Luo Wendong: Comprehensively Promoting the Systematic and Theoretical Research of the Party's Innovative Theory
Advancing the systematization and academic theorization [1] of theory is an intrinsic requirement and a vital path for theoretical innovation. The relevant important discourses of General Secretary Xi Jinping have further deepened our understanding of the essential laws governing the Party’s theoretical innovation; they have set higher requirements and provided the fundamental follow-through [2] for our research and interpretation of the Party’s innovative theories.
We must profoundly recognize the great significance of advancing systematic and academic theoretical research. Systematization and academic theorization are inevitable requirements for the generation and development of theory, and serve as the primary markers of its reaching maturity and perfection. The reason Marxism is a universal truth that remains valid across all ages is that it demonstrates the scientific nature of its thought through a complete system, and reveals the regularities of the development of the entire world—including human history—through profound academic reasoning. Since its founding, the Communist Party of China has integrated the basic principles of Marxism with the concrete realities of Chinese revolution, construction, and reform, creating Mao Zedong Thought and the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Through profound academic logic and a complete system, these responded to the questions of the era [3], such as how an Eastern country with backward economy and culture like China could complete the New Democratic Revolution and socialist transformation, and how it could carry out socialist construction and reform. In doing so, the Party made historical contributions to upholding and developing Marxism.
Since the 18th Party Congress, the Party has led the people in courageous theoretical exploration and innovation. With an entirely new perspective, it has deepened the understanding of the laws of the Communist Party’s governance, the laws of socialist construction, and the laws of the development of human society, establishing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and achieving a new leap in the Sinicization of Marxism. This great thought itself undergoes a process of continuous enrichment and expansion, as well as continuous systematization and academic theorization. To deeply study and implement this great thought, we must work hard on its systematization and academic theorization, grasping its scientific truth and manifesting its theoretical thoroughness and practical guidance.
We must comprehensively grasp the basic requirements for the systematic and academic research of the Party’s innovative theories in the New Era. In terms of connotation, "systematization" primarily involves the systematic, logical, and complete construction of theoretical elements. It entails a comprehensive grasp of major issues such as the themes and main lines, the logical starting point, the practical basis, identifying concepts, main viewpoints, and the ideological essence of the Party’s innovative theories in the New Era, striving to elevate the height and expand the breadth of theoretical research. "Academic theorization" [1] primarily involves the scholarly, professional, and law-based demonstration of theoretical elements. It entails a deep grasp of the historical, theoretical, and practical logic of the Party’s innovative theories in the New Era, focusing on increasing the thickness and depth of theoretical research.
While systematization and academic theorization have different focuses, they complement each other. Systematization is the expansion and sublimation of academic theorization, making the academic orientation broader and more grand, while avoiding narrowness and triviality. Academic theorization is the foundation and soul of systematization, making the systematic construction more solid and substantial, while avoiding emptiness and superficiality. In advancing systematization and academic theorization, the focus is to study the principled theoretical achievements within the new philosophies, new ideas, and new strategies proposed by the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core. This involves grasping their intrinsic connections and logical structures, elucidating the underlying principles, academic logic, and philosophical underpinnings [4], and better mastering the rich connotation, spiritual essence, theoretical system, and practical requirements of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.
We must actively explore the methods and paths for the systematic and academic research of the Party’s innovative theories. We should persist in the "Two Combinations" [5] and hold fast to the "soul-vein" and "root-vein" [6]. Neither systematization nor academic theorization consists of speculative fantasies confined to an ivory tower; rather, they must reflect the voice of the times, be rooted in social practice, and respond to the will of the people. We must effectively apply and implement scientific methods for advancing the Party’s theoretical innovation, such as the "Two Combinations." Holding fast to Marxism, the "soul-vein," and the fine traditional Chinese culture, the "root-vein," is the foundation and prerequisite for theoretical innovation. Only by adhering to the principles of "making the past serve the present" and "making foreign things serve China" [7], and by learning from and drawing upon all outstanding achievements of human civilization with a breadth of mind that "incorporates a hundred rivers" [8], can we deeply advance the systematic and academic research of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.
We must adhere to a scientific worldview and methodology and promote interdisciplinary comprehensive research. To advance systematization and academic theorization, we must first grasp the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and uphold and apply the positions, viewpoints, and methods that permeate it. In particular, we must persist in the "systems concept" [9] as a foundational ideological and working method. We should carry out collaborative research and "organized scientific research" across disciplines and multiple fields. Emphasis should be placed on researching and interpreting the Party’s innovative theories in the New Era from the perspectives of academic foundations, practical orientation, international vision, and historical dimensions, so as to accelerate the production of a batch of systematic, high-quality landmark achievements with academic depth.