Fan Xin: Approaching Lenin Through This Dimension — A Study of Lenin’s Thought on the Political Development of the Party
Lenin’s thought on the political building of the Party is a profound and extensive component of the Leninist system, particularly within the theory of the new-type proletarian party. The thought on the political building of the Party constitutes the essence of Lenin’s theory of the new-type proletarian party. In Lenin's view, "In a society based upon class divisions, the struggle between the hostile classes boundly, at a certain stage of its development, becomes a political struggle. The most purposeful, most comprehensive and specific expression of the political struggle of classes is the struggle of parties." The political building of the Party concerns its survival and its future destiny. Lenin treated the political building of the Party as a "red thread" [1] running through the theory of the new-type proletarian party. Therefore, Lenin’s thought on the political building of the Party, formed on the basis of the theory of the new-type proletarian party and guided by Leninism, stands as a monument in the history of socialist thought.
The basic framework of Lenin's thought on the political building of the Party—its "four beams and eight pillars" [2]—is composed of two "musts" and three "requirements": must maintain the advanced nature of the Communist Party; must maintain the Party’s democratic centralism; requirements to resolutely struggle against erroneous tendencies existing both inside and outside the Party; requirements to uphold the authority of the Party Central Committee and the Party’s leaders; and requirements to maintain the Party’s leading position in the state and social life. Lenin’s political building of the Party possesses significant functions, basic principles, fundamental characteristics, and methodological implications. This represents Lenin’s major development of the Marxist-Engelsian theory of party building and is a precious intellectual treasure bequeathed by Lenin to later Communist revolutionaries of all nations.
In the process of leading the Chinese people through revolution, construction, and reform—that is, the social revolution—the Communist Party of China (CPC) has taken Lenin’s thought on the political building of the Party as a guide to continuously advance the "Great Project" of Party building, namely, self-revolution. This is a vivid manifestation of how Chinese Communists consistently adhere to Marxism-Leninism as their guide and possess the courage to transform both the objective and subjective worlds.
About the Author
Fan Xin is an Associate Research Fellow at the Institute of Marxism Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), a Doctor of Laws, and a Master’s supervisor. She has presided over more than ten research projects, including those funded by the National Social Science Fund of China, the CASS Fundamental Research Scholars Subsidy Program, the CASS Marxist Theory Research and Construction Project ("Ma-Gong-Cheng") [3], and key projects for the CASS Research Center for Xi Jinping New Era Chinese Characteristics Socialist Ideology, the CASS New Era Party Building Research Center, and the CPC Inspection Theory Research Center. She has participated in major special projects of the National Social Science Fund and projects commissioned by the Central Propaganda Department. She has published over 60 papers, including more than 30 in core journals. She has published three independent monographs and co-authored five books. Her research findings have been reprinted in full or in part by Social Sciences in China Internal Digest, the Renmin University of China (RUC) Photocopying Service, and China Discipline Inspection and Supervision Daily. She has received the Academic Newcomer Award for Doctoral Students from the Ministry of Education and the CASS Excellent Policy Information Award, and independently won the Heilongjiang Provincial Social Science Excellent Achievement Award. She currently serves as a Standing Director of the National Association for Leninist Studies and a Director of the Chinese Atheism Society.
Table of Contents
Introduction Chapter 1: The Epochal Background of the Formation of Lenin’s Thought on the Political Building of the Party Section 1: Lenin’s Assessment of the Era Section 2: Lenin’s Assessment of Russia’s National Conditions Section 3: Lenin’s Assessment of the World Socialist Movement Chapter 2: The Practical Foundation of the Formation of Lenin’s Thought on the Political Building of the Party Section 1: Lenin’s Early Participation in Revolutionary Activities Section 2: Lenin’s Proposal of Party Building Ideas in the Process of Propagating and Defending Marxism Section 3: Lenin’s Proposal and Formation of the Theory of the New-Type Proletarian Party Chapter 3: The Theoretical Foundation of Lenin’s Thought on the Political Building of the Party Section 1: The Marxist-Engelsian Theory of Party Building as the Theoretical Foundation Section 2: Lenin’s Scientific Attitude Toward the Marxist-Engelsian Theory of Party Building Chapter 4: The Socio-Historical Conditions for the Formation and Development of Lenin’s Thought on the Political Building of the Party Section 1: Engaging in Political Struggle as the Necessary Path for the Formation and Development of Lenin’s Thought on the Political Building of the Party Section 2: Historical Conditions for the Formation and Development of Lenin’s Thought on the Political Building of the Party Section 3: Lenin’s Strategy, Tactics, and Political Vision Chapter 5: The Basic Framework, Main Content, and Logical Progression of Lenin’s Thought on the Political Building of the Party Section 1: Basic Functions of the Political Building of the Party Section 2: Basic Principles of Strengthening the Thought on the Political Building of the Party Section 3: Main Content of the Thought on the Political Building of the Party Section 4: Fundamental Characteristics of Lenin’s Thought on the Political Building of the Party Section 5: Methodological Implications of Lenin’s Thought on the Political Building of the Party Chapter 6: The Enrichment and Perfection of Lenin’s Thought on the Political Building of the Party Section 1: Thought on the Political Building of the Governing Party after the Victory of the October Revolution Section 2: Thought on the Political Building of the Governing Party in Lenin’s Political Testament Section 3: Lenin’s Founding of the Communist International and Guidance to Proletarian Parties of Various Countries Chapter 7: The Contemporary Value of Lenin’s Thought on the Political Building of the Party Section 1: Lenin’s Thought on the Political Building of the Party as a Guide to Action for the CPC to Advance Self-Revolution Section 2: The Adherence to and Development of Lenin’s Thought on the Political Building of the Party by the Theory of Self-Revolution in the New Era Concluding Remarks