Understanding the Dual Dimensions of the Anti-Corruption Struggle

Faced with the new situation and new mission of further deepening reform comprehensively and advancing Chinese-path modernization, and faced with the still severe and complex situation of the anti-corruption struggle, how to understand the great significance of the anti-corruption struggle is a question of the era that must be answered

面对进一步全面深化改革、推进中国式现代化的新形势新使命，面对仍然严峻复杂的反腐败斗争形势，如何认识反腐败斗争的重大意义，是一道必须回答好的时代课题。习近平总书记在党的二十届中央纪委四次全会上指出，“认识反腐败斗争，一定要有历史眼光、战略高度，着眼于实现党的使命任务”，为回答好这一时代课题提供了遵循、指明了方向。从历史眼光和战略高度认识反腐败斗争的重大意义，贯穿着习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的立场观点方法，赓续了以全面从严治党继续赢得历史主动的优良传统，增强了以改革精神和严的标准管党治党的战略自觉，坚定了“将反腐败斗争进行到底”的如磐信心。

Distinguishing the “Timing” and “Trend”

辨明“时”与“势”

As the anti-corruption struggle continues, questions such as “How much longer will the anti-corruption struggle last?” and “Will the anti-corruption struggle cool down?” have gradually emerged. How to understand the necessity and inevitability of the anti-corruption struggle, how to understand its position and role in further deepening reform comprehensively, and how to understand its relationship with economic and social development have become new theoretical and public-opinion focal points.

随着反腐败斗争的持续开展，一些关于“反腐败斗争还要持续多久”“反腐败斗争是否会降温”等问题逐渐浮现，如何认识反腐败斗争的必要性、必然性，如何认识反腐败斗争在进一步全面深化改革中的地位与作用，如何认识反腐败斗争与经济社会发展的关系，成为新的理论焦点和舆论焦点。

The anti-corruption struggle must be carried out unswervingly; any hesitation, wavering, relaxation, leniency, or half-hearted abandonment would constitute a subversive error. Political steadfastness stems from theoretical clarity. To dispel the various erroneous understandings and ideological mists surrounding the anti-corruption struggle, it is necessary to use scientific methods to distinguish its “timing” (时) and “trend” (势). Historical perspective and strategic height provide powerful scientific methods and ideological weapons for understanding the great significance of the anti-corruption struggle.

反腐败斗争必须坚定不移，任何犹豫动摇、松懈手软或半途而废，都将犯颠覆性错误。政治上的坚定，源于理论上的清醒。破除反腐败斗争形形色色的错误认识和思想迷雾，必须用科学方法辨明反腐败斗争的“时”与“势”。历史眼光和战略高度，为认识反腐败斗争的重大意义提供了强大科学方法和思想武器。

Viewing, analyzing, and judging practical problems through a historical lens is an important methodology. Understanding the great significance of the anti-corruption struggle from a historical perspective means closely grasping its “timing” (时), clarifying its missions, tasks, and historical positioning in different historical periods, and situating the anti-corruption struggle in the New Era within the Party’s historical process, within the historical process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and within the historical process of the rise and fall of socialist states. It means summarizing regular patterns of understanding from history, drawing lessons from both positive and negative experiences, and soberly recognizing the great significance of the anti-corruption struggle for the future and destiny of the Party and the state.

透过历史眼光看待、分析和判断现实问题，是一项重要方法论。从历史眼光认识反腐败斗争的重大意义，就是要紧扣反腐败斗争之“时”，明晰反腐败斗争在不同历史时期的使命任务和历史定位，把新时代反腐败斗争放置于党的历史进程中，放置于中华民族伟大复兴的历史进程中，放置于社会主义国家兴衰浮沉的历史进程中，在历史中总结规律性认识，归纳和吸取正反两方面的经验教训，清醒认识到反腐败斗争对于党和国家前途命运的重大意义。

Standing at a strategic height and using strategic thinking, systematic thinking, dialectical thinking, and bottom-line thinking to assess situations and make decisions is a consistent ideological method and working method of the Communist Party of China. The CPC is a major party, leading a major country, and undertaking a great cause; it must be adept at using strategic thinking and at viewing and considering problems from a strategic perspective. Understanding the great significance of the anti-corruption struggle from a strategic height means closely grasping its “trend” (势). Within the overarching trend of the era of further deepening reform comprehensively and comprehensively advancing the building of a strong country and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization, it means basing oneself on the overall strategic situation of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the changes unseen in a century in the world, bearing in mind the “greatest concerns of the state” (国之大者) [1]1 “国之大者” (guo zhi da zhe) — “the greatest concerns of the state” — a phrase used by Xi Jinping to refer to the most fundamental and overarching issues of national interest that Party officials must keep in mind., planning both the “one domain” of comprehensive and strict governance of the Party and the “overall situation” of “further deepening reform comprehensively,” integrating comprehensive and strict governance of the Party into further deepening reform comprehensively, and empowering further deepening reform comprehensively through comprehensive and strict governance of the Party.

站在战略高度，运用战略思维、系统思维、辩证思维、底线思维判断形势、作出决策，是中国共产党一以贯之的思想方法和工作方法。中国共产党是一个大党，领导的是一个大国，进行的是伟大的事业，要善于运用战略思维，善于从战略上看问题、想问题。从战略高度认识反腐败斗争的重大意义，就是要紧扣反腐败斗争之“势”，在进一步全面深化改革、以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴的时代大势中，立足中华民族伟大复兴战略全局和世界百年未有之大变局，胸怀“国之大者”，既谋全面从严治党“一域”，也谋“进一步全面深化改革”的“全局”，把全面从严治党融入进一步全面深化改革，以全面从严治党赋能进一步全面深化改革。

Comprehending the “Two Historical Initiatives”

领悟“两个历史主动”

At the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the CPC [2]2 The Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection — a meeting of the CPC’s top internal disciplinary body, held in January 2025, which reviewed anti-corruption work and set priorities for the year., General Secretary Xi Jinping profoundly pointed out: “Entering the New Era, facing the prominent problems in the Party’s conduct, integrity, and the anti-corruption struggle, we have insisted on punishing every act of corruption and eliminating every instance of graft, continuously purifying the cadre contingent, safeguarding the Party’s image, consolidating the red political power, and winning the historical initiative of ensuring that the Party never changes its nature, never changes its color, and never changes its flavor, and winning the historical initiative of the Party uniting and leading the entire people to strive together for the great cause of building a strong country and rejuvenating the Chinese nation.” This important exposition on the “two historical initiatives” is a scientific judgment that comprehensively summarizes and reviews the great significance of comprehensive and strict governance of the Party and the anti-corruption struggle in the New Era from a historical perspective, and it is also the latest theoretical achievement in understanding the great significance of the anti-corruption struggle from a historical perspective.

在党的二十届中央纪委四次全会上，习近平总书记深刻指出：“进入新时代，面对党内党风廉政建设和反腐败斗争的突出问题，我们坚持有腐必反、有贪必肃，不断纯洁干部队伍，维护了党的形象，巩固了红色江山，赢得了确保党不变质、不变色、不变味的历史主动，赢得了党团结带领全体人民为强国建设、民族复兴伟业共同奋斗的历史主动。”这“两个历史主动”的重要论述，是从历史眼光全面总结回顾新时代全面从严治党和反腐败斗争重要意义的科学论断，也是从历史眼光认识反腐败斗争重大意义的最新理论成果。

The “two historical initiatives” draw on the historical lessons of the rise and fall of ruling parties in some socialist countries, reminding the entire Party to soberly recognize the great significance of the anti-corruption struggle, to firmly adhere to “not stopping for a single step, not retreating half a step,” and to unwaveringly advance the will for comprehensive and strict governance of the Party and the anti-corruption struggle. Marxist classical writers attached great importance to the Party’s purity and discipline building. Marx clearly stated in his 1859 letter “To Engels”: “We must now absolutely maintain Party discipline, otherwise nothing will be accomplished.” Lenin also pointed out: “As long as there is the phenomenon of bribery and corruption, as long as there is the possibility of bribery and corruption, there can be no talk of politics.” Corruption is a great enemy of a Marxist political party. The failure to establish a strong and powerful Marxist ruling party, and the occurrence of irreparable mistakes in Party discipline building and Party governance and management, were important reasons for the loss of political power by ruling parties in some socialist countries. Facing the changes unseen in a century in the world and the severe and complex domestic and international situation, it is necessary to place the anti-corruption struggle at the height of the future and destiny of the Party and the state, and the future and destiny of socialism, to clarify various erroneous understandings, clear away various ideological mists, and further strengthen the determination and confidence in the anti-corruption struggle.

“两个历史主动”吸取了一些社会主义国家执政党兴衰成败的历史教训，提醒全党务必清醒认识到反腐败斗争的重大意义，坚定“一步不停歇、半步不退让”，驰而不息推进全面从严治党和反腐败斗争的意志。马克思主义经典作家高度重视党的纯洁性和纪律建设。马克思在1859年《致恩格斯》一文中就明确指出：“我们现在必须绝对保持党的纪律，否则将一事无成。”列宁也指出：“只要有贪污受贿这种现象，只要有贪污受贿的可能，就谈不上政治。”贪污腐败是马克思主义政党的大敌，没有建立起强而有力的马克思主义执政党，在党的纪律建设和治党管党上出现不可挽回的错误，是一些社会主义国家执政党失去政权的重要原因。面对世界百年未有之大变局和严峻复杂的国内外形势，必须把反腐败斗争放置在党和国家前途命运、社会主义前途命运的高度去思考，澄清各种错误认识，廓清各类思想迷雾，进一步坚定反腐败斗争的决心和信心。

Understanding the great significance of the anti-corruption struggle from a historical perspective requires comprehending the profound foundation and rich connotations of the “two historical initiatives,” grasping the necessity and inevitability of the anti-corruption struggle in the historical tide, recognizing its long-term nature and complexity in the historical trend, thereby strengthening historical confidence in the anti-corruption struggle and enhancing the historical initiative in the anti-corruption struggle.

从历史眼光认识反腐败斗争的重大意义，需要领悟“两个历史主动”的深厚底蕴和丰富内涵，在历史大潮中把握反腐败斗争的必要性和必然性，在历史大势中认清反腐败斗争的长期性和复杂性，从而坚定反腐败斗争的历史自信、增强反腐败斗争的历史主动。

Grasping the Dialectical Relationship

把握辩证关系

From a broad perspective, self-revolution is also a reform that concerns the overall situation and has far-reaching impact. The anti-corruption struggle and further deepening reform comprehensively have a natural compatibility, sharing the same direction in goals and being logically coherent, forming a dialectical relationship of mutual promotion and close connection.

从广义的角度而言，自我革命也是一场事关全局、影响深远的改革，反腐败斗争同进一步全面深化改革具有天然的契合性，在目标上同向、在逻辑上融贯，形成了相互促进、紧密联系的辩证关系。

The shared direction in goals requires a scientific understanding of the higher demands that further deepening reform comprehensively places on the anti-corruption struggle. The communiqué of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the CPC pointed out: “Comprehensively advancing the building of a strong country and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization places new and higher demands on the anti-corruption struggle.” This higher demand is a new historical positioning and new work direction for the anti-corruption struggle, established by the Party Central Committee based on the mission and task of further deepening reform comprehensively and advancing Chinese-path modernization. Facing these new and higher demands, the anti-corruption struggle needs not only to further eliminate the existing stock of corruption but also to pay more attention to curbing the increment; it needs not only to continue focusing on the “key minority” (关键少数) [3]3 “关键少数” (guanjian shaoshu) — “key minority” — a term referring to leading cadres at or above a certain rank, who are seen as the most critical targets for Party discipline and anti-corruption efforts. and combating corruption and punishing graft but also to focus on eradicating the soil and conditions that breed corruption; it needs not only to strive to maintain the Party’s purity and integrity but also to use the effectiveness of Party governance and management to ensure the implementation and execution of the Party Central Committee’s major decisions and deployments. The higher demands on the anti-corruption struggle are closely tied to the goal orientation of further deepening reform comprehensively, anchored to the goal and task of comprehensively advancing the building of a strong country and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization, indicating that the anti-corruption struggle is by no means temporary, nor static or immutable, but is continuously updated and upgraded as the times develop and the cause advances, running through all aspects.

目标上的同向性，要求科学认知进一步全面深化改革对反腐败斗争提出的更高要求。党的二十届中央纪委四次全会公报指出：“以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业，对反腐败斗争提出了新的更高要求。”这一更高要求，是党中央立足于进一步全面深化改革、推进中国式现代化的使命任务，对反腐败斗争提出的新历史定位和新工作方向。面对新的更高要求，反腐败斗争既需要进一步清除存量，也要更加关注遏制增量，既需要继续抓“关键少数”、反腐肃贪，更要着眼于铲除腐败问题产生的土壤和条件，既要着力保持党的纯洁性、廉洁性，更要以管党治党的成效确保党中央重大决策部署落实落地。对反腐败斗争的更高要求，紧扣进一步全面深化改革的目标定位，锚定以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业的目标任务，表明反腐败斗争绝不是阶段性的，也不是静止的、一成不变的，而是随着时代发展和事业前进不断更新升级，贯穿各个方面。

Logical coherence requires a scientific understanding of the close connection between the anti-corruption struggle and the further comprehensive deepening of reform, specifically the relationship of "empowering through strictness" and "promoting strictness through capacity." As the most important component of comprehensive and strict governance of the Party, the anti-corruption struggle governs the Party with strict standards, adheres to "empowering through strictness," and escorts the further comprehensive deepening of reform. The further comprehensive deepening of reform advances the anti-corruption struggle with a reformist spirit, continuously improves the system for comprehensive and strict governance of the Party, deepens the organizational construction, institutional construction, and capacity building required for the anti-corruption struggle, adheres to "promoting strictness through capacity," and continuously enhances the governance effectiveness of comprehensive and strict governance of the Party. The logical coherence between the anti-corruption struggle and the further comprehensive deepening of reform reflects the necessity and inevitability of adhering to a reformist spirit and strict standards in governing the Party. It indicates that the anti-corruption struggle and the further comprehensive deepening of reform are not a relationship of one rising while the other falls, still less a relationship of opposition. Rather, it is necessary to strengthen the strategic resolve of the anti-corruption struggle, use strategic thinking to contemplate and plan the reform requirements of the anti-corruption institutional mechanisms, and continuously advance the modernization of the anti-corruption governance system and governance capacity with a spirit of reform and innovation.

逻辑上的融贯性，要求科学认知反腐败斗争和进一步全面深化改革“以严赋能”和“以能促严”的紧密联系。作为全面从严治党最为重要的组成部分，反腐败斗争以严的标准管党治党，坚持“以严赋能”，为进一步全面深化改革保驾护航。进一步全面深化改革以改革精神推进反腐败斗争，不断健全全面从严治党体系，深化反腐败斗争所需的组织建设、制度建设、能力建设，坚持“以能促严”，不断提升全面从严治党的治理效能。反腐败斗争和进一步全面深化改革在逻辑上的融贯性，体现了坚持以改革精神和严的标准管党治党的必要性和必然性，表明反腐败斗争同进一步全面深化改革不是此消彼长的关系，更不是对立关系，而是要坚定反腐败斗争的战略定力，运用战略思维思考和谋划反腐败体制机制的改革要求，以改革创新精神不断推进反腐败治理体系和治理能力现代化。

To understand the great significance of the anti-corruption struggle from a strategic height, it is necessary to recognize the long-term value of deeply advancing the anti-corruption struggle from a lofty standpoint, a broad perspective, and a developmental viewpoint. One must directly confront the problems urgently needing resolution and the factors constraining development in the further comprehensive deepening of reform, and think one level deeper and go one step further in reform measures and work deployments. In terms of ideological understanding, continuously strengthen the correct understanding of the important position of the anti-corruption struggle in the further comprehensive deepening of reform, and cultivate a solid ideological foundation for unswervingly advancing the reform and innovation of the anti-corruption institutional mechanisms. In terms of work priorities, promote the implementation and effectiveness of major decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee through the concretization, precision, and normalization of political supervision, and release the reform vitality of grassroots cadres and entrepreneurs by rectifying formalism to reduce burdens at the grassroots level. [4]4 Political supervision (政治监督) refers to the Party's oversight of whether lower-level Party organizations and officials implement the decisions and directives of the Party Central Committee, ensuring political alignment and discipline. In terms of reform deployments, adhere to governing the Party with systematic concepts and systemic thinking, improve the system for comprehensive and strict governance of the Party, perfect the system of intra-Party regulations and national anti-corruption legislation, establish a normalized and effective disciplinary education mechanism, and integratively advance the mechanisms for ensuring that officials dare not, cannot, and do not want to engage in corruption. [5]5 The "three mechanisms" (不敢腐不能腐不想腐) are a standard formulation: deterrence so that officials dare not corrupt, institutional controls so that they cannot corrupt, and ideological education so that they do not want to corrupt. In terms of team building, strengthen the standardized, legalized, and regularized construction of discipline inspection and supervision work, and forge an iron army of discipline inspection and supervision that is loyal, clean, responsible, and dares to struggle and is good at struggling.

从战略高度认识反腐败斗争的重大意义，要以高远的站位、宏阔的视野、发展的视角认识到深入推进反腐败斗争的长远价值，直面进一步全面深化改革中急需解决的问题和制约发展的因素，在改革措施和工作部署上想得更深一层，做得更进一步。在思想认识上，不断强化对反腐败斗争在进一步全面深化改革中重要地位的正确认识，厚植坚定不移推进反腐败体制机制改革创新的思想基础。在工作重点上，以政治监督具体化、精准化、常态化推动党中央重大决策部署落地见效，以整治形式主义为基层减负释放基层干事创业的改革活力。在改革部署上，坚持以系统观念和体系思维管党治党，健全全面从严治党体系，完善党内法规体系和国家反腐败立法，建立常态化成效化纪律教育机制，一体推进不敢腐不能腐不想腐。在队伍建设上，加强纪检监察工作规范化法治化正规化建设，打造忠诚干净担当、敢于斗争善于斗争的纪检监察铁军。

General Secretary Xi Jinping's exposition on historical perspective and strategic height provides a scientific worldview, historical outlook, and methodology for understanding and grasping the historical laws, major achievements, and strategic deployments of the anti-corruption struggle. It also cultivates an ideological foundation for uniting hearts and minds, strengthening confidence, deeply advancing the anti-corruption struggle, and governing the Party with a reformist spirit and strict standards. To carry out the anti-corruption struggle in the New Era of the New Journey, it is necessary to further adhere to understanding the great significance of the anti-corruption struggle from a historical perspective and strategic height, anchor the Party's mission and tasks, and carry the anti-corruption struggle through to the end with the tenacity and perseverance of being "always on the road." [6]6 "Always on the road" (永远在路上) is a standard Party slogan meaning that the anti-corruption campaign and Party governance are ongoing tasks with no endpoint.

习近平总书记关于历史眼光和战略高度的论述，为认知和把握反腐败斗争的历史规律、重大成就、战略部署提供了科学的世界观、历史观和方法论，也为凝心聚力、坚定信心深入推进反腐败斗争，以改革精神和严的标准管党治党厚植了认识基础。新时代新征程开展反腐败斗争，必须进一步坚持从历史眼光和战略高度认识反腐败斗争重大意义，锚定党的使命任务，以永远在路上的坚韧执着把反腐败斗争进行到底。

(The author is Vice Dean of the Law School of Wuhan University and Professor of the Institute of Intra-Party Regulations at Wuhan University)

（作者系武汉大学法学院副院长、武汉大学党内法规研究中心教授）

Online Editor: Tongxin

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