Retrospect and Reflection on Ideological Party Building in 40 Years of Reform and Opening-up
Ideological party building is the Communist Party of China (CPC)’s fine tradition and great pioneering work, an important magic weapon to keep the purity and advancement of the Party forever, and the foundation and soul of the Communist Party of China (CPC)’s long-term governance. Our party has always attached great importance to ideological party building, which has reached a new height in the great practice of 40 years of reform and opening up.
Review of the course of ideological party building in the 40 years of reform and opening up
In the past 40 years of reform and opening up, with the shift of the focus of the work of the party and the state, the rise of ideological emancipation and the advancement of theoretical innovation, the ideological party building work has been restored and developed.
In 1978, at the turning point of history, Deng Xiaoping proposed that we should always adhere to the principle of ideological party building, emphasizing that the ideological construction of the party is the fundamental and key to ensuring the party’s leading position and doing all the work in China. In view of the thought of "two whatevers" at that time, the Communist Party of China (CPC) people represented by Deng Xiaoping, with great political courage and theoretical courage, launched a big discussion on the standard of truth in the whole party and the whole country, broke the shackles of dogmatism for a long time, and carried out a theoretical radical and guiding ideology to set things right. This great discussion opened the precedent of contemporary ideological emancipation and restored the fine tradition of ideological party building. In December 1980, Deng Xiaoping pointed out at the the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China meeting: "We should strengthen the organization and discipline of the whole party through ideological and political work." The Sixth Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee of the Party held from June 27th to 29th, 1981, on the basis of systematically summing up the positive and negative experiences and lessons in the history of Party building, made the Resolution on Several Historical Issues of the Party since the founding of the People’s Republic of China. This document, which has far-reaching significance and great influence in the history of the Party, was drafted, discussed and revised in November 1979, and studied and implemented after it was adopted. It was a process of arming the whole Party with the newly determined correct Marxist line and theory, and initially formed the institutional structure of ideological party building.
At the 12th and 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the brand-new proposition of "building socialism with China characteristics by taking our own road" was put forward, the basic line of "one center and two basic points" in the primary stage of socialism was determined, and the socialist modernization development strategy of "three steps" was put forward. How to turn the Party’s theoretical innovation achievements into practical achievements and accumulate the power of reform and opening up? The second generation of central leading collective of the Party with Deng Xiaoping as the core has made unremitting exploration in ideological party building. In view of the dispute over the surname "Zi" and "She" in the ideological field after the reform and opening up, and the spread of bourgeois liberalization, we should innovate and improve various learning, education and management systems, persist in carrying out criticism and self-criticism under the guidance of scientific principles, principles and methods, and organically combine ideological construction with policy orientation, institutional restraint and work style construction. In October, 1983, the Second Plenary Session of the Twelfth Central Committee of the Communist Party of China made "the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China’s Decision on Party Consolidation", which comprehensively rectified the party’s organization and style in three phases from top to bottom. At this specific time stage, it is an important form of ideological party building to carry out party consolidation and rectification, conduct universal Marxist study and education in Party organizations at all levels and all party member by means of criticism and self-criticism, and comprehensively rectify the ideology and work style of Party organizations and party member cadres.
In early 1992, Deng Xiaoping published "Southern Talks", which started a new journey of China’s reform and opening up. The Communist Party of China (CPC) people combined with the ever-changing world situation, national conditions and party situation, closely focused on the central task of building socialism with China characteristics, summed up the fresh experience of the ruling party’s construction, and creatively answered the issues of the times about what kind of party to build and how to build it; Correctly judge the historical position of the party, sum up the basic experience of party building since the reform and opening up, and continuously deepen the understanding of the law of Marxist ruling party construction. At this stage, the CPC Central Committee, drawing on the strength and wisdom of the whole party, vigorously promoted the construction of inner-party laws and regulations system for ideological party building, and formed an inner-party laws and regulations system based on party constitution and supported by a number of supporting inner-party laws and regulations. From November 1998 to the end of 1999, the whole party launched a one-year "three stresses" education activity; From 2005 to 2006, the whole Party carried out in-depth education activities to maintain the advanced nature of Communist party member in three batches. In the meantime, the education of deepening national spirit and socialist concept of honor and disgrace has been carried out successively, which has made the party’s ideological construction develop in an all-round way.
Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the CPC Central Committee with the Supreme Leader as the core has creatively put forward a series of new ideas, new ideas and new strategies for governing the country based on the overall situation of governing the country and the development reality of contemporary China, which has provided theoretical guidance and action guidance for comprehensively deepening reform and accelerating socialist modernization under the new historical conditions, and made profound and fundamental changes in various undertakings of the party and the country. Socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era, and the ideological party building work has changed with the times and changed with the times. A three-dimensional and all-round institutionalized system has basically taken shape, including the collective study system of the Politburo, the study system of the theoretical study center group of the leading bodies of party and government organs at all levels throughout the country, and the systematic study and training system of party schools, universities and administrative colleges at all levels. We insist on forging the soul of faith with theoretical arms, maintaining the core position of the party’s leadership with systems, building a clean and upright development ecology with work style, and fighting corruption. In the meantime, efforts were made to correct the "four winds" problem through the party’s mass line education and practice activities throughout the party; Facing the severe challenges in the ideological field, it is proposed to cultivate and practice socialist core values in the whole society; In order to deal with a series of problems such as "four tests" and "four dangers", we should actively build a new type of party organization with learning, service and innovation; Take a zero-tolerance attitude towards corruption within the party,"Tigers" and "flies" fight together; Carry out the special education activities of "three strictness and three realities" and the centralized education activities within the party such as "two studies and one work", and realize the self-transcendence of ideological party building.
Historical achievements of ideological party building in 40 years of reform and opening up
It is the essential requirement of ideological party building to arm the mind, guide practice and promote work with Marxist standpoint, viewpoint and method. The achievements of ideological party building in the 40 years of reform and opening up are mainly reflected in five aspects.
The innovative achievements in promoting Marxism and its China-ization have condensed the consensus of the whole party, and fundamentally maintained a high degree of ideological, political and action consistency of the whole party. The vivid practice of reform and opening up has provided a broad stage for the party’s theoretical innovation and put forward an urgent need. Through continuous ideological party-building activities, we persistently armed our minds with the latest achievements of Marxism in China, which made Socialism with Chinese characteristics deeply rooted in the hearts of the people and consolidated the ideological foundation of the whole party in maintaining a high degree of consistency in ideological and political actions.
Promoting ideological emancipation has promoted the shift of work focus and the great release of social vitality. At the beginning of reform and opening up, Deng Xiaoping pointed out: "If a party, a country and a nation start from the basics, their thinking is rigid and superstition prevails, then they will not be able to move forward, their vitality will stop, and their party and country will perish." In the 40-year practice of ideological party building, the enthusiasm and creativity released by constantly emancipating the mind are amazing. The emancipation of the mind has stimulated the creative ability of the people, ignited the struggle passion of hundreds of millions of people, and brought the full inflow of innovation sources in various fields.
Promoting the developing theory to guide new practice has enhanced the theoretical self-confidence and strategic determination of the whole party. Only when you have confidence can you have determination, and only when you maintain determination can you be more calm and confident. In the 40-year practice of ideological party building, our party insists on arming the whole party with the latest achievements of Marxism in China, guiding the constantly developing practice, and injecting inexhaustible new kinetic energy into the continuous enhancement of theoretical self-confidence and strategic strength. The value of thought is directly proportional to the influence of thought. The Communist Party of China (CPC) people, with increasingly strong strategic determination and theoretical self-confidence, use the developing theory to guide new practice, successfully cope with major risk challenges, overcome all kinds of difficulties and obstacles, and accumulate the great power of reform and development.
Pushing the whole party to strengthen ideological armed forces has promoted the continuous improvement of the party’s long-term ruling ability and leadership level. The ruling ability and leadership ability of a ruling party largely depend on the degree to which it studies and utilizes the ruling ideological and cultural resources. In the 40-year practice of ideological party building, we have persisted in educating and guiding party member cadres to strengthen party spirit cultivation, build a solid foundation of faith, strengthen political morality cultivation, lay a solid foundation of politics, strictly observe discipline and rules, consolidate the foundation of clean government, improve the basic knowledge system, strengthen the foundation of ability, focus on cultivating the scientific thinking ability of leading cadres at all levels, and continuously enhance the systematicness, persistence and pertinence of ideological party building. It is the ideological construction that is guided by major issues and grasps key issues, so that leading cadres at all levels of the party not only have the iron shoulders to take on, but also have the real ability to accomplish things.
Promote our Party’s international vision to be constantly broadened, so that the cause of Socialism with Chinese characteristics will continue to be stable and far-reaching in the tide of world development. To open the door to the world and fully absorb the outstanding achievements of human civilization, we must first open the "ideological door". In the 40-year practice of ideological party building, our party has continuously opened the door to the outside world, constantly understood the general trend of the world, seized development opportunities, and actively studied and used for reference the achievements of foreign modern civilization with a rational, open and inclusive attitude. Although we have encountered storms, we have always regarded opening up as an active choice and conscious action, making these decades of participation in globalization the fastest period of China’s economic and social development. The improvement of comprehensive national strength has made China an important force in the world structure and played an increasingly important role in international affairs.
Important Enlightenment of Ideological Party Building in 40 Years of Reform and Opening-up
Looking back on the past is to guide reality. At present, Socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era. This important political judgment points out the new historical orientation and the coordinates of the times in which China is developing, endows the historical mission, theoretical follow-up and objectives and tasks of the Party with new connotations of the times, and provides a fundamental follow-up for ideological party building. In the past 40 years of reform and opening-up, our party has strengthened its ideological construction and accumulated valuable experience, which has profound enlightenment for promoting the new great project of party building.
Insist on arming the whole Party with the Supreme Leader’s Socialism with Chinese characteristics Thought in the New Era, and keep forging souls for the ideological party building work in the new era. To strengthen ideological party building in the new era, the first thing is to arm the minds of party member and cadres with Socialism with Chinese characteristics Thought of the Supreme Leader in the new era, and take it as a basic project to build a soul. It is necessary to deeply understand the historical logic, theoretical logic and practical logic of this thought, earnestly grasp the Marxist ideological methods and working methods that run through it, profoundly understand its historical position, rich connotation, scientific system, spiritual essence and practical requirements, and deeply understand the new ideas, new judgments, new viewpoints and new requirements contained therein, thus forming value judgments, ways of thinking, codes of conduct and working methods that are suitable for the new era. Constantly improve the ideological and theoretical level and political policy level of the whole party, firmly establish the "four consciousnesses" and "four self-confidences", achieve the "two safeguards", constantly improve the political position, and enhance the ideological and action consciousness of realizing new achievements and building a new era.
Adhere to the specific reality of the development of contemporary China, and strive to do "what is being done at present". A basic method of ideological party building is that the ideological construction of the party must be linked with the development of the situation and the historical tasks undertaken in a certain historical period. It is impossible to achieve "pure" ideological construction if it deviates from the historical task in a specific historical period. A very important aspect of ideological party building in the new era is to base itself on the development reality of China, highlight the orientation of problem consciousness, rely on practice, focus on studying and solving major theoretical and practical problems that are closely concerned by the party and the people and are related to reform, development and stability, and strive to solve a series of outstanding contradictions facing China’s development. Therefore, we should persist in listening to the voice of the times, focus on the task of realizing the goal of "two hundred years" and the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and form insightful opinions on doing these things ideologically and theoretically, so as to achieve new creations in thought and new generalizations in theory, and let contemporary China Marxism radiate more brilliant truth.
Adhere to the same direction of ideological party building and institutional party building, effectively highlight complementary functions, and enhance the effectiveness of party building. Ideological party building, system governance and rule-based governance promote, support and unify each other. In order to promote the standardization of the party’s self-construction in the new era, we must tighten the institutional cage of all aspects of party building while building the party ideologically, so as to promote the standardization, normalization and rigidity of ideological party building. While vigorously strengthening ideological party building, we should deepen institutional reform, improve the system of laws and regulations within the Party, further build a system of laws and regulations within the Party based on party constitution and supported by a number of supporting laws and regulations within the Party, and constantly improve the enforcement of laws and regulations.
Adhere to the combination of attaching importance to theoretical arms and carrying forward the spirit of struggle, and constantly open up a new pattern of ideological party building. Paying attention to theoretical arming is determined by the essential attribute of ideological party building, and it is also its main form and channel. However, ideological party building is not all subtle and silent, and the spirit of struggle should be implemented. General Secretary of the Supreme Leader pointed out: "We are carrying out a great struggle with many new historical characteristics." Carrying forward the spirit of struggle is the proper meaning of ideological party building in the new era, and improving the art and level of struggle is an important task of ideological party building. We must rationally analyze and criticize various erroneous ideological trends in a targeted manner, carry out struggles in a rational, favorable and restrained manner, take the lead in pluralism, diversity and variety, unify our thinking and build consensus to the maximum extent, consolidate the guiding position of Marxism in the ideological field, and consolidate the common ideological foundation of the United struggle of the whole party and the people throughout the country.