Liu Zhengjiang: Advancing the High-Quality Development of Marxist Theory Discipline in the New Era—A Summary of the Symposium on the 20th Anniversary of the Founding of the Marxist Theory Discipline
On September 21, the Symposium on the 20th Anniversary of the Founding of the Discipline of Marxist Theory—jointly organized by the Discipline Review Group for Marxist Theory and CPC History and Party Building under the State Council Academic Degrees Committee and Xinjiang University—was held at Xinjiang University. The symposium aimed to review the twenty-year developmental trajectory of the Marxist Theory discipline, summarize its achievements, and explore major theoretical and practical issues. These included paths for the substantive development of the discipline in the New Era, its role in supporting the construction of Ideological and Political Theory Courses [1], and the construction of an autonomous knowledge system, all intended to pool wisdom and build consensus for promoting the high-quality development of the discipline.
Historical Retrospective: Strategic Status and Eminent Contributions of the Marxist Theory Discipline
Participating experts reviewed the achievements made since the founding of the Marxist Theory discipline, reaching a consensus that over the past 20 years, the discipline has achieved a leap from its foundational stages to prosperous development. It has yielded fruitful results in disciplinary layout, theoretical innovation, and talent cultivation, while driving the construction of an autonomous, multi-level disciplinary system.
Wu Huaichun—Deputy Director of the Department of Degree Management and Postgraduate Education at the Ministry of Education and Deputy Director of the Office of the State Council Academic Degrees Committee—pointed out that Marxist Theory is a foundational and leading discipline that manifests Chinese characteristics, Chinese style, and Chinese spirit [2]. It bears the major mission of systematically researching the basic principles of Marxism, implementing the fundamental task of fostering virtue through education (立德树人, lì dé shù rén), and providing theoretical support for national governance and social development. Professor Jin Nuo of Renmin University of China proposed that the great development of the disciplinary system and layout, the building of an excellent faculty, the establishment of an integrated undergraduate-master-doctoral talent cultivation system, and the deepening of Marxist theoretical research are the prominent hallmarks of the discipline’s 20-year developmental achievements. Professor Huang Rongsheng of Southwest University argued that disciplinary construction is a fundamental requirement for the prosperity of philosophy and the social sciences; it also serves as an important primary lever for implementing the Marxist Theoretical Research and Construction Project [3] and strengthening ideological and political education for college students.
On the New Journey [4], the strategic status of the Marxist Theory discipline has become increasingly prominent. Professor Dong Hui of Huazhong University of Science and Technology noted that General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions on the Marxist Theory discipline have clarified its strategic positioning. The construction of this discipline embodies the most distinct character of Chinese universities; it is the main battleground for consolidating the guiding position of Marxism in the ideological sphere and a foundational, strategic project for the Party’s ideological and theoretical construction. Luo Yuting—Professor at Wuhan University and Bofeng Strategic Talent at Xinjiang University—pointed out that the Marxist Theory discipline plays a core role in advancing theoretical innovation, exerting the influence of the mainstream ideology to "set the heart of the state and the soul of the nation" [5], implementing the fundamental task of fostering virtue through education, as well as strengthening international communication and enhancing international discourse power.
The meeting also discussed the supportive role of the Marxist Theory discipline for Ideological and Political Theory Courses in universities. Professor Ai Silin of Tsinghua University argued that the discipline has provided vital support for these courses in terms of layout, platforms, faculty, and research outputs. He proposed that this supportive role should be further strengthened by reinforcing the mechanisms by which disciplinary construction and curriculum construction promote one another, building a high-quality disciplinary evaluation system, coordinating the development of Marxist Theory and CPC History and Party Building as disciplines, and distinguishing between academic and professional talent cultivation models.
Upholding the Fundamentals and Breaking New Ground: Core Essentials and Path Exploration for High-Quality Development
Adhering to the principle of upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground is an important guideline for promoting the high-quality development of the Marxist Theory discipline in the New Era. Professor Jin Nuo pointed out that disciplinary development must persist in upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground, focusing on resolving prominent issues such as insufficient scientific research innovation and unbalanced development. It must comprehensively improve the effectiveness of ideological and political teaching and the quality and international vision of integrated undergraduate-master-doctoral talent cultivation. Professor Wang Yonggui of Nanjing Normal University suggested that promoting high-quality development requires integrating research directions and optimizing disciplinary layouts, proposing that ideological and political teaching should organically combine technological empowerment with value guidance. Professor Wang Shuyin of Beijing Normal University noted that disciplinary construction should systematically examine and scientifically define the scope and research directions of the sub-discipline of Basic Principles of Marxism. He argued that ideological and political teaching requires the comprehensive support and collaborative empowerment of all secondary sub-disciplines, and that these sub-disciplines and their research directions should be scientifically planned to enhance internal logical consistency and theoretical persuasiveness. Professor Luo Yuting proposed that promoting disciplinary development requires properly handling several pairs of relationships: substantive development versus extensional expansion, theoretical research versus practical application, autonomous construction versus open borrowing, and disciplinary construction versus ideological and political teaching. Professor Zang Xiuling of Shandong University explored specific links in promoting high-quality development from a micro-level, focusing on the topic that the refinement of the discipline's identifying concepts should return to the classics and be rooted in practice.
To advance the high-quality and innovative development of the Marxist Theory discipline, one must persist in taking Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as guidance and the "Two Combinations" [6] as the fundamental path. Professor Lin Jinping of Sun Yat-sen University pointed out that understanding and developing the basic principles of Marxism requires considering various secondary sub-disciplines and dimensions—such as the History of Marxist Development, Research on the Sinicization of Marxism, and Research on Overseas Marxism—while focusing on absorbing important contemporary concepts to respond to the issues of the times. Professor Yan Lianfu of Xi'an Jiaotong University argued that the Marxist Theory discipline already possesses the conditions for constructing an autonomous knowledge system. It should be based on China's reality, respond to the questions of the times, use Marxism to activate the vital factors within fine traditional Chinese culture and endow them with new contemporary connotations, thereby fortifying the discipline’s academic foundations.
The characteristic development of Marxist Theory discipline construction in local universities was also a focus of the symposium. Professor Zhu Huanghe of Jiangxi Normal University argued that local universities must find their positioning based on actual conditions, condense their unique characteristics, focus on talent cultivation, and strengthen inter-institutional exchange and cooperation. Professor Li Youxin of Xiangtan University further pointed out that the development of the discipline in local universities should combine regional characteristics, the resources of "Red Culture," [7] and industrial backgrounds, while maintaining holistic integrity and standardization in content.
Charting the Future: Constructing an Autonomous Knowledge System and Enhancing International Discourse Power
Looking forward to the future development of the discipline, the participating experts collectively agreed that under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, focus should be placed on multiple dimensions: deepening theoretical innovation, optimizing talent cultivation, managing internal disciplinary relationships, and enhancing international discourse power. Professor Liu Honglin of Fudan University argued for maintaining the foundation of "integrating theory with practice" and "the application of knowledge for the benefit of society" (经世致用, jīng shì zhì yòng), while strictly upholding disciplinary boundaries and awareness. Professor Song Jin of East China Normal University proposed that disciplinary self-awareness should be continuously enhanced through historical, intellectual, and international perspectives. Professor Zhang Shihai of Shandong University suggested that strengthening the systematized and theoretical research and explanation of the Party’s innovative theories is the basis for enhancing scholarly support. Professor Wang Binglin of Beijing Normal University pointed out that to enhance the international discourse power and influence of the Marxist Theory discipline, it is necessary to advocate for an objective and rational academic attitude, scientifically identify and absorb excellent foreign achievements, strengthen international exchanges, and construct an academic discourse system that bridges China and the West. Professor Wan Meirong of Central China Normal University argued that to improve the quality of talent cultivation in the discipline of Ideological and Political Education, it is necessary to accurately grasp social needs, refine disciplinary directions, optimize the cultivation process, and improve teachers' academic levels and sense of responsibility for nurturing students.
Regarding the understanding and clarification of the relationship between the discipline of Marxist Theory and the discipline of CPC History and Party Building, Professor Yang Fengcheng of Renmin University of China argued that the two should cooperate, support, and complement each other. The "Party History" component can provide historical support for the Marxist Theory discipline, while the "Party Building" component requires theoretical support from the Marxist Theory discipline. Professor Cheng Meidong of Peking University suggested that research on frontier issues in CPC History and Party Building must adhere to the principle of connecting "Party History" with "Party Building," serving national strategic needs and conducting research centered on topics such as Chinese-path modernization.
The participating experts unanimously agreed that on the New Journey, the Marxist Theory discipline must take Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as guidance. Centering on the task of high-quality development, it should optimize disciplinary layouts and evaluation mechanisms, and construct a "discipline-curriculum-teacher-textbook" synergy. It must promote the construction of an autonomous disciplinary knowledge system and continuously enhance international communication and discourse power. This will drive systemic innovation in the content, discourse, and methods of the Marxist Theory discipline, providing a solid theoretical and talent guarantee for consolidating the guiding position of Marxism in the ideological sphere, improving the effectiveness of ideological and political courses, serving national governance, and advancing the construction of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics. This effort aims to contribute wisdom and strength to the realization of the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.