On the Understanding and Following of the Laws of the Development of Socialist Culture with Chinese Characteristics

Over the 75 years since the founding of New China and the more than 40 years of reform and opening up, the socialist cultural cause has continued to develop and grow, and socialist cultural-ethical progress has continuously achieved progress. Culture has become an important support and powerful driving force for the development and progress of the socialist cause. To further unleash the immense role of culture and promote the coordinated development of material civilization and cultural-ethical progress, the *Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Further Comprehensively Deepening Reform and Promoting Chinese-Path Modernization* (hereinafter referred to as the *Decision*) adopted at the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC [1]1 The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC refers to the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, held in July 2024, which focused on further comprehensively deepening reform and promoting Chinese-path modernization., focusing on how to implement Xi Jinping Thought on Culture and how to deepen the reform of the cultural systems and mechanisms, elaborates on the institutional and work systems for improving the responsibility system for ideological work, optimizing the supply mechanism for cultural services and cultural products, improving the comprehensive network governance system, and building a more effective international communication system, thereby providing an action program and pointing the direction forward for cultural reform and development in the New Era. The *Decision* "focuses on building a socialist cultural powerhouse, upholds the fundamental system of Marxism's guiding position in the ideological domain, improves the systems and mechanisms for cultural undertakings and cultural industries, promotes cultural prosperity, enriches the people's spiritual and cultural life, and enhances national cultural soft power and the influence of Chinese culture." These important arrangements inherit and develop the theory of socialist cultural development in China since reform and opening up, and further deepen the Party's understanding of the laws governing cultural work and cultural development. This article, from three aspects – guiding ideology, holistic grasp, and soft power enhancement – understands and explains the spiritual essence, theoretical foundation, and practical requirements of the development of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics, and deeply grasps that the understanding of the laws of the development of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics at the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee is a rich development of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture.

新中国成立75年、改革开放40多年来，社会主义文化事业不断发展壮大，社会主义精神文明建设不断取得进步，文化成为社会主义事业发展进步的重要支撑和强大动力。为进一步发挥文化的巨大作用，推动物质文明和精神文明协调发展，党的二十届三中全会通过的《中共中央关于进一步全面深化改革、推进中国式现代化的决定》（以下简称《决定》），围绕如何贯彻习近平文化思想、如何深化文化体制机制改革，阐述了完善意识形态工作责任制、优化文化服务和文化产品供给机制、健全网络综合治理体系和构建更有效力的国际传播体系的制度体系和工作体系，为新时代文化改革发展提供了行动纲领、指明了前进方向。《决定》“聚焦建设社会主义文化强国，坚持马克思主义在意识形态领域指导地位的根本制度，健全文化事业、文化产业发展体制机制，推动文化繁荣，丰富人民精神文化生活，提升国家文化软实力和中华文化影响力”。这些重要部署是对改革开放以来我国社会主义文化建设理论的继承和发展，进一步深化了党对文化工作和文化建设的规律性认识。本文从指导思想、整体把握和软实力提升等三个方面，理解阐释中国特色社会主义文化建设的精神实质、理论基础和实践要求，深刻把握党的二十届三中全会对中国特色社会主义文化建设的规律性认识是对习近平文化思想的丰富发展。

I. Promoting the Development of Socialist Culture with Chinese Characteristics Under the Guidance of Marxism

一、以马克思主义为指导推进中国特色社会主义文化建设

The *Decision* emphasizes upholding the fundamental system of Marxism's guiding position in the ideological domain. Its cultural significance lies in pointing out the ideological soul of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics. This ideological soul is guidance by Marxism, and only by adhering to the guidance of Marxism can socialist culture with Chinese characteristics flourish and thrive. Therefore, to strengthen cultural confidence, promote cultural innovation, and deepen the reform of cultural systems and mechanisms, the most important understanding of the law and practical requirement is to adhere to the guidance of Marxism in developing socialist culture with Chinese characteristics. At the same time, the most important aspect of strengthening cultural confidence is to strengthen faith in Marxism, because without the guidance of Marxism, there would be no existence, development, or prosperity of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics.

《决定》强调坚持马克思主义在意识形态领域指导地位的根本制度，其文化意义在于指明了中国特色社会主义文化的思想灵魂，这个思想灵魂就是以马克思主义为指导，也只有坚持以马克思主义为指导，中国特色社会主义文化才能繁荣兴盛。因此，坚定文化自信，推进文化创新，深化文化体制机制改革，最重要的规律性认识和实践要求就是坚持以马克思主义为指导发展中国特色社会主义文化。同时，坚定文化自信最为重要的是坚定对马克思主义的 信仰，因为离开马克思主义的指导，就不会有中国特色社会主义文化的存在、发展和繁荣。

(1) Taking Marxism as the Guide: The Fundamental Principle for Correctly Understanding Socialist Culture with Chinese Characteristics

（一）以马克思主义为指导：正确理解中国特色社会主义文化的根本遵循

The role of culture in social development has never been insignificant or dispensable; "although it belongs to the superstructure of society, it is also an inseparable part of the organic whole of the social formation. More importantly, culture is the universal form through which a nation can transcend pure experience and understand the world, history, and itself." [2]2 Quote from an unspecified source; the original Chinese is attributed by the author. At the same time, we should also see that culture is one of the most complex domains in human social life. Cultures of different natures intertwine and influence each other. The long history of human social development has long been accompanied by cultural contradictions and cultural struggles. Socialist culture is the most advanced type of culture China has ever had, and being guided by Marxism is one of its important attributes. Socialist culture with Chinese characteristics is a new form of socialist culture, and being guided by Marxism is necessarily its important attribute and ideological soul.

文化在社会发展中的作用从来都不是无足轻重、可有可无的，“虽然它属于社会的上层建筑，但也是社会形态这一有机体不可分割的部分。更重要的是，文化是一个民族唯一可以超越纯经验而认识世界、历史和自身的普遍形式”。同时，我们也应看到，文化是人类社会生活中最复杂的领域之一，不同性质的文化相互交织、相互影响，漫长的人类社会发展史长期伴随着文化矛盾和文化斗争。社会主义文化是中国迄今为止最先进的文化类型，以马克思主义为指导是其重要属性之一。中国特色社会主义文化是社会主义文化的新形态，以马克思主义为指导必然是其重要属性和思想灵魂。

Adhering to the guidance of Marxism is the fundamental sign that distinguishes socialist culture with Chinese characteristics from other cultures. Marxist scientific theory, especially dialectical materialism and historical materialism, provides people with a worldview and methodology for understanding and transforming the world; Marxism upholds the social ideal of human liberation and provides a guide to action for the liberation of the proletariat and the liberation of all humanity. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out: "In the history of human thought, no other theory has had such a broad and tremendous impact on the progress of human civilization as Marxism." Socialist culture with Chinese characteristics, developed in the great process of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, inherently contains this tremendous impact. Socialist culture with Chinese characteristics has always adhered to the guidance of Marxism; this is the inevitability and determinacy that the history of China's development since modern times has endowed upon cultural development. Without adhering to the guidance of Marxism, China's cultural development would lose its soul, lose its direction, and various cultural disorders would emerge. Neither cultural innovation nor cultural research can depart from the guidance of Marxism. To further deepen the reform of cultural systems and mechanisms, we must not only adhere to the guidance of Marxism overall, but also adhere to the guidance of Marxism in every specific aspect of reform, resolutely preventing the phenomenon of Marxism being rendered virtual, weakened, or marginalized.

坚持以马克思主义为指导，是中国特色社会主义文化区别于其他文化的根本标志。马克思主义科学理论特别是辩证唯物主义和历史唯物主义，为人们认识世界和改造世界提供了世界观和方法论；马克思主义坚持人类解放的社会理想，为无产阶级实现解放和全人类实现解放提供了行动指南。习近平总书记指出：“在人类思想史上，还没有一种理论像马克思主义那样对人类文明进步产生了如此广泛而巨大的影响。”在马克思主义中国化时代化的伟大进程中发展起来的中国特色社会主义文化，内在包含了这种巨大影响。中国特色社会主义文化始终坚持以马克思主义为指导，是近代以来我国发展历史赋予文化发展的必然性和规定性。不坚持以马克思主义为指导，我国的文化发展就会失去灵魂、迷失方向，就会出现种种文化乱象。不论是文化创新，还是文化研究，都不能离开马克思主义的指导。进一步深化文化体制机制改革，不仅总体上要坚持以马克思主义为指导，而且在改革的具体方面都要坚持以马克思主义为指导，坚决防止马克思主义被虚化、淡化、边缘化的现象。

Adhering to the guidance of Marxism to develop socialist culture with Chinese characteristics requires correctly handling Western culture. Towards Western culture, we must still adhere to the principle of "making foreign things serve China." [3]3 "Making foreign things serve China" (洋为中用) is a long-standing Chinese cultural policy principle encouraging the selective adoption of foreign elements that benefit China. Today, when we emphasize "making foreign things serve China," we emphasize that the criterion for selecting from Western culture must be whether it can serve the development of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, whether it is conducive to the development and prosperity of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics, and whether it is conducive to the harmony and stability of Chinese society. The practice of developing socialist culture with Chinese characteristics shows that only by unequivocally opposing the "wholesale Westernization" [4]4 "Wholesale Westernization" (全盘西化) is a historical term referring to the complete adoption of Western political, economic, and cultural systems, actively debated in early 20th-century China and consistently rejected by the CPC. cultural thesis can socialist culture develop healthily. Therefore, to develop socialist culture with Chinese characteristics, we must first recite well the "true scripture" [5]5 "True scripture" (真经) is a term from the Chinese Buddhist tradition, often used metaphorically to mean the authentic, fundamental doctrine. Here it refers to Marxism. of Marxism. It is utterly wrong to always hope to go to the "Western Paradise to obtain scriptures." [6]6 "Western Paradise to obtain scriptures" (西天取经) alludes to the classic Chinese novel *Journey to the West*, in which the monk Xuanzang travels to India (the "West") to fetch Buddhist scriptures. Here it is used critically to mean seeking ideological guidance from the West. The history of China's social development since modern times shows that the "Western true scriptures" believed in by some are erroneous in their cultural and historical views. "China's practice has explained a truth to the world: governing a country and promoting a country's modernization does not only have the Western institutional model as the only path; all countries can take their own road. It can be said that we have used facts to declare the bankruptcy of the 'end of history' thesis and the bankruptcy of the single-linear historical view that all countries must ultimately take the Western institutional model as their destination." [7]7 Quote from Xi Jinping, alluding to Francis Fukuyama's "End of History" thesis.

坚持以马克思主义为指导发展中国特色社会主义文化，必须正确对待西方文化。对待西方文化，我们仍然要坚持“洋为中用”的方针。今天，我们强调“洋为中用”，就是强调对西方文化的取舍标准，必须看它是否能够服务于中国特色社会主义事业的发展，是否有利于中国特色社会主义文化的发展繁荣，是否有利于中国社会的和谐稳定。中国特色社会主义文化发展实践表明，只有旗帜鲜明地反对“全盘西化”文化论，才有社会主义文化的健康发展。所以，发展中国特色社会主义文化，首先要念好马克思主义这个“真经”，总指望到西天“取经”是十分错误的。近代以来的中国社会发展史表明，一些人信奉的“西方真经”在文化观、历史观上是错误的，“我国的实践向世界说明了一个道理：治理一个国家、推动一个国家实现现代化，并不只有西方制度模式这一条道，各国完全可以走出自己的道路来。可以说，我们用事实宣告了‘历史终结论’的破产，宣告了各国最终都要以西方制度模式为归宿的单线式历史观的破产”。

Adhering to the guidance of Marxism to develop socialist culture with Chinese characteristics, the core issue is to solve the question of whom it serves. The question of whom to serve is a fundamental and principled issue in cultural development. The CPC has always adhered to the Marxist mass view of history, serving the people wholeheartedly in practice. As an important part of the socialist cause, the main body of the cultural cause is naturally the broad masses of the people. We must strive to mobilize and bring into play the people's cultural consciousness and cultural creativity, and strive to meet the cultural needs of the people. For the cause of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics to achieve something, it must adhere to the people-centered development direction. Divorced from the people, culture will lack appeal, infectiousness, influence, and vitality. The Marxist mass view of history emphasizes that the people are both the creators of history and the witnesses of history, both the "actors in the play" and the "playwrights" of history. Socialist culture with Chinese characteristics must adhere to the fundamental direction of serving the people, always develop all cultural undertakings with a people-centered approach, and take meeting the spiritual and cultural needs of the people and raising the level of the people's cultural-ethical progress as the starting point and ultimate goal of cultural work. In the practice of cultural development, we must consciously specify and implement the people-centered work orientation well, "thus always adhering to the people's sentiment of culture for the people, culture benefiting the people, and culture serving the people, prompting a sense of cultural mission to transform into a sense of responsibility driving the development of cultural undertakings, and turning into work enthusiasm and powerful spiritual strength to create historical achievements worthy of the times and worthy of the people in hard work." [8]8 Quote from an unspecified source.

坚持以马克思主义为指导发展中国特色社会主义文化，核心是要解决为什么人的问题。为什么人的问题是文化建设的根本性、原则性问题。中国共产党始终坚持马克思主义群众史观，在实践上全心全意为人民服务，文化事业作为社会主义事业的重要组成部分，其主体当然是广大人民群众，必须努力调动和发挥人民群众的文化自觉性和文化创造性，努力实现人民群众的文化需求。中国特色社会主义文化事业要有所作为，必须坚持以人民为中心的发展方向。脱离了人民，文化就不会有吸引力、感染力、影响力、生命力。马克思主义群众史观强调，人民既是历史的创造者、也是历史的见证者，既是历史的“剧中人”、也是历史的“剧作者”。中国特色社会主义文化要坚持为人民服务这个根本方向，始终以人民为中心发展各项文化事业，把满足人民群众精神文化需求、提高人民群众精神文明水平作为文化工作的出发点和落脚点。在文化建设实践中，要自觉将以人民为中心的工作导向具体化、落实好，“从而始终坚持文化为民、文化惠民、文化利民的人民情怀，促使文化使命感外化为推动文化事业发展的责任心，转变为在努力工作中创造无愧于时代、无愧于人民的历史伟业的工作热情和强大精神力量”。

(2) Implementing the Responsibility System for Ideological Work Requires Correctly Understanding and Resolutely Resisting the Misguidance of Liberalist Thought

（二）落实意识形态工作责任制，必须正确认识和坚决抵制自由主义思潮的误导

The *Decision* makes specific arrangements for how to improve the responsibility system for ideological work, involving work in theoretical arming, discipline construction, and news and public opinion, among others. All these tasks involve how to understand and resist erroneous trends of thought. The erroneous trend with the longest influence and the widest scope is liberalist thought, and its interfering effect on the cause of reform and opening up cannot be ignored. Over the past 40-plus years of reform and opening up, liberalist thought has been rampant for a long time and has had a great impact. To correctly understand and resolutely resist the misguidance of liberalist thought, we must first find where the difficulty in solving the problem of liberalist thought lies. To summarize, this difficulty is mainly manifested in the following aspects. First, in terms of scope of influence, liberalist thought is the most widespread trend of thought, and because it is so widespread, it is easily accepted by more people. It pervades the entire world, and different countries and different nations all have liberalist thought. Second, in terms of academic disciplines, liberalist thought influences all disciplines of philosophy and social sciences. Where Marxism is weakened and marginalized in some disciplines, those disciplines are inevitably influenced by liberalist thought. Third, in terms of duration of influence, liberalist thought is a social trend with a very long historical tradition. In the long historical development process, liberalism has formed a series of relatively systematized theoretical traditions. Fourth, in terms of current development, liberalist thought relies on a system of real political and economic institutions. Among contemporary types of countries, capitalist countries hold a numerical advantage, and the theoretical foundation of capitalist countries is liberalism, such as liberal economics, liberal political science, liberal philosophy, and so on. Liberalism remains the ruling thought and dominant values of Western countries. "There is a reason why Western countries today like to play the 'values' card. The most fundamental reason is the inertial advantage of their ruling thought." [9]9 Quote from an unspecified source. Finding the difficulties is the first step in solving the problem. We must carry out work in a targeted manner, effectively preventing the erosive influence of liberalist thought in the practice of cultural development and the reform of cultural systems and mechanisms.

《决定》对如何完善意识形态工作责任制作了专门部署，涉及理论武装、学科建设和新闻舆论等方面的工作，这些工作都涉及如何认识和抵制错误思潮问题。影响时间最长、影响范围最广的错误思潮是自由主义思潮，它对改革开放事业的干扰作用不容忽视。改革开放40多年来，自由主义思潮长期泛滥、影响很大。正确认识和坚决抵制自由主义思潮的误导，首先要找到解决自由主义思潮问题的难点在哪里。概括起来，这个难点主要表现在这样几个方面。第一，从影响范围看，自由主义思潮是影响最广泛的思潮，也因为影响广泛，所以它容易被更多人认同。它遍布全世界，不同的国家、不同的民族都存在着自由主义思潮。第二，从学科上看，自由主义思潮影响哲学社会科学各学科。马克思主义在一些学科被削弱、被边缘化，那么这些学科就必然受到自由主义思潮的影响。第三，从影响时间看，自由主义思潮是具有很长的历史传统的社会思潮。在漫长的历史发展进程中，自由主义形成了一系列相对体系化的理论传统。第四，从现实发展看，自由主义思潮有现实的政治经济制度体系依托。在当代国家类型当中，资本主义国家占据数量上的优势，资本主义国家的理论基础就是自由主义，如自由主义经济学、自由主义政治学、自由主义哲学，等等。自由主义仍然是西方国家的统治思想和主导价值观，“西方国家在今天喜欢打‘价值观’牌是有原因的。最为根本的是其统治思想具有的惯性优势”。找到难点是解决问题的第一步，我们要有针对性地开展工作，在文化事业发展和文化体制机制改革的实践中，有效防范自由主义思潮的侵蚀影响。

The reason why implementing the responsibility system for ideological work is important is that ideology determines the direction and path of cultural development, and liberalist thought seeks to change our cultural direction and cultural path. Therefore, we must uphold Marxism's guiding position in the ideological domain and effectively curb the intrusion of liberalist thought and others. First, Marxist ideology determines the direction and path of cultural development with a scientific worldview. The scientific nature of Marxist ideology is based on the dialectical materialist worldview, and the culture built on this scientific worldview is Marxist culture, socialist culture, which is fundamentally opposed to any form of idealist culture. Second, Marxist ideology determines the direction and path of cultural development with a scientific outlook on life and values. The Marxist outlook on life and values emphasizes that the masses of the people are the masters of culture, and emphasizes the decisive position and priority of serving the people and collectivism in cultural values. Third, Marxist ideology determines the direction and path of cultural development with the scientific principle of Party spirit. The Marxist principle of Party spirit emphasizes the firmness of ideals and beliefs, the forerunning nature of ideological guidance, and the supremacy of the people's interests. By implementing these principles in the practice of cultural development, socialist culture with Chinese characteristics can always continuously develop along the correct direction and path.

落实意识形态工作责任制之所以重要，是因为意识形态决定文化前进方向和发展道路，而自由主义思潮就是要改变我们的文化方向和文化道路。因此，必须坚持马克思主义在意识形态领域的指导地位，有效遏止自由主义思潮等的侵扰。首先，马克思主义意识形态用科学的世界观决定文化发展的方向和道路。马克思主义意识形态的科学性建立在辩证唯物主义世界观基础之上，建立在这个科学世界观基础上的文化就是马克思主义文化、社会主义文化，这种科学文化同任何形式的唯心主义文化根本对立。其次，马克思主义意识形态用科学的人生观、价值观决定文化发展的方向和道路。马克思主义的人生观、价值观强调人民群众是文化的主人，强调为人民服务和集体主义在文化价值中的决定地位和优先地位。再次，马克思主义意识形态用科学的党性原则决定文化发展的方向和道路。马克思主义党性原则强调理想信念的坚定性，强调思想引领的先导性，强调人民利益的至上性，将这些原则贯彻到文化发展实践中，中国特色社会主义文化就能够始终沿着正确的方向和道路不断发展。

(3) Mastering Marxist Theory is the Prerequisite for Adhering to the Guidance of Marxism

（三）掌握马克思主义理论是坚持以马克思主义为指导的前提

The *Decision* emphasizes "improving the work system of arming the whole Party, educating the people, and guiding practice with the Party's innovative theories, perfecting the study system of theoretical study groups of Party committees (leading Party members' groups), and improving the ideological and political work system." Strengthening theoretical arming work through institutionalization is a major tradition of the CPC in strengthening ideological construction. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party's theoretical arming work has been further strengthened, but it still needs to be further improved and perfected. Through institutional construction, we must enhance the ideological consciousness and action consciousness of the whole Party in mastering Marxist theory. Deng Xiaoping pointed out: "China is a big country; it can be said that if China's socialist cause does not collapse, the world's socialist cause will not collapse. The events in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union have taught us from the negative side, turning bad things into good things. The problem is that we must be good at turning bad things into good things, and then turn such good things into a tradition, never losing our ancestor, and that ancestor is Marxism." [10]10 Quote from Deng Xiaoping, reportedly from his talks in the early 1990s. The whole Party must have the ideological consciousness and action consciousness of "never losing our ancestor." Only in this way can we smash all plots of "color revolution." [11]11 "Color revolution" (颜色革命) is a term used by the CPC and Chinese government to refer to externally instigated political uprisings and regime changes in post-Soviet states (e.g., Ukraine, Georgia) and elsewhere, which China views as illegitimate and subversive.

《决定》强调，“健全用党的创新理论武装全党、教育人民、指导实践工作体系，完善党委（党组）理论学习中心组学习制度，完善思想政治工作体系”。从制度上加强理论武装工作，是中国共产党加强思想建设的一大传统。党的十八大以来，党的理论武装工作得到进一步增强，但仍需进一步完善健全。要通过制度建设，增强全党掌握马克思主义理论的思想自觉和行动自觉。邓小平指出：“中国是大国，也可以说中国的社会主义事业不垮，世界的社会主义事业就垮不了。东欧、苏联的事件从反面教育了我们，坏事变成了好事。问题是我们要善于把坏事变成好事，再把这样的好事变成传统，永远丢不得祖宗，这个祖宗就是马克思主义。”全党都要有“永远丢不得祖宗”的思想自觉和行动自觉，只有这样，才能粉碎一切“颜色革命”的图谋。

Mastering the basic theories of Marxism is the prerequisite for using Marxism to solve practical problems. Mastering and applying the basic theories of Marxism is the housekeeping skill of Communists. Without this housekeeping skill, it is fundamentally impossible to speak of firm ideals and beliefs, let alone promote the development of the cause. As Chinese-path modernization continues to advance, new situations and new problems will continuously emerge. We need to analyze and solve problems by studying and applying the basic theories of Marxism. However, we must also recognize that Marxist theory has never been dogma, but a guide to action. This requires us to continuously combine with the changing reality, explore answers to new problems, and thus continuously develop Marxist theory itself, based on the basic principles and basic methods of Marxism. Deng Xiaoping emphasized, "Now we are building socialism with Chinese characteristics, the times and tasks are different, and there are indeed many new things to learn. This requires us to make greater efforts to master the basic theories of Marxism in light of the new reality. Because only in this way can we improve our ability to use its basic principles and basic methods to actively explore and solve new basic political, economic, social, and cultural problems, thereby pushing forward both our cause and Marxist theory itself, and also preventing some comrades, especially some young and middle-aged comrades who have just come to the forefront, from losing their way in increasingly complex struggles." [12]12 Quote from Deng Xiaoping, from his speech at the National Conference of the CPC in September 1985. Therefore, Deng Xiaoping proposed that cadres at all levels of the whole Party must "be familiar with the basic theories of Marxism, thereby strengthening the principled nature, systematic nature, foresight, and creativity of our work. Only in this way can our Party adhere to the socialist road, build and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics, and finally achieve our ultimate goal, realizing communism." [13]13 Quote from Deng Xiaoping, same source as above. Deng Xiaoping's thought shows that theoretical sobriety and political firmness are highly unified. Political wavering often stems from theoretical confusion. The positive and negative experiences and lessons in the development of Marxism and socialism fully prove this point. As socialism with Chinese characteristics enters the New Era, facing heavy tasks of reform, development, and stability, complex contradictions, risks, and challenges, and enormous tests of governance, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasizes, "Communists must make reading Marxist classics and comprehending Marxist principles a life habit and a spiritual pursuit, using the classics to cultivate righteousness, refine thought, elevate realm, and guide practice." [14]14 Quote from Xi Jinping, from his speech at the celebration of the 200th anniversary of Marx's birth, May 2018.

掌握马克思主义基本理论，是运用马克思主义解决实际问题的前提。掌握和运用马克思主义基本理论是共产党人的看家本领，没有这个看家本领也就根本谈不上坚定理想信念，更谈不上推动事业发展。随着中国式现代化的持续推进，新情况新问题也会不断出现，需要通过学习和运用马克思主义基本理论来分析问题和解决问题，但也要看到，马克思主义理论从来都不是教条，而是行动的指南。这就要求我们要根据马克思主义的基本原则和基本方法，不断结合变化着的实际，探索解决新问题的答案，从而不断发展马克思主义理论本身。邓小平强调，“我们现在要建设有中国特色的社会主义，时代和任务不同了，要学习的新知识确实很多，这就更要求我们努力针对新的实际，掌握马克思主义基本理论。因为只有这样，才能提高我们运用它的基本原则基本方法，来积极探索解决新的政治经济社会文化基本问题的本领，既把我们的事业和马克思主义理论本身推向前进，也防止一些同志，特别是一些新上来的中青年同志在日益复杂的斗争中迷失方向”。因此，邓小平提出，全党各级干部都要“熟悉马克思主义的基本理论，从而加强我们工作中的原则性、系统性、预见性和创造性。只有这样，我们党才能坚持社会主义道路，建设和发展有中国特色的社会主义，一直达到我们的最后目的，实现共产主义”。邓小平的这一思想表明，理论上的清醒与政治上的坚定是高度统一的，政治上的动摇往往源自理论上的糊涂，马克思主义和社会主义发展历程中正反两个方面的经验教训，充分证明了这一点。中国特色社会主义进入新时代，面对繁重的改革发展稳定任务、复杂的矛盾风险挑战、巨大的治国理政考验，习近平总书记强调，“共产党人要把读马克思主义经典、悟马克思主义原理当作一种生活习惯、当作一种精神追求，用经典涵养正气、淬炼思想、升华境界、指导实践”。

Only by mastering Marxism can we correct erroneous tendencies in academic thought. After reform and opening up, some complex situations emerged in China's ideological and cultural field, and some specious theoretical viewpoints appeared. Some people lack interest in the various major theoretical issues raised in China's socialist modernization practice, and in their research on practical issues, they deviate from the Marxist direction. For example, some people are keen on talking about human value, humanitarianism, and so-called alienation. In fact, their interest is not in criticizing capitalism but in criticizing socialism. Deng Xiaoping, using Marxist positions, viewpoints, and methods, deeply analyzed the issues of alienation and humanitarianism, correcting the erroneous tendency that once seriously existed. Deng Xiaoping profoundly pointed out, "Humanitarianism, as a theoretical and moral issue, can of course and needs to be studied and discussed. But there are various kinds of humanitarianism. We should conduct a Marxist analysis, promote and practice socialist humanitarianism (which we called revolutionary humanitarianism during the revolutionary era), and criticize bourgeois humanitarianism." [15]15 Quote from Deng Xiaoping, from his speech "Concerning the Problem of 'Alienation' and Humanitarianism" in 1983. At the same time, Deng Xiaoping emphasized: "The bourgeoisie often flaunts how humanitarian they are, attacking socialism as anti-humanitarian. Talking about people divorced from these specific circumstances and specific tasks is not talking about real people but abstract people. This is not a Marxist attitude, and it will lead young people astray." [16]16 Quote from Deng Xiaoping, same source as above. Regarding "alienation," Deng Xiaoping pointed out, "Some comrades go beyond the scope of capitalism, and not even just targeting the remnants and consequences of capitalist labor alienation, but saying that alienation exists under socialism, in the economic field, the political field, and the ideological field. They believe that socialism, in its own development, due to the activities of the social subject itself, continuously produces alien forces. They also use this so-called overcoming of alienation to explain reform." [17]17 Quote from Deng Xiaoping, same source as above.

只有掌握马克思主义，才能纠正学术思想上的错误倾向。改革开放之后，我国思想文化领域出现了一些复杂情况，出现了一些似是而非的理论观点。有的人对我国社会主义现代化建设实践中提出的种种重大理论问题缺乏兴趣，在对现实问题的研究中，产生一些离开马克思主义方向的情况。比如，有的人热衷于谈论人的价值、人道主义和所谓异化。实际上，他们的兴趣不在于批评资本主义而在于批评社会主义。邓小平用马克思主义立场、观点、方法对异化和人道主义问题作了深刻分析，纠正了一度严重存在的错误倾向。邓小平深刻指出，“人道主义作为一个理论问题和道德问题，当然是可以和需要研究讨论的。但是人道主义有各式各样，我们应当进行马克思主义的分析，宣传和实行社会主义的人道主义（在革命年代我们叫革命人道主义），批评资产阶级的人道主义”。同时，邓小平强调：“资产阶级常常标榜他们如何讲人道主义，攻击社会主义是反人道主义，离开了这些具体情况和具体任务而谈人，这就不是谈现实的人而是谈抽象的人，就不是马克思主义的态度，就会把青年引入歧途。”关于“异化”，邓小平指出，“有些同志却超出资本主义的范围，甚至也不只是针对资本主义劳动异化的残余及其后果，而是说社会主义存在异化，经济领域、政治领域、思想领域都存在异化，认为社会主义在自己的发展中，由于社会主体自身的活动，不断产生异己的力量。他们还用克服这种所谓异化的观点来解释改革”。

Speaking in this way not only fails to help people correctly understand and solve the various problems emerging in contemporary socialist society, but also fails to help people correctly understand and carry out the reforms that are necessary for technological progress and social progress in socialist society. Deng Xiaoping emphasized that this erroneous "alienation" theory "will only lead people to criticize, doubt, and negate socialism, making people lose confidence in the future of socialism and communism, and think that socialism is as hopeless as capitalism. If so, what is the point of engaging in socialism!" [18]18 Quote from Deng Xiaoping, same source as above. Marxism needs to develop, socialist theory needs to develop, and they need to move forward with the development of human social practice and science. However, the theory of abstract humanitarianism and the erroneous view of "alienation" are not moving forward, but moving backward, even back to before Marxism. Deng Xiaoping scientifically expounded the Marxist theory of alienation and the Marxist view of humanity, criticized abstract humanitarianism and the erroneous view of "alienation," playing a role of radical reform [19]19 "Radical reform" (正本清源) is a four-character idiom meaning to radically reform or clarify the source; here it means to correct fundamental errors and return to the correct original principles.. In stark contrast, the abstract humanitarian trend of thought in the Soviet Union was not effectively curbed, becoming one of the important reasons for ideological confusion and social fragmentation. In October 1963, targeting the serious spread of abstract humanitarianism in Soviet society, Western Marxist scholar Louis Althusser once issued such a warning: "Any attempt to cite Marx to restore the theory of humanism or humanitarianism is theoretically futile in the end. And in practice, it can only build an ideological edifice before Marx, hindering the development of real history, and may lead history to a dead end." [20]20 Quote from Louis Althusser, from his essay "Marxism and Humanism" (1963). Althusser's warning became reality, and that reality was the drastic changes in Eastern Europe [21]21 The drastic changes in Eastern Europe (东欧剧变) refers to the series of revolutions and transitions from communist rule to liberal democracy in Eastern European countries in 1989. , the collapse of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union [22]22 The collapse of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (苏共垮台) refers to the dissolution of the CPSU and the end of one-party rule in the Soviet Union in 1991. , and the disintegration of the Soviet Union [23]23 The disintegration of the Soviet Union (苏联解体) refers to the formal dissolution of the Soviet Union as a federal state on December 26, 1991.. We firmly believe that truth will eventually defeat fallacy, light will eventually defeat darkness, and justice will eventually defeat evil. But within a certain time and space, once history is led to a dead end, there may be no chance to start anew.

这样讲，不但不可能帮助人们正确地认识和解决当前社会主义社会中出现的种种问题，也不可能帮助人们正确地认识和进行在社会主义社会中为技术进步、社会进步而需要不断进行的改革。邓小平强调，这种错误的“异化”理论，“只会引导人们去批评、怀疑和否定社会主义，使人们对社会主义、共产主义的前途失去信心，认为社会主义和资本主义一样地没有希望。既然如此，干社会主义还有什么意义呢!”马克思主义要发展，社会主义理论要发展，就需要随着人类社会实践的发展和科学的发展而向前发展。但是，抽象人道主义理论和错误的“异化”观，不是向前发展，而是向后倒退，甚至倒退到马克思主义以前去了。邓小平科学阐述了马克思主义异化理论和马克思主义人道观，批判了抽象人道主义和错误的“异化”观，起到了正本清源的作用。与此形成鲜明对照的是苏联的抽象人道主义思潮没有得到有效遏制，成为思想混乱、社会撕裂的重要原因之一。1963年10月，针对抽象人道主义思潮在苏联社会严重泛滥的局面，西方马克思主义学者阿尔都塞曾经发出这样的警告，“援引马克思的话来复辟人本学或人道主义的理论，任何这种企图在理论上始终是徒劳的。而实践中，它只能建立起马克思以前的意识形态大厦，阻碍真实历史的发展，并可能把历史引向绝路”。阿尔都塞的警告居然变成了现实，这个现实就是东欧剧变、苏共垮台、苏联解体。我们坚信真理终将战胜谬误、光明终将战胜黑暗、正义终将战胜邪恶。但就一定时空而言，历史一旦被引上绝路，便可能再无重生的机会。

Using the practice of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times to prove that the socialist system is superior to the capitalist system. When world socialism encountered major setbacks, Deng Xiaoping always remained confident in the prospects and future of socialist development: “Socialist countries must raise their productive forces to prove that the socialist system is superior to the capitalist system. Of course, it is not possible to prove this in a short period of time, nor is it easy to do so. China will use the twenty years of the end of this century plus fifty years of the next century, a total of seventy years, to strive to prove to the world that socialism is superior to capitalism. We must use the practice of developing productive forces and science and technology, and the practice of building cultural-ethical progress and material progress, to prove that the socialist system is superior to the capitalist system, and to make the people of developed capitalist countries realize that socialism is indeed better than capitalism.”[24]24 Deng Xiaoping, "Seize the Opportunity to Develop the Economy" (1990), in Selected Works of Deng Xiaoping, Vol. 3. This is a speech by Deng Xiaoping, the chief architect of China’s reform and opening up, concerning the long-term task of proving the superiority of socialism. The blueprint that Deng Xiaoping drew up back then is gradually being realized, and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is not far off; this is the greatest certainty in the changes unseen in a century. This greatest certainty, while changing China, is also changing the world. The Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party over the Past Century, adopted at the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the CPC,[25]25 The Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, held in November 2021, adopted a major historical resolution on the Party's achievements over the past century. profoundly expounded that this greatest certainty has brought about a major shift in the world: “The continuous success of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times has presented Marxism to the world in a brand-new image, and has brought about a major shift in the historical evolution and contest between two ideologies and two social systems—socialism and capitalism—worldwide, which is favorable to socialism.”[26]26 Cited from the Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party over the Past Century (2021). This major shift is a process of historical change in the two-way interaction between China and the world, fully demonstrating the scientific truth and strong vitality of Marxism. We must fully grasp the world-historical significance of this process of historical change. It can be said that “advancing the adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times is the fine tradition of our Party and an important experience that has enabled our Party to continuously move from success to glory.”[27]27 Quotation from a commentary on the Party's experience in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context. Based on this, in building a socialist cultural power, it is necessary to uphold the Two Integrations,[28]28 The Two Integrations refer to integrating the basic principles of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the fine traditional Chinese culture. This is a key concept in Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. so as to continuously write new chapters in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times.

用中国化时代化的马克思主义发展实践证明社会主义制度优于资本主义制度。在世界社会主义发展遭遇重大挫折的时候，邓小平对社会主义发展的前景和未来始终充满信心，“社会主义国家要把生产力搞上去，证明社会主义制度优于资本主义制度。当然，在较短的时间里不可能证明这一点，也难以证明这一点。我们中国要用本世纪末期的二十年，再加上下个世纪的五十年，共七十年的时间，努力向世界证明社会主义优于资本主义。我们要用发展生产力和科学技术的实践，用精神文明、物质文明建设的实践，证明社会主义制度优于资本主义制度，让发达的资本主义国家的人民认识到，社会主义确实比资本主义好”。邓小平当年擘画的蓝图正逐步实现，中华民族伟大复兴的实现已为期不远，这是世界百年未有之大变局的最大的确定性。这个最大的确定性在改变中国的同时也在改变着世界。党的十九届六中全会通过的《中共中央关于党的百年奋斗重大成就和历史经验的决议》深刻阐述了这个最大的确定性给世界带来了一个重大转变，“马克思主义中国化时代化不断取得成功，使马克思主义以崭新形象展现在世界上，使世界范围内社会主义和资本主义两种意识形态、两种社会制度的历史演进及其较量发生了有利于社会主义的重大转变”。这个重大转变是中国与世界双向互动的历史变革过程，充分证明了马克思主义的科学真理性和强大生命力，我们要充分认识这个历史变革过程的世界历史意义。可以说，“推进马克思主义中国化时代化，是我们党的优良传统，也是我们党不断从成功走向辉煌的重要经验”，基于此，在建设社会主义文化强国中需要坚持“两个结合”，以不断谱写马克思主义中国化时代化新篇章。

II. Scientifically Grasp the Wholeness of Socialist Culture with Chinese Characteristics

二、科学把握中国特色社会主义文化的整体性

The Decision[29]29 The Decision refers to the "Decision on Further Comprehensively Deepening Reform and Promoting Chinese-path Modernization" adopted at the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC in July 2024. emphatically points out: “Chinese-path modernization is the modernization of material and cultural-ethical progress coordinated. It is necessary to strengthen cultural confidence, develop advanced socialist culture, promote revolutionary culture, inherit the fine traditional Chinese culture, accelerate adaptation to the new situation of rapid development of information technology, cultivate and form a large-scale team of outstanding cultural talents, and stimulate the cultural innovation and creativity of the entire nation.”[30]30 Cited from the Decision of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee (2024). To develop socialist culture with Chinese characteristics and strengthen socialist cultural confidence, it is crucial to uphold and adhere to a certain cultural stance. Upholding the stance of Chinese culture requires us to promote the fine traditional Chinese culture, promote revolutionary culture, develop advanced socialist culture, and root cultural development in the great practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics. In the practice of cultural development, the wholeness of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics must not be severed, that is, the organic unity of advanced socialist culture, revolutionary culture, and the fine traditional Chinese culture must not be torn apart. Emphasizing the holistic grasp of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics is an important aspect of the CPC’s understanding of the laws governing the building of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics. A scholar points out: “In terms of sources and constituent elements, socialist culture with Chinese characteristics comprises three types of culture: the fine traditional Chinese culture; the revolutionary culture formed during the Party’s century-long struggle in revolution, construction, and reform, i.e., red culture; and the advanced socialist culture formed over the more than 70 years since the founding of the People’s Republic of China. However, these three types of culture are not independent of or separated from each other, but rather interpenetrate and intermingle. Revolutionary culture and advanced socialist culture undoubtedly inherit and carry forward the fine traditional Chinese culture, and advanced socialist culture is also a continuation and important component of revolutionary culture. Therefore, socialist culture with Chinese characteristics is the organic unity of these three types of culture.”[31]31 Quotation from a Chinese scholar’s analysis of the composition of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics.

《决定》强调指出：“中国式现代化是物质文明和精神文明相协调的现代化。必须增强文化自信，发展社会主义先进文化，弘扬革命文化，传承中华优秀传统文化，加快适应信息技术迅猛发展新形势，培育形成规模宏大的优秀文化人才队伍，激发全民族文化创新创造活力。”发展中国特色社会主义文化，坚定社会主义文化自信，坚持和坚定什么样的文化立场至关重要。坚定中华文化立场要求我们必须弘扬中华优秀传统文化、弘扬革命文化和发展社会主义先进文化、扎根中国特色社会主义伟大实践推进文化建设。在文化发展实践中，不能割裂中国特色社会主义文化的整体性，即不能割裂社会主义先进文化、革命文化和中华优秀传统文化的有机统一。注重从整体把握中国特色社会主义文化，这是中国共产党对中国特色社会主义文化建设规律性认识的重要内容。有学者指出，“从来源和构成要素上讲，中国特色社会主义文化共包含三种文化：中华优秀传统文化、中国共产党在革命建设改革的百年奋斗历程中形成的革命文化即红色文化、新中国70多年来形成的社会主义先进文化，但是这三种文化并不是各自独立、彼此分离的，而是相互贯通、彼此交融的。革命文化和社会主义先进文化，毫无疑问继承和弘扬了中华优秀传统文化，社会主义先进文化也是革命文化的延续和重要组成部分，因此，中国特色社会主义文化是这三种文化的有机统一”。

(1) Inheriting the Fine Traditional Chinese Culture

（一）传承中华优秀传统文化

Strengthening cultural confidence cannot be separated from carrying forward the fine traditional Chinese culture. Promoting the fine traditional Chinese culture is an important part of developing socialist culture with Chinese characteristics, and it is also the proper meaning of upholding the stance of Chinese culture. The fine traditional Chinese culture provides rich resources and beneficial nourishment for the building of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics in terms of value concepts and behavioral norms. Any tendency toward cultural nihilism is wrong and harmful. In dealing with Chinese traditional culture, one should not reduce contemporary China’s cultural development to a revival of Chinese traditional culture; this tendency fundamentally excludes the scientific nature and practical rationality of revolutionary culture and advanced socialist culture. Without creative transformation and innovative development, Chinese traditional culture can hardly meet the needs of the development of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics. “Cultural restorationism” is incompatible with the development of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics.[32]32 Cultural restorationism is a tendency that advocates returning to traditional Chinese culture as the sole basis for contemporary culture, rejecting revolutionary and advanced socialist culture. The founding of the People’s Republic of China not only liberated the Chinese nation and the Chinese people, but also liberated Chinese traditional culture, freeing it from the burden of defending the feudal system and creating a realistic basis for reflecting on and discarding the ideological dross of Chinese traditional culture. It is in this sense that Marxism, while saving China, also saved Chinese traditional culture. In contemporary China, it is the great practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics that determines the development of Chinese traditional culture, not the other way around.

坚定文化自信，离不开对中华优秀传统文化的发扬光大。弘扬中华优秀传统文化是发展中国特色社会主义文化的重要组成部分，也是坚持中华文化立场的应有之义。中华优秀传统文化在价值理念和行为规范等方面为中国特色社会主义文化建设提供了丰富资源和有益养分，任何文化虚无主义倾向都是错误和有害的。在对待中国传统文化问题上，不能将当代中国的文化发展归结为中国传统文化的复兴，这种倾向根本排除了革命文化和社会主义先进文化的科学性和现实合理性。离开创造性转化、创新性发展，中国传统文化很难适应中国特色社会主义文化发展的需要，“文化复古主义”与发展中国特色社会主义文化是格格不入的。新中国的成立不仅使中华民族、中国人民获得了解放，而且使中国传统文化获得了解放，中国传统文化摆脱了为封建制度辩护的负担，使反思和剔除中国传统文化的思想糟粕有了现实基础。正是从这个意义上说，马克思主义在救中国的同时，也拯救了中国传统文化。在当代中国，是中国特色社会主义伟大实践决定了中国传统文化的发展，而不是中国传统文化决定了中国特色社会主义事业的发展。

In dealing with the fine traditional Chinese culture, “it is necessary to handle the relationship between inheritance and creative development, focusing on creative transformation and innovative development,”[33]33 Xi Jinping, "Speech at the Forum on Literature and Art Work" (2014). so that it communicates and merges with contemporary culture and jointly serves the cause of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics. First, treat the fine traditional Chinese culture objectively and scientifically. When dealing with the fine traditional Chinese culture, one should neither one-sidedly advocate “valuing the past over the present” nor “valuing the present over the past,” nor adopt an absolutist attitude of total acceptance or total rejection. Second, scientifically distinguish the essence from the dross. The fine traditional Chinese culture requires coordination and adaptation with the socialist market economy, democratic politics, advanced culture, social governance, and so forth. It is necessary to adhere to “making the past serve the present,” “discarding the dross and selecting the essential,” “weeding out the old and bringing forth the new,”[34]34 These are four-character idioms summarizing principles for handling traditional culture: "making the past serve the present" (古为今用), "discarding the dross and selecting the essential" (辩证取舍), and "weeding out the old and bringing forth the new" (推陈出新). discard negative elements, and inherit positive ideas, “using the rules of the ancients to open up new prospects for oneself.”[35]35 A classical quotation from the Qing dynasty writer Li Yu, meaning to use established methods to create new forms. Third, base on the times and keep pace with the times. The fine traditional Chinese culture should not be staticized but integrated into the new era and new practice, so that it continuously radiates new vitality and vigor.

在对待中华优秀传统文化方面，“要处理好继承和创造性发展的关系，重点做好创造性转化和创新性发展”，使之与现实文化相通相融，共同服务于中国特色社会主义文化事业发展。第一，客观科学地对待中华优秀传统文化。对待中华优秀传统文化，既不能片面地讲厚古薄今，也不能片面地讲厚今薄古，更不能采取全盘接受或者全盘抛弃的绝对主义态度。第二，科学鉴别精华糟粕。中华优秀传统文化与社会主义市场经济、民主政治、先进文化、社会治理等存在需要协调适应的地方。要坚持古为今用、辩证取舍、推陈出新，摒弃消极因素，继承积极思想，“以古人之规矩，开自己之生面”。第三，立足时代与时俱进。不能将中华优秀传统文化静止化，要将中华优秀传统文化融入新的时代、新的实践，使之不断焕发新的生机与活力。

(2) Promoting Revolutionary Culture

（二）弘扬革命文化

Revolutionary culture is an important component of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics. It is both historical and contemporary. Revolutionary culture plays a very important role in cultivating ideals and convictions, shaping healthy personalities, and uniting the Party and the people. Revolutionary culture has a rich spiritual connotation and lofty spiritual pursuit; whether in the dark and turbulent war years or in the period of peaceful construction, it has been a powerful spiritual driving force for advancing the great cause.

革命文化是中国特色社会主义文化的重要组成部分，它是历史的，也是现实的。革命文化对培育理想信念、塑造健康人格、凝聚党心民心起着十分重要的作用。革命文化有着丰富的精神内涵和崇高的精神追求，不论在风雨如晦的战争年代，还是在和平建设时期，都是推进伟大事业的强大精神动力。

Revolutionary culture inherits and develops the fine traditional Chinese culture, is the source and living water of advanced socialist culture, is an important form that links the past and the future in the development of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics, and is an indispensable valuable resource for strengthening cultural confidence. Red resources[36]36 "Red resources" refer to sites, materials, and artifacts related to the CPC’s revolutionary history, used for education and commemoration. are important carriers of revolutionary culture. They witness the deepest and greatest social changes in Chinese history, record the glorious journey of the CPC leading the Chinese people to great victories, and are vivid teaching materials for patriotism and Party spirit education. First, it is necessary to carry forward the red tradition.[37]37 "Red tradition" refers to the revolutionary spirit and practices of the CPC during the war and early construction periods. The fine traditions and revolutionary spirit nurtured and tempered in revolutionary practice are important props for the CPC to grow from small to large, from weak to strong, and are also the “spiritual calcium”[38]38 "Spiritual calcium" is a metaphor used by Xi Jinping to describe the ideological conviction that prevents Communists from losing their moral backbone. for Communists to maintain their true character. No matter how the times develop, the red tradition must be carried forward, and strong strength drawn from it, to embark on the new Long March.[39]39 "New Long March" is a metaphor for the ongoing struggle to realize the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation, invoking the historical Long March (1934–1935). Second, it is necessary to inherit the red genes.[40]40 "Red genes" is a metaphor for the revolutionary heritage and values passed down from the CPC’s revolutionary era. Red genes are the common historical memory of the Chinese nation, the vivid representation of national independence, people’s liberation, and national prosperity, and have irreplaceable value for consolidating the Party’s ruling foundation and enhancing the broad masses’ identification with the CPC and socialism. It is necessary to inherit the red genes so that they permeate the blood and enter the heart, so that our Party never degenerates and our red river-and-mountain[41]41 "Red river-and-mountain" (红色江山) is a metaphor for the socialist regime and territory established by the CPC. never changes color.

革命文化继承并发展了中华优秀传统文化，是社会主义先进文化的源头活水，是中国特色社会主义文化发展进程中继往开来的重要形态，是坚定文化自信不可或缺的宝贵资源。红色资源是革命文化的重要载体，它见证了中国历史上最深刻最伟大的社会变革，记录了中国共产党领导中国人民取得伟大胜利的光辉历程，是开展爱国主义和党性教育的生动教材。第一，要发扬好红色传统。在革命实践中孕育和淬炼的优良传统和革命精神，是中国共产党由小到大、由弱到强的重要依靠，也是共产党人永葆本色的“精神钙质”。无论时代如何发展，都要发扬红色传统并从中汲取强大力量，走好新的长征路。第二，要传承好红色基因。红色基因是中华民族共同的历史记忆，是民族独立、人民解放和国家富强的生动再现，对巩固党的执政基础、增强广大人民群众对中国共产党和社会主义的认同，具有不可替代的价值。要传承好红色基因，使红色基因渗进血液、沁入心扉，使我们的党永远不变质、我们的红色江山永远不变色。

Promoting revolutionary culture also requires opposing the erroneous proposition of using reformism to negate revolution. Which is better, revolution or reformism? This is a major divergence between Marxist and non-Marxist social trends. Some people think revolution is bad because it involves bloodshed, while reformism has less impact on society and can solve social problems. Therefore, the trend of historical nihilism basically uses reformism to negate revolution. The Reform Movement of 1898[42]42 The Reform Movement of 1898 (Wuxu Reform) was a short-lived attempt at constitutional monarchy and modernisation in the late Qing dynasty, suppressed by the Empress Dowager. in the late Qing period was an attempt to promote social progress through reform. This involves the question of the nature of revolution. In a class society, revolution means one class overthrowing the rule of another class; this is the general law of revolution. As Lenin revealed about the revolutionary situation, the ruled class is unwilling to be ruled as before, and the ruling class can no longer rule as before; this is called the inevitability of revolution. Reformism, on the premise of maintaining the old system and old order, makes repairs to the old order and old regime. If such repairs are effective, there will be no revolution. In the situation where revolutionary development takes place, in the confrontation and decisive battle between classes, revolution is inevitable. Therefore, negating revolution often involves historical subjectivism, understanding and viewing history only from subjective wishes. The trend of historical nihilism negates the October Revolution, the New Democratic Revolution, and the Socialist Revolution,[43]43 The October Revolution (1917) in Russia; the New Democratic Revolution (1919–1949) led by the CPC; the Socialist Revolution (1950s) in China establishing socialism. but it never negates the English Bourgeois Revolution or the American Bourgeois Revolution.[44]44 The English Bourgeois Revolution (1640–1688) and the American Bourgeois Revolution (1775–1783) are selective negations by historical nihilism, which denies revolutions that led to socialist regimes. Therefore, historical nihilism’s negation of revolution is also selective.

弘扬革命文化，还要反对用改良否定革命的这一错误主张。到底是革命好还是改良好?这是马克思主义和非马克思主义社会思潮存在的重大分歧。有的人认为革命不好，因为革命有流血，改良对社会的震动小，能解决社会问题。所以，历史虚无主义思潮基本上都是用改良否定革命。晚清时期的维新运动，就是想用改良的办法推进社会进步。这里面涉及革命的性质问题。在阶级社会，革命意味着一个阶级推翻另一个阶级的统治，这是革命的一般规律。正如列宁所揭示的革命形势那样，被统治阶级不愿意照旧被统治下去了，统治阶级不能照旧统治下去了，这就叫革命的必然性。改良是在保持旧制度、旧有秩序的前提下，对旧秩序、旧政权进行修补，如果这种修补有效，就不会有革命。在革命形势发展的情况下，在阶级和阶级之间的对抗和决战的形势下，革命是不可避免的。所以，否定革命，往往是历史主观主义，只是从主观愿望出发理解历史、看待革命。历史虚无主义思潮否定的革命是十月革命、新民主主义革命和社会主义革命，但是他们从来不否定英国资产阶级革命、美国资产阶级革命，所以历史虚无主义否定革命也是选择性否定。

(3) Developing Advanced Socialist Culture

（三）发展社会主义先进文化

Advanced socialist culture has a very rich connotation, with its core being Marxism as its foundation and soul. The scientific nature of Marxism determines the nature and forward direction of socialist culture. In the practice of socialist cultural development, the scientific principles of Marxism must run through it. Whether this can be achieved is the touchstone for testing whether cultural work is done well, because “for a Communist, the real test is to see whether he understands how, where, and when to turn his Marxism into action.”[45]45 The provenance of this quotation is not specified in the original; it may be a paraphrase of a classic Marxist statement. The decisive superiority of advanced socialist culture over other types of culture lies in the fact that Marxist scientific ideological theory, the cultural principles of dialectical materialism and historical materialism, can all be fully verified in practice, in the development of scientific understanding, and in the practice of the people’s transformation of the world. Socialist culture always stands at the forefront of the times and leads the progress of the times, so it always faces modernization, the world, and the future. The advanced nature of socialist culture is also concentrated in its people-centered nature; serving the people is its core task, and it is essentially different from elite culture enjoyed only by a few. Advanced socialist culture is the inheritance and development of the fine traditional Chinese culture and revolutionary culture, and is a new type of culture in contemporary China. Developing advanced socialist culture is the proper meaning of strengthening cultural confidence and building a socialist cultural power, and it is also the spiritual support for carrying out the great struggle, building the great project, advancing the great cause, and realizing the great dream.[46]46 The "four greats" (四个伟大): great struggle, great project, great cause, and great dream—are key concepts in Xi Jinping’s political discourse.

社会主义先进文化有着十分丰富的内涵，其核心是以马克思主义为基础和灵魂。马克思主义的科学性，决定了社会主义文化的性质和前进方向。在社会主义文化发展实践中，要将马克思主义科学原理贯穿始终。能否做到这一点是检验能否做好文化工作的试金石，因为“对于一个共产党人来说，真正的考验就是看他是否懂得应该怎样、在什么地方、在什么时候将他的马克思主义变成行动”。社会主义先进文化较之其他类型文化具有决定意义的优越性就在于马克思主义科学的意识形态理论、辩证唯物主义和历史唯物主义的文化原理，都能在实践中、在科学认识的发展中、在人民群众改造世界的实践中得到全面验证。社会主义文化始终能够站在时代潮头、引领时代进步，所以它始终面向现代化、面向世界、面向未来。社会主义文化的先进性还集中体现在它的人民性，服务人民是它的核心任务，它与只供少数人享用的精英文化有着本质区别。社会主义先进文化是对中华优秀传统文化和革命文化的继承和发展，是当代中国的新文化类型。发展社会主义先进文化，是坚定文化自信、建设社会主义文化强国的题中应有之义，也是进行伟大斗争、建设伟大工程、推进伟大事业、实现伟大梦想的精神支撑。

Engels once pointed out, “Every advance in culture is a step towards freedom.”[47]47 Friedrich Engels, Anti-Dühring (1878). When discussing the prospects of socialist culture, the Marxist classical writers made many scientific and accurate predictions. The most important point is that in a socialist and communist society, people can freely exert their material and spiritual forces; the free and all-around development of human beings will become a reality; culture is the enjoyment of everyone, not the patent of a few; and the enjoyment of culture itself will become a powerful, effective, and indispensable cultural force. This is the socialist cultural ideal and cultural practice, and also the direction of human cultural development. To realize this cultural ideal, Marxist cultural theory first emphasizes the importance of scientific theoretical guidance. To this end, the Marxist classical writers waged a resolute struggle against various erroneous ideas and erroneous tendencies, actively safeguarding the advanced nature and purity of the working class and socialist culture. Lenin emphatically pointed out that if a Party organization cannot resolutely fight against erroneous ideas in cultural activities, “it will inevitably disintegrate, first ideologically and then materially.”[48]48 V. I. Lenin, "On Proletarian Culture" (1920).

恩格斯曾经指出，“文化上的每一个进步，都是迈向自由的一步”。马克思主义经典作家在论述社会主义文化前景时，曾经作过许多科学而准确的预言，最主要的一点就是在社会主义、共产主义社会，人可以自由地发挥自己的物质力量和精神力量，人的自由而全面的发展将成为现实，文化是每个人的享受，而不是少数人的专利，文化享受本身会成为一种强大的、有效的、不可或缺的文化力量。这就是社会主义文化理想和文化实践，也是人类文化发展的方向。为实现这一文化理想，马克思主义文化理论首先强调科学理论指导的重要性。为此，马克思主义经典作家同种种错误思想和错误倾向进行了坚决斗争，积极维护工人阶级和社会主义文化的先进性和纯洁性。列宁强调指出，党的组织如果不能坚决同文化活动中的错误思想作斗争，“它不可避免地会瓦解，首先是思想上瓦解，然后在物质上瓦解”。

Xi Jinping Thought on Culture has always emphasized the need to uphold the socialist cultural forward direction and to uphold and develop Marxist cultural theory. Xi Jinping Thought on Culture upholds Marxism’s guiding position in the ideological domain and creatively institutionalizes this thought, establishing the fundamental system of upholding Marxism’s guiding position in the ideological domain, emphasizing the need to uphold and improve the system for prospering and developing advanced socialist culture, and continuously consolidating the common ideological foundation for the unity and struggle of the entire people. General Secretary Xi Jinping especially emphasizes, “Taking Marxism as the guide is the fundamental hallmark that distinguishes Chinese philosophy and social sciences from other philosophy and social sciences; it must be upheld unequivocally.”[49]49 Xi Jinping, "Speech at the Forum on Philosophy and Social Sciences" (2016). This important statement has strong guiding significance for all cultural undertakings. Without the guidance of Marxism, our cultural development will lose its soul and correct direction.

习近平文化思想始终强调必须坚持社会主义文化前进方向，坚持和发展马克思主义文化理论。习近平文化思想坚持马克思主义在意识形态领域的指导地位并创造性地将这一思想制度化，创立了坚持马克思主义在意识形态领域指导地位的根本制度，强调坚持和完善繁荣发展社会主义先进文化的制度，不断巩固全体人民团结奋斗的共同思想基础。习近平总书记特别强调，“坚持以马克思主义为指导，是当代中国哲学社会科学区别于其他哲学社会科学的根本标志，必须旗帜鲜明加以坚持”。这一重要论述对各项文化事业发展均具有很强的指导意义，离开了马克思主义指导，我们的文化发展就会失去灵魂和正确方向。

(4) Holistically Grasping the Inheritability, Timeliness, and Internationality of Cultural Development

（四）整体把握文化发展的继承性、时代性和世界性

Historical materialism reveals the general laws of cultural development, mainly reflected in the inheritability, timeliness, and internationality of cultural development. The inheritability of culture refers to the commonality and intercommunication of content and form of culture across different historical periods; that is, a viable culture is often transmitted from generation to generation, and Chinese culture is such a culture. The timeliness of culture means that cultural development often bears the imprint of the times, and the economic, political, and social development of a certain era will be reflected in culture. The internationality of culture refers to the fact that cultures of different nations and countries often influence each other. The historical development of Marxist cultural theory reflects the laws of cultural development. Lenin pointed out: “The entire experience of modern history, especially the revolutionary struggle of the proletariat of all countries for more than half a century since the publication of the Communist Manifesto,[50]50 The Communist Manifesto (1848) by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. has indisputably proved that only the Marxist worldview correctly reflects the interests, views, and culture of the revolutionary proletariat… Marxism, this revolutionary proletarian ideological system, has achieved world-historical significance because it did not discard the most precious achievements of the bourgeois era, but on the contrary, absorbed and transformed everything valuable in the development of human thought and culture over the past two thousand years. Only on this basis, in this direction, and inspired by the actual experience of the dictatorship of the proletariat, can further work be considered the development of a truly proletarian culture.”[51]51 V. I. Lenin, "On Proletarian Culture" (1920).

历史唯物主义揭示了文化发展的一般规律，主要体现为文化发展的继承性、时代性和世界性。文化的继承性指的是不同历史时期的文化在内容和形式上具有共同性和共通性，也就是说，一种有生命力的文化往往是世代传承的，中华文化就是这样一种文化。文化的时代性，就是文化发展往往打上时代的烙印，一定时代的经济、政治、社会的发展都会在文化上有所表现。文化的世界性指的是不同民族、不同国家的文化往往是相互影响的。马克思主义文化理论的历史发展体现了文化发展规律。列宁指出，“现代历史的全部经验，特别是《共产党宣言》发表后半个多世纪以来世界各国无产阶级的革命斗争，都无可争辩地证明，只有马克思主义的世界观才正确地反映了革命无产阶级的利益、观点和文化……马克思主义这一革命无产阶级的思想体系赢得了世界历史性的意义，是因为它并没有抛弃资产阶级时代最宝贵的成就，相反却吸收和改造了两千多年来人类思想和文化发展中一切有价值的东西。只有在这个基础上，按照这个方向，在无产阶级专政的实际经验的鼓舞下继续进行工作，才能认为是发展真正的无产阶级文化”。

Therefore, concocting one’s own special culture and shutting oneself up in an isolated organization is theoretically wrong and practically harmful. Marxist cultural theory emphasizes the need to understand and grasp the unity of inheritability, timeliness, and internationality of cultural development, and not to sever the organic unity of the three. Otherwise, it may violate the laws of cultural development and thus hinder the healthy development of culture. Xi Jinping Thought on Culture follows the laws of cultural development revealed by historical materialism, combines the contemporary characteristics and practical process of China’s cultural development, creatively applies the inheritability, timeliness, and internationality of culture, and puts forward a series of cultural theories. In terms of inheritability, Xi Jinping Thought on Culture emphasizes that to develop socialist culture with Chinese characteristics, it is necessary to inherit and carry forward the fine traditional Chinese culture, and to combine the basic principles of Marxism with the fine traditional Chinese culture. In terms of timeliness, Xi Jinping Thought on Culture emphasizes that only by standing at the forefront of the times and leading the trend can cultural-ethical progress exert greater power; it emphasizes that culture, especially literature and art, should reflect the times and praise the times, especially reflecting and praising the New Era of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and continuously writing new epics of Chinese culture. In terms of internationality, it emphasizes the importance of world cultural exchange and integration, and the need to strengthen cultural exchanges between nations and countries with a more open attitude, to maintain the diversity of world cultures, to promote the integration and mutual learning of different cultures, and also to actively respond to intricate cultural confrontations. We emphasize the need to holistically grasp the inheritability, timeliness, and internationality of culture, that is, to correctly handle the issue of “ancient and modern, Chinese and foreign” in culture. To this end, it is necessary to deeply grasp this new height of understanding of the laws of building socialist culture with Chinese characteristics embodied in Xi Jinping Thought on Culture; analyze from the theoretical level the historical and major contemporary issues facing the building of a socialist cultural power; respond from the systemic level to the questions posed by China, the world, the people, and the times[52]52 "Questions posed by China, the world, the people, and the times" (中国之问、世界之问、人民之问、时代之问) is a formula used in official discourse to indicate the comprehensive nature of the challenges facing socialist cultural development. in the building of a socialist cultural power; and promote the resolution of socialist cultural construction issues in the process of Chinese-path modernization.

因此，臆造自己的特殊文化，把自己关在与世隔绝的组织中，在理论上是错误的，在实践上是有害的。马克思主义文化理论强调要将文化发展的继承性、时代性和世界性统一起来加以理解和把握，不能割裂三者的有机统一，否则，就有可能违背文化发展规律，从而妨碍文化的健康发展。习近平文化思想遵循历史唯物主义揭示的文化发展规律，结合我国文化发展的时代特点和实践进程，创造性运用文化的继承性、时代性和世界性，提出了一系列文化理论。在继承性上，习近平文化思想强调发展中国特色社会主义文化，必须传承、弘扬好中华优秀传统文化，必须将马克思主义基本原理同中华优秀传统文化结合起来。在时代性上，习近平文化思想强调只有站在时代前沿，引领风气之先，精神文明建设才能发挥更大威力；强调文化特别是文学艺术要反映时代、讴歌时代，尤其要反映、讴歌中国特色社会主义新时代，不断谱写中华文化新史诗。在世界性上，强调世界文化交流交融的重要性，要以更加开放的姿态加强民族间、国家间的文化交流，维护世界文化多样性，促进不同文化的相互交融、取长补短，同时也要积极应对错综复杂的文化交锋。我们强调要整体把握文化的继承性、时代性和世界性，就是强调要正确处理好文化上的“古今中外”问题。对此，需要深刻把握习近平文化思想这一对中国特色社会主义文化建设规律的新高度的认识，从学理层面剖析社会主义文化强国建设面临的历史性课题和重大时代课题，从体系层面回应社会主义文化强国建设面临的中国之问、世界之问、人民之问、时代之问，推动中国式现代化进程中社会主义文化建设问题的解答。

III. Strive to Enhance National Cultural Soft Power and the Influence of Chinese Culture

三、着力提升国家文化软实力和中华文化影响力

To advance the building of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics, it is necessary to correctly handle the issues of exchange, integration, and confrontation between Chinese culture and other cultures in the world. The key is to make efforts to enhance national cultural soft power and the influence of Chinese culture, so that socialist culture with Chinese characteristics can be spread and resound in the world. This is also an important aspect of the CPC’s understanding of the laws governing the advancement of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics. The Decision[53]53 See note [29] above. focuses on “enhancing national cultural soft power and the influence of Chinese culture,”[54]54 Cited from the Decision of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee (2024). pointing the direction for strengthening the influence and comparative advantages of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics in the process of world development. Enhancing national cultural soft power and the influence of Chinese culture concerns the coordinated development of the “two civilizations,”[55]55 "Two civilizations" (两个文明) refers to material civilization and cultural-ethical progress (spiritual civilization). concerns the positioning and status of Chinese culture in the global cultural landscape, and concerns the benign interaction between Chinese culture and world culture.

推进中国特色社会主义文化建设，要正确把握好中国文化与世界上其他文化的交流、交融、交锋问题，其关键是要在提升国家文化软实力和中华文化影响力上下功夫，通过提升国家文化软实力和中华文化影响力，使中国特色社会主义文化在世界上传得开、传得响。这也是中国共产党对推进中国特色社会主义文化建设的规律性认识的重要内容。《决定》聚焦“提升国家文化软实力和中华文化影响力”，为增强中国特色社会主义文化在世界发展进程中的影响力和比较优势指明了方向。提升国家文化软实力和中华文化影响力，关系“两个文明”协调发展，关系中华文化在世界文化格局中的定位和地位，关系中国文化和世界文化的良性互动。

(1) Focus on Bringing into Play the Social Functions and Communication Effects of Culture

（一）注重发挥文化的社会功能和传播效应

Culture plays a unique social function in human social life, and at the same time, culture also plays an important role in communication – this is the fundamental reason for the existence and development of cultural soft power. The development and progress of human society has a holistic character; the contradictory movement of productive forces and relations of production, of the economic base and the superstructure, constantly drives human society forward. As part of the superstructure, culture inevitably changes and progresses along with this contradictory movement, and the change and progress of culture in turn inevitably plays a huge role in promoting social development. Classical Marxist writers emphasized, "Does it require deep intuition to comprehend that man‘s ideas, views and conceptions, in one word, man’s consciousness, changes with every change in the conditions of his material existence, in his social relations and in his social life? What else does the history of ideas prove, than that intellectual production changes its character in proportion as material production is changed? The ruling ideas of each age have ever been the ideas of its ruling class. When people speak of ideas that revolutionize society, they do but express the fact that within the old society, the elements of a new one have been created, and that the dissolution of the old ideas keeps even pace with the dissolution of the old conditions of existence." [56]56 The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence: mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence, first proposed by China in the 1950s. Historical materialism emphasizes the decisive role of the economy, but it also attaches great importance to the role of culture; one cannot pin the label "economic determinism" on historical materialism. Engels stressed, "What all these gentlemen lack is dialectics. They always see only here cause, there effect. That this is a hollow abstraction, that such metaphysical polar opposites exist in the real world only during crises, while the whole great process proceeds in the form of interaction (though of very unequal forces, the economic movement being by far the strongest, most elemental, most decisive), and that here nothing is absolute, everything is relative – for them Hegel never existed…"; "Political, juridical, philosophical, religious, literary, artistic, etc., development is based on economic development. But all of these react upon one another and also upon the economic base. It is not that the economic situation is the sole active cause and everything else is merely a passive effect. There is an interaction on the basis of economic necessity, which in the last instance always asserts itself." [57]57 Classical idioms from the Chinese Confucian tradition, emphasizing neighborly kindness, trustworthiness, and harmony among all states. Engels also pointed out, "There is also the stupid notion of the ideologists that because we deny an independent historical development to the various ideological spheres which play a part in history, we also deny them any effect upon history. The basis of this is a common undialectical conception of cause and effect as rigidly opposed poles, the absolute ignoring of interaction. These gentlemen often almost deliberately forget that once an historical factor has been brought into the world by other, ultimately economic causes, it reacts, can react upon its environment and even upon the causes that produced it." The essence of "economic determinism" is to sever the organic unity and interaction of politics, economy, and culture. "In the interaction of politics, economy, and culture, Marxism-Leninism always emphasizes and insists on the determining significance of economic conditions; culture cannot be separated from society or placed above it; it has always belonged to society and to the era; it arises from society and the era, and serves a given society and era."

文化在人类社会生活中发挥着独特的社会功能，同时，文化还起着重要的传播作用，这是文化软实力存在和发展的基础原因。人类社会的发展进步具有整体性特征，生产力与生产关系、经济基础与上层建筑的矛盾运动不断推动着人类社会向前发展，作为上层建筑的文化必然随着这个矛盾运动不断变革进步，而文化的变革进步也必然对社会发展起着巨大的推动作用。马克思主义经典作家强调，“思想的历史除了证明精神生产随着物质生产的改造而改造，还证明了什么呢?任何一个时代的统治思想始终都不过是统治阶级的思想。当人们谈到使整个社会革命化的思想时，他们只是表明了一个事实：在旧社会内部已经形成了新社会的因素，旧思想的瓦解是同旧生活条件的瓦解步调一致的”。历史唯物主义强调经济的决定性作用，也十分重视文化的作用，不能将“经济决定论”这个帽子扣在历史唯物主义头上。恩格斯强调指出：“所有这些先生们所缺少的东西就是辩证法。他们总是只在这里看到原因，在那里看到结果。他们从来看不到：这是一种空洞的抽象，这种形而上学的两极对立在现实世界只存在于危机中，而整个伟大的发展过程是在相互作用的形式中进行的（虽然相互作用的力量很不相等：其中经济运动是最强有力的、最本原的、最有决定性的），这里没有什么是绝对的，一切都是相对的。对他们说来，黑格尔是不存在的……”；“政治、法、哲学、宗教、文学、艺术等的发展是以经济发展为基础的。但是，它们又都互相作用并对经济基础发生作用。并不是只有经济状况才是原因，才是积极的，而其余一切都不过是消极的结果。这是在归根到底不断为自己开辟道路的经济必然性的基础上的相互作用”。恩格斯还指出，“与此有关的还有思想家们的一个愚蠢观念。这就是：因为我们否认在历史中起作用的各种意识形态领域有独立的历史发展，所以我们也否认它们对历史有任何影响。这是由于通常把原因和结果非辩证地看作僵硬对立的两极，完全忘记了相互作用。这些先生常常几乎是故意地忘记，一种历史因素一旦被其他的、归根到底是经济的原因造成了，它也就起作用，就能够对它的环境，甚至对产生它的原因发生反作用”。“经济决定论”的本质是割裂政治、经济、文化的有机统一和交互作用，“在政治、经济、文化的交互中，马克思列宁主义始终强调和坚持经济条件的决定意义，文化不能脱离社会或凌驾于社会之上，它从来都是属于社会、属于时代的，它产生于社会和时代，又为一定的社会和时代服务”。

Xi Jinping Thought on Culture inherits the intellectual tradition of Marxist cultural theory, attaching particular importance to the social function of culture, and emphasizing that culture is an important force for the survival and development of a nation. First, culture is the spiritual support for a nation's survival. General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed, "In the vicissitudes of several thousand years of history, the Chinese nation has never had smooth sailing; it has encountered countless hardships and difficulties, but we have all endured and come through. A very important reason for this is that generation after generation of Chinese sons and daughters have cultivated and developed a unique, profound, and extensive Chinese culture, which has provided a powerful spiritual support for the Chinese nation to overcome difficulties and perpetuate itself." Second, culture is the spiritual force for national rejuvenation. Without the flourishing and prosperity of Chinese culture, there can be no great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation; the rejuvenation of a nation requires both a powerful material force and a powerful spiritual force; without the active guidance of an advanced culture, without the great enrichment of the people's spiritual world, without the continuous strengthening of the nation's spiritual strength, a country or a nation cannot stand proudly among the nations of the world. Third, cultural confidence is an important prerequisite and important content of political confidence. Enhancing cultural consciousness and cultural confidence is an inherent requirement for strengthening confidence in the path, confidence in the theory, and confidence in the system. Indulging in the set of "de-ideologization," "de-valorization," "de-historicization," "de-Sinicization," and "de-mainstreaming" definitely has no future.

习近平文化思想秉承马克思主义文化理论的思想传统，特别重视文化的社会功能，强调文化是民族生存和发展的重要力量。首先，文化是民族生存的精神支撑。习近平总书记强调，“在几千年的历史流变中，中华民族从来不是一帆风顺的，遇到了无数艰难困苦，但我们都挺过来、走过来了，其中一个很重要的原因就是世世代代的中华儿女培育和发展了独具特色、博大精深的中华文化，为中华民族克服困难、生生不息提供了强大精神支撑”。其次，文化是民族复兴的精神力量。没有中华文化繁荣兴盛，就没有中华民族伟大复兴；一个民族的复兴需要强大的物质力量，也需要强大的精神力量；没有先进文化的积极引领，没有人民精神世界的极大丰富，没有民族精神力量的不断增强，一个国家、一个民族不可能屹立于世界民族之林。再次，文化自信是政治自信的重要前提和重要内容。增强文化自觉和文化自信，是坚定道路自信、理论自信、制度自信的题中应有之义，热衷于“去思想化”“去价值化”“去历史化”“去中国化”“去主流化”那一套，绝对是没有前途的。

(II) Paying Attention to the Construction and Dissemination of Institutional Culture

（二）注重制度文化的建设与传播

The state system is the foundation and core of a country's cultural soft power and cultural influence. The system of socialism with Chinese characteristics has laid a unique advantage for enhancing the country's cultural soft power and the influence of Chinese culture. Therefore, we should pay attention to the condensation, construction, and dissemination of institutional culture. That is to say, we cannot allow the construction of cultural soft power and the external dissemination of culture to separate from the most fundamental and most important things of the socialist state. The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC emphasized the need to "accelerate the construction of a Chinese discourse and Chinese narrative system." An important part of this construction is to build a Chinese discourse and narrative system for institutional culture. This is, of course, a very difficult task, but no matter how difficult, we must face the challenge; we must disseminate Chinese institutional culture well; otherwise, we will not be able to explain why the "two miracles" [58]58 Refers to the “Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese Path to Modernization,” adopted at the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee. occurred. "Developing whole-process people's democracy is an essential requirement of Chinese-path modernization. We must unswervingly follow the path of political development with Chinese characteristics, adhere to and improve the fundamental political system, basic political system, and important political systems of our country, enrich the forms of democracy at all levels, and concretely and realistically embody the fact that the people are the masters of the country in all aspects of national political life and social life." On the basis of comprehensively strengthening the construction of institutional culture, we should focus on strengthening the construction and dissemination of the institutional culture of whole-process people's democracy, and vigorously publicize and disseminate the breadth, authenticity, and effectiveness of socialist democracy with Chinese characteristics. On the issue of institutional culture, there is an essential difference between Marxism and liberalism. Liberalism believes that a country's cultural soft power is "Western constitutional democracy." The liberalist trend of thought holds that if China does not have "Western constitutional democracy," then China does not have national cultural soft power, and it does not recognize that China has advantages in institutional culture. We must clearly recognize the fundamental difference between constitutional democracy and people's democracy, and we must not pander to Western constitutional democratic culture while denying the culture of people's democracy. In fact, the international dissemination of institutional culture has always involved contradictions and struggles; we cannot abandon our due positions and principles for the sake of so-called "international recognition."

国家制度是国家文化软实力和文化影响力的基础与内核，中国特色社会主义制度为提升国家文化软实力和中华文化影响力奠定了独特优势，因此我们应注重制度文化的凝练、建设与传播。也就是说，不能使文化软实力建设和对外文化传播脱离社会主义国家最基础、最重要的东西。党的二十届三中全会强调要“加快构建中国话语和中国叙事体系”，这个构建的重要内容就是要构建中国制度文化话语和叙事体系。这当然是一件很不容易的事情，但再难也要迎难而上，传播好中国制度文化，否则我们就说不清为什么会有“两大奇迹”的发生。“发展全过程人民民主是中国式现代化的本质要求。必须坚定不移走中国特色社会主义政治发展道路，坚持和完善我国根本政治制度、基本政治制度、重要政治制度，丰富各层级民主形式，把人民当家作主具体、现实体现到国家政治生活和社会生活各方面。”我们在全面加强制度文化建设的基础上，要重点加强全过程人民民主制度文化的构建与传播，大力宣传和传播中国特色社会主义民主的广泛性、真实性和有效性。在制度文化问题上，马克思主义和自由主义有着本质区别，自由主义认为国家文化软实力是“西方宪政民主”。自由主义思潮认为中国没有“西方宪政民主”，中国就是没有国家文化软实力，不承认中国有制度文化优势。要认清宪政民主和人民民主的根本差异，不能迎合西方宪政民主文化而否定人民民主文化。事实上，制度文化的国际传播从来都有矛盾与斗争，不能为了所谓的“国际承认”而放弃我们应有的立场和原则。

Since the founding of New China 75 years ago, the CPC has continuously built and improved the socialist system, and has already constructed an institutional system composed of fundamental systems, basic systems, and important systems, providing a strong institutional guarantee for continuously advancing the socialist cause. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has systematically planned the construction of the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, promoted the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity, written a new chapter of the "Chinese system," created new glories of "Chinese governance," and provided a rich realistic basis for strengthening the construction and dissemination of institutional culture. First, in the New Era, China's various systems have become more mature and more stereotyped; the socialist institutional culture is increasingly perfected; the cultural atmosphere of consciously adhering to and upholding the socialist system has become stronger. The socialist system has been hard-won; adhering to and upholding the socialist system requires universal institutional confidence and cultural consciousness. In the practice of institutional construction in the New Era, General Secretary Xi Jinping has put forward a series of new concepts, new ideas, and new strategies, deepening the understanding of the laws governing the construction of the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, providing fundamental guidance for institutional construction in the New Era, and achieving the goal of "by the centenary of the founding of the Party, making obvious progress in making various systems more mature and more stereotyped." This is the source of confidence for firmer institutional confidence in the New Era. The broad masses of the people have profoundly realized from practice that whether they can adhere to and uphold the socialist system concerns the future and destiny of the Party and the state, and concerns the future and destiny of every individual, forming a good cultural atmosphere of being proud of adhering to and upholding the socialist system. Second, in the New Era, the "Chinese system" demonstrates significant comparative advantages, laying a practical foundation for telling the story of China's system well. In today's world, the root of "Chinese governance"

新中国成立75年来，中国共产党不断建设和完善社会主义制度，已经构建了由根本制度、基本制度和重要制度组成的制度体系，为不断推进社会主义事业发展提供了坚强的制度保障。党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央系统谋划中国特色社会主义制度建设、推进国家治理体系和治理能力现代化，谱写了“中国之制”新篇章，创造了“中国之治”新辉煌，为加强制度文化的建设与传播工作，提供了丰厚的现实土壤。第一，新时代我国各方面制度更加成熟、更加定型，社会主义制度文化日臻完善，自觉坚持和维护社会主义制度的文化氛围更加浓厚。社会主义制度来之不易，坚持和维护社会主义制度要有普遍的制度自信和文化自觉。在新时代制度建设实践中，习近平总书记提出了一系列新理念新思想新战略，深化了对中国特色社会主义制度建设规律的认识，为新时代制度建设提供了根本遵循，实现了“到我们党成立一百年时，在各方面制度更加成熟更加定型上取得明显成效”的目标，这是新时代制度自信更加坚定的底气。广大人民群众从实践中深刻体会到，能否做到坚持和维护社会主义制度，事关党和国家的前途命运，事关每一个人的前途命运，形成了以坚持和维护社会主义制度为荣的良好文化氛围。第二，新时代“中国之制”彰显显著比较优势，为讲好中国制度故事奠定了实践基础。当今世界，“中国之治”与“西方之乱”的根源在制度差异，世界动荡、战乱的残酷现实不断教育着世界人民，不断突显帝国主义这个战争“策源地”的制度弊端。“中国之制”不仅带来“中国之治”，也给变乱交织的世界增添更多的稳定性和确定性。

(III) Emphasizing the Construction and Dissemination of a “Peaceful Development” Culture

（三）注重“和平发展”文化的建设与传播

Chinese-path modernization is a modernization that follows the path of peaceful development, which is determined by the socialist nature of our country and its institutional system. In the historical process of advancing Chinese-path modernization, we have formed a corresponding culture of “peaceful development,” whose core meaning is not to develop oneself at the expense of the interests of other countries and regions, nor to use war as a means of seeking development, but to emphasize win-win cooperation, common development, and coordinated development. In his speech at the symposium commemorating the 120th anniversary of Comrade Deng Xiaoping’s birth, General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed: “China is a staunch force for maintaining world peace. We must always hold high the banner of peace, development, cooperation, and win-win, promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, carry forward the common values of all mankind, implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative, actively participate in the reform and construction of the global governance system, and continuously provide new opportunities for the world with new progress in Chinese-path modernization.” In stark contrast, some Western countries have long pursued hegemonism, long practiced national egoism, and long squeezed, bullied, and dominated other countries, especially developing countries, maintaining an unequal international political and economic order and forming a hegemonic cultural tradition. We must use the culture of “peaceful development” to wage an unremitting struggle against hegemonic culture, and construct and disseminate our culture of “peaceful development” well. The struggle between the culture of “peaceful development” and hegemonic culture is in essence a struggle between the two ideologies of socialism and capitalism. We must grasp the imperialist nature of hegemonic culture, and expose from both moral and practical perspectives the extreme egoistic manifestations of hegemonic culture and its enormous destructive effect on world development.

中国式现代化是走和平发展道路的现代化，这是由我国社会主义国家性质及其制度体系决定的。在推进中国式现代化的历史进程中，我们形成了与之相应的“和平发展”文化，它的核心意涵是不以牺牲其他国家和地区利益发展自己，更不将战争作为谋求发展的手段，强调合作共赢、共同发展、协调发展。习近平总书记在纪念邓小平同志诞辰120周年座谈会上的讲话中强调指出：“中国是维护世界和平的坚定力量。我们要始终高举和平、发展、合作、共赢旗帜，推动构建人类命运共同体，弘扬全人类共同价值，落实全球发展倡议、全球安全倡议、全球文明倡议，积极参与全球治理体系改革和建设，不断以中国式现代化新进展为世界提供新机遇。”与此形成鲜明对照的是，西方一些国家长期奉行霸权主义，长期实行国家利己主义，长期对其他国家特别是发展中国家压榨、霸凌，维护不平等的国际政治经济秩序，形成了霸权主义文化传统。我们要用“和平发展”文化同霸权主义文化进行不懈斗争，建设和传播好我们的“和平发展”文化。“和平发展”文化同霸权主义文化的斗争的实质是社会主义和资本主义两种意识形态的斗争，要抓住霸权主义文化的帝国主义本质，从道义上和实践上揭露霸权主义文化的极端利己主义表现及其对世界发展的巨大破坏作用。

In today’s era of globalization, the implementation of cultural hegemony refers to a situation where a country, when its own economic development is in an advantageous position relative to other countries, driven by economic interests and political hegemonic will, uses its own cultural resources to influence, infiltrate, and invade the cultures of other countries, thereby forming a relationship of control and being controlled in culture. That is to say, cultural hegemony embodies a power relationship of control and being controlled; the implementation of cultural hegemony must take strong culture as a basic condition, while its fundamental basis is a strong economic strength, and its core driving force is a strong desire for political hegemony. The contemporary expansion of Western cultural hegemony is mainly manifested in three aspects: first, spreading and promoting to the world what they consider to be superior Western cultural values is the main manifestation and important content of Western cultural hegemony; second, it generally uses such values as freedom, democracy, and human rights as means and tools; third, promoting the global spread and complete victory of Western cultural values is the basic goal of Western hegemonism. Cultural hegemonism is not only the main manifestation and content of Western hegemonism, but also its important tool. To respect the diversity of world cultures, we must overcome and oppose cultural hegemonism, respect the cultures of all ethnic groups, inherit and develop the excellent cultures of our own nation, and create new cultures to add new content to human culture.

在当今全球化时代，推行文化霸权是指一个国家在其自身经济发展到相对其他国家而处于优势地位的条件下，由于经济利益和政治霸权意志的驱动，运用自身的文化资源对其他国家的文化加以影响、渗透和侵略，从而形成控制与被控制的文化关系。就是说，文化霸权体现的是一种控制与被控制的权力关系，文化霸权的推行必须以强势文化为基本条件，而其根本基础则是强大的经济实力，其核心动力则是强烈的政治霸权欲望。当代西方文化霸权扩张主要表现在三个方面：第一，向世界推广传播自认为优秀的西方文化价值观是西方文化霸权的主要表现和重要内容；第二，一般是以自由、民主、人权等价值观为手段和工具；第三，推动西方文化价值观的全球传播和全面胜利是西方霸权主义的基本目标。文化霸权主义既是西方霸权主义的主要表现和内容，又是其重要工具。尊重世界文化的多样性，必须克服和反对文化霸权主义，尊重各民族自己的文化，继承和发展好本民族的优秀文化，并创造出新的文化，为人类文化增添新的内容。

Emphasizing the construction of a “peaceful development” culture is completely consistent in spirit with the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind. China has a firm determination to adhere to the path of peaceful development, and has put forward the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind in its diplomatic work. [56]56 The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence: mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence, first proposed by China in the 1950s. The two are actually of the same origin, not only because both are rooted in the concepts of “kindness and good-neighborliness,” “keeping good faith and cultivating harmony,” and “harmony among all nations” [57]57 Classical idioms from the Chinese Confucian tradition, emphasizing neighborly kindness, trustworthiness, and harmony among all states. contained in the excellent traditional Chinese culture, but also because both have nurtured China’s spiritual character of self-confidence and self-reliance, upholding justice, and helping the weak and promoting good in the international community, and also reflect the world sentiment of Chinese Communists to make new and greater contributions to mankind. It can be said that the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind is the inheritance, promotion, and sublimation of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence under the new circumstances.

注重“和平发展”文化的建设与构建人类命运共同体理念在精神上是完全一致的。中国拥有坚持走和平发展道路的坚定决心，在外交工作中提出和平共处五项原则与构建人类命运共同体理念。两者其实是一脉相承的，不仅因为两者都根植于中华优秀传统文化中蕴含的亲仁善邻、讲信修睦、协和万邦等理念，也因为两者不仅涵养了中国在国际社会中自信自立、坚持正义、扶弱扬善的精神风骨，也体现了中国共产党人为人类作出新的更大贡献的世界情怀，可以说，构建人类命运共同体理念是新形势下和平共处五项原则的传承、弘扬与升华。

(IV) Raising the Development Level of the Cultural Industry

（四）提高文化产业发展水平

The “Decision” [58]58 Refers to the “Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese Path to Modernization,” adopted at the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee. emphasizes the need to “improve the cultural industry system and market system, and perfect cultural economic policies.” This will greatly promote the development of China’s cultural industry, having not only important economic significance but also important cultural significance. Cultural products are different from other products; cultural products often carry certain cultural traditions and values, and consuming certain cultural products often means being influenced by certain cultural traditions and values. Since reform and opening up, foreign cultural products such as movies, TV series, books, and games have entered the Chinese cultural market one after another, exerting a considerable influence on the thinking and concepts of Chinese people, especially young people. In contrast, the market share of Chinese cultural products in foreign cultural markets is relatively low, restricting the international dissemination of Chinese culture and values. In recent years, China’s cultural industry has made considerable progress, but the internationalization level of cultural products remains low, which has also become a weakness in China’s cultural soft power. Therefore, accelerating the development of the cultural industry and raising the internationalization level of Chinese cultural products is of great significance for improving the level of national soft power construction.

《决定》强调要“健全文化产业体系和市场体系，完善文化经济政策”。这将对我国文化产业发展起到巨大的推动作用，不仅具有重要的经济意义，而且具有重要的文化意义。文化产品同其他产品不同，文化产品往往承载着一定的文化传统和价值观念，消费一定的文化产品往往就会受到一定文化传统和价值观念的影响。改革开放以来，国外的电影、电视剧、图书、游戏等文化产品纷纷进入中国文化市场，对中国人特别是青少年的思想观念产生了很大影响。相比之下，我国文化产品在国外文化市场的占有率相对较低，制约了中国文化和价值观念在国际上的传播。近年来，我国文化产业取得了长足进步，但文化产品的国际化水平仍然不高，这也成为我国文化软实力的短板。因此，加快文化产业发展、提高我国文化产品的国际化水平，对提高国家软实力建设水平意义重大。

To accelerate the development of the cultural industry, the following tasks should be emphasized. First, we must optimize the supply mechanism for cultural services and cultural products, establish a mechanism for directly bringing high-quality cultural resources to the grassroots level, continuously improve the mechanism for social forces to participate in public cultural services, advance the reform separating the ownership and use rights of public cultural facilities, and improve the working mechanisms for the production, service, guidance, and organization of literary and artistic creation. Second, we must improve the cultural industry system and market system, accelerate the development of new forms of cultural business, and improve the institutional mechanisms for the deep integration of culture and tourism. Third, we must build a more effective international communication system, accelerate the construction of a multi-channel, three-dimensional external communication pattern, promote the facilitation of management for “going global and bringing in,” [59]59 A policy approach for international cultural exchanges: “going global” refers to Chinese culture and enterprises expanding abroad; “bringing in” refers to attracting foreign resources and talents. and continuously expand international people-to-people and cultural exchanges and cooperation. Fourth, we must raise the internationalization level of the cultural industry, and disseminate China’s excellent culture and value concepts well through the internationalization of high-quality cultural products. We must promote the most basic cultural genes of the Chinese nation in ways that people like and that have broad participation, carry forward the cultural spirit that transcends time, space, and national boundaries, is full of eternal charm, and has contemporary value, and disseminate the innovative achievements of contemporary Chinese culture that inherit excellent traditional culture while promoting the spirit of the times, and that are based on the country while facing the world. Fifth, we must strive to raise international discourse power. We must strengthen international communication capacity building, carefully construct an external discourse system, give full play to the role of new media, enhance the creativity, appeal, and credibility of external discourse, tell China’s story well, spread China’s voice well, and explain China’s characteristics well.

加快文化产业发展，要重点做好以下几个方面工作。第一，要优化文化服务和文化产品供给机制，通过建立优质文化资源直达基层机制，不断健全社会力量参与公共文化服务机制，推进公共文化设施所有权和使用权分置改革并改进文艺创作生产服务、引导、组织工作机制。第二，要健全文化产业体系和市场体系，加快发展新型文化业态，健全文化和旅游深度融合发展体制机制。第三，要构建更有效力的国际传播体系，加快构建多渠道、立体式对外传播格局，推动走出去、请进来管理便利化，不断扩大国际人文交流合作。第四，要提高文化产业的国际化水平，通过高质量文化产品的国际化，传播好中国优秀文化和中国价值理念。要把中华民族最基本的文化基因，以人们喜闻乐见、具有广泛参与性的方式推广开来，把跨越时空、超越国度、富有永恒魅力、具有当代价值的文化精神弘扬起来，把继承优秀传统文化又弘扬时代精神、立足本国又面向世界的当代中国文化创新成果传播出去。第五，要努力提高国际话语权。要加强国际传播能力建设，精心构建对外话语体系，发挥好新兴媒体作用，增强对外话语的创造力、感召力、公信力，讲好中国故事、传播好中国声音、阐释好中国特色。

IV. Conclusion

四、结语

A flourishing culture brings a flourishing nation; a strong culture brings a strong nation. “In an era of intense confrontation between Chinese and Western forces, the role of culture in invigorating the national spirit, uniting national strength, sustaining political identity, and safeguarding national security is fully highlighted.” The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC [60]60 The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC, held in July 2024, which adopted the “Decision” on further deepening reform. made major arrangements for deepening the reform of the cultural system and mechanism, which will undoubtedly greatly promote the development of socialist cultural undertakings with Chinese characteristics and greatly promote the coordinated development of material progress and cultural-ethical progress. Therefore, to implement the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC, we must first be full of confidence; the Chinese people have sufficient cultural confidence. At the same time, we should also see that there are still many contradictions and problems in the cultural field: the Party’s leadership, management, and discourse power over cultural work has been weakened in some respects; the marginalization of Marxism in culture, especially in the field of philosophy and social sciences, still exists; the task of building Chinese discourse and Chinese narrative systems is arduous; the overall effect of the international communication of cultural products is relatively weak; and so on. Therefore, in the practice of deepening the reform of the cultural system and mechanism and strengthening cultural construction, we must always keep a clear head and be prepared for tough and protracted battles. As Lenin pointed out, “The completion of cultural tasks cannot be as swift as political or military tasks. We should realize that the conditions for advance are now different from before. In a period of acute crisis, political victory can be achieved in a few weeks. In war, victory can be achieved in a few months, but in culture, it is impossible to achieve victory in such a short time. By the nature of the problem, it requires a longer period. We should adapt ourselves to this longer period, plan our work accordingly, and display the spirit of perseverance, indomitability, and consistency. Without these qualities, it is impossible even to begin political education work.” The construction of a socialist culture in the New Era undertakes major tasks such as “rallying people’s hearts, pooling strength,” “perfecting systems, optimizing governance,” “improving quality, promoting development,” and “responding to risks, safeguarding security.” [62]62 These four tasks (rallying people’s hearts and pooling strength, perfecting systems and optimizing governance, improving quality and promoting development, and responding to risks and safeguarding security) are official formulations for the objectives of socialist cultural construction in the New Era. To accomplish these major tasks, we must display the spirit of perseverance, indomitability, and consistency, implement and develop Xi Jinping Thought on Culture [61]61 Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, a component of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, guiding cultural development. in practice, and gather a mighty cultural force for further deepening reform comprehensively and advancing Chinese-path modernization.

文化兴，则国运兴；文化强，则民族强。“在中西方各种力量激烈交锋的时代，文化在振奋民族精神、凝聚民族力量、维系政治认同、维护国家安全等方面的作用充分凸显。”党的二十届三中全会对深化文化体制机制改革作出的重大部署，无疑将大大促进中国特色社会主义文化事业发展，大大促进物质文明和精神文明的协调发展。所以，贯彻党的二十届三中全会精神，首先要充满信心，中国人民有着足够的文化自信底气。同时，我们也应看到，文化领域还存在不少矛盾和问题：党对文化工作的领导权、管理权、话语权在有些方面被弱化，马克思主义在文化特别是哲学社会科学领域被边缘化的现象仍然存在，中国话语和中国叙事体系构建任务艰巨，文化产品国际传播总体效应较弱，等等。因此，在深化文化体制机制改革和加强文化建设实践中，要永远保持清醒的头脑，要做好打攻坚战、持久战的准备。正如列宁指出的那样，“文化任务的完成不可能像政治任务和军事任务那样迅速。应当懂得，现在前进的条件已经和从前不一样了。在危机尖锐化时期，几个星期就可以取得政治上的胜利。在战争中，几个月就可以取得胜利，但是在文化方面，要在这样短的时间内取得胜利是不可能的。从问题的性质看，这需要一个较长的时期，我们应该使自己适应这个较长的时期，据此规划我们的工作，发扬坚忍不拔、不屈不挠、始终如一的精神。没有这些品质，甚至无法着手做政治教育工作”。新时代社会主义文化建设承担着“凝聚人心、汇聚力量”“完善制度、优化治理”“提高质量、推动发展”“应对风险、维护安全”等重大任务。完成这些重大任务，必须发扬坚忍不拔、不屈不挠、始终如一的精神，在实践中贯彻和发展习近平文化思想，为进一步全面深化改革和推进中国式现代化凝聚起磅礴的文化力量。

Source: Exploration, November 7, 2024

文章来源：《探索》2024年11月7日

Web editor: Jing Mu

网络编辑：静穆