The prosperity of a country and a nation is always supported by cultural prosperity. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the General Secretary of the Supreme Leader has put forward a series of new ideas, new viewpoints and new judgments around the cultural construction in the new era, which are rich in connotation and profound in exposition. They are theoretical summaries of the practical experience of the Party’s cultural construction in the new era, enrich and develop Marxist cultural theory, constitute the cultural chapter of Socialism with Chinese characteristics Thought of the Supreme Leader in the new era, and form the cultural thought of the Supreme Leader. The cultural thoughts of the Supreme Leader profoundly answered fundamental questions such as what flag to raise, what road to take, what principles to adhere to and what goals to achieve in China’s cultural construction in the new era, provided a scientific action guide for doing a good job in propaganda and ideological and cultural work in the new era and new journey and shouldering a new cultural mission, and contributed China’s wisdom to creating a new form of human civilization and leading the development and progress of world civilization. The important exposition of the Supreme Leader’s General Secretary on philosophy and social sciences is an important content and an organic part of the Supreme Leader’s cultural thought, which points out the way forward and provides fundamental follow-up for speeding up the construction of philosophy and social sciences with China characteristics, explaining China’s road, interpreting China’s practice and constructing China Theory in the new era.
Socialism with Chinese characteristics Thought of the Supreme Leader in the New Era is the flag and soul of philosophy and social science with China characteristics in the new era.
Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the CPC Central Committee with the Supreme Leader as the core has attached great importance to the work of philosophy and social sciences, and guided the work of philosophy and social sciences to show a new atmosphere and March towards a new journey in the process of being upright, innovative and pioneering. The research and interpretation of Marxist theory has been deepened, the construction of discipline system has achieved remarkable results, academic research results have been fruitful, discourse innovation has been steadily promoted, new breakthroughs have been made in serving economic and social development, and international influence has been more extensive. Philosophy and social sciences have contributed wisdom and strength to the historic achievements and changes in the cause of the party and the country. In the new era, China’s philosophy and social sciences have made historic achievements. The most fundamental reason lies in having the Supreme Leader General Secretary at the helm and the Supreme Leader Socialism with Chinese characteristics Thought in the new era.
Adhering to the guidance of the Supreme Leader’s Socialism with Chinese characteristics Thought in the new era is the most remarkable feature of the times and the most distinctive theoretical quality of contemporary China philosophy and social sciences. Philosophy and social sciences have distinct ideological attributes. Adhering to the guidance of Marxism is the fundamental sign that contemporary China philosophy and social sciences are different from other philosophy and social sciences. Adhering to the guidance of Marxism, China’s academics fundamentally adhered to the scientific spirit and principles; If you master Marxism, China’s academics will fundamentally master their own future; Without Marxism, academic research can only stay on the superficial and illusory phenomenon, and cannot enter the depths of history and society. Socialism with Chinese characteristics Thought of the Supreme Leader in the New Era, as the latest achievement of the modernization of Marxism in China, has made a groundbreaking, comprehensive and historic contribution to the great development of Marxism in today’s era, and is the fundamental guide to the construction of philosophy and social sciences with China characteristics. Adhering to the guidance of the Supreme Leader’s Socialism with Chinese characteristics Thought in the new era is an inevitable requirement for the prosperity and development of China’s philosophy and social sciences in the new era, and it is also the fundamental way to seize the theoretical and academic commanding heights.
Adhering to the guidance of the Supreme Leader’s Socialism with Chinese characteristics Thought in the new era is the fundamental guarantee for China’s philosophy and social sciences to keep advancing in the right direction. Why the Communist Party of China (CPC) can and why Socialism with Chinese characteristics is good is, in the final analysis, a Marxist line, a Marxist line with China modernization. The reason why Marxism has shown great vitality in China lies in our Party’s scientific attitude towards science, its pursuit of truth in the spirit of truth, its unification of upholding Marxism and developing Marxism, and its continuous promotion of the modernization of Marxism in China. In contemporary China, upholding and developing the Supreme Leader’s Socialism with Chinese characteristics Thought in the new era means truly upholding and developing Marxism. We should always adhere to the guidance of Socialism with Chinese characteristics Thought of the Supreme Leader in the New Era, take serving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation as our mission, and constantly promote the prosperity and development of China’s philosophy and social sciences.
It is an important task for Chinese philosophy and social science workers in the new era to promote the party’s theoretical innovation and the systematic chemistry of theory. The development of the Supreme Leader’s Socialism with Chinese characteristics Thought in the new era is a process of constantly enriching and expanding, and constantly systematizing and studying physics and chemistry. The study of philosophy and social sciences in China should grasp the world outlook and methodology of Socialism with Chinese characteristics Thought of the Supreme Leader in the new era, adhere to and make good use of the standpoints and methods that run through it, and constantly deepen theoretical research and interpretation, especially focusing on the theoretical achievements, and grasp the internal relations between them, so as to make new contributions to the continuous promotion of the Party’s theoretical innovation.
Reflect subjectivity and originality in the construction of modern civilization of the Chinese nation and China Theory.
The proposition of "building a modern civilization of the Chinese nation" is of great significance in the times, which expands the historical depth and civilization thickness of the construction of philosophy and social sciences with China characteristics and sets a broader and higher goal for the cause of philosophy and social sciences in China. General Secretary of the Supreme Leader stressed: "Whether our philosophy and social sciences have China characteristics depends, in the final analysis, on whether there is subjectivity and originality." Originality is the core competitiveness of philosophy and social sciences. Philosophy and social sciences with China characteristics should constantly enhance their original ability in the construction of modern civilization of the Chinese nation, and make new achievements in explaining China’s road, interpreting China’s practice and constructing China’s theory.
To enhance subjectivity and originality, we must take the reality of China as the research starting point. China’s scholarship must be based on the reality of China, and follow others’ footsteps. It is not only difficult to form philosophy and social sciences with China characteristics, but also unable to solve the practical problems in China. The Chinese nation has a splendid civilization formed in the historical evolution of more than 5,000 years. the Communist Party of China (CPC) has more than 100 years of struggle practice and more than 70 years of experience in governing and rejuvenating the country. It has valuable experience accumulated in more than 40 years of reform and opening up, especially the successful experience in the great practice of governing the country since the new era. This is the most important foundation and the greatest confidence for us to build a philosophy and social science with China characteristics. We should stand at the height of history and times, put forward subjective and original theoretical viewpoints, build a discipline system, an academic system and a discourse system with our own characteristics, build China’s independent knowledge system, form the China School of philosophy and social sciences, and provide academic and intellectual support for the construction of modern civilization of the Chinese nation.
To enhance subjectivity and originality, we must interpret China’s practice with China’s theory and enrich China’s theory with China’s practice. General Secretary of the Supreme Leader pointed out at the forum on cultural inheritance and development: "The primary task of strengthening cultural self-confidence is to base on the great historical practice and contemporary practice of the Chinese nation, sum up China’s experience with China’s truth, and upgrade China’s experience to China’s theory, neither blindly following various dogmas nor copying foreign theories, so as to achieve spiritual independence." Nowadays, the great changes in the world that have never happened in a hundred years have accelerated their evolution, and the development trend of "rising to the east and descending to the west" has become increasingly obvious, in stark contrast to "Chinese governance of western chaos". The "Western-centered theory" in which the international pattern is dominated by the West and the concept of international relations is mainly oriented by Western values is unsustainable. Western governance concepts, systems and models are difficult to adapt to the new international pattern and the trend of the times. The neo-liberal theory has been widely questioned after the international financial crisis in 2008. This highlights the era value and world significance of theoretical innovation based on China’s practice. To promote theoretical innovation, we must never copy western theories, western standards and western discourses. We must constantly interpret China’s practice with China’s theory, enrich China’s theory with China’s practice, make China’s scholarship stand tall in the world academic forest, and let China School shine brilliantly in the development of world philosophy and social sciences.
Strengthening subjectivity and originality must adhere to "two combinations" We should profoundly grasp the rich connotation and great significance of the "two combinations", especially the "second combination", stick to the soul vein and root vein, scientifically understand the outstanding characteristics of Chinese civilization, comprehensively and objectively understand Chinese excellent traditional culture, persist in facing the future but never separating history, persist in carrying forward tradition but never rigidly stick to it, always stay at the forefront of the progress of the times, create the future in the continuation of history, activate the vitality of Chinese excellent traditional culture with the spirit of the times, and constantly promote the creative transformation and continuous promotion of Chinese excellent traditional culture. Pay attention to drawing wisdom and nutrients from the profound Chinese excellent traditional culture, and refine new concepts, new categories and new expressions. We should use fresh and lively forms and languages that are popular with the people to produce more theoretical products that are popular with the people, so that the people can deeply feel the truth power and practical power of Marxism in contemporary China and Marxism in the 21st century.
To enhance subjectivity and originality, we must improve our international communication ability. At present, we are sometimes in a position where we can’t say what is reasonable and what is said can’t be spread. To improve the ability to shape the national image and influence international public opinion, and to enhance the right to speak internationally, we should rely on enhancing academic originality, strengthen academic exchanges and dissemination, and constantly enhance the world influence of China Theory, China Thought and China’s academics, and enhance the national cultural soft power and Chinese cultural influence. It is necessary to strengthen the capacity building of international communication, deepen the theoretical research of international communication and innovate the ways and means of international communication. We should speed up the construction of China’s discourse and China’s narrative system, tell the story of China well, participate extensively in the dialogue of world civilizations, and form an international discourse right that matches China’s comprehensive national strength and international status.
Leading a new era with the cultural thought of the supreme leader, a new realm of prosperity and development of philosophy and social sciences with China characteristics.
The supreme leader’s cultural thoughts are rich and profound, which include innovations and breakthroughs in cultural theory and layout requirements of cultural work. The road map and task book of cultural construction in the new era are clear. We should thoroughly study and implement the cultural thought of the supreme leader, actively promote knowledge innovation, theoretical innovation and method innovation, and constantly open up a new realm of prosperity and development of philosophy and social sciences with China characteristics in the new era.
Enhance historical confidence and cultural confidence. A nation with cultural self-confidence can stand, stand steady and go far. The proposal of the supreme leader’s cultural thought marks that our party’s understanding of the law of cultural construction in Socialism with Chinese characteristics has reached a new height, indicating that our party’s historical self-confidence and cultural self-confidence have reached a new height. We should speed up the construction of philosophy and social sciences with China characteristics with a high degree of historical confidence and cultural confidence. In the mutual comparison and competition of various ideological trends, we should clearly and loudly issue the correct academic voice of Marxism. Firmly establish a grand view of history, with a broader vision, a longer-term vision and an open mind, learn from all the outstanding achievements of human civilization, draw excellent ideological and cultural resources from the "sum of human knowledge", realize the life renewal and modern transformation of Chinese civilization, and form an inclusive theoretical pattern and atmosphere.
Focus on major issues. In the academic history of mankind, outstanding achievements in philosophy and social sciences all face reality, consciously and directly answer the topics of the times. Adhering to and developing Socialism with Chinese characteristics has provided a powerful impetus and broad space for theoretical creation and academic prosperity. We should shoulder the new cultural mission, base ourselves on the great changes in contemporary China and the reality of the accelerated evolution of the world’s century-old changes, focus on the new problems encountered in practice, the deep-seated problems existing in reform, development and stability, the people’s urgent difficulties and worries, the major problems in international changes, and the outstanding problems faced by party building, and realize the new sublimation and academic leap of contemporary China’s philosophy and social sciences in the theoretical and practical exploration of constantly answering the questions of China, the world, the people and the times.
Adhere to the people-centered research orientation. For China’s philosophy and social sciences, it is not only an inevitable requirement to adhere to Marxism as a guide, but also an inevitable way to realize the value of China’s philosophy and social sciences. To enhance the attraction, appeal and influence of philosophy and social sciences, the workers of philosophy and social sciences must keep in mind the concept of learning for the people, adhere to the principle of integrating theory with practice, adhere to the mass line, respect the people’s dominant position, focus on people’s practical creation, go deep into the fiery mass practice, understand people’s thoughts, worries and hopes, be the spokesmen of the people, actively explain and argue for the party and the people, and write papers on the land of the motherland, so as to live up to the times and fulfill the mission.
Break down discipline barriers and promote discipline integration. Looking back on the academic history since modern times, it is not difficult to find two basic facts: first, no discipline can solve major theoretical and practical problems solely on its own; Second, the development of disciplines is increasingly based on the achievements of related disciplines, and the interdependence between disciplines is increasing. From a global perspective, in recent 20 years, the integration of disciplines and academic renewal have accelerated. We must pay more attention to broadening the horizons of multidisciplinary research, updating research methods and forming new research paradigms and concepts from the scientific and technological revolution and the changes of the times. It is necessary to make good use of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data and quantum computing to cultivate new academic growth points and innovations in philosophy and social sciences. Build a comprehensive research platform for multidisciplinary joint research, strengthen comprehensive collaborative research on major theoretical issues and cutting-edge innovation practice issues, and cultivate a number of interdisciplinary, interdisciplinary and inter-unit disciplinary innovation forces.
(The author is Dean and Party Secretary of China Academy of Social Sciences)