Xi Jinping: Learning the basic theory of Marxism is a compulsory course for Communists
Studying the basic theories of Marxism is a compulsory course for Communist Party members
Xi jinping
Today, the Political Bureau of the 19th Central Committee held its fifth collective study on the Communist Manifesto and its contemporary significance. This year marks the 200th anniversary of Marx's birth and the 170th anniversary of the publication of the Communist Manifesto. The Party Central Committee has made arrangements for the commemoration of the 200th anniversary of Marx's birth, and a commemorative conference will be held in early May. At this point in time, the collective study of the Communist Manifesto by the Central Politburo is of great significance.
Studying the basic theories of Marxism is a compulsory course for Communist Party members. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Central Political Bureau has collectively studied Marxist theory multiple times, successively studying the basic principles and methodology of historical materialism, dialectical materialism, and Marxist political economy. This time, the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee collectively studied the Communist Manifesto, with the purpose of improving the ability and level of the whole party to solve the practical problems of contemporary China by reviewing the classics, understanding the power of truth in Marxism, strengthening the belief in Marxism, tracing back to the theoretical source of the Marxist party's maintaining progressiveness and purity.
Comrades present have all read the Communist Manifesto, and today we revisit this classic, still deeply educated and inspired. Based on this learning experience, I would like to discuss three points of understanding.
1、 A profound understanding of the significant theoretical contribution of the Communist Manifesto
The publication of the Communist Manifesto is a great event in the history of human thought. The Communist Manifesto is a great work that comprehensively expounds the principles of scientific socialism for the first time, publicly stating one's own views, goals, and intentions to the world, and standing as a monument of Marxist spirit. The significant theoretical contributions of the Communist Manifesto mainly include the following aspects.
On May 2, 2018, Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of the People's Republic of China and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, visited Peking University. This is Xi Jinping's cordial conversation with Chinese and foreign students who are having discussions and exchanges on "interpreting the new era" at the School of Marxism at Peking University. Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Tao/Photo
Firstly, it profoundly expounds the scientific worldview of Marxism. The Communist Manifesto vividly and thoroughly describes a new worldview, namely the materialist conception of history, providing people with a scientific intellectual weapon to understand nature and human society. In the history of human thought, idealism has long dominated people's understanding of social phenomena by using gods, human nature, and ideas to explain all worldviews. Before the birth of Marxism, utopian socialism fiercely criticized capitalism and outlined the future of society, but could not find the correct path and social forces to achieve its social ideals. In the Communist Manifesto, Marx and Engels scientifically expounded the inherent contradictions of capitalism and the historical mission of the proletariat, revealing the historical inevitability of socialism replacing capitalism; This article provides insightful discussions on the nature, characteristics, basic program, and strategic principles of Marxist political parties, and clarifies the boundaries between scientific socialism and various other socialist schools. Some important ideas proposed in the Communist Manifesto, such as historical materialism, class struggle, the historical mission of the proletariat, the new communist society, comprehensive human development, and the world market, have revolutionary, pioneering, and breakthrough significance in the history of human thought. The Communist Manifesto profoundly reveals that the history since the slave society has been a history of class struggle; It reveals the general law of human social development that productivity determines production relations, economic base determines superstructure, and the contradictory movement between productivity and production relations, economic base and superstructure drives the successive replacement of social forms; Revealed the inherent contradiction between the socialization of capitalist production and the private ownership of means of production; Revealed the historical laws of the inevitable demise of capitalism and the inevitable victory of communism. As Engels said, "This principle may seem simple, but upon closer examination, one will immediately discover that its initial conclusion dealt a blow to all idealism, even the most covert idealism." He also said, "This fact is not only the most revolutionary conclusion for theory, but also for practice. After the publication of the Communist Manifesto, Marx and Engels continuously developed their ideas, ultimately forming a systematic and complete theoretical system. The Communist Manifesto is a classic work that provides scientific insights into the laws of human social development. It is a classic work full of struggle spirit, critical spirit, and revolutionary spirit. It is a classic work that upholds the people's position, seeks the interests of the people, and seeks liberation for all mankind. The scientific and revolutionary nature of Marxist theory originates from the scientific worldview and methodology of dialectical materialism and historical materialism, providing us with powerful ideological weapons to understand and transform the world, and pointing out the correct direction for the advancement of world socialism.
Secondly, it profoundly expounds the advanced character of Marxist political parties. The Communist Manifesto makes an in-depth exposition of the progressiveness of Marxist political parties, pointing out that the Communist Party is not a special political party against other working parties, and they have no interests different from the interests of the proletariat as a whole. In practice, the Communist Party is the most resolute and consistently driving force among workers' political parties in various countries; In terms of theory, the advantage of the Communist Party over other proletarian masses lies in their understanding of the conditions, processes, and general results of the proletarian movement, and their representation of the future of the movement in the current movement. Marxist political parties must be composed of the most thorough and steadfast advanced elements, and Communists should be the most tireless, fearless, and reliable advanced warriors. These thoughts provide a fundamental basis for the Marxist political parties to maintain progressiveness and purity.
Thirdly, it profoundly expounds the political stance of Marxist political parties. The Communist Manifesto does not conceal the class nature of Marxist political parties, standing firmly on the side of the proletariat and the broad masses of the people, enthusiastically praising the great role of the people in promoting historical progress, viewing the proletariat as the representative of advanced productive forces, the gravedigger of the capitalist system, and the creator of the new social system. It emphasizes that all past movements were movements of the minority or for the benefit of the minority, and that the proletarian movement was an independent movement of the vast majority of people for the benefit of the vast majority. This clear political stance fully affirms the historical subject status of the people and fully embodies the fundamental nature and purpose of Marxist political parties.
Fourthly, it profoundly expounds the lofty ideals of Marxist political parties. The Communist Manifesto established that the highest goal of Marxist political parties is to achieve communism, and regards the realization of human freedom and comprehensive development as the essential feature of communism. This lofty ideal stands at the moral high ground of humanity, becoming a steadfast belief and a spiritual pillar for generations of Communist Party members to be loyal, unyielding, and fearless of any risks and overcome all difficulties. It has become a spiritual banner for Marxist political parties to unite the people to smash the old world and create a new world.
Fifth, it profoundly expounds the revolutionary program of Marxism. The Communist Manifesto points out that the first step of the workers' revolution is to elevate the proletariat to the ruling class, strive for democracy, and use their political rule to increase the total amount of productive forces as quickly as possible. The Communist Manifesto also put forward specific measures on how to develop productive forces, although some of the specific contents are no longer applicable today, the spirit contained therein still has positive significance. These ideas have significant and far-reaching guiding significance for Marxist political parties to lead the people in revolutionary struggle and armed seizure of political power, to strengthen the construction of political power, especially the construction of the ruling party, and to develop socialist democracy, social productive forces, and promote comprehensive social progress after Marxist political parties seize political power.
This is the interior of the White Swan caf é taken on February 7, 2018 in the center of Brussels, the capital of Belgium, where Marx and Engels wrote the Communist Manifesto. Xinhua News Agency reporter Ye Pingfan/Photo by
Sixth, it profoundly expounds the internationalist spirit of Marxist political parties. The Communist Manifesto provides a profound analysis of capitalist production crossing national borders and continuously expanding the world market. It scientifically foresaw the universal trend of material production and spiritual and cultural production in the world, and further pointed out that communism is not a narrow regional movement. The proletariat must liberate all mankind in order to achieve complete liberation, and calls on all proletarians in the world to unite. This provides a scientific theoretical basis for Marxist political parties to have a global perspective, benefit humanity, and jointly create a better world.
The Communist Manifesto is a rich theoretical treasure trove, and its theoretical contributions are multifaceted, worthy of our repeated study and in-depth research, constantly drawing ideological nourishment from it.
2、 A profound understanding of the profound impact of the Communist Manifesto on world socialism
Once the Communist Manifesto was published, it promoted the development of world socialism in practice and profoundly changed the course of human history. Engels said that the Communist Manifesto is "the most widely disseminated and internationally recognized work among all socialist literature, a common program recognized by millions of workers from Siberia to California. Shortly after the publication of the Communist Manifesto, a massive revolutionary movement erupted in Europe. In 1864, after the establishment of the International Workers' Association (formerly known as the "First International"), under the leadership of Marx, it supported the struggle of the working class in various countries and the struggle of oppressed nations for national liberation. The Paris Commune Revolution that broke out in 1871 was the first great attempt to overthrow bourgeois rule and establish a government where the people were the masters of the country. The working classes of various countries have achieved significant victories through struggle, such as political suffrage, the eight hour workday, and labor legislation that were previously impossible to achieve.
In November 1917, Lenin led the October Revolution to success, opening a gap in the weakest chain of capitalism and establishing the world's first socialist country, achieving a great leap from theory to practice in socialism. The success of the October Revolution proved the truth of the Communist Manifesto and gave hope to proletarian revolutions and national liberation movements in various countries. After the end of World War II, a group of countries embarked on the path of socialism, and socialism developed from one country to multiple countries, greatly enhancing the strength of world socialism.
The older generation of revolutionaries in our party were influenced by the Communist Manifesto and embarked on the path of revolution. Our party's first manifesto was formulated in accordance with the spirit of the Communist Manifesto. The path of new democratic revolution, socialist revolution, socialist construction, and socialism with Chinese characteristics opened up by our party are all great creations that combine the basic principles of Marxism with the specific realities of China. The CPC is a faithful successor to the spirit of the Communist Manifesto.
The Communist Manifesto is the most influential work in modern times. For 170 years, the Communist Manifesto has been translated into over 200 languages and published in thousands of versions, becoming one of the most widely circulated books in the world. In the past 20 years, various Western institutions have selected "Millennium Thinker" and "Most Influential Scholar", among others, and Marx has consistently ranked high or even topped the list. Since the 2008 international financial crisis, there has been a resurgence of the "Marxist fever" in the world, and research on topics such as the Communist Manifesto and Capital has once again become popular. It has been proven that the power of truth in the Communist Manifesto is eternal and has had and will continue to profoundly influence the course of world history.
Information source: Qiushi Network
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