Tang Aijun and Wang Peizhou: Remarkable Achievements in the Construction of Marxist Theory Disciplines During the "14th Five-Year Plan" Period
Marxism is the fundamental guiding ideology for establishing and strengthening our Party and our country; adhering to the guidance of Marxism is the fundamental hallmark that distinguishes contemporary Chinese philosophy and social sciences from others.
During the 14th Five-Year Plan period [1], the discipline of Marxist theory, standing at a new starting point on the new journey, has continuously moved toward connotative high-quality development. It has achieved constant progress and breakthroughs in theoretical dissemination, scientific research, personnel development, and the provision of policy counsel and education. It has accelerated the construction of an autonomous knowledge system, fully demonstrating the vitality and vigor of the Party's innovative theories. It consistently provides effective academic support for the propositions that "Marxism works" and "Marxism Sinicized and adapted to the times works," continuously transforming theoretical and disciplinary advantages into cultural soft power. In the process of comprehensively promoting the great cause of building a strong country and national rejuvenation through Chinese-path modernization, the discipline contributes wisdom and strength.
The Rapid Development of Marxist Theory Discipline Construction
On the new journey in the New Era, the discipline of Marxist theory shoulders a more arduous cultural mission and bears important tasks such as dissemination, research, and talent cultivation. It has played an extremely important role in continuously opening new realms of Sinicized and modernized Marxism and consolidating the guiding position of Marxism in the ideological field.
First, the theoretical foundation is being continuously strengthened. The discipline of Marxist theory possesses a high degree of strategic importance, supporting the mainstream Marxist ideology in its role of "establishing a heart for the state and a soul for the nation." Adhering to arming the whole Party, educating the people, and guiding practice with the Party's innovative theories is an inherent duty of the Marxist theory discipline.
During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the construction of the Marxist theory discipline has consistently focused on playing an important role in "consolidating the mind and casting the soul" [2]. It has persisted in using Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to unify thinking, will, and action. Among various groups such as Party members, cadres, and young students, it has carried out targeted, categorized, and interactive theoretical dissemination in an all-around and multi-level manner. By continuously promoting fundamental training, teaching of ideological and political courses, and social lecturing, it has deepened political, ideological, theoretical, and emotional identification with the Party’s innovative theories.
Second, research and interpretation are being continuously deepened. Providing in-depth academic elaboration on the Party's innovative theories is an internal requirement for the construction of the Marxist theory discipline. On the new journey, the construction of the Marxist theory discipline focuses on researching and interpreting the principled theoretical achievements within the new concepts, new ideas, and new strategies proposed by our Party. It emphasizes the transformation and integration of political discourse, academic discourse, and popular discourse, continuously clarifying the logic, academic principles, and philosophy contained within the Party’s innovative theories. Through the publication of professional works and popular readings—such as Questions and Answers on Studying Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the "Theoretical Hotspots Face-to-Face" series [3]—it has promoted the Party's innovative theories to "enter the brain and heart." Through the concerted efforts of important platforms such as National Key Marxist Academies, the Project to Study and Build Marxist Theory (Marxist Theory Research and Construction Project), and Institutes for the Study of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, the discipline profoundly interprets Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and its core essence, allowing the power of truth and practice in the Party's innovative theories to be increasingly manifested.
Third, the high-quality development of the disciplinary system is being continuously promoted. Actively building an autonomous knowledge system for Marxist theory requires promoting the discipline's continuous development through the benign interaction between theoretical and practical innovation. On the new journey, the Marxist theory discipline has become more rational in its disciplinary layout, more profound in the construction of its disciplinary, academic, and discourse systems, more scientific in its personnel development and integrated undergraduate-master-doctoral training mechanisms, and more active in policy counseling and social services. Through connotative improvement, structural optimization, and targeted expansion, the high-quality development and innovative expansion of the Marxist theory discipline are being continuously advanced.
Major Progress Achieved in the Marxist Theory Discipline
In the great changes of the New Era, the Marxist theory discipline has advanced with the times and mapped out the future. It has consistently adhered to the "Two Combinations," persisted in a problem-oriented approach, and effectively promoted the internalization, deepening, and transformation of the Party's innovative theories. It has exerted the leading role of Marxism over philosophy and social sciences, enhanced the targetedness and effectiveness of ideological and political course teaching in universities, and cultivated, shaped, and coalesced a large number of high-level personnel.
First, the systematic and academic research of the Party's innovative theories has further expanded. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is a process of continuous enrichment, expansion, and systematization. Over the past five years, the Marxist theory discipline has consistently adhered to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the "Two Combinations" as its basic compliance. In terms of theoretical themes, systemic frameworks, logical structures, and conceptual categories, it has deepened research into the academic and original contributions of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and conducted in-depth research and interpretation of the laws governing the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism.
Second, the foundational status of Marxist theories within various disciplines has been further elevated. The construction of the Marxist theory discipline is both a strategic project and a foundational one. Over the past five years, the discipline has consistently focused on "strengthening the foundation and cultivating the primary" [4] and "eliminating the turbid and promoting the clear." It has worked to strengthen research into the basic principles of Marxism, increased efforts in the compilation and study of classical works, and deepened research into the Party’s basic theory, basic line, and basic strategy. By integrating Marxist stances, viewpoints, and methods into every link—including disciplinary construction, textbook compilation, classroom teaching, project research, academic exchange, and achievement evaluation—it has solidified the foundational position of Marxist theories across disciplines. This has effectively guided theoretical innovation and practical expansion in various fields in the New Era, and the consciousness and ability to promote research in all disciplines using Marxist stances, viewpoints, and methods have been continuously strengthened.
Third, the educational effectiveness of ideological and political courses in universities has been further enhanced. Marxism is the foundation for successfully running ideological and political courses in the New Era; the effectiveness of these courses reflects the quality of the Marxist theory discipline. Over the past five years, the construction of ideological and political courses has seen synchronized improvements in curriculum, textbooks, teachers, and training. The course "Introduction to Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era" has been fully established in universities, unified textbooks have been published and distributed, the integrated construction of ideological and political courses across primary, secondary, and tertiary levels has been continuously promoted, and the contingent of ideological and political teachers has been strengthened. Meanwhile, "Great Ideological and Political Class" [5] practice teaching bases have been carefully established, training classes for backbone teachers of ideological and political courses have been continuously held, and collective lesson preparation sessions covering ideological and political teachers nationwide have been innovatively organized, high-quality fulfilling the fundamental task of "fostering virtue and nurturing people" (立德树人).
Fourth, the construction of the Marxist theory personnel contingent has been further optimized. On one hand, the high-quality development of the Marxist theory discipline cannot be separated from solid personnel guarantees; on the other hand, the effectiveness of personnel development directly reflects the achievements of the discipline’s construction. Over the past five years, the personnel training system, development mechanisms, and evaluation systems within the Marxist theory discipline have been continuously reformed and perfected. At the same time, by adhering to the "productivity standard" for results, emphasizing both the production of results and the cultivation of talent, and attaching importance to the training of young theoretical personnel, the Marxist theory personnel contingent has continuously expanded. A large number of scholars have been selected for national talent plans such as Leading Talents and Young Top-notch Talents in Philosophy and Social Sciences, Yangtze River Scholars, and Cultural Talents. The continuous cultivation of innovative teams of Marxist theory personnel allows them to strive toward "true scholarship and great scholarship" in the New Era, creating an excellent environment that values the growth of talent.
Future Development Directions of the Discipline
On the new journey, to realize the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, we must use Marxism to coalesce hearts and gather strength. We must utilize the Marxist theory discipline to provide sound answers to the "Questions of China, the World, the People, and the Times," providing effective theoretical supply and powerful spiritual strength for the construction of a strong country and national rejuvenation.
First, we must cultivate disciplinary self-awareness and academic self-confidence in Marxist theory. The discipline must establish a high degree of self-awareness and confidence. We should refine more "identifying academic concepts" that possess Chinese characteristics and international influence, and enhance the disciplinary self-awareness and academic consciousness to respond actively to major theoretical and practical problems. We must conduct deeper research and interpretation of new topics characterized by the features of the times and China—such as contemporary Chinese Marxism and 21st-century Marxism, Marxist theories of modernity and Chinese-path modernization, and the development of Marxist theory in the digital-intelligence era. We should further strengthen the academic consciousness and ability to adjust research directions guided by major theoretical and practical issues, and reinforce the awareness and capacity to conduct strategic, forward-looking, systematic, and reserve-oriented research based on the Marxist theory discipline.
Second, we must accelerate the construction of an autonomous knowledge system for the Marxist theory discipline. For the scholarship of Marxist theory to remain evergreen, we must build an autonomous knowledge system. We should work to form a rationally laid-out disciplinary system, an academic system rooted in China, and a discourse system that integrates Chinese and foreign elements, achieving a dual enhancement of Chinese and international discourse. By adhering to the "Two Combinations," we must continuously consolidate our "cultural subjectivity" [6]. Under the support of the "Four Global Initiatives" [7], we must continue to tell the story of Chinese-path modernization well, focusing on transforming the advantages of the system and development of socialism with Chinese characteristics into theoretical and discourse advantages. We should further focus on systematic research around identifying concepts such as "Chinese-path modernization," "new quality productive forces," "whole-process people's democracy," "cultural subjectivity," and "a community with a shared future for humanity." We should strive to promote the academization of political discourse, the popularization of academic discourse, and the internationalization of Chinese discourse, contributing strength to the construction of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics, Chinese style, and Chinese manner.
Third, we must continuously promote the construction of an academic community for the Marxist theory discipline. Marxist theory is characterized by its integrity and systematic nature; building a strong discipline requires a strong sense of an academic (disciplinary) community. The "Five Routes Army" [8] must exert concerted effort and jointly promote research. They should focus on deep-seated problems in China's reform, development, and stability; the urgent needs and anxieties of the masses; major issues in the changing international situation; and prominent problems facing Party building. Using Marxist theory as the leading and pivotal discipline, we should weave a dense academic community and collaborate with various related disciplines for "organized scientific research." For example, further research can explain "what is new" about the new type of whole-nation system [9], the mass line in the New Era, and the new cultural mission of the New Era; and "how to solve" difficulties in deepening reform, social governance, and the "unique challenges of a large Party" [10]. Based on the advantages of the Marxist theory discipline, we should accelerate interdisciplinary integration and innovation, using the "arrow" of Marxism to shoot at the "target" of China in the New Era, allowing the Marxist theory discipline to exert greater efficacy during this critical period of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.