The Powerful Ideological Weapon for Comprehensive and Strict Governance of the Party in the New Era

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping, with a great historical initiative, immense political courage, and a strong sense of responsibility, has led the Party in unswervingly advancing the great practice of comprehensive and strict governance of the Party, forming Xi Jinping’s important thought on the Party’s self-revolution. This important thought profoundly summarizes the Party’s historical experience from over 100 years of struggle, especially the fresh experience of comprehensive and strict governance of the Party in the New Era. It comprehensively elucidates self-revolution as the second answer to the historical cycle of rise and fall, governance and chaos, and deeply addresses the major questions of “why the Party must engage in self-revolution,” “why the Party can engage in self-revolution,” and “how to advance self-revolution.” It has become an important component of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, providing a powerful ideological weapon for comprehensive and strict governance of the Party in the New Era.

党的十八大以来，习近平总书记以伟大的历史主动精神、巨大的政治勇气、强烈的责任担当，在带领全党坚定不移推进全面从严治党的伟大实践中，形成了习近平总书记关于党的自我革命的重要思想。这一重要思想深刻总结党100多年奋斗的历史经验特别是新时代全面从严治党的新鲜经验，对自我革命这一跳出治乱兴衰历史周期率的第二个答案进行全面阐释，深刻回答了我们党“为什么要自我革命”、“为什么能自我革命”、“怎样推进自我革命”等重大问题，成为习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的重要组成部分，为新时代全面从严治党提供了强大思想武器。

I. Xi Jinping’s Important Thought on the Party’s Self-Revolution Opens a New Realm of Marxist Party-Building Theory

一、习近平总书记关于党的自我革命的重要思想开辟了马克思主义建党学说的新境界

From the perspective of theoretical characteristics, Xi Jinping’s important thought on the Party’s self-revolution is a new achievement of our Party’s theoretical innovation by adhering to the Two Integrations, bearing the distinctive feature of upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground. This important thought upholds and applies Marxist party-building theory, seeking in tracing origins, developing in inheritance, and innovating in upholding fundamentals. With a series of original and landmark new concepts, new ideas, and new strategies, it marks a new height in our Party’s understanding of the laws governing the construction of Marxist political parties and the laws of governance by communist parties.

从理论特质看，习近平总书记关于党的自我革命的重要思想是我们党坚持“两个结合”推进理论创新取得的新成果，具有守正创新的鲜明特征。这一重要思想坚持和运用马克思主义建党学说，在溯源中求索、在继承中发展、在守正中创新，以一系列具有原创性、标志性的新理念新思想新战略，标注了我们党对马克思主义政党建设规律、共产党执政规律认识的新高度。

This important thought adheres to the soul and vein of Marxism, creatively addressing the major issue of how a Marxist political party can avoid changing its nature, color, and flavor under long-term governance conditions, and forever maintain its advanced nature and purity. Courageous self-revolution is an inherent trait and distinctive hallmark that distinguishes Marxist political parties from other parties. Marxist classical writers did not explicitly propose a systematic thought on self-revolution, but dialectical materialism, as the philosophical foundation of Marxism, is inherently “critical and revolutionary.” The theoretical character of Marxism—its scientific nature, people-centeredness, practicality, and openness—inevitably requires that a proletarian party possess a high degree of self-awareness for self-revolution. Marx and Engels stated, “Revolution is necessary, not only because there is no other way to overthrow the ruling class, but also because the class that overthrows it can only rid itself of all the old filth in a revolution and become capable of rebuilding society.” Lenin pointed out: “A party’s attitude toward its own mistakes is one of the most important and most reliable criteria for measuring whether the party is serious and truly fulfills its obligations to its class and the working masses.” Comrade Mao Zedong called our Party “a revolutionary party established according to the revolutionary theory and revolutionary style of Marxism-Leninism.” After the founding of New China, he called on the entire Party to “maintain the same vigor, the same revolutionary enthusiasm, and the same death-defying spirit as during the revolutionary war period, and carry the revolutionary work through to the end.” After reform and opening up, Comrade Deng Xiaoping emphasized the need to “carry forward the revolutionary and death-defying spirit.” Our Party deeply recognizes that the Party’s advanced nature and governing status are neither once-and-for-all nor immutable; past advanced nature does not guarantee present advanced nature, and present advanced nature does not guarantee eternal advanced nature; past possession does not guarantee present possession, and present possession does not guarantee eternal possession. The Party has made unremitting efforts and explorations around solving the two major historical issues of improving the Party’s leadership and governance level, and enhancing its ability to resist corruption, prevent degeneration, and withstand risks.

这一重要思想坚守马克思主义的魂脉，创造性回答了马克思主义政党如何在长期执政条件下不变质不变色不变味、永葆先进性和纯洁性的重大课题。勇于自我革命是马克思主义政党区别于其他政党的内在特质和显著标志。马克思主义经典作家没有明确提出系统的自我革命思想，但作为马克思主义哲学基础的唯物辩证法本质上就是“批判的和革命的”，马克思主义科学性、人民性、实践性、开放性的理论品格，也必然要求无产阶级政党具有自我革命的高度自觉。马克思、恩格斯说过，“革命之所以必需，不仅是因为没有任何其他的办法能够推翻统治阶级，而且还因为推翻统治阶级的那个阶级，只有在革命中才能抛掉自己身上的一切陈旧的肮脏东西，才能胜任重建社会的工作”。列宁指出：“一个政党对自己的错误所抱的态度，是衡量这个党是否郑重，是否真正履行它对本阶级和劳动群众所负义务的一个最重要最可靠的尺度。”毛泽东同志把我们党称为“按照马克思列宁主义的革命理论和革命风格建立起来的革命党”，新中国成立后号召全党“要保持过去革命战争时期的那么一股劲，那么一股革命热情，那么一种拚命精神，把革命工作做到底”。改革开放后，邓小平同志强调要“发扬革命和拼命精神”。我们党深刻认识到，党的先进性和党的执政地位都不是一劳永逸、一成不变的，过去先进不等于现在先进，现在先进不等于永远先进，过去拥有不等于现在拥有，现在拥有不等于永远拥有，并围绕解决好提高党的领导水平和执政水平、提高拒腐防变和抵御风险能力这两大历史性课题进行了不懈努力和探索。

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping has scientifically grasped the profound changes in the world, the nation, and the Party, especially the long-term, complex, and severe nature of the “four major tests” and the “four dangers.” He has conducted in-depth summary and reflection on major issues such as what the Communist Party of China is and what it does, why it succeeded in the past, and how it can continue to succeed in the future. Starting from the Marxist epistemology and methodology of combining the transformation of the objective world with the transformation of the subjective world, he has clearly put forward the important thought on the Party’s self-revolution. This important thought profoundly grasps that our Party is both a Marxist ruling party and a Marxist revolutionary party, deeply reveals the dialectical and unified relationship between the “two great revolutions,” and clarifies from the integration of theory and practice the extreme importance of self-revolution for the Party to forever maintain its advanced nature and purity and consolidate its long-term governing status. It grounds the Party’s self-revolution on the solid foundation of the Party’s nature, purpose, original aspiration, and founding mission, scientifically answering major questions concerning the fundamental guarantee, fundamental purpose, fundamental guidance, strategic goals, main direction of attack, effective pathways, key focal points, important levers, and powerful driving forces for advancing the Party’s self-revolution. It demonstrates the bright prospect of the Party forever maintaining its vitality and vitality and embarking on a new journey of the “road to the test.”

党的十八大以来，习近平总书记科学把握世情国情党情的深刻变化特别是“四大考验”、“四种危险”的长期性、复杂性、严峻性，对中国共产党是什么、要干什么，过去为什么能够成功、未来怎样才能继续成功等重大问题进行深入总结思考，从坚持改造客观世界与改造主观世界相结合的马克思主义认识论和方法论出发，鲜明提出关于党的自我革命的重要思想。这一重要思想深刻把握我们党既是马克思主义执政党又是马克思主义革命党，深刻揭示“两个伟大革命”的辩证统一关系，从理论和实践的结合上阐明自我革命对于党永葆先进性和纯洁性、巩固长期执政地位的极端重要性，把党的自我革命奠基在党的性质宗旨、初心使命的坚实基础之上，科学回答了推进党的自我革命的根本保证、根本目的、根本遵循、战略目标、主攻方向、有效途径、重要着力点、重要抓手、强大动力等重大问题，展现了党永葆生机活力、走好新的赶考之路的光明前景。

This important thought adheres to the root and vein of fine traditional Chinese culture, manifesting the historical initiative spirit of Chinese Communists in the New Era through inheriting and promoting the spiritual trait of discarding the old and establishing the new in Chinese civilization. Chinese Communists are firm believers and practitioners of Marxism, as well as faithful inheritors and promoters of fine traditional Chinese culture. In the rich classics of the Chinese nation, thoughts and discussions on “revolution” are common, such as “The revolutions of Tang and Wu were in accordance with Heaven and responded to the people,” “Although Zhou was an ancient state, its mandate was renewed,” and “Revolution means discarding the old; establishment means taking up the new.” The innovative spirit of discarding the old and establishing the new, the striving spirit of unremitting self-improvement, the people-oriented thought of taking the people as the foundation of the state, the political culture of self-reflection, the philosophy of self-cultivation and restraint, and the practical character of the unity of knowledge and action—all contained in fine traditional Chinese culture—provide rich nourishment for the Chinese Communist Party to advance self-revolution. The reason our Party can carry forward the thorough spirit of self-revolution lies importantly in the compatibility between Marxist party-building theory and the inherent genes of fine traditional Chinese culture. Thus, it can forever maintain the spiritual foundation of “taking mending faults as the heart, seeking faults as urgent, being good at correcting faults, and being enlightened by hearing about faults,” and, in adhering to a thorough materialist spirit of upholding truth and correcting errors, it has won the historical initiative of always staying at the forefront of the times and winning the heartfelt support of the people.

这一重要思想坚守中华优秀传统文化的根脉，在传承弘扬中华文明革故鼎新的精神特质中彰显了新时代中国共产党人的历史主动精神。中国共产党人是马克思主义的坚定信仰者和实践者，也是中华优秀传统文化的忠实传承者和弘扬者。在中华民族丰富的典籍中，关于“革命”的思想和论述屡见不鲜，诸如“汤武革命，顺乎天而应乎人”，“周虽旧邦，其命维新”，“革，去故也；鼎，取新也”，等等。中华优秀传统文化中蕴含的革故鼎新的革新精神、自强不息的奋斗精神、民为邦本的民本思想、反躬自省的政治文化、克己修身的处世哲学、知行合一的实践品格等，都为中国共产党推进自我革命提供了丰润滋养。我们党能够发扬彻底的自我革命精神，很重要的就在于马克思主义建党学说与中华优秀传统文化的内在基因相契合，因而能够始终保持“以补过为心，以求过为急，以能改其过为善，以得闻其过为明”的精神底色，在以彻底的唯物主义精神坚持真理、修正错误中，赢得了始终走在时代前列、人民衷心拥护的历史主动。

Xi Jinping’s important thought on the Party’s self-revolution is rooted in the fertile soil of the historical culture of the Chinese nation, integrating the essence of Marxist party-building theory with the essence of fine traditional Chinese culture. It uses Marxism to activate the vital factors in fine traditional Chinese culture and endows them with new contemporary connotations, injecting the great spirit and rich wisdom of the Chinese nation into Marxism at a deeper level, allowing Marxist party-building theory to radiate brilliant truth in the land of China in the New Era.

习近平总书记关于党的自我革命的重要思想，植根中华民族历史文化沃土，把马克思主义建党学说精髓同中华优秀传统文化精华贯通起来，用马克思主义激活中华优秀传统文化中富有生命力的优秀因子并赋予新的时代内涵，将中华民族的伟大精神和丰富智慧更深层次地注入马克思主义，让马克思主义建党学说在新时代中国大地上放射出灿烂的真理光芒。

This important thought looks at the rise and fall of ruling parties around the world, especially Marxist ruling parties, exploring an effective path for solving the problem of party self-supervision and promoting the development of human political civilization. Self-supervision is a worldwide problem, the Goldbach conjecture of state governance. Looking at party politics in various countries since modern times, examples abound of parties declining or even perishing due to their inability to face or solve their own problems. Marxism long ago revealed the deceptive and hypocritical nature of the Western bourgeois parties’ practice of multi-party competition and rotation in power. However, how a Marxist party, after coming to power, can effectively discover and solve its own problems and thereby consolidate its long-term ruling status remains a major issue requiring in-depth exploration. Many long-established ruling parties, including Marxist parties, due to their long-term ruling status and control over governing resources, gradually fell into the predicament of “it is easy to revolutionise others, but difficult to revolutionise oneself,” ultimately declining, falling behind, and collapsing—a situation that evokes reflection and is thought-provoking. General Secretary Xi Jinping profoundly pointed out, “We must be vigilant in times of peace, always alert to whether this century-old party will become decrepit and riddled with disease. We must not forget or lose memory of the detours and twists the Party has taken in its history; we must not forget or lose memory of the profound lessons from Chinese and foreign political history of those who were complacent and died in comfort; we must not be slow to react to our own problems, handling them sluggishly and softly, ultimately leading to the ruin of the party and the state.”

这一重要思想放眼世界各国执政党特别是马克思主义执政党的兴衰成败，为解决政党自我监督难题、推动人类政治文明发展探索了有效路径。自我监督是世界性难题，是国家治理的哥德巴赫猜想。纵观近代以来各国的政党政治，因不能正视或无力解决自身问题导致政党日薄西山乃至人亡政息的例子比比皆是。马克思主义早就深刻揭示了西方资产阶级政党搞多党竞争、轮流执政那一套的欺骗性和虚伪性，但是马克思主义政党在执政后如何有效发现和解决自身问题进而巩固长期执政地位，仍是有待深入探索的重大课题。包括马克思主义政党在内的不少老牌执政党，由于长期处在执政地位、掌控执政资源，逐渐陷入“革别人命容易，革自己命难”的境地，最终衰败落伍、政权垮台，令人感慨也发人深省。习近平总书记深刻指出，“我们要居安思危，时刻警惕我们这个百年大党会不会变得老态龙钟、疾病缠身。对党的历史上走过的弯路、经历的曲折不能健忘失忆，对中外政治史上那些安于现状、死于安乐的深刻教训不能健忘失忆；对自身存在的问题不能反应迟钝，处理动作慢腾腾、软绵绵，最终人亡政息”。

It is precisely on the basis of such a broad historical vision and deep sense of urgency that General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important thought on the Party’s self-revolution has made a theoretical summary of the practical experience of various political parties worldwide, especially Marxist political parties, and has explored a successful path for solving one’s own problems and breaking out of the historical cycle of rise and fall under conditions of long-term governance. This important thought has shattered the myth that only Western multi-party alternation and the “separation of the three powers” [4]4 “Every grasp leaves a mark and every step leaves an imprint” (抓铁有痕、踏石留印) is a Chinese idiom emphasizing resolute and effective action, often used in the context of anti-corruption and Party discipline enforcement. can solve the problem of a ruling party’s own issues. With irrefutable facts, it has proven that the Communist Party of China has both the determination and the ability to turn its blade inward and cut out its own rotten flesh, effectively solving the problem of self-supervision under the conditions of long-term governance by a single party. It has made a world-class contribution to strengthening the construction of a Marxist ruling party and has also provided Chinese wisdom and a Chinese approach for the governance of political parties worldwide and the development of human political civilization.

正是基于这样宏阔的历史视野和深沉的忧患意识，习近平总书记关于党的自我革命的重要思想对世界范围内各种政党特别是马克思主义政党实践经验进行理论总结，探索出一条长期执政条件下解决自身问题、跳出历史周期率的成功道路。这一重要思想打破了认为靠西方多党轮替、“三权鼎立”才能解决执政党自身问题的迷思，以无可辩驳的事实证明了中国共产党有决心也有能力刀刃向内、自剜腐肉，有效破解了一党长期执政条件下的自我监督难题，为加强马克思主义执政党建设作出了世界性贡献，也为世界政党治理和人类政治文明发展提供了中国智慧和中国方案。

II. General Secretary Xi Jinping’s Important Thought on the Party’s Self-Revolution Has Led the Entire Party to Create a New Situation in Party Management and Governance in the New Era

二、习近平总书记关于党的自我革命的重要思想引领全党开创了新时代管党治党新局面

General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important thought on the Party’s self-revolution emerged in the historical process of the Communist Party of China managing and governing the Party in the New Era, and it has in turn provided scientific guidance and a fundamental basis for advancing comprehensive and strict governance of the Party. Comprehensive and strict governance of the Party, as the great practice of the Party’s self-revolution in the New Era, is characterized by a clear emphasis on strictness and substance. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has promoted comprehensive and strict governance of the Party with firm resolve, tenacious will, and unprecedented intensity, continuously strengthening the tone of strictness, strict measures, and a strict atmosphere. It has rolled out a series of practical and effective hard, substantive, and genuine measures, putting together a “combined punch” of self-revolution.

习近平总书记关于党的自我革命的重要思想是在新时代中国共产党管党治党的历史进程中产生的，又为推进全面从严治党提供了科学指引和根本遵循。全面从严治党作为新时代党的自我革命的伟大实践，一个鲜明特点就是从严从实。党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央以坚定决心、顽强意志、空前力度推进全面从严治党，持续强化严的基调、严的措施、严的氛围，推出一系列务实管用的硬招、实招、真招，打出了一套自我革命的“组合拳”。

Strictness in ideology: unremittingly using Xi Jinping Thought

抓思想从严，坚持不懈用习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想凝心铸魂，党团结统一的思想基础更加牢固。坚持思想建党和制度治党同向发力，组织开展党的群众路线教育实践活动、“三严三实”专题教育、“两学一做”学习教育、“不忘初心、牢记使命”主题教育、党史学习教育、学习贯彻习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想主题教育、党纪学习教育等党内集中教育，用党的创新理论武装全党。广大党员干部对“两个确立”决定性意义的认识更加深刻，“四个意识”更加牢固、“四个自信”更加坚定、“两个维护”更加自觉，我们这个拥有9900多万名党员的马克思主义政党更加团结统一。

Strict governance in Party management: using the Party’s political construction to lead all other aspects of construction, and tightening and consolidating the responsibility for Party management and governance at every level. The Party’s political construction is the fundamental construction of the Party; comprehensive and strict governance of the Party must first be viewed from a political perspective. The Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has taken “ensuring that the entire Party obeys the Central Committee and upholding the authority and centralized, unified leadership of the Party Central Committee” as the primary task of the Party’s political construction, clarified that the Party’s leadership system is the fundamental leadership system of our country, systematically improved the system of the Party’s leadership institutions, established and perfected the leadership system of the Party Central Committee over major work, and ensured from an institutional perspective that the Party’s leadership is comprehensively covered and that the centralized, unified leadership of the Party Central Committee is stronger and more effective. It insists on starting comprehensive and strict governance of the Party from the Party Central Committee and being strict with senior cadres, setting an example from the top and consolidating responsibility level by level, driving Party organizations and Party cadres at all levels to know their responsibility in their hearts, bear it on their shoulders, and fulfill it in their actions, ensuring that the political responsibility for comprehensive and strict governance of the Party is implemented.

抓管党从严，以党的政治建设统领各方面建设，管党治党责任层层压紧压实。党的政治建设是党的根本性建设，全面从严治党首先要从政治上看。以习近平同志为核心的党中央把“保证全党服从中央，坚持党中央权威和集中统一领导”作为党的政治建设的首要任务，明确党的领导制度是我国的根本领导制度，系统完善党的领导制度体系，建立健全党中央对重大工作的领导体制，从制度上保证党的领导全面覆盖、党中央集中统一领导更加坚强有力。坚持全面从严治党从党中央做起、从高级干部严起，以上率下、逐级压实责任，推动各级党组织和党员干部知责于心、担责于身、履责于行，确保全面从严治党政治责任落到实处。

Strict governance in enforcing discipline: insisting on putting discipline and rules first, making the Party’s political discipline and political rules even stricter. Taking the Two Upholds as the Party’s highest political principle and fundamental political rule, strengthening political discipline and organizational discipline, and driving all disciplines to become strictly enforced across the board. Insisting on respecting the Party Constitution and governing the Party according to rules, forming a relatively complete system of intra-Party regulations. Deepening the application of the “four forms” [4]4 “Every grasp leaves a mark and every step leaves an imprint” (抓铁有痕、踏石留印) is a Chinese idiom emphasizing resolute and effective action, often used in the context of anti-corruption and Party discipline enforcement., driving Party cadres and members to hold the bottom line and strive toward high standards. Carrying out Party discipline study and education across the Party, guiding Party cadres and members to study, know, understand, and observe discipline, continuously enhancing political resolve, disciplinary resolve, moral resolve, and anti-corruption resolve, resolutely eliminating the “seven have’s” [5]5 The “second answer” refers to the Party’s self-revolution as a means to break the historical cycle of rise and fall, a concept introduced by Xi Jinping, contrasting with Mao Zedong’s earlier “first answer”, and earnestly achieving the “five musts” [6]6 A classical allusion to the rise and fall of dynasties, often cited from the “Biography of Xiao Yu” in the *Old Book of Tang*, describing the rapid flourishing and sudden collapse of historical regimes.. The Party’s ability to rely on discipline and legal systems to constrain and advance Party management and governance has been greatly enhanced.

抓执纪从严，坚持把纪律规矩挺在前面，党的政治纪律和政治规矩更加严明。把“两个维护”作为党的最高政治原则和根本政治规矩，强化政治纪律和组织纪律，带动各项纪律全面严起来。坚持尊崇党章、依规治党，形成比较完善的党内法规体系。深化运用“四种形态”，推动党员干部坚守底线、向高标准努力。在全党开展党纪学习教育，引导党员干部学纪、知纪、明纪、守纪，不断增强政治定力、纪律定力、道德定力、抵腐定力，坚决杜绝“七个有之”，切实做到“五个必须”，党依靠纪法制度约束推进管党治党的能力极大增强。

Strict governance in cadre management: insisting on the Party’s organizational line for the New Era, making the Party’s organizational system more sound and tight. Clarifying the standards for good cadres in the New Era, establishing the correct orientation for selecting and appointing personnel, and correcting unhealthy tendencies in cadre selection and appointment. Comprehensively advancing the construction of Party organizations in central and state organs, localities, and at the grassroots level, continuously rectifying weak and lax Party organizations, perfecting the strict management system for overseeing ideology, work, conduct, and discipline, promoting the efficient operation of the Party’s organizational system, and driving Party cadres and members to be self-disciplined and competent. Party management and governance has moved from “punishing the very few” to “managing the vast majority.” The political and organizational functions of Party organizations have been strongly strengthened, the Party’s vanguard role has been fully exerted, and its political essence has been fully demonstrated.

抓治吏从严，坚持新时代党的组织路线，党的组织体系更加健全严密。明确新时代好干部标准，树立正确选人用人导向，纠正选人用人不正之风。全面推进中央和国家机关、地方以及基层党组织建设，持续整顿软弱涣散党组织，完善管思想、管工作、管作风、管纪律的从严管理制度，推动党的组织体系高效运转、促进党员干部自律过硬。管党治党从“惩治极少数”走向“管住绝大多数”，党组织政治功能、组织功能有力强化，党的先锋队作用充分发挥、政治本色充分彰显。

Strict governance in work style: perseveringly implementing the spirit of the Eight-Point Regulations, using the Party’s conduct and government conduct to drive social conduct and public sentiment toward goodness and upwardness. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping has taken the lead in setting an example and vigorously grasped work style construction. The Political Bureau of the Central Committee took the lead in establishing rules, starting from the “small incision” of formulating and implementing the Eight-Point Regulations to break the ice and open the situation, promoting the formation of a great change in rectifying conduct and discipline, purifying the political environment, and refreshing cadre management. The Party Central Committee has carried forward the spirit of driving in nails, holding firm at each node, solving each problem one by one, persistently correcting the “four forms of decadence” [7]7 The “Nine Withs” (九个以) refer to the nine practical requirements for advancing the Party’s self-revolution in the New Era, as outlined in Xi Jinping, resolutely opposing privilege thinking and privilege phenomena, focusing on solving prominent issues strongly reflected by the masses that harm their interests, continuously rectifying formalism to reduce burdens at the grassroots level, curbing some unhealthy tendencies that were once considered impossible to curb, and correcting some stubborn and chronic diseases that had not been eliminated for many years. Work style construction has become the golden business card of comprehensive and strict governance of the Party.

抓作风从严，锲而不舍落实中央八项规定精神，以党风政风带动社风民风向上向善。党的十八大以来，习近平总书记身体力行、以上率下狠抓作风建设，中央政治局带头立规矩，从制定执行中央八项规定这个“小切口”破题开局，推动形成正风肃纪、激浊扬清、刷新吏治的大变局。党中央发扬钉钉子精神，一个节点一个节点坚守、一个问题一个问题解决，持之以恒纠治“四风”，坚决反对特权思想和特权现象，着力解决群众反映强烈、损害群众利益的突出问题，持续整治形式主义为基层减负，刹住了一些过去被认为不可能刹住的歪风，纠治了一些多年未除的顽瘴痼疾，作风建设成为全面从严治党的金名片。

Strict governance in anti-corruption: integratively advancing the efforts to ensure that officials dare not, cannot, and do not want to be corrupt, achieving an overwhelming victory in the anti-corruption struggle and comprehensively consolidating it. Corruption is the greatest threat to the Party’s long-term governance. The Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, with the mission and responsibility of “off

抓反腐从严，一体推进不敢腐、不能腐、不想腐，反腐败斗争取得压倒性胜利并全面巩固。腐败是党长期执政的最大威胁。以习近平同志为核心的党中央以“得罪千百人、不负十四亿”的使命担当“打虎”、“拍蝇”、“猎狐”，开展史无前例的反腐败斗争，不断强化不敢腐的震慑，扎紧不能腐的笼子，构筑不想腐的堤坝。加强对权力运行的制约和监督，完善党和国家监督体系，构建以党内监督为主导、各类监督贯通协调的机制。通过雷霆万钧惩治腐败、利剑高悬强化监督，消除了党、国家、军队内部存在的严重隐患，确保党和人民赋予的权力始终用来为人民谋利益。

Practice has fully proven that only strictness can achieve governance, and only solidity can yield results. It is precisely because the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has consistently adhered to strict discipline, strict requirements, and strict standards to the very end, and has consistently pursued solid work style, solid work, and solid goals to the very end, always daring to take real action and confront tough challenges, always ensuring that every grasp leaves a mark and every step leaves an imprint [4]4 “Every grasp leaves a mark and every step leaves an imprint” (抓铁有痕、踏石留印) is a Chinese idiom emphasizing resolute and effective action, often used in the context of anti-corruption and Party discipline enforcement., and has integrated strictness and solidity throughout the entire process and all aspects of Party governance, that it has been possible to drive comprehensive and strict governance of the Party to achieve historic and groundbreaking accomplishments, producing comprehensive and profound impacts. Through unremitting efforts, the Party has found the second answer to the historical cycle of rise and fall, chaos and order—self-revolution [5]5 The “second answer” refers to the Party’s self-revolution as a means to break the historical cycle of rise and fall, a concept introduced by Xi Jinping, contrasting with Mao Zedong’s earlier “first answer”—and its capacities for self-purification, self-improvement, self-renovation, and self-enhancement have been significantly strengthened. A clean and upright political ecosystem within the Party is continuously being formed and developed, and the Party has become stronger and more resilient through revolutionary tempering. As a highly condensed and systematic integration of the practical, theoretical, and institutional innovations of comprehensive and strict governance of the Party in the New Era, General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important thought on the Party’s self-revolution profoundly reveals the core code and internal mechanism by which the governance of the Chinese Communist Party opens a new realm of governance for China, guiding the century-old Party to open a new realm of self-revolution.

实践充分证明，严才能治得住，实才能有成效。正是因为以习近平同志为核心的党中央始终坚持以严的纪律、严的要求、严的标准一严到底，以实的作风、实的工作、实的目标一实到底，始终敢于真刀真枪、动真碰硬，始终做到抓铁有痕、踏石留印，把从严从实贯穿管党治党全过程和各方面，才能推动全面从严治党取得历史性、开创性成就，产生全方位、深层次影响。经过不懈努力，党找到了自我革命这一跳出治乱兴衰历史周期率的第二个答案，自我净化、自我完善、自我革新、自我提高能力显著增强，风清气正的党内政治生态不断形成和发展，党在革命性锻造中更加坚强有力。作为新时代全面从严治党实践创新、理论创新、制度创新的高度凝练和系统集成，习近平总书记关于党的自我革命的重要思想深刻揭示了以中国共产党之治开创中国之治新境界的核心密码和内在机理，指引百年大党开辟了自我革命的新境界。

III. Using General Secretary Xi Jinping’s Important Thought on the Party’s Self-Revolution as a Guide to Advance Comprehensive and Strict Governance of the Party Deeply on the New Journey

三、以习近平总书记关于党的自我革命的重要思想为指引，把新征程全面从严治党向纵深推进

Comprehensive and strict governance of the Party is always on the march, and the Party’s self-revolution is always on the march. General Secretary Xi

全面从严治党永远在路上，党的自我革命永远在路上。习近平总书记关于党的自我革命的重要思想明确提出“九个以”的实践要求，使党的自我革命的目标指向更加清晰、战略举措更加严密，为推进党的自我革命提供了行动指南。新征程上，准确把握“九个以”的实践要求，坚持用改革精神和严的标准管党治党，注重各个方面和要素有机衔接、系统联动，才能推动全面从严治党向纵深发展。

Taking upholding the centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee as the fundamental guarantee. Upholding the centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee manifests the highest political principle for advancing self-revolution, determines the correct political direction of comprehensive and strict governance of the Party, and is an important embodiment of a mature Marxist ruling party. Only by upholding the centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee can we ensure that the entire Party maintains a high degree of consistency with the Party Central Committee in political stance, political direction, political principles, and political path, and forge the entire Party into "a solid piece of steel." [6]6 A classical allusion to the rise and fall of dynasties, often cited from the “Biography of Xiao Yu” in the *Old Book of Tang*, describing the rapid flourishing and sudden collapse of historical regimes. On the new journey of advancing the Party's self-revolution, we must more deeply comprehend the decisive significance of the Two Establishments, [7]7 The “Nine Withs” (九个以) refer to the nine practical requirements for advancing the Party’s self-revolution in the New Era, as outlined in Xi Jinping implement the upholding of the centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee in the conscious actions of strengthening the Four Consciousnesses, [8] consolidating the Four Confidences, [9] and achieving the Two Upholds, [10] ensuring that the Party's self-revolution always advances in the correct direction.

以坚持党中央集中统一领导为根本保证。维护党中央集中统一领导，彰显着推进自我革命的最高政治原则，决定着全面从严治党的正确政治方向，是一个成熟的马克思主义执政党的重要体现。只有坚持党中央集中统一领导，才能确保全党在政治立场、政治方向、政治原则、政治道路上同党中央保持高度一致，推动全党团结成“一块坚硬的钢铁”。新征程上推进党的自我革命，必须更加深刻领悟“两个确立”的决定性意义，把维护党中央集中统一领导落实到增强“四个意识”、坚定“四个自信”、做到“两个维护”的自觉行动上，确保党的自我革命始终沿着正确方向前进。

Taking leading the great social revolution as the fundamental purpose. The Party's self-revolution and the great social revolution are dialectically unified. The great social revolution forges and accomplishes a great Party, and the Party's self-revolution guarantees and advances the great cause. The breadth of fields covered by the great social revolution in the New Era, the depth of adjustments to the pattern of interests it entails, the acuteness of the contradictions and problems involved, the arduousness of breaking through institutional and mechanistic obstacles, and the complexity of the situation for waging the great struggle are all unprecedented, and they also place unprecedented new demands on the Party's self-revolution. On the new journey of advancing the Party's self-revolution, we must closely plan and unfold it around comprehensively advancing the building of a strong country and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization, so that the Party's self-revolution better serves and submits to the Party's central tasks.

以引领伟大社会革命为根本目的。党的自我革命与伟大社会革命是辩证统一的。伟大社会革命锻造和成就伟大的党，党的自我革命保障和推动伟大的事业。新时代伟大社会革命涵盖领域的广泛性、触及利益格局调整的深刻性、涉及矛盾和问题的尖锐性、突破体制机制障碍的艰巨性、进行伟大斗争形势的复杂性，都是前所未有的，对党的自我革命也提出了前所未有的新要求。新征程上推进党的自我革命，必须紧紧围绕以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业来谋划、来展开，使党的自我革命更好服从服务于党的中心任务。

Taking Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as the fundamental guide. Without a revolutionary theory, there can be no revolutionary action. The degree of consciousness, level of capability, and actual effectiveness of the Party's self-revolution are closely related to the breadth and depth of theoretical armament. In the great transformation of the New Era, Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era has guided the governance of the Communist Party of China to open up new prospects and promoted the governance of China to take on a new look, becoming the action guide for leading the Party's self-revolution and advancing the great social revolution. On the new journey of advancing the Party's self-revolution, we must unremittingly use

以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为根本遵循。没有革命的理论，就没有革命的行动。党的自我革命的自觉程度、能力水平、实际成效，与理论武装的广度和深度密切相关。在新时代伟大变革中，习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想指引中国共产党之治开创新局面、推动中国之治形成新气象，成为引领党的自我革命、推动伟大社会革命的行动指南。新征程上推进党的自我革命，必须坚持不懈用习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想凝心铸魂，淬炼自我革命思想武器，使全党始终保持统一的思想、坚定的意志、协调的行动、强大的战斗力。

Taking breaking free from the historical cycle of rise and fall as the strategic goal. The issue of breaking free from the historical cycle of rise and fall is a major issue concerning the Party’s eternal cause, concerning the Party’s survival or demise, and concerning the success or failure of China’s socialist system. Making breaking free from the historical cycle of rise and fall the strategic goal of self-revolution reflects our Party’s far-reaching strategic considerations. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out, “As long as the Marxist ruling party has no problems, the socialist country will not have major problems, and we will be able to break free from the historical cycle of rise and fall where ‘it flourishes vigorously and perishes abruptly’.” [6]6 A classical allusion to the rise and fall of dynasties, often cited from the “Biography of Xiao Yu” in the *Old Book of Tang*, describing the rapid flourishing and sudden collapse of historical regimes. On the new journey, advancing the Party’s self-revolution must focus on this strategic goal of breaking free from the historical cycle of rise and fall, promptly eliminating viruses that erode the Party’s healthy organism, promptly removing various hidden dangers that undermine the Party’s ruling foundation, and continuously consolidating the Party’s long-term ruling position.

以跳出历史周期率为战略目标。跳出历史周期率问题，是关系党千秋伟业的重大问题，关系党的生死存亡，关系我国社会主义制度的兴衰成败。把跳出历史周期率作为自我革命的战略目标，体现了我们党深远的战略考量。习近平总书记指出，“只要马克思主义执政党不出问题，社会主义国家就出不了大问题，我们就能够跳出‘其兴也勃焉，其亡也忽焉’的历史周期率”。新征程上推进党的自我革命，必须聚焦跳出历史周期率这个战略目标，及时清除侵蚀党的健康肌体的病毒，及时消除损害党的执政根基的各种隐患，不断巩固党的长期执政地位。

Taking solving the unique problems of a large party as the main direction of attack. A large party and a large country are both our advantages for undertaking great tasks and building great achievements, and they also confront us with unique problems in governing the Party and the state. Solving the unique problems of a large party is a hurdle that must be overcome to fulfill the Party’s mission and tasks on the new journey of the New Era, and it is a hard bone that must be gnawed through for comprehensive and strict governance of the Party to adapt to new situations and new demands. Only by maintaining a sober and firm awareness of solving the unique problems of a large party, and by examining ourselves with a thorough spirit of self-revolution, can we better shoulder the Party’s historical mission. On the new journey, advancing the Party’s self-revolution must adhere to a problem-oriented approach, maintain strategic resolve, address both symptoms and root causes, adopt comprehensive measures, coordinate efforts, persevere without letup, and work persistently for lasting results, accumulating small victories into big ones, and demonstrating the advantages of a large party in the continuous process of solving its unique problems.

以解决大党独有难题为主攻方向。大党大国，既是我们办大事、建伟业的优势，也使我们治党治国面对很多独有难题。解决好大党独有难题，是实现新时代新征程党的使命任务必须迈过的一道坎，是全面从严治党适应新形势新要求必须啃下的硬骨头。只有时刻保持解决大党独有难题的清醒和坚定，以彻底的自我革命精神检视自身，才能更好肩负起党的历史使命。新征程上推进党的自我革命，必须坚持问题导向，保持战略定力，标本兼治、综合施策、协同发力、锲而不舍、久久为功，积小胜为大胜，在不断解决大党独有难题中彰显大党优势。

Taking improving the system for comprehensive and strict governance of the Party as an effective pathway. The system for comprehensive and strict governance of the Party is a dynamic system with rich connotations, complete functions, scientific norms, and efficient operation. Only by advancing comprehensive and strict governance of the Party holistically rather than partially, systematically rather than fragmentarily, persistently rather than temporarily, and with high standards rather than in a general manner, and by forming a system for comprehensive and strict governance of the Party that is rationally structured, scientifically content-based, complete in elements, and unified and efficient, can we build our Party well. On the new journey, advancing the Party’s self-revolution must closely adhere to the general requirements for Party building in the New Era, insist on full coverage in content, full coverage of targets, a complete chain of responsibilities, and full integration of institutions, adhere to governing the Party with institutions and regulations, and further form a virtuous cycle that relies on the Party’s own strength to discover problems, correct deviations, promote innovation, and achieve an overall improvement in governing capacity.

以健全全面从严治党体系为有效途径。全面从严治党体系是一个内涵丰富、功能完备、科学规范、运行高效的动态系统。只有整体地而不是局部地、系统地而不是零碎地、持久地而不是短暂地、高标准地而不是一般化地推进全面从严治党，形成布局合理、内容科学、要素齐备、统一高效的全面从严治党体系，才能把我们党建设好。新征程上推进党的自我革命，必须紧扣新时代党的建设总要求，坚持内容上全涵盖、对象上全覆盖、责任上全链条、制度上全贯通，坚持制度治党、依规治党，进一步形成依靠党的自身力量发现问题、纠正偏差、推动创新、实现执政能力整体性提升的良性循环。

Taking forging strong organizations and building capable teams as the key focal point. The Party’s strength comes from its organization. For the Party to advance self-revolution, it must be based on a tight organizational system and guaranteed by strong leadership, organizational capacity, and execution. The full coverage of Party organizations and Party work, and the ability for the entire Party to act upon orders from the Party Central Committee with immediate response, are powerful advantages that no other political party in the world possesses. On the new journey, advancing the Party’s self-revolution must thoroughly implement the Party’s organizational line for the New Era, improve the organizational system that is connected from top to bottom and strong in execution, enhance the political and organizational functions of Party organizations, adhere to the standards for good cadres in the New Era, and ensure that the vast majority of Party members and cadres are truly loyal, clean, and responsible.

以锻造坚强组织、建设过硬队伍为重要着力点。党的力量来自组织。党推进自我革命，要以严密的组织体系为基础，以强大的领导力、组织力、执行力作保障。党的组织和党的工作全覆盖，党中央一声令下，全党闻令而动，这是世界上任何其他政党都不具有的强大优势。新征程上推进党的自我革命，必须深入贯彻新时代党的组织路线，完善上下贯通、执行有力的组织体系，增强党组织的政治功能和组织功能，坚持新时代好干部标准，使广大党员干部真正做到忠诚、干净、担当。

Taking rectifying conduct, enforcing discipline, and combating corruption as the important starting point. Rectifying work style, enforcing strict discipline, and opposing corruption are the clear political positions our Party has consistently upheld, and they are major political tasks that the Party’s self-revolution must persistently address over the long term. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out, “The issue of the Party’s work style concerns the survival or demise of the ruling party,” and “Combating corruption is the most thorough self-revolution.” Rectifying conduct, enforcing discipline, and combating corruption have a wide-ranging impact, strong deterrent power, and significant driving effects, playing an irreplaceable and important role in advancing the Party’s self-revolution. On the new journey, advancing the Party’s self-revolution must integrate the rectification of conduct, enforcement of discipline, and combating of corruption, using fine work styles as guidance, strict discipline as a guarantee, and anti-corruption and punishment of evil to clear obstacles, driving the Party’s self-revolution forward in a linked and progressive manner.

以正风肃纪反腐为重要抓手。端正作风、严肃纪律、反对腐败，是我们党一贯坚持的鲜明政治立场，是党自我革命必须长期抓好的重大政治任务。习近平总书记指出，“党风问题关系执政党的生死存亡”，“反腐败是最彻底的自我革命”。正风肃纪反腐辐射范围广、震慑威力大、带动效应强，对推进党的自我革命有着不可替代的重要作用。新征程上推进党的自我革命，必须把正风肃纪反腐结合起来一起抓，以优良作风作引领、以严明纪律强保障、以反腐惩恶清障碍，推动党的自我革命环环相扣、层层递进。

Taking the combination of self-supervision and public supervision as a powerful driving force. Our Party exercises comprehensive leadership and long-term governance, and the greatest challenge it faces is the supervision of power. History and reality show that the more proactive, deeper, and stronger self-supervision is, and the more extensive, regular, and sufficient public supervision is, the more quickly and thoroughly the Party’s own problems are resolved. Only by correctly grasping the dialectical relationship between self-supervision and public supervision and achieving their organic unity can we continuously open up new prospects for the Party’s self-revolution. On the new journey, advancing the Party’s self-revolution must strengthen the Party’s self-supervision, consciously accept public supervision, and integrate intra-Party supervision with state organ supervision, democratic supervision, judicial supervision, mass supervision, and public opinion supervision, achieving a positive interaction and mutual reinforcement between self-discipline and external discipline.

以自我监督和人民监督相结合为强大动力。我们党全面领导、长期执政，面临的最大挑战是对权力的监督。历史和现实表明，自我监督越主动、越深入、越有力，人民监督越广泛、越经常、越充分，党自身存在的问题就解决得越迅速、越彻底。只有正确把握自我监督和人民监督的辩证关系，实现两者有机统一，才能不断推动党的自我革命开创新局面。新征程上推进党的自我革命，必须强化党的自我监督，自觉接受人民监督，把党内监督同国家机关监督、民主监督、司法监督、群众监督、舆论监督贯通起来，实现自律和他律良性互动、相得益彰。

In summary, the practical requirements of the “Nine Withs” [7]7 The “Nine Withs” (九个以) refer to the nine practical requirements for advancing the Party’s self-revolution in the New Era, as outlined in Xi Jinping constitute an interconnected, logically rigorous, and systematically complete organic whole, encompassing both strategic arrangements and work deployments, both epistemology and methodology, and both methods for eliminating disease and ways for strengthening the body. We must uphold the principles of seeking truth from facts, keeping pace with the times, and upholding fundamental principles while breaking new ground, deeply study and thoroughly understand General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important thought on the Party’s self-revolution, effectively implement the practical requirements of the Party’s self-revolution, and ensure that the Party always remains the strong leading core of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

总之，“九个以”的实践要求，既有战略安排又有工作部署，既有认识论又有方法论，既有祛病之法又有强身之道，构成了一个相互联系、逻辑严密、系统完备的有机整体。我们要坚持解放思想、实事求是、与时俱进、守正创新，学深悟透习近平总书记关于党的自我革命的重要思想，切实把党的自我革命实践要求落到实处，确保党始终成为中国特色社会主义事业的坚强领导核心。

Source: *Qiushi* 2024, Issue 24

文章来源：《求是》2024年第24期

Online editor: Jing Mu

网络编辑：静穆