Persevere in Strengthening the Party’s Work Style Construction

Recently, when presiding over the 21st collective study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that self-revolution is the second answer for our Party to escape the historical cycle of rise and fall, and that advancing comprehensive and strict governance of the Party by starting with work style is an important experience of the Party’s self-revolution in the New Era. Over the past century, especially since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, Chinese Communists have drawn essence from the achievements of human civilization, especially fine traditional Chinese culture, adhered to the guidance of the Marxist worldview and methodology, and formed a profound theory and vivid practice of strengthening the Party’s work style construction, possessing comprehensive theoretical logic, historical logic, and practical logic. It is necessary to deeply comprehend and enhance understanding, and further strengthen the political consciousness, ideological consciousness, and action consciousness of grasping work style construction.

近日，习近平总书记在主持中共中央政治局第二十一次集体学习时强调，自我革命是我们党跳出治乱兴衰历史周期率的第二个答案，从抓作风入手推进全面从严治党是新时代党的自我革命一条重要经验。百余年来，特别是党的十八大以来，中国共产党人从人类文明成果尤其是中华优秀传统文化中吸取精髓，坚持以马克思主义世界观和方法论为指导，形成了加强党的作风建设的深刻理论和生动实践，具有周延的理论逻辑、历史逻辑、实践逻辑。必须深刻领悟、提高认识，进一步增强抓好作风建设的政治自觉、思想自觉和行动自觉。

Theoretical Origins of the Party’s Work Style

党的作风的理论渊源

Chinese civilization has endowed the natural phenomenon of “wind” (feng) with profound cultural connotations, gradually expanding it from the natural realm to the humanistic field, becoming a tool for social observation and a political concept. Marxist classical writers did not directly define the term “Party’s work style” (dang de zuofeng); they mainly focused on aspects such as atmosphere (fengqi), habits (xiqi), and prevailing customs (fengshang) when discussing the Party’s work style issues. Chinese Communists have maintained a high degree of consciousness in strengthening work style construction over long-term practice, persistently putting forward new requirements and new tasks for work style construction centered on the Party’s central work.

中华文明对“风”这一自然现象赋予了深刻的文化内涵，逐步从自然现象拓展至人文领域，成为社会观察工具与政治概念。马克思主义经典作家对“党的作风”一词并未直接下定义，主要聚焦风气、习气、风尚等方面谈党的作风问题。中国共产党人在长期的实践中对加强作风建设方面始终保持着高度自觉，持之以恒围绕党的中心工作提出作风建设的新要求、新任务。

Ideas and concepts about “wind” in fine traditional Chinese culture. Oracle bone inscriptions from the Shang Dynasty over 3,000 years ago already contain records of “winds from the four directions”: “The east is called Xi, its wind is Xie; the south is called Jia, its wind is Wei; the west is called Yi, its wind is Yi; the north is called Wan, its wind is Yi.” [1]1 Setting things right: a reference to the campaign to "bring order out of chaos" (拨乱反正, *boluan fanzheng*) launched after the Cultural Revolution, which involved correcting the political and ideological errors of the Mao-era radical left and restoring the Party's orthodox line. From the Zhou Dynasty onward, the concept of “wind” expanded from natural phenomena to the humanistic field. The system of collecting folk songs (caifeng) reflected in the “Airs of the States” (Guofeng) section of the Book of Songs marked “wind” officially becoming a tool for social observation; the Han Dynasty Music Bureau’s (yuefu) principle of “observing wind to know governance” (guanfeng zhizheng) institutionalized it, forming a political feedback mechanism of “folk-song collector – customs – verification.” [2]2 The “four forms” (四种形态) refer to a graduated system of disciplinary oversight within the CPC, ranging from criticism and self-criticism (Form 1) to light organizational measures (Form 2), heavy organizational measures (Form 3), and criminal prosecution (Form 4). The Shuowen Jiezi (Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters) explains “wind” as “wind moves, insects are born,” revealing the isomorphism between natural weathering and social edification, holding that just as the spring wind awakens hibernating insects, humanistic edification can activate moral consciousness. [3] From natural wind to humanistic wind, from folk customs (minfeng) to “the gentleman’s virtue is wind,” “wind” is an important political concept in ancient Chinese classics. Confucius put forward the proposition that “the virtue of the gentleman is wind; the virtue of the petty person is grass,” [4] for the first time regarding the ruler’s work style as the source of social customs. Subsequently, the “Preface to the Mao Edition of the Book of Songs” (Maoshi Xu) states: “Wind (feng) means to influence (feng), means to teach (jiao). Wind moves them, teaching transforms them.” [5] The Baihu Tongyi (Comprehensive Discussions in the White Tiger Hall) proposes that “teaching means emulation,” defining “customs” (fengsu) as a process of edification where “the superior does it, the inferior imitates it,” causing “wind” to generate political-ethical concepts such as “edification by influence” (fenghua) and “atmosphere” (fengqi). [6] Fei Xiaotong believed that the governance wisdom of traditional Chinese society lies in “edification by influence” (fengjiao), that is, achieving integration through cultural infiltration by means of the “ritual order” (lizhi zhixu). [7] Qian Mu also pointed out that the essence of Chinese governance lies in “cultivating an atmosphere” (fengqi yangcheng). [8]

中华优秀传统文化中关于“风”的思想理念。3000多年前殷商的甲骨文中就有关于“四方风”的记载：“东方曰析，风曰协；南方曰夹，风曰微；西方曰夷，风曰彝；北方曰宛，风曰伇”。从周代起，“风”的概念由自然现象向人文领域拓展。《诗经·国风》体现的采风制度标志着“风”正式成为社会观察工具，汉代乐府“观风知政”则将其制度化，形成“采诗官—风俗—考正”的政治反馈机制。《说文解字》以“风动虫生”释“风”，揭示自然风化作用与社会教化的同构性，认为如同春风唤醒蛰虫，人文教化能激活道德自觉。从自然之风到人文之风，从民风到“君子之德风”，“风”在中国古代典籍中是重要的政治概念。孔子提出“君子之德风，小人之德草”的命题，首次将统治者的作风看做社会风尚的源头。此后，《毛诗序》提出：“风，风也，教也。风以动之，教以化之。”《白虎通义》提出“教者，效也”，将“风俗”定义为“上为之，下效之”的教化过程，使“风”衍生出“风化”“风气”等政治伦理概念。费孝通认为，中国传统社会的治理智慧在于“风教”，即以“礼治秩序”通过文化浸润实现整合。钱穆也指出中国治理的精髓在于“风气养成”。

Marxist classical writers’ expositions on the work style of the proletarian party. Through extensive social observation and comparison, Marx and Engels emphasized that the proletarian party should possess good atmosphere, habits, prevailing customs, etc. As early as his middle school years, Marx wrote: “If the prevailing customs, freedom, and excellent qualities of an era are damaged or completely decline, while the wind of greed, luxury, and unbridled indulgence floods and overflows, then this era cannot be called a happy era…” [9] Engels particularly disliked and resisted unhealthy tendencies; in a letter to Maria Engels, he wrote: “Eating and drinking, and then discussing these things afterwards, that is not my style at all.” [10] In the process of engaging in revolution, Lenin noticed unhealthy habits existing within the Party and reminded the broad membership to pay attention to and eliminate these unhealthy habits. After the victory of the October Revolution, Lenin repeatedly criticized unhealthy tendencies such as bureaucratism that alienated cadres from the masses, proposing to “down with the style of pretentiousness! Seriously carry out the work of rectifying discipline and strengthening organization” and “must struggle against bureaucratism and bureaucratic style.” [11]

马克思主义经典作家关于无产阶级政党作风的论述。马克思、恩格斯通过大量的社会观察和对比，强调无产阶级政党应当具备良好的风气、习气、风尚等。早在中学时代，马克思就写道：“如果一个时代的风尚、自由和优秀品质受到损害或者完全衰落了，而贪婪、奢侈和放纵无度之风却充斥泛滥，那么这个时代就不能称为幸福时代……”恩格斯特别反感并抵制不正之风，他在致玛丽亚·恩格斯的信中写道：“又吃又喝，而事后又把这些事议论一番，这根本不是我的作风”。在从事革命的过程中，列宁注意到党内存在的不良习气，提醒广大党员加以注意并革除这些不良习气。十月革命胜利后，列宁多次批评一些干部中存在的脱离群众的官僚主义等不正之风，提出要“打倒装腔作势的作风！认真进行整顿纪律、加强组织的工作”“必须同官僚主义和官僚作风进行斗争”。

Important expositions on work style construction by leaders of the Communist Party of China. Comrade Mao Zedong systematically expounded and for the first time constructed the theoretical system of the CPC’s work style construction. In February 1942, Mao Zedong delivered the speech “Rectify the Party’s Style of Work” at the opening ceremony of the Central Party School, emphasizing: “As long as our Party’s style of work is completely correct, the people of the whole country will learn from us. Those outside the Party who have such unhealthy tendencies, as long as they are well-intentioned, will learn from us and correct their mistakes, thus influencing the entire nation.” [12] This landmark speech elucidated the function of the Party’s work style, namely, to correct the Party and correct the people, playing the role of correcting errors within the Party and educating the masses outside the Party. At the Seventh National Congress of the CPC, Mao Zedong summarized the three fine work styles of the CPC; at the Second Plenary Session of the Seventh Central Committee of the CPC, Mao Zedong put forward the “Two Musts” and established the “Six Regulations.” [13] After smashing the “Gang of Four,” facing the complex situation of a hundred things waiting to be done, Comrade Deng Xiaoping pointed out that “to improve our Party’s style, the military’s style, and the people’s style, the key is to improve the Party’s style” and “strengthening Party leadership and rectifying the Party’s style has decisive significance,” profoundly elucidating the extreme importance of the Party’s work style construction in the new historical period. [14] Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has remained true to its original aspiration and

中国共产党领导人关于作风建设的重要论述。毛泽东同志系统论述并首次构建了中国共产党作风建设的理论体系。1942年2月，毛泽东在中央党校开学典礼上发表《整顿党的作风》的讲话，强调：“只要我们党的作风完全正派了，全国人民就会跟我们学。党外有这种不良风气的人，只要他们是善良的，就会跟我们学，改正他们的错误，这样就会影响全民族。”这篇标志性讲话阐明了党的作风的功能，即正党正人，发挥在党内纠正错误、在党外教育群众的功能。在党的七大上，毛泽东总结了中国共产党的三大优良作风；在党的七届二中全会上，毛泽东提出了“两个务必”，立下了“六条规定”。粉碎“四人帮”后，面对百废待兴的复杂局面，邓小平同志指出“要搞好我们的党风、军风、民风，关键是要搞好党风”“加强党的领导，端正党的作风，具有决定的意义”，深刻阐明了党的作风建设在新的历史时期的极端重要性。党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央不忘初心、牢记使命，直面党面临的重大风险考验和党内存在的突出问题，从制定和落实中央八项规定开局破题，严字当头、刀刃向内，以钉钉子精神纠治“四风”，整治力度之大、制度执行之严前所未有，开启了新时代全面从严治党新篇章。习近平总书记强调：“对作风问题任何时候都不能掉以轻心”“如果不坚决纠正不良风气，任其发展下去，就会像一座无形的墙把我们党和人民群众隔开，我们党就会失去根基、失去血脉、失去力量”；他要求：“以最严格的标准、最严厉的举措治理作风问题。”

Historical Experience of Party Conduct Building

党的作风建设的历史经验

The fine conduct of the Communist Party of China is the concentrated embodiment of the Party's nature and purpose, and a distinctive hallmark that distinguishes it from other political parties. An important reason why the Communist Party of China has united and led the Chinese people to achieve great successes in revolution, construction, and reform lies in the glorious traditions and fine conduct it has formed through long-term practice, manifested in all aspects such as ideological style, style of study, work style, leadership style, lifestyle, and style in selecting and appointing personnel.

中国共产党的优良作风是党的性质和宗旨的集中体现，是区别于其他政党的显著标志。中国共产党团结带领中国人民取得了革命、建设、改革的伟大成就，很重要的一个原因就在于它在长期实践中形成了光荣传统和优良作风，体现在思想作风、学风、工作作风、领导作风、生活作风、选人用人作风等方方面面。

Adhering to the ideological style of seeking truth from facts. To strengthen and improve Party conduct building, ideological style building must be placed first. Throughout the Party's history of more than one hundred years, one main thread running through the CPC's conduct building is seeking truth from facts. During the revolutionary war years, the CPC proceeded from China's basic national conditions and revolutionary reality, persisted in developing the worker-peasant alliance, and forged a revolutionary path of "encircling the cities from the countryside and seizing political power by armed force." After the founding of New China, Mao Zedong's writings "On the Ten Major Relationships" and "On the Correct Handling of Contradictions Among the People" concentratedly embodied the CPC's continued implementation of the ideological line of seeking truth from facts and its exploration of the path of socialist construction in China. In 1978, Deng Xiaoping reaffirmed the ideological line of seeking truth from facts, emphasized that practice is the sole criterion for testing truth, and demanded comprehensive efforts to set things right [1]1 Setting things right: a reference to the campaign to "bring order out of chaos" (拨乱反正, *boluan fanzheng*) launched after the Cultural Revolution, which involved correcting the political and ideological errors of the Mao-era radical left and restoring the Party's orthodox line.. In 1982, the Party Constitution adopted at the 12th National Congress of the CPC clarified the basic connotation of the Party's ideological line, namely, "proceeding from reality in everything, integrating theory with practice, seeking truth from facts, and testing and developing truth through practice." In 1992, the Party Constitution of the 14th National Congress emphasized "emancipating the mind" in discussing the Party's ideological line; in 2002, the 16th National Congress of the CPC added "keeping pace with the times" in discussing the Party's ideological line; in 2012, the Party Constitution adopted at the 18th National Congress of the CPC highlighted "being realistic and pragmatic" in the section on the Party's ideological line, reflecting the CPC's further enrichment and development of the ideological line of seeking truth from facts under new historical conditions.

坚持实事求是的思想作风。加强和改进党的作风建设，必须把思想作风建设摆在首位。在党的百余年历史中，贯穿中国共产党作风建设的一条主线就是实事求是。革命战争年代，中国共产党从中国基本国情和革命实际出发，坚持发展工农联盟，走出了一条“农村包围城市、武装夺取政权”的革命道路；新中国成立后，毛泽东撰写的《论十大关系》和《关于正确处理人民内部矛盾的问题》集中体现了中国共产党继续贯彻实事求是思想路线，对中国社会主义建设道路的探索。1978年，邓小平重申实事求是的思想路线，强调实践是检验真理的唯一标准，要求全面进行拨乱反正。1982年，党的十二大通过的党章明确了党的思想路线的基本内涵，即“一切从实际出发，理论联系实际，实事求是，在实践中检验真理和发展真理”。1992年，十四大党章在论述党的思想路线时强调了“解放思想”；2002年，党的十六大在论述党的思想路线时增写了“与时俱进”；2012年，党的十八大通过的党章在党的思想路线部分突出了“求真务实”，这体现了中国共产党在新的历史条件下进一步丰富和发展实事求是的思想路线。

Adhere to the study style of integrating theory with practice. Integrating theory with practice is the Marxist study style consistently upheld by the Communist Party of China. In 1941, Mao Zedong, in a report to cadres in Yan’an, pointed out that one must adopt an attitude of shooting the arrow at the target when studying Marxism-Leninism, and that the reason Chinese Communists sought the “arrow” of Marxism-Leninism was precisely to shoot the “target” of the Chinese revolution, emphasizing that this is the Marxist-Leninist style of unifying theory and practice, an attitude that a Communist Party member should possess. Deng Xiaoping repeatedly stressed adhering to integrating theory with practice, stating: “Marxism must be developed. We do not treat Marxism as dogma but integrate Marxism with China’s concrete practice and put forward our own policies; that is why we have been able to achieve victory.” The Party’s historical experience shows: when the study style is correct, the cause flourishes and the Party is invincible; when the study style is incorrect, the cause suffers damage and the Party encounters major setbacks.

坚持理论联系实际的学风。理论联系实际，是中国共产党一贯坚持的马克思主义学风。1941年，毛泽东在延安干部会上作报告时指出，要坚持有的放矢的态度学习马克思列宁主义，中国共产党人之所以要找马克思列宁主义这个“矢”，就是为了要射中国革命这个“的”，并强调这就是理论和实践统一的马克思列宁主义的作风，是一个共产党员应具备的态度。邓小平反复强调坚持理论联系实际，指出：“马克思主义必须发展。我们不把马克思主义当作教条，而是把马克思主义同中国的具体实践相结合，提出自己的方针，所以才能取得胜利”。党的历史经验表明：学风正，则事业兴旺，党无往而不胜；学风不正，则事业遭受损害，党就会受到巨大挫折。

Adhere to the work style of maintaining close ties with the masses. Maintaining close ties with the masses is a fine tradition and political advantage of the Communist Party of China. During the period of the New Democratic Revolution, the CPC led the broad masses of the people in overthrowing local tyrants, distributing land, and running schools; Party members and leading cadres ate and lived together with the masses, laying a solid mass foundation. In 1956, the Party Constitution adopted at the Eighth National Congress of the CPC explicitly stipulated: “The Communist Party of China is already the party in power; therefore, it should especially pay attention to being modest and prudent, avoiding arrogance and rashness, and making great efforts to combat bureaucratism that separates itself from the masses and from actual life in every Party organization, every state organ, and every economic organization.” Facing the new situation and new tasks of reform and opening up and socialist modernization, Deng Xiaoping emphasized the need to carry forward the Party’s fine tradition of maintaining close ties with the masses and resolutely oppose bureaucratism and formalism; to respect the pioneering spirit of the masses and fully mobilize their initiative.

坚持密切联系群众的工作作风。密切联系群众是中国共产党的优良作风和政治优势。新民主主义革命时期，中国共产党领导广大人民群众打土豪、分田地、办教育，党员领导干部与群众同吃同住，打下了坚实的群众基础。1956年，党的八大通过的党章明确规定：“中国共产党已经是执政的党，因此特别应当注意谦虚谨慎，戒骄戒躁，并且用极大的努力在每一个党组织中，在每一个国家机关和经济组织中，同脱离群众、脱离实际生活的官僚主义现象进行斗争。”面对改革开放和社会主义现代化建设的新形势、新任务，邓小平强调指出，要发扬党的密切联系群众的优良作风，坚决反对官僚主义和形式主义；要尊重群众的首创精神，充分调动人民群众的积极性。

Adhere to the style of being honest and upright. Adhering to the style of being honest and upright is an inherent requirement for Communists. In December 1933, the Central Executive Committee of the CPC issued an instruction “On Punishing Corruption and Waste,” demonstrating that the Party, from its early days, began to severely punish corruption and waste within the Party through strict institutional forms. During the years of revolutionary war, corrupt practices by individuals such as Xie Busheng, Tang Renda, and Zuo Xiangyun were all severely investigated and dealt with. After the founding of New China, the CPC Central Committee successively launched rectification and Party consolidation movements, effectively punishing violations of discipline and law by some Party members and cadres, purifying the Party conduct, government conduct, and social atmosphere, and displaying a positive and healthy governing style. Under the conditions of developing a socialist market economy and opening up to the outside world, decadent and backward ideas and the principle of market equivalent exchange eroded the Party. In response to various types of corruption, the Party Central Committee intensified the fight against corruption, severely investigated and dealt with the “first case of anti-corruption after reform and opening up,” the Wang Zhong case, as well as later major cases such as those of Cheng Kejie and Hu Changqing, effectively curbing the momentum of corruption’s spread.

坚持清正廉洁的作风。坚持清正廉洁的作风是共产党人的内在要求。1933年12月，中共中央执行委员会就签发了《关于惩治贪污浪费行为》的训令，表明了党从早期就开始以严格的制度形式对党内贪污浪费行为进行严厉惩处。在革命战争年代，对谢步升、唐仁达、左祥云等人的贪污腐败行为均进行严厉查处。新中国成立后，中共中央接连开展整风整党运动，有力地惩治了部分党员干部的违纪违法行为，净化了党风政风社风，展现了积极健康的执政风貌。在发展社会主义市场经济和对外开放条件下，腐朽没落的思想观念、市场等价交换原则向党内侵蚀，针对各类腐败现象，党中央加大反腐败斗争力度，严厉查处“改革开放反腐第一案”的王仲案以及后来的成克杰、胡长清等大案要案，有力遏制腐败蔓延的势头。

Adhere to the style of hard struggle. Hard struggle is a fine tradition of the Communist Party of China and a powerful spiritual force for our Party to unite and lead the Chinese people in achieving national prosperity and national rejuvenation. At the Second Plenary Session of the Seventh Central Committee of the CPC, Mao Zedong’s proposal of the “Two Musts” [2]2 The “four forms” (四种形态) refer to a graduated system of disciplinary oversight within the CPC, ranging from criticism and self-criticism (Form 1) to light organizational measures (Form 2), heavy organizational measures (Form 3), and criminal prosecution (Form 4). and the “Six Regulations” [3] reflected the Party’s high vigilance against possible bad styles such as arrogance, complacency, and indulgence in pleasure after the victory of the revolution. After the founding of New China, he again emphasized: “I endorse the slogan, ‘Fear neither hardship nor death.’” In the new period of reform and opening up and socialist modernization, Deng Xiaoping pointed out: “Hard struggle is our tradition; education on plain living should be strengthened in the future… The more our country develops, the more we must grasp hard work and entrepreneurship.”

坚持艰苦奋斗的作风。艰苦奋斗是中国共产党的优良传统，是我们党团结带领中国人民实现国家富强、民族振兴的强大精神力量。在党的七届二中全会上，毛泽东提出的“两个务必”、作出的“六条规定”，体现了中国共产党对革命胜利后可能出现的骄傲自满、贪图享乐等不良作风的高度警惕。新中国成立后，他再次强调：“我赞成这样的口号，叫做‘一不怕苦，二不怕死’”。在改革开放和社会主义现代化建设新时期，邓小平指出：“艰苦奋斗是我们的传统，艰苦朴素的教育今后要抓紧……我们的国家越发展，越要抓艰苦创业。”

Adhere to the principle of appointing people on their merits and the style of democratic centralism in selecting and using cadres. Adhering to appointing people on their merits is an important guarantee for strengthening and improving the Party’s work style construction; fully promoting democracy and maintaining centralized unity are important links in strengthening and improving the Party’s work style construction. In 1938, Mao Zedong, based on the experience of the Chinese revolution, emphasized: “Once the political line is determined, cadres are the decisive factor.” In its long-term revolutionary practice, the Party formed the cadre standard of “having both ability and moral integrity” and the cadre line of “appointing people on their merits.” After the founding of New China, with the advancement of large-scale economic construction, the Party highlighted the cadre standard of being “both red and expert.” After the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee of the CPC, Deng Xiaoping clearly proposed the “Four Transformations” [4] policy for the cadre contingent, clarifying the principle of “having both ability and moral integrity, appointing people on their merits.” In short, who is used and who is not used has always played an important guiding role in the Party’s work style construction in different periods of revolution, construction, and reform. In addition, the style of democratic centralism is also reflected in the selection and appointment of cadres, that is, extensively listening to the opinions of the masses to ensure transparency and fairness in the cadre selection process. Adhering to the principle of appointing people on their merits and the style of democratic centralism are two aspects that complement and supplement each other, together constituting the core requirements of the CPC’s cadre selection and appointment.

坚持任人唯贤的选人用人原则和民主集中制作风。坚持任人唯贤，是加强和改进党的作风建设的重要保证；充分发扬民主，维护集中统一，是加强和改进党的作风建设的重要环节。1938年，毛泽东根据中国革命的经验强调：“政治路线确定之后，干部就是决定的因素。”党在长期的革命实践中，形成了“才德兼备”的干部标准和“任人唯贤”的干部路线。新中国成立后，随着大规模经济建设工作的推进，党突出了“又红又专”的干部标准。党的十一届三中全会后，邓小平鲜明提出实现干部队伍“四化”方针，明确“德才兼备、任人唯贤”原则。总之，用什么人、不用什么人，在革命、建设、改革不同时期始终对党的作风建设发挥重要导向作用。此外，民主集中制作风也体现在干部选拔任用上，即广泛听取群众意见，确保干部选拔过程中的透明公正。坚持任人唯贤的选人用人原则与民主集中制作风是相辅相成、互为补充的两个方面，它们共同构成了中国共产党选人用人的核心要求。

Adhere to using Party discipline to guarantee fine work styles. Party discipline is the code of conduct that must be observed by all Party organizations and all Party members; it is the guarantee for maintaining the Party’s unity and solidarity and accomplishing the Party’s tasks. In September 1937, in his article “Combat Liberalism,” Mao Zedong enumerated eleven manifestations of liberalism in very concise language, pointing out that if liberalism were allowed to grow and spread within the Party, the revolutionary ranks would lose strict organization and discipline, policies could not be implemented thoroughly, and a separation would occur between the Party organization and the masses it leads. After the founding of New China, the CPC’s understanding of strict discipline further deepened. The Party Constitution adopted at the Eighth National Congress of the CPC divided Party disciplinary sanctions into five types, which continue to this day, and made new provisions on the Party’s disciplinary enforcement agencies. In December 1978, the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee of the CPC elected the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the CPC with Chen Yun as its First Secretary. Deng Xiaoping emphasized: “The task of discipline inspection commissions and organization departments at all levels is not only to handle cases, but more importantly, to uphold Party rules and Party laws, and earnestly improve our Party’s work style.”

坚持以党的纪律保障优良作风。党的纪律是党的各级组织和全体党员必须遵守的行为规则，是维护党的团结统一、完成党的任务的保证。1937年9月，毛泽东在《反对自由主义》一文中，以十分精炼的文字历数了自由主义的11种表现，指出如果放任自由主义在党内生长泛滥，革命队伍就会失掉严密的组织和纪律，政策就不能贯彻到底，党的组织和党所领导的群众就会发生隔离。新中国成立后，中国共产党对严明纪律的认识进一步深化，党的八大通过的党章将党的纪律处分划分为五种类型并延续至今，并对党的执纪机构作出新规定。1978年12月，党的十一届三中全会选举产生了以陈云为第一书记的中共中央纪律检查委员会。邓小平强调：“各级纪律检查委员会和组织部门的任务不只是处理案件，更重要的是维护党规党法，切实把我们的党风搞好。”

New Explorations in Party Work Style Construction in the New Era

新时代党的作风建设的新探索

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has adhered to systematic thinking and careful planning, taking the Central Eight-Point Regulations as the entry point and mobilization order for improving work style. Through a series of important measures, advancing layer by layer, forming a closed loop, continuously deepening the rectification of the “Four Forms of Decadence” [5] of formalism, bureaucratism, hedonism, and extravagance, and extending further, it has made the Party’s work style comprehensively pure, driving social conduct and public sentiment continuously upward and towards goodness. After years of effort, some unhealthy tendencies that were previously considered impossible to curb have been stopped, some deep-rooted maladies that had persisted for years have been corrected, and the Party conduct, government conduct, and social atmosphere have taken on a new look. These measures include the following aspects.

党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央坚持系统思维、周密谋划，以中央八项规定为改进作风的切入口和动员令，通过一系列重要举措，层层递进，形成闭环，持续深化纠治形式主义、官僚主义、享乐主义和奢靡之风的“四风”问题并延伸开去，使党的作风全面纯洁，带动社风民风持续向上向善。经过多年努力，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，党风政风和社会风气为之一新。这些举措包括以下几方面。

Select the right entry point. On December 4, 2012, the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee reviewed and approved the “Eight-Point Regulations of the Political Bureau of the 18th Central Committee on Improving Work Style and Maintaining Close Ties with the Masses,” establishing rules in eight aspects, namely the Central Eight-Point Regulations. Why were there regulations in eight aspects? Besides inheriting the fine tradition of the CPC in grasping work style construction and gathering the wisdom of the whole Party, it is also related to the experience Comrade Xi

选准切口。2012年12月4日，中共中央政治局审议通过《十八届中央政治局关于改进工作作风、密切联系群众的八项规定》，从八个方面立下规矩，即中央八项规定。为什么是八个方面规定？除了继承中国共产党抓作风建设的优良传统的因素，集全党智慧，也与习近平同志在地方领导实践中抓作风建设积累的经验有关。例如，在正定工作期间，在他主持下，正定县委出台了《关于改进领导作风的几项规定》；在宁德工作期间，在他提议下，宁德地委、行署出台了《关于地委、行署领导干部廉洁自律的若干规定》；在浙江工作期间，他身体力行抓作风，持之以恒建立完善了一系列改进作风的制度，浙江省委作出了就切实加强省委常委自身建设、进一步转变工作作风的“十项规定”；在上海工作期间，他主持起草了《中共上海市委常委会关于加强自身建设的若干意见》等文件，提出了“八个坚持”。事实证明，抓党的建设要从“四风”抓起，抓“四风”要首先把中央八项规定抓好。

Leading from the top sets an example for those below. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, “The construction of a clean and honest Party and government must start with leading cadres, and leading cadres must first start with the central leadership.” In 2017 and 2022, the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee twice reviewed and approved revised detailed rules for the implementation of the Eight-Point Regulations of the Central Committee. General Secretary Xi Jinping took the lead in abiding by the Eight-Point Regulations of the

以上率下。习近平总书记指出，“党风廉政建设，要从领导干部做起，领导干部首先要从中央领导做起。”2017年和2022年，中共中央政治局先后两次审议修订后的中央八项规定实施细则。习近平总书记带头遵守中央八项规定，指出：“我常常想，受全党同志信任，我担任了党的总书记，必须严格要求自己，带头按党章办事，带头遵守党的纪律和规矩，带头管好亲属子女和身边工作人员。”风成于上，俗化于下。上下同心、风俗联动，领导干部带头形成示范引领力量。

Centralized education. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: “Using centralized education to impel the entire Party to resolve prominent problems in Party conduct through the spirit of self-revolution is an important historical experience.” Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee has successively deployed and carried out centralized intra-Party study and education activities such as the educational practice on the mass line, the special education on the “Three Stricts and Three Honests” [2]2 The “four forms” (四种形态) refer to a graduated system of disciplinary oversight within the CPC, ranging from criticism and self-criticism (Form 1) to light organizational measures (Form 2), heavy organizational measures (Form 3), and criminal prosecution (Form 4)., the study and education on the “Two Studies and One Action” [3], the education on “remaining true to our original aspiration and founding mission” [4], and the study and education on Party history, all of which have set forth requirements for conduct building. What plays a decisive role in conduct issues is Party spirit; the purpose of centralized education is to enhance the Party spirit cultivation of Party cadres and improve the conduct of the entire Party. At present, the entire Party is carrying out study and education on thoroughly implementing the spirit of the Eight-Point Regulations. Improving the conduct cultivation of Party cadres is a process of political training. It is necessary to continuously deepen the study of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions on strengthening Party conduct building, promptly follow up on the study of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s series of important speeches on study and education, and through precise and sustained efforts, strengthen the foundation and forge the soul in study, apply precise measures in investigation, and consolidate the foundation for the long term in rectification, thereby grasping and solidifying the study and education, and continuously reinforcing the dike of the Eight-Point Regulations.

集中教育。习近平总书记指出：“通过集中教育推动全党以自我革命精神解决党风方面的突出问题，是一条重要历史经验。”党的十八大以来，党中央先后部署开展了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、党史学习教育等党内集中学习教育，其中都提出了作风建设的要求。作风问题上起决定性作用的是党性，集中教育的目的是提高党员干部的党性修养、改善全党的作风。当前，全党正在开展深入贯彻中央八项规定精神学习教育。提高党员干部的作风修养是一个政治训练的过程，要持续深化学习习近平总书记关于加强党的作风建设的重要论述，及时跟进学习习近平总书记关于学习教育一系列重要讲话精神，通过精准持续发力，在学中强基铸魂，在查中精准施治，在改中长效固本，把学习教育抓紧抓实，不断筑牢中央八项规定堤坝。

Immediate rectification and reform. At the summing-up meeting of the educational practice on the mass line, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “Over the years, we have been constantly tackling conduct issues, but many problems have not only remained unsolved but have become even more serious. Some unhealthy practices are like cutting leeks; one crop is cut, and another grows back. The crux lies in underestimating the stubbornness and recurrence of conduct issues, lacking the tenacity for constant effort, the patience for strict effort, and the institutions for long-term management and fundamental consolidation.” Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party has adhered to immediate rectification and reform and taken real action in tackling conduct building. In December 2012, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the Ministry of Supervision issued a notice requiring leading Party cadres to effectively improve their work conduct and strengthen clean governance and self-discipline during the 2013 New Year’s Day and Spring Festival periods. The year 2013 was the first year for implementing the spirit of the Eight-Point Regulations: in March, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection issued its first centralized circular on six typical cases of violating the spirit of the Eight-Point Regulations; in April, General Secretary Xi Jinping put forward the “four focal points” [5] requirement for inspection

立行立改。习近平总书记在党的群众路线教育实践活动总结大会上指出：“这么多年，作风问题我们一直在抓，但很多问题不仅没有解决、反而愈演愈烈，一些不良作风像割韭菜一样，割了一茬长一茬。症结就在于对作风问题的顽固性和反复性估计不足，缺乏常抓的韧劲、严抓的耐心，缺乏管长远、固根本的制度。”党的十八大以来，抓作风建设坚持立行立改、动真碰硬。2012年12月，中央纪委监察部发出通知，要求党员领导干部在2013年元旦、春节期间，切实改进工作作风，加强廉洁自律。2013年是落实中央八项规定精神开局之年：3月，中央纪委首次对6起违反中央八项规定精神的典型问题发出集中通报；4月，习近平总书记提出巡视工作“四个着力”要求，第一条就是着力发现是否存在“四风”等违反中央八项规定的问题；8月，中央纪委建立并实施落实中央八项规定精神情况月报制度；等等。党的十九大后，作风建设在更加注重集中整治形式主义、官僚主义问题中走向深入，针对作风建设地区性、行业性、阶段性特点开展集中整治。2019年被党中央明确为“基层减负年”，此后为基层减负成为整治形式主义、官僚主义的重要任务。党的二十大以来，把纠治形式主义、官僚主义摆在更加突出位置，一刻不停狠刹享乐主义、奢靡之风，深化风腐同查同治，把严的基调、严的措施、严的氛围长期坚持下去。这些举措体现了我们党对违反中央八项规定精神问题进行动态整治、动真碰硬、立行立改。

Reform and innovation. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasizes: “Work style construction and comprehensively deepening reform are closely interconnected. Many problems, on the surface, appear to be issues of atmosphere, but when analyzed in depth, they are often issues of systems and mechanisms.” Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, many institutional achievements have been made in strengthening the Party’s work style construction through reform and innovation. For example: implementing the main responsibility of Party committees (leading Party members’ groups) for comprehensive and strict governance of the Party; establishing a strict management system for cadres that manages their thinking, work, work style, and discipline; achieving full coverage of dispatched supervision and inspection tours; revising the *Regulations of the Communist Party of China on Disciplinary Action* three times; formulating the *Law of the People’s Republic of China on Administrative Discipline for Public Officials*; accurately applying the “four forms” [2]2 The “four forms” (四种形态) refer to a graduated system of disciplinary oversight within the CPC, ranging from criticism and self-criticism (Form 1) to light organizational measures (Form 2), heavy organizational measures (Form 3), and criminal prosecution (Form 4).; and so on. This series of measures has helped form and improve the mechanisms and systems for promoting work style construction in a normalized and long-term manner.

改革创新。习近平总书记强调：“作风建设和全面深化改革息息相关。许多问题，看起来是风气问题，往深处剖析又往往是体制机制问题。”党的十八大以来，以改革创新抓党的作风建设形成了许多制度成果，例如，落实党委（党组）全面从严治党主体责任；建立管思想、管工作、管作风、管纪律的干部从严管理体系；实现派驻监督、巡视监督全覆盖；三次修订《中国共产党纪律处分条例》；制定《中华人民共和国公职人员政务处分法》；准确运用“四种形态”；等等。这一系列举措助力形成并完善常态化长效化推进作风建设的机制制度。

Strict standards. To promote the normalization and long-term effectiveness of work style construction, it is necessary to form stable systems and mechanisms based on strict standards, continuously sending the signal that discipline will become stricter over time. Adhere unwaveringly to the strict tone, relax no strict measures, and weaken no strict atmosphere, making “strictness” the norm in governing the Party and managing the Party. As of June 2025, data on cases nationwide investigating and punishing violations of the spirit of the Eight-Point Regulations has been published for 141 consecutive months, persistently tackling deep-seated work style problems with unremitting effort, breaking the vicious cycle of “improvement when grasped, relapse when relaxed,” and effectively fostering a strict atmosphere and establishing a correct work style.

严的标准。推进作风建设常态化长效化，需要以严的标准形成稳定的体制机制，不断释放越往后执纪越严的信号。坚持严的基调不动摇，坚持严的举措不放松，坚持严的氛围不减弱，使“从严”成为管党治党常态。截至2025年6月连续141个月公布全国查处违反中央八项规定精神问题数据，对作风顽疾扭住不放、久久为功，打破“抓一抓就好转、松一松就反弹”的怪圈，切实把严的氛围营造起来、把正的风气树立起来。

Online editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心