General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed at the national conference on publicity and ideological work that we should uphold the guiding position of Marxism in the field of philosophy and social sciences in China, and build philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics, Chinese style, and Chinese manner. This fundamental requirement points out the direction and provides guidelines for the prosperity and development of Chinese philosophy and social sciences. To build philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics, style, and manner under the new situation, we must adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping’sthought on socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, fully implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi’s speech at the symposium on the work of philosophy and social sciences and his letter of congratulation for the 40thanniversary of the founding of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, accelerate the construction of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics, prosper Chinese scholarship, develop Chinese theories, and spread Chinese thought.
I. Always adhere to the guiding role of Marxism in the development of philosophy and social sciences
Marxism is the fundamental guiding ideology of our Party and country, and also the banner and soul of socialist ideology. Adhering to Marxism as the guide is the primary problem that must be solved well in the construction of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics, style, and manner. It is the fundamental sign that contemporary Chinese philosophy and social sciences differ from other philosophy and social sciences.
Xi Jinping’sthought onsocialism with Chinese characteristicsin the new erarepresents the latest achievement in adapting Marxism to Chinese conditions. It is the Marxism of contemporary China, the Marxism of the 21stcentury, and the guiding ideology that the whole Party and the whole society must adhere to for a long time. Only with this important thinking as a guide can we distinguish what is true Marxism, and thus truly adhere to and develop Marxism, and ensure that the research on philosophy and social sciences adheres to the correct political direction and academic orientation; only guided by this important thought can we observe, interpret and lead the times with Marxism, constantly deepen our understanding of the governing law of the Communist Party of China, the law of socialist construction and the law of development of human society, and constantly open up new horizons for Marxism; and only with this important thought as the guidance can we keep pace with the times and advance with the people to achieve the great prosperity and development of philosophy and social sciences.
To adhere to guiding the research of philosophy and social sciences with Xi Jinping’sthought on socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, the first step is to make greater efforts in learning, understanding, and practicing. We should deeply study and understand the core meaning, rich connotation, and great significance contained in this thought, comprehend in depth the original contribution of this thought to the enrichment and development of the treasure house of Marxist theory, deeply grasp the guiding significance of this thought to the work of philosophy and social sciences, ensure that Xi Jinping’sthought onsocialism with Chinese characteristicsin the new eraruns through all disciplines and fields of philosophy and social sciences, and through all aspects and links such as subject construction, textbook compilation, classroom teaching, subject research, academic exchange, and outcome evaluation. We should study and elucidate this important thought in depth and constantly push forward the theoretical innovation of the Party. It is necessary to introduce high-level research results that are both systematic and academic, both thorough and active, and to write contemporary Chinese Marxist theoretical classics, and to consolidate the common ideological basis for the united struggle of the whole Party and entire nation. We should strengthen the “four senses” (to maintain political integrity, think in big-picture terms, follow the leadership core, and keep in alignment), adhere to the “four confidences” (confidence in the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics), unswervingly maintain a high degree of consistency ideologically, politically and in action with the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, unswervingly uphold the core status of General Secretary Xi Jinping in the Party Central Committee and the whole Party, and unswervingly uphold the authority of the CPC Central Committee and its centralized and unified leadership, so as to ensure that the study of philosophy and social sciences always focuses on the center and serves the overall situation.
II. Always study the major theoretical and practical issues in the new era as the main direction
General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly stressed, “the great social transformation in contemporary China is not a simple continuation of the master version of Chinese history and culture, nor is it a simple application of the template envisaged by the classical Marxist writers, or a reprint of socialist practices of other countries, or a replica of the development of modernization abroad, so it is impossible to find a ready-made textbook.” To build philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics, style, and manner, we must base ourselves on the reality of China, focus on what we are doing, and answer the major theoretical and practical issuesin the new era. The main direction is to explore new materials from the great social changes in contemporary China, discover new problems, propose new ideas, and construct new theories with academic rationality.
To study and answer major theoretical and practical problems in the new era, we must adhere to problem orientation. Problems are the voice of the times. Philosophy and social sciences have ushered in unprecedented historical opportunities, but also face many unprecedented new topics and challenges. From the point of view of the final output requirement of philosophy and social sciences, we must adapt to the changes of the principle social contradictions in our society and provide richer spiritual products with higher quality for the whole society and the broad masses. Looking from the new characteristics and requirements of economic and social development, we need to jump out of traditional mode and way of thinking, study the shift of growth rate, structural optimization, and power conversion in China’s economic development, build a modern economic system and promote paths, policies and ways of high-quality development driven by innovation; study the key and difficult problems in comprehensively deepening reform and opening wider to the outside world under the new situation, study the strategic policy issues of building a modern socialist power in two steps after building a moderately prosperous society in all respects; study the changing characteristics and trends of social relations and social structure before and after crossing the threshold of high-income countries, as well as the opportunities and challenges brought about by promoting the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity. In view of the international environment facing China's development at present, we need to study the new characteristics and new trends of great changes that were not seen in the past century, and major risks and challenges that may delay or block the process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation; study the strategies for the struggle between multilateralism and unilateralism, free trade and protectionism, and rules and power politics; study major theoretical and practical problems in the process of adjusting relations with major powers, advancing the global governance system and reform of the international order, and constructing a community of shared future for mankind, and make forward-looking and strategic policy proposals. All these put forward new and higher requirements for philosophy and social sciences.
To study and answer major theoretical and practical problems in the new era, we must always focus on the overall development of the cause of the Party and the State, closely follow the Party and the country’s decision-making needs, introduce more outstanding achievements that have important reference value for policy making and have an important role in promoting the development of the cause, make efforts to reveal the general logic and general trend of social development of both China and human society, so as to provide intellectual support for realizing “the Chinese Dream”, that is, the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. We should strengthen the construction of new think tanks with Chinese characteristics, strengthen research on major issues of a strategic, overall, forward-looking and comprehensive nature, combine theoretical research with policy research, adhere to the integrative development of basic research and applied research, and truly produce research results that provide profound insight, unique originality, and strategic foresight, so as to better serve the scientific decision-making of the Party and the country and the great practice of building a modern socialist power and realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
III. Promote the development of the discipline system, academic system, and discourse system of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics
We should construct the discipline system, academic system and discourse system of our philosophy and social sciences according to the thought of basing on China, drawing lessons from foreign countries, digging into history, grasping the contemporary, caring for mankind, and facing the future. Forming a system of philosophy and social sciences that covers all aspects, fields, and elements is the foundation and guarantee for the construction of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics, style, and manner.
The discipline system is an important support for the construction of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics, style, and manner. At present, the discipline system of philosophy and social sciences in China has been basically established, but there are still some problems that need to be solved urgently, such as the lack of close connection between some disciplines and social development, the insufficiency of the discipline system, and the weak construction of emerging disciplines and interdisciplinary disciplines. We should follow the development law of philosophy and social sciences, adhere to the principles of embodying characteristics and rational structure, highlighting advantages, expanding fields and making up for the shortcomings, and perfect the discipline system. We should strengthen the construction of Marxist disciplines, promote Marxism and the latest achievements in the sinicization of Marxism into the classroom, into the teaching materials, and into the minds of the masses, so that the vast number of philosophy and social science workers, especially young scholars, can consciously apply Marxism to guide scientific research, solve practical problems. The practical problem is to solve the problem of “unexpressed”, “absence” and “silence” of Marxism in some disciplines. We should speed up the improvement of disciplines that can enhance original creativity, promote theoretical development and support philosophy and social sciences, and build a discipline system with Chinese characteristics and universal significance. We should focus on the development of preponderant and key disciplines, accelerate the development of emerging disciplines and inter-disciplines with important practical significance and make the research of these disciplines become an important breakthrough point of philosophy and social sciences in China. We should attach importance to the development of “lost knowledge” and disciplines not in popular demand, yet with important cultural value and inheritance significance. We should strive to make basic disciplines sound and solid and the advantages of key disciplines outstanding, make emerging disciplines and inter-disciplines develop in an innovative way, make the disciplines not in popular demand pass on from generation to generation, make basic research and applied research complement each other, and make the academic research and the application of results mutually promote each other. Meanwhile, we should perform well in the construction of a teaching material system and form a teaching material system of philosophy and social sciences that meets the requirements of socialist development with Chinese characteristics, that is based on the cutting edge of international academia, and that has a complete range.
The academic system is an important foundation for the construction of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics, style, and manner. We should make the past serve the present, make foreign things serve China, integrate various resources and constantly promote innovation in knowledge, theory, and method. On the basis of in-depth research, we should put forward scientific and professional academic propositions, academic categories, academic viewpoints and academic thoughts, pay attention to the construction of basic theory and the refinement of identifiable concepts, strive to form a knowledge system and theoretical system with a style of our own, and form a Chinese school that reflects the climate of contemporary China and leads the academic development of the world. We should take the improvement of original creativity as the focus of academic system construction, be good at integrating all kinds of resources, aim at the academic forefront, focus on improving academic quality and theoretical depth, create original theories with Chinese characteristics and unique advantages, and build an academic system with its own characteristics.
The discourse system is an important part of building philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics, style, and manner. We should be good at refining identifiable concepts and categories, strive to create new concepts, new categories and new expressions that integrate both Chinese and foreign ideas, strive to put forward ideas, propositions and plans that can embody China's position, wisdom, and values, and show the characteristics and advantages of Chinese academic discourse, so as to fundamentally counter the situation in which China’s philosophy and social sciences have a relatively low voice and cannot be expounded and communicated in the international arena. We should tell the story of China well, spread the voice of China, promote Chinese thought and Chinese culture, enhance the international influence of our research on philosophy and social sciences, enhance our country's cultural soft power, and let the world know "China in academic study”, “China in theory” and “China in philosophy and social sciences”.
IV. Adhere to and Strengthen the Party’s Leadership in Philosophy and Social Sciences
The leadership of the Communist Party of China is the most essential characteristic of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The cause of philosophy and social sciences is an important undertaking of the Party and the people. To build philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics, style, and manner, we must adhere to and strengthen the leadership of the Party. It is necessary to strengthen political leadership and work guidance, and to focus equally on prosperity and development, and to guide and manage management. We should follow the laws of scientific research management, innovate the scientific research management system, and make overall planning and management of key talents, important positions, major research plans, major research projects, major fund allocation and major assessment and award evaluation activities. We need to optimize the layout of scientific research, allocate resources rationally, plan as a whole the research at the national and local levels, address the relationship between input and benefit, quantity and quality, and scale and structure, and strengthen the development ability of philosophy and social sciences.
The emergence of outstanding achievements and excellent talents is an important symbol of the prosperity and development of philosophy and social sciences. We should adhere to respecting labor, knowledge, talent and creativity, regard the construction of talent teams as basic construction, and pay more attention to outstanding and top-notch talents while focusing on producing results. We should carry out the overall development strategy of philosophy and social sciences centering on educating people and cultivating talents, and build a comprehensive development system integrating students, academics and disciplines. We should implement the talent project of philosophy and social sciences, focus on discovering, cultivating, and gathering a group of thinkers and theorists who have profound Marxist theory accomplishment and a thorough knowledge of both Chinese and Western theories, a group of academic leaders with solid theoretical foundation and the courage to explore and innovate. This group of young and middle-aged academics should form a pillar who are energetic and forge ahead with determination, build a team of philosophy and social science talents with firm stand, solid foundation, and excellent academic style, and allowed to become advocates of advanced ideas, pioneers in academic research, leaders in social fashion, and staunch supporters of the CPC in its governance.
We should promote the formation of a good academic atmosphere that advocates excellence and rigorous scholarship, values integrity and stresses responsibility, and create an academic ecology featuring clean academic circumstance, mutual learning and teaching, and positive academic attitude. We should carry forward the academic spirit of “sitting on a cold stool for ten years and writing articles without an empty sentence”, withstand loneliness, resist temptation and keep the bottom line, be determined to pursue recondite knowledge and true knowledge, produce more outstanding achievements that can stand the test of practice, people and history, be both as prolific and sincere in writing as possible, lead the fashion with noble personality and charm, achieve ourselves and realize value in establishing high morality, and make insightful views for the motherland and the people, and make new and greater contributions to building philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics, Chinese style, and Chinese manner, and to realizing “the Chinese Dream”, that is, the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
