Address at the Sixth National Forum of Marxist Deans, 2 November 2013

Deng Chundong, Dean and Party Secretary of the Academy of Marxism, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences

中国社科院马克思主义研究院院长、党委书记邓纯东

Respected Secretary Yang, distinguished experts:

尊敬的杨书记，各位专家：

Today we are convening the Sixth National Forum of Marxist Deans at Sichuan University, with over 100 experts and scholars from more than 90 research institutes and institutions of higher learning across the country participating in this forum. First of all, please allow me, on behalf of the host, the Academy of Marxism of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, to extend our warm congratulations on the convening of the forum! I express our heartfelt gratitude to all of you for your long-standing direct or indirect support and assistance to the various aspects of work of the Academy of Marxism of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences! I extend my sincere respect to the experts, scholars, and deans present here who have long held fast to the front line of Marxist theoretical research and propaganda, who have done beneficial work for the Party and the people, and who have achieved rich academic results! At the same time, I would also like to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt thanks to all the comrades of the School of Marxism of Sichuan University, who have provided thorough and thoughtful service for the convening of this forum!

今天我们在四川大学召开第六届全国马克思主义院长论坛，来自全国90余所科研单位和高等院校的100多位专家、学者参加这次论坛。首先，请允许我代表主办单位中国社会科学院马克思主义研究院向论坛的召开表示热烈的祝贺！对于各位长期以来对中国社会科学院马克思主义研究院各方面工作直接或间接的支持帮助，表示衷心的感谢！对在座的各位专家、学者、各位院长们长期坚守在马克思主义理论研究和宣传战线，为党和人民做出有益的工作，取得学术上的丰硕成果，表示由衷的敬意！同时，也要借此机会，对为本次论坛的召开做了充分的周到的服务工作的四川大学马克思主义学院的全体同志表示衷心的感谢！

This forum is being held against the broad backdrop of implementing the spirit of the 18th National Congress of the CPC [1]1 The 18th National Congress of the CPC was held in November 2012, at which Xi Jinping became General Secretary of the Party Central Committee and the goal of completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects was set. and promoting the realization of the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. In particular, in August of this year, our Party convened the National Conference on Propaganda and Ideological Work [2]2 The National Conference on Propaganda and Ideological Work, held in August 2013, was a meeting at which Xi Jinping stressed the importance of ideological work and the guiding role of Marxism., at which General Secretary Xi Jinping delivered a speech with a clear-cut stance. Studying this speech, we are deeply educated and deeply inspired. This speech will greatly promote our correct understanding of the importance of Marxist theoretical research, teaching, and propaganda work; enhance our sense of responsibility for advancing the adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese context; and, under the new circumstances, ensure a firm stance and correct direction in promoting the dissemination, propaganda, and innovation of Marxism. I would like to take this opportunity to share the following understandings on studying the spirit of the General Secretary’s speech and further consolidating the guiding position of Marxism.

我们这个论坛是在贯彻党的十八大精神，推动实现民族伟大复兴中国梦这样一个大的背景下召开的。特别是今年八月份我们党召开了全国宣传思想工作会议，习近平总书记作了一个旗帜鲜明的讲话，学习这个讲话我们确实深受教育深受鼓舞。讲话对于增强我们对马克思主义理论研究、教学宣传工作的重要性的正确认识，对于增强我们推进马克思主义中国化的责任感，对于在新形势下确保坚定立场、正确方向推进马克思主义的传播宣传和创新，都将起到极大的促进作用。我想借此机会就学习总书记讲话精神，进一步巩固马克思主义指导地位，谈以下几点认识。

First, consolidating the guiding position of Marxism requires changing the situation of “one hand being soft, the other hand being hard”

第一，巩固马克思主义的指导地位必须改变“一手软，一手硬”的局面

We have had successful experiences and also lessons on the relationship between the material and the spiritual, and on the relationship between ideological and political education work and economic construction. In the past, we overemphasized the role of the spirit, to the point where even eating was difficult and various daily necessities had to be purchased with ration coupons. Later, we corrected this deviation, restored the Party’s ideological line of seeking truth from facts, and adhered to taking economic construction as the center. However, Comrade Deng Xiaoping very early and very keenly pointed out that while the one hand of economic construction was doing very well and outstandingly, the other hand of ideological and political education and ideological and political work had been relaxed, and that our Party’s work exhibited a situation of “one hand being soft, the other hand being hard.” [3]3 “One hand being soft, the other hand being hard” is a phrase used by Deng Xiaoping to criticize the neglect of ideological and political work while focusing on economic construction. Comrade Deng Xiaoping, in the late 1980s, including in his Southern Tour Talks in the early 1990s [4]4 The Southern Tour Talks were a series of speeches given by Deng Xiaoping during an inspection tour of southern China in early 1992, which reaffirmed the policy of reform and opening up and accelerated market-oriented reforms., when giving instructions on the various tasks of the whole Party and the whole country, criticized the situation of “one hand being soft, the other hand being hard” on several occasions. However, at present, the situation of “one hand being soft” has not changed in some Party organizations, localities, and units. Therefore, to implement the spirit of the General Secretary’s speech, to attach great importance to the Party’s ideological work, and to consolidate the ideological foundation for the united struggle of the whole Party and the entire people, we must effectively change the situation of “one hand being soft” and attach great importance to and earnestly do a good job of ideological and political work.

我们在物质和精神的关系问题上，在思想政治教育工作和经济建设关系的问题上有成功的经验，也有过教训。过去我们过分强调精神的作用，以至于造成吃饭都很困难，买各种生活用品都要票的情况。后来我们纠正了这种偏差，恢复了党的实事求是的思想路线，坚持以经济建设为中心。但是小平同志非常早、非常敏锐地指出，经济建设这一手搞得很好，很出色，但是思想政治教育、思想政治工作这一手放松了，我们党的工作存在着“一手软，一手硬”的状况。小平同志在20世纪80年代后期包括在90年代初南巡谈话时对全党全国各项工作作出指示的时候，几次批评过“一手软，一手硬”的状况。但是，目前“一手软”的状况在一些党组织、一些地方和单位中没有改变。所以，贯彻总书记讲话精神，高度重视党的意识形态工作，巩固全党全国人民团结奋斗的思想基础，必须切实改变“一手软”状况，高度重视、认真抓好思想政治工作。

Second, consolidating the guiding position of Marxism requires promoting the Party’s fine tradition of organizing and mobilizing the masses

第二，巩固马克思主义的指导地位必须弘扬党的组织群众、宣传群众的优良传统

We must unambiguously persist in conducting positive education, positive guidance, and positive inculcation of Marxism for the whole Party, the whole society, and the entire people. This is a very successful method for our Party to achieve effective guidance of the people and effective leadership of the Party’s cause. During the “Cultural Revolution” [5]5 The “Cultural Revolution” (1966–1976) was a political campaign launched by Mao Zedong that caused widespread social upheaval and was later officially condemned as a period of severe error., we made some mistakes in this regard. However, when correcting the mistakes later, we also discarded the Party’s guidance and propaganda of the masses as “Leftist,” as simply a matter of “I guide, you follow.” Positive education and positive guidance of the masses, as far as we know, are now done relatively little across the whole Party and the whole society. In ideological and political work, the very concept of “positive inculcation” is hardly dared to be mentioned. This situation is not conducive to upholding the guiding position of Marxism, not conducive to the establishment of correct ideological concepts among the entire people, and not conducive to the establishment of core socialist values. Comrade Mao Zedong said that on the ideological and cultural front, if socialism does not occupy it, capitalism inevitably will. [6]6 This is a paraphrase of Mao Zedong’s statement that ideological and cultural fronts must be occupied by socialism, or else they will be occupied by capitalism. If our Party’s positive education, guidance, and inculcation are relaxed, then various non-Marxist and even anti-Marxist ideas will become prevalent in society, and may even occupy the ideological and cultural front. Therefore, to implement the spirit of the General Secretary’s speech, we must strengthen positive education, positive guidance, and positive inculcation.

必须旗帜鲜明地坚持对全党、全社会、全体人民进行马克思主义的正面教育、正面引导、正面灌输，这是我们党实现对人民有效引导，对党的事业有效领导的非常成功的方法。“文化大革命”期间，我们在这方面出现过一些错误，但是后来在纠正错误的时候，也把党对人民群众的引导宣传都当成“左”，都当成是简单的你导我通而予以抛弃。对群众的正面教育、正面引导，据我们的了解，现在在全党全社会做得比较少，在思想政治工作中“正面灌输”的概念都不敢提。这种状况不利于坚持马克思主义的指导地位，不利于全体人民各方面正确思想观念的树立，不利于社会主义核心价值的树立。毛泽东同志说过，对于思想文化阵地，社会主义不去占领，资本主义必然会去占领。我们党的正面的教育引导灌输放松了，社会上各种非马克思主义乃至反马克思主义思想就会流行，甚至占领思想文化阵地。所以，贯彻总书记讲话精神，必须加强正面教育、正面引导、正面灌输。

Third, consolidating the guiding position of Marxism requires strengthening the propaganda and education work of Marxism

第三，巩固马克思主义的指导地位必须加强马克思主义的宣传教育工作

The purpose of studying Marxism is to arm the whole Party and the whole people with scientific theory, and to promote the great cause of building socialism with Chinese characteristics. However, judging from the actual situation, due to various reasons, the propaganda and education of Marxist theory, including the theory of socialism with Chinese characteristics, still fails to cover a considerable number of people. In recent years, with the acceleration of social mobility, a considerable number of migrant workers, a considerable number of urban residents, and personnel in some non-public units have not undergone systematic political study or theoretical study. For example, in a considerable number of villages, convening meetings to convey the Party’s line, principles, and policies must be paid for; there is a situation of “one hand paying the money, the other hand signing in.” The conceptual influence received by a considerable number of groups in the whole society comes largely from television dramas, the internet, tabloids and small magazines sold on the streets, and even some illegal publications. These things are influencing our broad masses of basic-level people; this is very dangerous. Therefore, our theoretical circles have the responsibility to use our work to cover the entire population as much as possible with the scientific theory of Marxism, the achievements of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context, and the core socialist value system, and to play as much of an educational and guiding role for the people as possible.

研究马克思主义目的是要用科学理论武装全党、武装人民，推动建设有中国特色的社会主义伟大事业。但是，从实际状况来看，由于种种原因，在实践中，马克思主义理论包括中国特色社会主义理论的宣传教育，仍有相当多的人群未被覆盖。近些年，随着社会的流动加快，相当多的农民工，相当多的城市居民和一些非公单位人员，没有进行过系统的政治学习、理论学习。比如，相当多的农村开会传达党的路线方针政策，必须是掏钱的，存在着一手交钱一手签到的状况。全社会中的相当多的群体所接受的观念熏陶很多来自于电视剧、互联网、街头售卖的小报小刊乃至一些非法出版物，这些东西在影响我们广大的基本群众，这是很危险的。所以，我们理论界有责任把马克思主义的科学理论、马克思主义中国化的成果、社会核心价值体系通过我们的工作尽可能多的覆盖全体人群，尽可能多的对人民起到教育和引导的作用。

Fourth, consolidating the guiding position of Marxism requires strengthening the building of the contingent of ideological, theoretical, and cultural workers

第四，巩固马克思主义的指导地位必须加强思想理论文化工作的队伍建设

The propaganda and education of Marxist theoretical ideas and concepts must be disseminated through our theoretical workers, including teaching and research workers, through lectures, publishing articles, and giving speeches at forums. It also requires our cultural workers and the cultural circles to infuse correct ideological concepts, Marxist theory, and core socialist values into their labor, and to embody them in the fruits of their labor. If these practitioners themselves have little understanding of Marxist theory, or even hold a skeptical or negative attitude towards it, while admiring capitalist ideology, relying on them to carry out dissemination, propaganda, and the creation and production of cultural products will cause great harm to the whole society. This situation has already appeared in some places. Therefore, to consolidate the guiding position of Marxism, we must strive to strengthen the building of the contingent and continuously improve the ideological and political quality of practitioners. The experts present here today are the backbone force of Marxist propaganda and education. I hope that all of you can make greater contributions in the work of implementing the spirit of the General Secretary’s speech.

马克思主义理论思想观念的宣传教育要通过我们理论工作者，包括教学研究工作者讲课、发表文章、在论坛上发表演讲传播出去，也需要我们的文化工作者、文化界把正确的思想观念、马克思主义理论和社会主义核心价值渗透到他们的劳动之中，体现到他们的劳动成果之中。如果这些从业人员本身对马克思主义理论了解不多，甚至持怀疑态度、否定态度，而对资本主义的意识形态很赞赏，靠他们来进行传播，进行宣传，进行文化产品的创作和生产，对全社会的危害会很大，这种状况现在在个别地方已经出现。所以，巩固马克思主义的指导地位，必须努力加强队伍建设，加强从业人员思想政治素质的不断提高。今天在座的各位专家是马克思主义宣传教育的骨干力量，我希望各位在落实总书记讲话精神的工作中，能够做出更大的贡献。

Finally, I wish the conference a complete success!

最后，祝大会取得圆满成功！

Thank you all!

谢谢大家！