Li Yi: Deeply Understand that Public Communication and Cultural Work is a Task of Extreme Importance
General Secretary Xi Jinping, standing at the strategic height of the overall development of the Party and state undertakings in the New Era, has issued important instructions regarding public communication, ideology, and cultural work. He fully affirmed the historic achievements made in these fields since the 18th National Congress, profoundly expounded on the important status and role of such work, and set forth clear requirements for the comprehensive implementation of the guiding principles of the 20th National Congress, the assumption of new cultural missions, and the successful execution of public communication, ideology, and cultural work on the new journey of the New Era. General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important instructions pointed out: “Public communication, ideology, and cultural work concern the future and destiny of the Party, the long-term stability of the state, and the cohesion and centripetal force of the nation; it is an extremely important undertaking.” The General Secretary's proposal of these “three concerns” reflects our Party’s further deepening of its understanding of the status and role of such work, fully explains its strategic and overall significance, and points the way for us to shoulder our new cultural missions on the new journey of the New Era.
I. Public communication, ideology, and cultural work concern the future and destiny of the Party
Since the birth of Marxist political parties, public communication, ideology, and cultural work have always held an important position and played a vital role. In 1847, the concept of “propaganda work” [1] appeared in the Statutes of the Communist League, drafted by Marx and Engels for the world's first proletarian political party—the Communist League. It explicitly required members to “possess revolutionary perseverance and strive to carry out propaganda work,” making this a necessary condition for joining the League. In the works of Lenin, the term “propaganda and agitation work” was frequently used, with the primary goal of awakening the political consciousness of the working class and cultivating proletarian revolutionary passion. Lenin pointed out that propaganda work “is to propagate the theory of scientific socialism among the workers... and closely linked with propaganda work is the carrying out of agitation work among the workers.”
For over a hundred years, our Party has consistently attached great importance to public communication, ideology, and cultural work, placing it in an extremely important position within our overall work. The first resolution adopted by the First National Congress of the Party in July 1921 dedicated a separate section to the Party’s propaganda, stipulating that the publication of all books, dailies, slogans, and leaflets should be supervised by the Central Executive Committee or the Provisional Central Executive Committee. It clearly stated the need to establish research institutions for labor organizations to focus on “the history of the labor movement, methods of organizing factory workers, Karl Marx’s economic theories, and the current state of labor movements in various countries,” with the primary goal of “educating workers so that they may realize Communist ideology in practice.” During the New Democratic Revolution period [2], our Party insisted on grasping both the “barrel of the gun” and the “barrel of the pen.” [3] From the idea that “the Communist Party must hold leaflets in the left hand and bullets in the right to strike down the enemy” to “propaganda work is the provisions and fodder for all revolutionary work”; from “ideological Party building and political army building” to “awakening millions of workers and peasants to act with one heart,” the Party continuously stimulated a revolutionary fighting will and spirit characterized by the sentiment: “Our minds grow settled as we sacrifice; we dare to command the sun and moon to bring a new day.” [4] In his closing speech at the Seventh National Congress of the Party, Comrade Mao Zedong pointed out that the Party's propaganda work must “first of all, awaken the vanguard, so that they may be determined to win victory without fear of sacrifice and by surmounting every difficulty. We must also awaken the broad masses of the people throughout the country, so that they will fight with us of their own free will and join us in the struggle for victory.” During this period, our Party’s public communication, ideology, and cultural work played a major role in spreading Marxism, publicizing the Party’s revolutionary propositions, and mobilizing the masses of workers and peasants to participate in the revolution, providing powerful strength for achieving revolutionary victory.
During the period of socialist revolution and construction, the Party—in order to meet the needs of governing the whole country and leading socialist revolution and construction—greatly strengthened political education and ideological reform across society, as well as the weeding out of the old to bring forth the new in the undertakings of education, science, and culture. In May 1951, the Central Committee convened the first National Propaganda Work Conference since the founding of the People's Republic of China to comprehensively deploy national propaganda work. The conference pointed out: “Under the new situation and new conditions, the task of the Party’s propaganda work is to educate the people on a national and universal scale using the ideological principles of Marxism-Leninism.” The second National Propaganda Work Conference held in May 1954 and subsequent notices issued by the CPC Central Committee focused on implementing the Party’s General Line for the Transition Period [5]. These required the development of study, publicity, and educational activities regarding Marxist-Leninist theory and socialist ideology among the whole Party and the people of the whole country. This clarified the importance of strengthening ideological work in every link of the Party and state’s work, which was of great significance for laying the ideological foundation among all people to achieve national industrialization and the gradual transition to a socialist society. During this period, the Party’s public communication, ideology, and cultural work provided a strong guarantee for consolidating the newly-born people’s democratic political power, comprehensively restoring the national economy, smoothly completing the Three Great Transformations [6], and promoting large-scale socialist construction, thereby stimulating the great power of millions working with one heart and struggling through hardships.
During the period of Reform and Opening-up, while carrying out the work of setting things right [7] ideologically, the Party adapted to the needs of reform and opening up by insisting on “grasping with both hands, and both hands must be firm”—attaining both material and spiritual civilization. It clarified that the building of spiritual civilization is an important part of the overall layout of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics and actively opened up new prospects for public communication, ideology, and cultural construction. From the Great Discussion on the Criterion of Truth [8] to the re-establishment of the Party’s ideological line, and then to the publicity of the theory of building socialism with Chinese characteristics, the Party’s propaganda work closely surrounded the central task of economic construction, highlighted the themes of deepening reform and expanding opening-up, and actively publicized the basic line of “one center, two basic points.” [9] During this period, the Party’s public communication, ideology, and cultural work advanced through reform and developed through innovation. The scope of its content continuously expanded, methods and means were improved, systems and mechanisms were perfected, vitality and strength were greatly enhanced, and the quality of the workforce was significantly raised. All of this provided a powerful ideological guarantee, spiritual motivation, public opinion support, and cultural conditions for reform, opening-up, and socialist modernization.
Since the dawn of the New Era, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has placed public communication, ideology, and cultural work in a prominent position in the governance of the country. From a holistic and strategic height, they have made systematic plans and deployments, driving China’s public communication, ideology, and cultural undertakings to achieve historic achievements while upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground and returning to the source to clear the stream. This has led to a global and fundamental change in the situation within the ideological sphere. In the New Era, the Party’s innovative theories have taken deep root in the hearts of the people, the core socialist values are widely spread, the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture have been continuously promoted, cultural undertakings and industries have become increasingly prosperous, the online ecosystem has continued to improve, and the cultural confidence of the whole Party and people of all ethnic groups has been significantly strengthened. Their spiritual outlook is more vigorous and high-spirited, radiating a stronger sense of historical consciousness and initiative, and they are writing the great history of China’s development in the New Era with full confidence. History and practice have fully proven that public communication, ideology, and cultural work is an extremely important undertaking for the Party and concerns the Party's future and destiny. Doing this work well is the "unique magic weapon" [10] for our Party to forge glory out of suffering, rise resolutely after setbacks, and win the future after struggle.
On the new journey of the New Era, the world's unprecedented changes in a century are accelerating, the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has entered a critical period, and strategic opportunities coexist with risks and challenges. Public communication, ideology, and cultural work face new situations and tasks, necessitating new appearances and new actions. On the road ahead, we must persist in taking Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as our guide, fully implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress, and with the mission and consciousness that “mastering ideological leadership is the first priority in mastering all leadership,” we must treat public communication, ideology, and cultural work as the Party’s “lifeline” throughout all our endeavors. We must focus on the primary political task of arming the whole Party and educating the people with the Party’s innovative theories, continuously consolidate the common ideological basis for the united struggle of the whole Party and people of all ethnic groups, and steadily enhance the country’s cultural soft power and the influence of Chinese culture. This will provide a strong ideological guarantee, powerful spiritual strength, and favorable cultural conditions for the comprehensive building of a modern socialist country and the comprehensive promotion of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
II. Public communication, ideology, and cultural work concern the long-term stability of the state
“To destroy a nation, one must first destroy its history; to eliminate a race, one must first eliminate its culture.” [11] Culture concerns the foundation and the destiny of the state. The cultural lineage (wenmai) and the state lineage (guomai) are as close as lips and teeth, tightly interconnected. “China is vast, with a long history and a profound civilization. The fine traditional Chinese culture created and continued by the Chinese nation over thousands of years is the root and soul of the nation.” General Secretary Xi Jinping’s vivid proposal of the “Two Combinations,” especially the “Second Combination” [12]—a major theoretical innovation—lies precisely in using the power of Marxist truth to activate the vitality of fine traditional Chinese culture and consolidate the cultural subjectivity of the Chinese nation. “Without the prosperity of Chinese culture, there can be no great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” We should profoundly realize that the status and role of public communication, ideology, and cultural work in governing the country are irreplaceable and of extreme importance.
From a historical perspective, the excellent components of traditional Chinese thought and culture, including Confucianism, have played an extremely important role. They contributed to the formation and continuous development of Chinese civilization for thousands of years without interruption; the formation and maintenance of China's united and unified political situation; the formation and consolidation of China's multi-ethnic family living in harmony; the formation and enrichment of the Chinese national spirit; the inspiration of the Chinese people to defend national independence and resist foreign aggression; and the promotion of social development, progress, and the balancing of social interests and relations. From the perspective of domestic and international reality, Western hostile forces continuously export “cultural hegemony,” peddling social trends such as liberalism, historical nihilism, and cultural nihilism. They trumpet theories of constitutional democracy and “universal values,” using means such as “de-ideologization,” “de-valuation,” “de-historicization,” “de-Sinicization,” and “de-mainstreaming” to “always attempt to make our Party change its banner and its name.” The collapse of the Soviet Union, the drastic changes in Eastern Europe, and the “Color Revolutions” occurring in several countries have repeatedly proven that military arms cannot strike down socialism, and economic suppression cannot collapse socialism, but a “war without smoke” in the fields of thought, culture, and ideology can plunge the world socialist movement into a low ebb.
History is the best textbook and the best sobering agent. Our Party has always viewed public communication, ideology, and cultural work, as well as struggles in the ideological sphere, from the height of the survival or death of the state, and has waged a long-term and determined struggle against the plots of “peaceful evolution.” [13] At the National Propaganda and Ideology Work Conference in August 2013, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: “I have been thinking about one question... whether we Chinese Communists can persist in the Party’s leadership and persist in and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics in an increasingly complex international and domestic environment. This still requires generations of Communists to continue to answer. Doing ideological work and propaganda work well must be understood against this broad background.” Since the 18th National Congress, we have continuously strengthened the Party’s leadership over ideological work, "raised the flag and bared the sword" [14], and taken powerful measures to effectively resist the interference of various erroneous thoughts and trends on the cause of the Party and the state. The guiding position of Marxism in the ideological field has become more consolidated, the common ideological basis for the united struggle of the whole Party and people of all ethnic groups has become more consolidated, and the cohesion and leadership of socialist ideology have been continuously enhanced.
The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will by no means be achieved through ease or smooth sailing; we must fully estimate the difficulties, risks, and uncertainties that may be encountered. These are unavoidable challenges in the process of our country’s development from being large to being strong, and they are thresholds that cannot be bypassed to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Doing a good job in propaganda, ideological, and cultural work is an inevitable requirement for building a strong country and achieving national rejuvenation. General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized: "At present, various hostile forces have been attempting to manufacture a 'color revolution' [15] in our country, vainly plotting to subvert the leadership of the Communist Party of China and our country’s socialist system. This is a realistic danger facing our country's regime security. One breakthrough point they have selected is the field of ideology, attempting to confuse people's thinking and then fish in troubled waters to achieve victory amidst chaos. Under the new situation, the struggle in the ideological field is complex and sharp." The disintegration of a regime often begins in the ideological field; political instability and regime change may happen overnight, but ideological evolution is a long-term process. Once the ideological line of defense is breached, other lines of defense are difficult to hold. In the struggle within the ideological field, we have no room for any compromise or retreat; we must achieve total victory. Propaganda, ideological, and cultural work is an important front concerning the long-term stability of the country, and it has increasingly become the "frontline position" of struggle and maneuvering. No matter how far the cause develops, for a large country like China and a large party like the Communist Party of China, we must always enhance our sense of the position and our sense of struggle from the height of the life and death of the Party and the state. We must resolutely and effectively prevent and resolve ideological risks and dare to "show the sword" [16] and dare to struggle. We must look at things from the worst-case scenario while striving for the best results, fight battles for which we are prepared and confident, firmly grasp the initiative in propaganda, ideological, and cultural work, and undertake the new cultural mission at a new historical starting point.
III. Propaganda, Ideological, and Cultural Work Concerns National Cohesion and Centripetal Force
Culture is the lifeblood of a nation and the spiritual home of the people. "A nation that wants to stand at the highest peak of science cannot for a moment do without theoretical thinking." General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Civilization, especially ideology and culture, is the soul of a country and a nation. No matter which country or nation, if it does not cherish its own ideology and culture, and loses this soul, that country or nation cannot stand up." Cultural confidence is the most fundamental, profound, and lasting force in the development of a country and a nation. The progress of a country and a nation requires not only abundant material power but also the spiritual guidance of advanced ideology and culture.
At the Seminar on Cultural Inheritance and Development, General Secretary Xi Jinping clarified the "Fourteen Emphases" regarding cultural construction and provided an incisive summary of the important elements of fine traditional Chinese culture. He profoundly expounded on the prominent continuity, creativity, unity, inclusiveness, and peacefulness of Chinese civilization. This highlights the foundation of confidence in a Chinese civilization that has both source and flow, roots and veins; it demonstrates the way of self-strengthening through "advancing with the times and discarding the old to bring forth the new" [17], and reveals the prominent advantages of the Chinese nation’s self-reliance and self-improvement amidst the turbulence of world cultures. Compared to other nation-states in the world, although the Chinese nation has experienced many crises over thousands of years, it has been able to be reborn from the ashes and radiate vigorous vitality every time. This lies precisely in a unified ideology and culture, which gives the Chinese nation strong vitality and creativity, and has also forged the indestructible cohesion and centripetal force of the Chinese nation. "The fine traditional Chinese culture nurtured in more than 5,000 years of civilized development, and the revolutionary culture and advanced socialist culture nurtured in the great struggle of the Party and the people, accumulate the deepest spiritual pursuits of the Chinese nation and represent the unique spiritual identity of the Chinese nation." China has formed a unified multi-ethnic country with a population of over 1.4 billion that is highly united in spirit and culture, which is unique in the world. The history of China's continuous development over thousands of years has never been interrupted, forming a unique and profound value system and civilization system, which is unique in the world. The pursuit of unity has become our way of life and way of thinking, as well as our value system. The British historian Arnold Toynbee once said: "As for the Chinese, for thousands of years, they have been more successful than any other nation in the world in uniting hundreds of millions of people politically and culturally. They have shown this ability for political and cultural unity, possessing unparalleled successful experience." History flows continuously, and the spirit is passed down from generation to generation. "Spirit is the soul upon which a nation depends for long-term survival. Only when it reaches a certain spiritual height can this nation stand tall and forge ahead in the torrent of history." Just as the great founding spirit of the Party—"upholding truth and ideals, fulfilling our original aspiration and founding mission, fearing no sacrifice and struggling heroically, and remaining loyal to the Party and faithful to the people"—formed during the Party's century-long history, is both a portrayal of our century-long journey of struggle and the spiritual code for our success in united struggle.
Since the New Era, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has focused closely on the strategic goal of building a socialist cultural powerhouse. By "hoisting the flag, gathering the people's hearts, nurturing new socialist citizens, developing culture, and presenting a good image," [18] it has demonstrated the strong vitality of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The heart of the Party, the military, and the people have reached an unprecedented level of cohesion and inspiration; cultural confidence has been significantly enhanced, and cultural self-awareness has been further strengthened, providing a more proactive spiritual force for the realization of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Regarding propaganda, ideological, and cultural work, the frequency of meetings held by the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, the comprehensiveness of the decisions and arrangements made, and the richness, systematicity, depth, and weight of General Secretary Xi Jinping's expositions are rare in the Party's history. General Secretary Xi Jinping has accurately grasped the trend of mutual agitation between ideology and culture on a global scale and the profound changes in social ideological concepts in our country. With the sense of historical initiative, extraordinary theoretical courage, outstanding political wisdom, and strong sense of mission of a Marxist statesman, thinker, and strategist, he has placed propaganda, ideological, and cultural work in an important position in governing the country. He has personally planned, deployed, and promoted it, clarifying the principled positions, clearing up theoretical rights and wrongs, and pointing out the direction for advancement on a series of fundamental issues in cultural construction, putting forward a series of new ideas, new viewpoints, and new judgments.
General Secretary Xi Jinping’s new ideas, new viewpoints, and new judgments on cultural construction in the New Era are the theoretical summary of the practical experience of the Party leading cultural construction in the New Era. They enrich and develop Marxist cultural theory, constitute the "cultural chapter" of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and form Xi Jinping Thought on Culture. Xi Jinping Thought on Culture includes both innovations and breakthroughs in cultural theoretical viewpoints and requirements for the layout of cultural work. It "clarifies the essence and reaches its practical application, integrating the substance and its function" [19], defining the roadmap and task list for cultural construction in the New Era. This marks that our Party's understanding of the laws governing the construction of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics has reached a new height, indicating that our Party's historical confidence and cultural confidence have reached a new height, and it has demonstrated great power in our country's socialist cultural construction.
General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "We are engaged in a great struggle with many new historical features, facing unprecedented challenges and difficulties. We must persist in consolidating and strengthening the mainstream ideological public opinion, promote the main theme, spread positive energy, and stimulate the powerful force of the whole society to unite and forge ahead." Facing the risk challenges of the "Four Tests" [20] and "Four Dangers" [21], and even "unimaginable stormy waves," we need to deeply understand the decisive significance of the "Two Establishments," resolutely achieve the "Two Upholds," and take Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as our guide. We must continue to strengthen the study, research, and interpretation of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, profoundly grasp its major significance, rich connotations, and practical requirements, and consciously implement it in all aspects and the entire process of propaganda, ideological, and cultural work. Propaganda, ideological, and cultural work is an extremely important task. Only by strengthening the Party's comprehensive leadership over propaganda, ideological, and cultural work can we provide a strong political guarantee for undertaking the new cultural mission. We must always focus on the center and serve the overall situation to continuously strengthen propaganda, ideological, and cultural work. At a new historical starting point, we must continue to promote cultural prosperity, build a cultural powerhouse, and develop the modern civilization of the Chinese nation as our new cultural mission. We must focus on building a socialist ideology with strong cohesion and leadership; focus on cultivating and practicing socialist core values; focus on improving the communication, guidance, influence, and credibility of news and public opinion; focus on continuing the Chinese cultural lineage and promoting the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture; focus on promoting the prosperous development of cultural undertakings and cultural industries; and focus on strengthening international communication capacity building and promoting mutual learning between civilizations. This will fully stimulate the spiritual power of the entire Party and society to unite, struggle, and overcome difficulties, using unified thought, firm will, consistent action, and strong combat effectiveness to continuously win new and greater victories for socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era.
(Author: Vice President of the Central Party School