Expert Review Meeting on the New Trends in the Development of the International Communist Movement 2021 and the Yellow Book on the International Communist Movement (2021-2022) Successfully Held

Report from the Institute of Marxism Studies (Mayanyan Wang):

On December 9, 2021, the "Expert Review Meeting on New Trends in the Development of the International Communist Movement and the Yellow Book of the International Communist Movement (2021-2022)" was successfully held via Tencent Meeting. More than 40 researchers from over ten institutions—including the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), the Central Party School of the CPC, the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee, the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, Peking University, Shandong University, Xiamen University, Yunnan University, Soochow University, Wenzhou University, and the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences—engaged in a lively discussion centered on the new trends in the development of the international communist movement in 2021.

Speech by Professor Jiang Hui, Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences

Professor Jiang Hui, Editor-in-Chief of the Yellow Book of the International Communist Movement, Vice President of CASS, Director of the Institute of Contemporary China, and Director of the Institute of Marxism Studies, attended the meeting and delivered a speech. Professor Jiang first expressed his gratitude to the authoritative experts in the international communist movement and the members of the project team from various domestic research institutions. Vice President Jiang stated that thanks to the guidance of these experts, the quality of the Yellow Book of the International Communist Movement has been guaranteed; since its inception three years ago, its quality has continuously improved, getting better with each passing year. He expressed hope that with the help of these experts, the Yellow Book would be transformed into a high-quality cornerstone of literature for this discipline, and that through the writing of this "Blue Book" series ^[1], it would drive the training of talent and the overall development of the international communist movement as an academic field. Subsequently, Vice President Jiang shared his views on the situation of the international communist movement and world socialism, integrating the spirit of the Resolution of the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee ^[2], and provided guiding opinions for the drafting of the Yellow Book.

Vice President Jiang pointed out that in November of this year, the Party Central Committee convened the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee, which adopted the Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party over the Past Century. This document comprehensively summarized the glorious journey, major achievements, and historical experience of the Communist Party of China since its founding one hundred years ago. This requires us to integrate the study and comprehension of the spirit of the Resolution with our research work, and to earnestly study the new conclusions and new spirit set forth in the Resolution to guide our research into Marxism, the international communist movement, and world socialism. The nearly century-long history of the development of the Communist Party of China is an essential component of the international communist movement and the world socialist movement, occupying a prominent position and making a massive contribution. History eloquently proves that the Communist Party of China is a firm believer in and faithful practitioner of Marxism and scientific socialism; an active promoter and conscious pioneer of the international communist movement and world socialist movement; and a powerful leader and major contributor to the innovative development of 21st-century Marxism and world socialism. We must conduct deep research into the historical experience of the CPC’s century of struggle and its significant contributions to and major implications for the international communist movement and the world socialist movement.

The year 2021 marks the milestone of many major historical events in the history of the international communist movement. Among these, the 30th anniversary of the collapse of the Soviet Union and the 150th anniversary of the Paris Commune revolution are two major historical events that remain worthy of reflection today. We must continue to research and summarize these major events in the history of the international communist movement to provide historical mirrors and lessons for the movement to emerge from its low point and move toward revitalization.

Since 2020, under the combined influence of the "changes unseen in a century" ^[3] and the COVID-19 pandemic, the evolution of the international landscape has accelerated, and the world has entered a period of turbulent change. To grasp the developmental trends of the world landscape, we must continue to track and study the latest dynamics of foreign communist parties and world socialist states, grasp the new changes in the balance of power between socialism and capitalism, and strive to make scientific predictions regarding the future of the global order.

Professor Xin Xiangyang, Secretary of the Party Committee and Vice Director of the Institute of Marxism Studies at CASS, presided over the opening ceremony and raised requirements and expectations for research on key and topical issues in the international communist movement and the drafting of the Yellow Book.

Professor Xin Xiangyang, Secretary of the Party Committee and Vice Director of the Institute of Marxism Studies, CASS, presiding over the opening ceremony

During the keynote report session, Professor Lin Jianhua, Vice Director of the Institute of Marxism Studies at CASS, delivered a report titled "What the Communist Party of China is and What it Aims to Do from the Perspective of the International Communist Movement." He elucidated the mission and responsibilities of the CPC from the vantage point of the international communist movement.

Professor Lin Jianhua, Vice Director of the Institute of Marxism Studies at CASS, delivering the keynote report

Professor Lin Jianhua pointed out that upholding the leadership of the Party is not only a scientific understanding derived from reviewing history and summarizing experience, but also a fundamental principle that we must adhere to at all times in the future. Party leadership is not only a major question in the Marxist theory of party-building but also a criterion for judging whether a social movement engaged in by the proletariat constitutes part of the international communist movement. How can the CPC maintain its own leadership? The key lies in its correct answer to and constant remembrance of the fundamental question of "what the Communist Party of China is and what it aims to do." On this basis, the question of what the CPC is has been answered: namely, the CPC is the vanguard of the Chinese working class, and at the same time, the vanguard of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation. The "people’s standpoint" is the fundamental standpoint of the CPC; "serving the people heart and soul" is the CPC’s fundamental purpose; and "I will put aside my self for the sake of the people" ^[4] is the highest state of mind for Chinese Communists. The CPC has always represented the fundamental interests of the broadest possible range of the Chinese people; it has no special interests of its own and has never represented the interests of any interest group, power group, or privileged stratum. Furthermore, from the history of the Party’s struggle, we find the answer to what the CPC aims to do and what it will continue to do as it moves from the past into the future. "What the Party aims to do" is not just a question to be answered and resolved at the time of the Party’s founding, but a question that runs through the entire process of the Party’s century-long struggle. For a hundred years, the CPC has consistently united and led the people of all ethnic groups across the country in unremitting struggle to achieve national independence, the liberation of the people, and the realization of national prosperity and the people's happiness. The Party’s century of struggle has fundamentally altered the future and destiny of the Chinese people, opened the correct path for achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, demonstrated the powerful vitality of Marxism, and profoundly influenced the course of world history. Now, the Party has united the Chinese people to embark on a new "road to the exams" ^[5] toward achieving the Second Centenary Goal. In the New Era and on the new journey, the Communist Party of China will also build China into a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful, and achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

In the expert discussion session, several scholars delivered academic reports revolving around new trends in the international communist movement in 2021. These included Professor Hu Zhenliang of the Central Party School; Professor Xu Shicheng, Honorary Member of CASS; Professor Chai Shangjin of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee; Professor Xu Baoyou of the Institute of Party History and Literature; Professor Cui Guitian, Director of the Institute of Contemporary Socialism at Shandong University; Professor Yu Haiqing of the Institute of Marxism Studies, CASS; and Professor Guo Chunsheng of the Institute of Contemporary Socialism at Shandong University. Their reports were titled, respectively: "Solving the Problem: 21st-Century Socialist Modernization," "New Dynamics in the Development of Communist Parties in Latin America," "History and New Development Trends of the Communist Movement in West Asia and North Africa," "New Ideological Characteristics of Communist Parties, Workers' Parties, and Other Left-Wing Parties," "New Reform Trends in Contemporary Foreign Socialist Countries," "New Developments and Situations of Foreign Communist Parties in 2021," and "The Communist Party of the Russian Federation against the Backdrop of the 30th Anniversary of the Soviet Collapse."

In the thematic discussion and expert review session, the various scholars responsible for the writing of the book reported on their respective topics and discussed the difficulties encountered during the writing process with the Yellow Book's advisory experts. The experts provided individual comments and detailed answers to related questions. The authors and participating graduate students agreed that such discussions are extremely helpful for improving their writing abilities.

Selected participating scholars

Finally, Professor Pan Jine, Director of the International Communist Movement Research Department of the Institute of Marxism Studies at CASS and Editor-in-Chief of the Yellow Book of the International Communist Movement, delivered the closing summary. She expressed her heartfelt thanks to the experts for taking the time to attend the seminar and stated that under the leading guidance of Vice President Jiang Hui and with the full support of the experts, the project team will redouble its efforts to build the Yellow Book into one of the landmark works leading the development of the discipline of the international communist movement. At the same time, she expressed the hope that through the writing of the Yellow Book, a research team for the international communist movement—combining the old, middle-aged, and young generations—would be cultivated, driving the development of international communist movement and world socialist research, and making our due contribution to the development of world socialism and the international communist movement.

The seminar was hosted by the International Communist Movement Research Department of the Institute of Marxism Studies at CASS. Professor Xuan Chuanshu, Vice Director of the Institute of Chinese Marxism at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, Professor Pan Jine, and Professor Yuan Xiuli, Vice Director of the International Communist Movement Department, successively presided over the three discussion sessions.

Selected participating scholars

(Contributed by Zhu Xuxu of the Institute of Marxism Studies / Reviewed by Pan Jine)