy-to-understand theoretical explanations, we arm the minds of the masses, enhancing their ideological awareness and political literacy to form a majestic force of United Struggle. At the same time, high-quality "Ideological and Political Courses" (思政课) [9] are used to shape the correct worldviews, outlooks on life, and values of the younger generation, helping them establish noble beliefs, master scientific methods, and become talents who benefit the people and serve society. We must ensure that the strength of building the Marxist theory discipline originates from the people. Disciplinary construction adheres to the fundamental method of "from the masses, to the masses." Theoretical workers focus on going deep into the grassroots and among the masses, respecting the people’s principal status and pioneering spirit, and drawing wisdom from the vivid practices and fresh experiences of the masses, thereby promoting the innovative development of the Marxist theory discipline in responding to reality and leading practice.