Speaking of Politics Is the Fundamental Requirement of a Marxist Political Party

Speaking of politics clearly and distinctly is not only a distinctive feature of a Marxist political party but also a political advantage our Party has consistently maintained. Party cadres and members must deeply understand the connotation of speaking of politics from the logic of theory, the logic of history, and the logic of practice, temper their political character, enhance their political capacity, and fulfill political requirements.

旗帜鲜明讲政治，既是马克思主义政党的鲜明特征，也是我们党一以贯之的政治优势。党员干部要从理论逻辑、历史逻辑、实践逻辑深刻理解讲政治的内涵，淬炼政治品格，增强政治能力，践行政治要求。

That a Marxist political party speaks of politics is determined by its inherent requirements and possesses a profound theoretical logic. From the perspective of the essential attributes of a Marxist political party, Marxism reveals the objective laws of the development of human society and points out the direction forward for the proletarian party. Speaking of politics means adhering to the guiding position of Marxism, using Marxist standpoints, viewpoints, and methods to observe, analyze, and solve problems. A Marxist political party is the vanguard of the working class, shouldering the great mission of overthrowing the old world and building a new one. Only by speaking of politics can it ensure that the Party always stands firmly on the people's side, accurately grasps the trends of social development, formulates lines, principles, and policies that conform to the tide of history and the interests of the people, and leads the country forward in the correct direction.

马克思主义政党讲政治由内在要求所决定，具有深刻的理论逻辑。从马克思主义政党的本质属性来看，马克思主义揭示了人类社会发展的客观规律，为无产阶级政党指明了前进方向。讲政治就是要坚持马克思主义的指导地位，用马克思主义的立场、观点与方法来观察、分析和解决问题。马克思主义政党是工人阶级的先锋队，肩负着推翻旧世界、建立新世界的伟大使命。只有讲政治，才能确保党始终站稳人民立场，准确把握社会发展趋势，制定出符合历史潮流和人民利益的路线方针政策，引领国家朝着正确的方向前进。

From the perspective of the inherent requirements of a Marxist political party, although the Party faces different tasks and challenges in different historical periods, speaking of politics enables all Party members to always keep in mind the lofty ideal of communism and the common ideal of socialism with Chinese characteristics, integrating personal ideals into the Party's great cause. Democratic centralism is the organizational principle of a Marxist political party, and speaking of politics is an inherent requirement for implementing democratic centralism, ensuring that Party members maintain a high degree of consistency with the Party Central Committee in thought, politics, and action, and safeguarding the Party's unity and solidarity. Only by speaking of politics can it be guaranteed that the Party's decisions are scientific, democratic, and executed efficiently and forcefully, making the Party a strong collective with organization, discipline, and combat effectiveness, ensuring that the Party's ideals and beliefs are passed down without interruption.

从马克思主义政党的内在要求看，虽然党在不同历史时期面临着不同的任务和挑战，但是讲政治能让全体党员始终牢记共产主义远大理想和中国特色社会主义共同理想，将个人理想融入党的伟大事业。民主集中制是马克思主义政党的组织原则，讲政治是贯彻民主集中制的内在要求，能够确保党员在思想上、政治上、行动上同党中央保持高度一致，维护党的团结统一。只有讲政治，才能保证党的决策科学民主且高效有力地执行，使党成为有组织、有纪律、有战斗力的坚强集体，确保党的理想信念传承不息。

That a Marxist political party speaks of politics is an important experience and inevitable requirement for its continuous development and growth, possessing a profound historical logic. In the early period of the international communist movement, Marx and Engels pointed out: "The Paris Commune was destroyed precisely because of a lack of centralization and authority." [1]1 A reference to Marx's analysis of the Paris Commune of 1871, emphasizing the need for centralized revolutionary authority. This indicates that if a proletarian revolution lacks strong political leadership and political authority, it will lead to the dispersion and failure of revolutionary forces. In the process of leading the Russian revolution, Lenin also deeply recognized the key role of speaking of politics. He emphasized the importance of "creating a group of experienced Party leaders with extremely high prestige," [2]2 A reference to Lenin's emphasis on a disciplined vanguard party led by a core of professional revolutionaries. thereby establishing a highly organized and disciplined Bolshevik Party, successfully leading the October Revolution, and founding the world's first socialist state. Conversely, an important reason for the eventual collapse of the Soviet Union was that the Communist Party of the Soviet Union did not speak of politics, became detached from the masses, and degenerated into a privileged stratum.

马克思主义政党讲政治是不断发展壮大的重要经验和必然要求，具有深刻的历史逻辑。在国际共产主义运动早期，马克思恩格斯指出：“巴黎公社遭到灭亡，就是由于缺乏集中和权威。”这表明，无产阶级革命若缺乏强有力的政治领导和政治权威，则会导致革命力量的涣散和失败。列宁在领导俄国革命的过程中，也深刻认识到讲政治的关键作用。他强调“造就一批有经验、有极高威望的党的领袖”的重要性，从而建立高度组织化、纪律严明的布尔什维克党，成功领导十月革命，建立了世界上第一个社会主义国家。相反，苏联最终轰然解体的一个重要原因，就是苏联共产党不讲政治，脱离人民群众，蜕变为特权阶层。

In the more than one hundred years of the Chinese Communist Party's struggle, speaking of politics has run through it from beginning to end. During the period of the New Democratic Revolution, Comrade Mao Zedong emphasized that politics is the commander and the soul, proposing that Party building must be combined with the Party's political line. During the period of socialist revolution and construction, Comrade Mao Zedong further proposed that "political work is the lifeline of all economic work," [3]3 A slogan from the Mao era, asserting the primacy of political work in guiding economic activity. emphasizing that in economic construction, political leadership must also be emphasized to ensure the socialist direction of economic construction. During the period of reform and opening up, Deng Xiaoping emphasized that Communists must be adept at observing and handling problems from a political perspective, pointing out that economic construction and modernization are the biggest politics. [4]4 A reference to Deng Xiaoping's reorientation of the Party's political focus toward economic development as the central task. Entering the New Era, General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized the importance of speaking of politics, pointing out that the whole Party must "insist on placing the Party's political construction in the first position, and take safeguarding the authority of the Party Central Committee and centralized, unified leadership as the highest political principle," [5]5 A formulation from Xi Jinping, elevating political construction and central authority as the Party's highest principles. further strengthening the Party's political discipline and political rules, ensuring the Party's unity, solidarity, and unity of action. Therefore, only by speaking of politics can a Marxist political party always maintain the correct political direction, continuously sum up experience, respond to challenges, and achieve victory in the process of revolution, construction, and reform.

在中国共产党的百余年奋斗历程中，讲政治更是贯穿始终。在新民主主义革命时期，毛泽东同志强调政治是统帅、是灵魂，提出党的建设必须同党的政治路线相结合。在社会主义革命和建设时期，毛泽东同志进一步提出“政治工作是一切经济工作的生命线”，强调在经济建设中也要注重政治引领，确保经济建设的社会主义方向。改革开放时期，邓小平强调共产党人要善于从政治上观察和处理问题，指出经济建设、现代化建设是最大的政治。进入新时代，习近平总书记多次强调讲政治的重要性，指出全党要“我们坚持把党的政治建设摆在首位，把维护党中央权威和集中统一领导作为最高政治原则”，进一步强化党的政治纪律和政治规矩，确保党的团结统一和行动一致。因此，马克思主义政党只有讲政治，才能始终保持正确的政治方向，在革命、建设、改革过程中不断总结经验、应对挑战、取得胜利。

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has adhered to a people-centered approach and promoted comprehensive deepening of reform to achieve historic great achievements, ultimately because it speaks of politics. The Two Establishments and the Two Upholds are major political achievements of the Party in the great practice of the New Era, are the iconic discourse of speaking of politics in the New Era, providing decisive guarantees for the development of the Party and the country's cause and for advancing the historical process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, enabling our country to achieve historic achievements and undergo historic changes in various fields such as politics, economy, culture, society, and ecological civilization. Resolutely upholding Comrade Xi Jinping's position as the core of the Party Central Committee and the core of the entire Party, and resolutely upholding the authority and centralized, unified leadership of the Party Central Committee, can effectively consolidate the strength of the entire Party and the people of all ethnic groups across the country, forming a powerful force for development. The Two Upholds are the highest political principle and fundamental political rule of the Party, the fundamental guarantee for the entire Party to always remain united in heart and mind and march forward in step, and the transformation of the theoretical requirements of the Two Establishments into concrete practical actions.

党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央坚持以人民为中心、推动全面深化改革取得历史性伟大成就，归根结底在于讲政治。“两个确立”和“两个维护”是党在新时代伟大实践中取得的重大政治成果，是讲政治在新时代的标识性话语，为党和国家事业发展、推进中华民族伟大复兴历史进程提供决定性保障，使得我国在政治、经济、文化、社会、生态文明等各个领域取得历史性成就、发生历史性变革。坚决维护习近平总书记党中央的核心、全党的核心地位，坚决维护党中央权威和集中统一领导，能有效凝聚全党全国各族人民的力量，形成强大的发展合力。“两个维护”是党的最高政治原则和根本政治规矩，是全党始终团结一心、步调一致向前进的根本保证，是将“两个确立”的理论要求转化为具体的实践行动。

For Party cadres and members in the New Era, speaking of politics is an important requirement for strengthening Party building, promoting the development of the Party and the country's cause, and realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. First, only with strong theory can the direction be clear. To clarify the political direction, it is necessary to deeply study Marxist theory, especially Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, arm the mind with the Party's innovative theory, consolidate the foundation of faith, replenish the calcium of the spirit, and steady the rudder of thought. Second, continuously enhance the "three political capabilities." [6]6 "Three political capabilities" (政治三力) refers to political judgment, political comprehension, and political execution, a standard requirement for cadres under Xi Jinping. Party cadres and members must bear in mind the "greatest concerns of the country," [7]7 "Greatest concerns of the country" (国之大者) is a phrase used possess excellent political capability, and continuously improve political judgment, political comprehension, and political execution. Political judgment requires Party cadres and members to be adept at grasping political logic from complex and contradictory relationships. Political comprehension requires Party cadres and members to deeply understand the spiritual essence and work requirements of the Party Central Committee's decisions and deployments. Political execution requires Party cadres and members to implement the Party Central Committee's decisions and deployments into concrete actions. Third, firmly establish the value stance of putting the people first. The interests of the people must be placed in the first position, frequently going deep into the grassroots and the masses, consulting the people on governance, needs, and plans, so that the masses have a greater sense of gain, happiness, and security. Fourth, establish and practice a correct outlook on political performance. Party cadres and members must be courageous in taking responsibility, taking the actual effect of work as an important standard for measuring political performance, not engaging in formalism and bureaucracy, and not pursuing short-term political performance and superficial prosperity. Fifth, be strict with oneself, honest and clean. Party cadres and members must strictly abide by political discipline, strictly observe political rules, take the lead in carrying out criticism and self-criticism, and resolutely oppose formalism, bureaucracy, hedonism, and extravagance.

新时代党员干部讲政治，是加强党的建设、推动党和国家事业发展、实现中华民族复兴伟业的重要要求。一是理论强才能方向明。明确政治方向，要深入学习马克思主义理论，特别是习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想，用党的创新理论武装头脑，筑牢信仰之基，补足精神之钙，把稳思想之舵。二是不断增强“政治三力”。党员干部要胸怀“国之大者”，具备过硬的政治能力，不断提高政治判断力、政治领悟力、政治执行力。政治判断力要求党员干部善于从纷繁复杂的矛盾关系中把握政治逻辑。政治领悟力要求党员干部深刻领会党中央决策部署的精神实质和工作要求。政治执行力要求党员干部将党中央决策部署落实到具体行动之中。三是站稳人民至上的价值立场。要把人民的利益放在首位，经常深入基层、深入群众，问政于民、问需于民、问计于民，让人民群众有更多的获得感、幸福感和安全感。四是树立和践行正确政绩观。党员干部要勇于担当，把工作的实际效果作为衡量政绩的重要标准，不搞形式主义和官僚主义，不追求短期的政绩和表面的繁荣。五是严于律己、清正廉洁。党员干部要严格遵守政治纪律，严守政治规矩，带头开展批评与自我批评，坚决反对形式主义、官僚主义、享乐主义和奢靡之风。

The reason our Party has been able to become the most powerful political party in the world, and the reason it has been able to unite and lead the people to continuously achieve remarkable great achievements, lies in its strict organizational discipline and its ability to unify will and action. It can be seen that speaking of politics is not abstract but concrete and practical. Objectively, it means in action and practice upholding the authority of the Party Central Committee, implementing the Party's political line, strictly abiding by the Party's political discipline and political rules, and making the Party a "truly steel-like organization." [8]

我们党之所以能够成为世界上最强大的政党，之所以能够团结带领人民不断取得举世瞩目的伟大成就，就在于有严密的组织纪律性，能够统一意志和行动。可见，讲政治不是抽象的，而是具体实在的。客观上，就是在行动实践上维护党中央权威、执行党的政治路线、严格遵守党的政治纪律和政治规矩，使党成为“真正钢铁般的组织”。

(The author is a researcher at the Shaanxi Provincial Research Center for the Theoretical System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and a professor at the School of Marxism, Northwestern Polytechnical University.)

（作者系陕西省中国特色社会主义理论体系研究中心研究员、西北工业大学马克思主义学院教授）

Online editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心