Guard Against the Old Problems and New Manifestations of Formalism

Formalism is fundamentally incompatible with the nature, purpose, and fine traditions of our Party, and is a major enemy of the Party in fulfilling its original aspiration and founding mission. Our Party has always opposed formalism. Mao Zedong criticized that “formalism is deadly,” and pioneered an effective path to resolve work-style problems through Party consolidation and rectification campaigns. Deng Xiaoping not only emphasized opposing formalism from the perspective of work-style building, but elevated it to a major issue in the reform of the Party and state leadership system. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has deeply understood and addressed work-style issues from a political height, vigorously rectified the “Four Forms of Decadence” [1]1 The “Four Forms of Decadence” (四风) refers to formalism, bureaucratism, hedonism, and extravagance, which were the target of a major Party rectification campaign launched after the 18th National Congress of the CPC in 2012. with the force of a thunderbolt, and achieved notable phased results, bringing a fresh look to Party conduct and government style. However, we must also recognize that while the “Four Forms of Decadence” have been largely resolved, they have not been completely eradicated. In particular, formalism, a stubborn disease, mutates and reinvents itself with social development like a “chronic skin condition,” spawning new variants such as “formalism at the fingertips,” “formalism on the soles of the feet,” and “formalism at the tip of the pen.” Yet, no matter how these phenomena disguise themselves, they can never escape the discerning eye of scrutiny, nor can they evade the resolute “unsheathing of the sword” in decisive action.

形式主义同我们党的性质宗旨和优良作风格格不入，是党践行初心使命的大敌。我们党历来反对形式主义，毛泽东批评“形式主义害死人”，并且开创了通过开展整党、整风运动解决作风问题的有效路径。邓小平不仅从作风建设的角度强调反对形式主义，更将其提升为党和国家领导制度改革的重大课题。党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央从政治高度深刻认识和对待作风问题，以雷霆之势大力整治“四风”问题，并取得了显著的阶段性成果，使党风政风焕然一新。但我们也要看到，“四风”问题虽然得到了很大的解决，但并未彻底根除。特别是其中的形式主义这一顽疾，如同“牛皮癣”一般，随着社会发展不断变异翻新，衍生出诸如“指尖上的形式主义”“脚尖上的形式主义”“笔尖上的形式主义”等新变种。然而，无论这些现象如何乔装打扮，终究难逃火眼金睛的审视，也躲不过坚决“亮剑”的果断行动。

Resolutely guard against “formalism at the fingertips.” In some localities and units, cadres are required to clock in and sign in on applications, and to reply promptly in work groups, leaving many grassroots cadres exhausted from coping. Grassroots work is like “a thousand threads above, a single needle below” [2]2 “A thousand threads above, a single needle below” is a Chinese idiom describing how grassroots cadres must implement numerous policies and directives from higher levels with limited resources and personnel. — both arduous and trivial. If grassroots cadres’ fingertips are “tied” to screens, how can they “thread the needle” and ensure implementation? “Formalism at the fingertips,” though cloaked in a digital guise, is in essence nothing but naked formalism. The form lies in the “fingertips,” but the root lies in the “mind.” To curb this “fingertip malady,” the key lies in correcting the outlook on political performance, always keeping in mind the starting point of “satisfying the masses.” If grassroots work lacks real results, no matter how lively the process, the masses will not buy it. As cadres of the Communist Party, we must adhere to seeking truth from facts and engaging in genuine hard work, always prioritizing whether the people approve, are satisfied, and are happy, letting actions speak, and doing practical things that touch the hearts of the people, in order to truly enhance the people’s satisfaction. “Formalism at the fingertips” must be rectified, so that “fingertip affairs” can be streamlined as much as possible, freeing cadres from phone screens, pushing them to open doors, step out, go among the masses, and go to the front line where practical problems are solved. Only in this way can we truly return to the essence of grassroots work, promote cadres to serve the masses with a pragmatic attitude, and win the people’s hearts.

力戒“指尖上的形式主义”。有的地方有的单位，要在应用程序上打卡签到，要在工作群里随时回复，让不少基层干部疲于应付。基层工作是“上面千条线，下面一根针”，既辛苦又琐碎，如果基层干部的指尖都被“绑”到了屏幕上，还怎么“穿针引线”，抓好落实呢？“指尖上的形式主义”，虽然披了一层数字化的外衣，说到底，本质还是赤裸裸的形式主义。形式在“指尖”，根子却在“脑袋”。要刹住“指尖歪风”，关键在于端正政绩观，始终牢记“让群众满意”这个出发点。基层工作如果没实效，过程再热闹，群众也不会买账。作为共产党的干部，必须坚持实事求是、真抓实干，时刻把人民答应不答应、满意不满意、高兴不高兴摆在首位，用行动说话，把实事做到百姓心坎上，才能切实提高群众的满意度。必须整治“指尖上的形式主义”，让“指尖事务”能精简的尽量精简，让干部从手机屏幕中解脱出来，推开门、迈开腿，到群众中间去，到解决实际问题的现场和“一线”当中去。唯有如此，才能真正回归基层工作的本质，推动干部以务实的态度服务群众，赢得民心。

Resolutely guard against “formalism on the soles of the feet.” If during research and investigation one follows a “planned route,” looks at “re-created potted landscapes,” and listens only to highlights without touching on pain points, only to end up with a pile of hollow materials that can neither “diagnose the disease” nor “prescribe the medicine,” this becomes “formalism on the soles of the feet.” We must unequivocally oppose the situation where “research and investigation are separated by a sheet of paper, and policy implementation is separated by a mountain,” and take forceful measures to rectify it. Curbing this “sole malady” values the character of “depth.” Going deep into the grassroots must never be a superficial skimming of the surface; one must sink down, take steps, and set aside airs, traveling lightly with fewer attendants rather than with a large entourage. With the attitude of “dissecting a sparrow” [3]3 “Dissecting a sparrow” is a Maoist metaphor for conducting a thorough, microscopic analysis of a single case to understand general principles. and the spirit of “squatting down to see the ants clearly,” one must go deep into places where difficulties are numerous, situations are complex, and contradictions are sharp, to hear the truth, probe the real situation, and dig out the crux of the problem. Curbing this “sole malady” lies in the character of “substance.” Not only must the work style be substantive, but substantive measures must also be devised. Once problems are discovered, the aim is to solve them. Those that can be solved on the spot should be solved on the spot; those that are difficult to solve should be brought back and solved as soon as possible. Especially when facing the urgent, difficult, and anxious problems of the masses, one must keep a close watch until they are thoroughly resolved. Curbing this “sole malady” emphasizes the character of “effectiveness.” Whether research is successful depends not on how large the scale, how high the frequency, or how clever the summary, but on whether it has practical results. Proceeding from reality in everything, we must enhance the scientific nature of understanding, the targeted nature of decision-making, and the effectiveness of work. Only by adhering to an effectiveness-oriented approach can we avoid the formalist trap of “doing research for the sake of research,” making every investigation a solid step in promoting development.

力戒“脚尖上的形式主义”。调研过程中若走的是“规划路线”，看的是“再造盆景”，听的是亮点，却不触碰痛点，到头来，抱着一堆空洞材料，既无法“对症”，也无法“下药”，成为“脚尖上的形式主义”。必须旗帜鲜明反对“调查研究隔层纸，政策执行隔座山”，采取有力举措整治。刹住“脚尖歪风”，贵在一个“深”字。深入基层，绝不能蜻蜓点水、浮光掠影，须沉下身子、迈开步子、放下架子，多一些轻车简从、少一些前呼后拥。以“解剖麻雀”的态度和“蹲下去看清蚂蚁”的钻研精神，扎到困难众多、情况复杂、矛盾尖锐的地方去，听真话、探实情，挖到问题症结。刹住“脚尖歪风”，关键在于“实”字。不仅作风实，还要谋实招。发现问题，就是要奔着解决问题去。能解决的现场解决，不好解决的拿回来尽快解决。尤其面对群众急难愁盼问题，更要盯住不放，直至彻底解决。刹住“脚尖歪风”，注重一个“效”字。调研成不成，不在于调研规模有多大、频率有多高、总结妙不妙，而要看有没有实效。一切从实际出发，提高认识的科学性、决策的针对性和工作的有效性。只有坚持实效导向，才能避免“为调研而调研”的形式主义陷阱，让每一次调研都成为推动发展的坚实一步。

Resolutely guard against “formalism at the tip of the pen.” In some localities, the penmanship used in reporting work is becoming increasingly “involutionary” [4]4 “Involutionary” (内卷) is a term widely used in contemporary Chinese discourse to describe a situation of excessive, self-defeating competition that yields diminishing returns.. Many materials are “embellished with flowery prose,” with comprehensive data and cases and rich and varied packaging. But upon closer scrutiny, one finds that some texts highlight achievements in bold colors while glossing over shortcomings, “shrinking” the real situation; some tell only half the truth, deliberately “submerging” the opinions of the masses; some even “inflate” data to “gild their own faces.” The tricks of “formalism at the tip of the pen” are constantly being reinvented, causing increasing interference with work. If the trend of “falsification” at the tip of the pen spreads and coalesces into a perverse wind and chaotic current, it will inevitably lead to a superficial work style that is neither deep nor thorough, eroding the rigorous and solid work style of the cadre contingent. To resolutely guard against “formalism at the tip of the pen,” we must start from the root and cure “lazy governance thinking.” We must deeply analyze the ideological deviations and deficiencies in working methods behind the problem, seek the crux with an attitude of seeking truth from facts, and take forceful measures to rectify it. For behaviors that treat “having said it” as “having done it,” “having done it” as “having done it well,” or even equate “traces” with “political achievements,” we must resolutely correct them. Further rectify cadres’ outlook on political performance and view of power, guide them to return to the essence of seeking truth from facts in work, eliminate the soil that breeds formalism, and let the tip of the pen truly serve practical work.

力戒“笔尖上的形式主义”。一些地方汇报工作的笔头越来越“内卷”。不少材料“妙笔生花”，数据案例全面翔实，包装形式丰富多彩。若深入推敲便会发现，有的文稿谈成绩浓墨重彩，说不足却轻描淡写，让实情“缩水”；有的真话只说一半，让群众意见刻意“潜水”；有的为往自己脸上“贴金”，甚至不惜给数据“注水”。“笔尖上的形式主义”的花样不断翻新，对工作造成的干扰越来越大。如果笔尖“造假”之风蔓延，汇成一股歪风乱流，必然会造成工作作风浮于表面、不深不透、侵蚀干部队伍的严实作风。力戒“笔尖上的形式主义”，必须从根源入手，治“懒政思维”。深刻剖析问题背后的思想观念偏差和工作方法缺陷，以求真务实的态度找寻症结，采取有力措施加以整改。对于那些把“说过了”当成“做过了”，把“做过了”当成“做好了”，甚至将“痕迹”等同于“政绩”的行为，坚决予以纠正。进一步端正干部的政绩观与权力观，引导他们回归实事求是的工作本质，杜绝形式主义滋生的土壤，让笔尖真正服务于实干。

Opposing the “Four Forms of Decadence” is by no means a temporary measure, nor a “passing wind” that dissipates after a gust. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out that correcting the “Four Forms of Decadence” cannot stop, and work-style building is always on the way, with no completion date. This profoundly reveals the long-term nature and arduousness of work-style building. We must persist in correcting the “Four Forms of Decadence” with unremitting spirit, keep a close watch on the new forms and new trends after their disguised transformations, always maintain a high degree of vigilance, precisely focus on the essence of the problems, grasp the key points, avoid “distraction” due to negligence, eliminate “blurred vision” due to ambiguity, strictly investigate and punish without yielding an inch, ensuring that pressure is constant and deterrence is ever-present. Forming normalcy through persistence and seeking long-term effectiveness through institutional construction — this is the fundamental path to promoting work-style building.

反对“四风”，绝非一时之举，并非刮起一阵便消散的“过堂风”。习近平总书记指出，纠正“四风”不能止步，作风建设永远在路上，没有完成时。这深刻揭示了作风建设的长期性与艰巨性。我们必须以锲而不舍的精神坚持不懈纠正“四风”，紧盯“四风”改头换面后的新形式新动向，始终保持高度警惕，精准聚焦问题本质，抓住关键要害，避免因疏忽而“走神”，杜绝因模糊而“散光”，严肃查处，寸步不让，确保压力常在、震慑常存。在坚持中形成常态，在制度建设中谋求长效，这是推动作风建设的根本路径。

Online editor: Tong Xin

网络编辑：同心