Accelerating the Construction of an Independent Knowledge System for the Discipline of Marxist Theory

The "Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese-Style Modernization,"[1]1 The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC was held in July 2024. "Chinese-style modernization" (中国式现代化) is a key concept promoted by Xi Jinping, referring to a modernization path distinct from the Western model, characterized by socialist principles and Chinese national conditions. adopted at the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, proposed the goal and task of "building an independent knowledge system for Chinese philosophy and social sciences," charting the course for the construction of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics in the New Era. The discipline of Marxist theory is a leading discipline within China's philosophy and social sciences. Strengthening the construction of this discipline, and in particular building its own independent knowledge system, is especially important. The year 2025 marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of Marxist theory as a first-level discipline, making the exploration of the construction of an independent knowledge system for the discipline of Marxist theory of particular significance.

党的二十届三中全会通过的《中共中央关于进一步全面深化改革、推进中国式现代化的决定》，提出“构建中国哲学社会科学自主知识体系”目标任务，为新时代新征程中国特色哲学社会科学建设指明了前进方向。马克思主义理论学科是我国哲学社会科学中具有引领性质的学科。加强这一学科建设，特别是构建本学科自主知识体系尤为重要。2025年是马克思主义理论一级学科设立20周年，探讨马克思主义理论学科自主知识体系构建问题具有特殊意义。

I

一

How, exactly, should we understand an "independent knowledge system"? The so-called "independent" means taking root in China rather than copying the West. In modern times, we actively introduced, digested, and absorbed Western science and culture, including Western philosophy and social sciences. Many of our current disciplinary knowledge systems were originally introduced from Western countries. This had a certain inevitability under specific historical conditions and also possessed a certain rationality. Learning from the West and introducing outstanding academic achievements was a practical need for China's own development. Taking our new historical position as a great nation with a long history and a lofty mission, we should follow our own path of modernization and develop our own advanced socialist culture. Therefore, we must never be satisfied with being an apprentice or a student, following behind others step by step; instead, we must form our own disciplinary knowledge system. Facts have proven that copying philosophy and social sciences from the West has brought some adverse effects to our culture and society. As China continues to develop and increasingly moves to the center of the world stage, we should accelerate the formation of an independent knowledge system for Chinese philosophy and social sciences. As for the so-called "knowledge system," on the one hand, it means that our discipline construction should focus on "knowledge-ization," summarizing and elevating our rich practical experience into universal knowledge; on the other hand, it means that the knowledge derived from China's practice and experience should not be fragmented but should form a logically rigorous system.

究竟应该如何理解“自主知识体系”呢？所谓“自主”，就是立足中国而非照搬西方。近代以来，我们积极引进和消化吸收西方科学文化，其中也包括西方哲学社会科学。我国当下的不少学科知识体系，最初是从西方国家引入的。这在特定历史条件下具有必然性，也具有一定的合理性。向西方学习和引进优秀学术成果，是中国自身发展的现实需要。立足新的时代方位，作为一个有着悠久历史和崇高使命的大国，我们应该走自己的现代化道路，发展自己的社会主义先进文化。因而，决不能满足于做学徒当学生，跟在人家后面亦步亦趋，而要形成自己的学科知识体系。事实证明，哲学社会科学上的照搬曾经给我们的文化和社会带来一些不利的影响。随着中国的不断发展和日益走近世界舞台中央，更应加快形成中国自主的哲学社会科学知识体系。所谓“知识体系”，一方面是说我们的学科建设要注重“知识化”，把我们丰富的实践经验概括升华为普遍性知识；另一方面是说这些来自中国实践和经验的知识不应是零散的，而应该形成逻辑严密的体系。

The top priority is to correctly grasp the ideological prerequisites and scientific connotations of constructing an independent knowledge system for the discipline of Marxist theory. The discipline of Marxist theory has its particularities, and constructing its independent knowledge system has specific implications. First, attention should be paid to a prerequisite issue: the "Marxism" we refer to here is "Marxism" in the sense of China's disciplinary system, i.e., the "discipline of Marxist theory." The guiding ideology and the disciplinary system are not on the same level; if they are conflated, it could diminish the status of Marxism as the guiding ideology. When we talk about building an independent knowledge system, we are speaking from the perspective of the discipline, not from the perspective of the guiding ideology. Disciplinary construction plays an important supporting role in upholding the guiding position of Marxism, but the two should not be conflated. At the same time, it should also be noted that "Marxism" itself was founded by Marx, Engels, and others; the independent "intellectual property rights" belong to the classical Marxist writers. While we can certainly advance the Sinicization of Marxism, thereby enriching and developing Marxism and forming a Chinese form of Marxism, we cannot broadly refer to "Marxism" or "Marxist theory" as "China's independent knowledge system." What we refer to today as building an independent knowledge system is primarily about the construction and development of the "Marxist theory" discipline established in our country.

重中之重是，正确把握构建马克思主义理论学科自主知识体系的思想前提和科学内涵。马克思主义理论学科具有特殊性，构建这个学科的自主知识体系有其特定涵义。首先应注意一个前提性问题：我们这里所说的是我国学科体系意义上的“马克思主义”，即“马克思主义理论学科”。指导思想与学科体系不是一个层次的事情，如果混为一谈就可能降低马克思主义指导思想的身份。当我们谈论构建自主知识体系的时候，是从学科角度说的，而不是从指导思想角度说的。学科建构对于坚持马克思主义指导地位具有重要支撑作用，但不能混同起来。同时还应注意，“马克思主义”本身是马克思、恩格斯等创立的，自主“知识产权”归马克思主义经典作家。我们固然可以推进马克思主义中国化，从而丰富和发展马克思主义，形成马克思主义的中国形态，但不能笼统地把“马克思主义”或“马克思主义理论”说成是“中国自主的知识体系”。我们今天所说的构建自主知识体系，主要是就我国设立的“马克思主义理论”学科的建设与发展而言的。

China's first-level discipline of Marxist theory was established in 2005. It was set up under the category of law within China's disciplinary system to meet the needs of Marxist theoretical research and construction in our country, especially to support the teaching of ideological and political theory courses in schools. It is a discipline that studies Marxism comprehensively and synthetically as a whole. It must study both the theoretical system of Marxism and the history of Marxist development; it must study both the basic principles of Marxism and the Sinicization of Marxism and its theoretical achievements; it must study both Marxism as the guiding ideology of the proletarian party and the socialist state, and other social trends of thought abroad that bear certain Marxist characteristics; it must study both Marxism and its Sinicized theories themselves, and the propaganda and education of Marxism and its Sinicized theoretical achievements. For this reason, the first-level discipline of Marxist theory has six second-level disciplines under it: Basic Principles of Marxism, History of Marxist Development, Study of the Sinicization of Marxism, Study of Marxism Abroad, Ideological and Political Education, and Study of Basic Issues in Modern and Contemporary Chinese History. The establishment of these second-level disciplines delineates the scope of the discipline of Marxist theory and provides focal points and important starting points for constructing its independent knowledge system. Therefore, constructing the independent knowledge system for the discipline of Marxist theory mainly involves constructing the knowledge systems for each of the six second-level disciplines. Only by closely centering on these six second-level disciplines, building a Chinese independent knowledge system for the discipline of Marxist theory, enabling it to develop through the integration of Marxist theoretical research and Chinese practice, to evolve through knowledge-based production, and to undergo fusion within the knowledge system of the disciplinary cluster, can it truly stand tall in the academic forest of human philosophy and social sciences.

我国的马克思主义理论一级学科设立于2005年，是为适应我国马克思主义理论研究和建设的需要，特别是支撑学校思政课教育教学的需要，而在我国学科体系的法学门类下设立的。它是一门从整体上综合性地研究马克思主义的学科，既要研究马克思主义理论体系，又要研究马克思主义发展历史；既要研究马克思主义基本原理，又要研究马克思主义中国化及其理论成果；既要研究作为无产阶级政党和社会主义国家指导思想的马克思主义，又要研究其他国家某些具有马克思主义色彩的社会思潮；既要研究马克思主义及其中国化理论本身，又要研究马克思主义及其中国化理论成果的宣传教育。正因为如此，马克思主义理论一级学科下设六个二级学科：马克思主义基本原理、马克思主义发展史、马克思主义中国化研究、国外马克思主义研究、思想政治教育、中国近现代史基本问题研究。这些二级学科的设立，框定了马克思主义理论学科的范围，为构建本学科自主知识体系提供了着力点和重要抓手。因此，构建马克思主义理论学科自主知识体系，主要就是构建六个二级学科各自的知识体系。紧紧围绕这六个二级学科，构建起中国自主的马克思主义理论学科知识体系，使其在马克思主义理论研究与中国实践的结合中发展，在知识性生产中演进，在学科群的知识体系中聚变，方能真正屹立于人类哲学社会科学的学术之林。

II

二

"Basic Principles of Marxism" is the leading component of the discipline of Marxist theory, playing a foundational and guiding role in the entire disciplinary construction and the building of its independent knowledge system. Constructing the independent knowledge system for this discipline should adhere to the principle of upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground, with particular emphasis on fully recognizing the importance of upholding fundamental principles. For the basic principles of Marxism, the focus is on adherence. The classical Marxist writers founded Marxism and established the basic principles of Marxism, and these basic principles are universally applicable.

“马克思主义基本原理”是马克思主义理论学科的龙头，对于整个学科建设及自主知识体系构建都起着基础性、引领性作用。构建这一学科的自主知识体系应坚持守正创新原则，尤其是充分认识守正的重要性。对于马克思主义基本原理，重在坚持。马克思主义经典作家创立了马克思主义，奠定了马克思主义基本原理，而且这些基本原理是放之四海而皆准的。

Our understanding of the sources and scope of the "basic principles of Marxism" embodies China's own position and perspective. The "basic principles of Marxism" we refer to include not only the theoretical innovations of Marx and Engels but also the theoretical contributions of Lenin; it is essentially the "basic principles of Marxism-Leninism." This is markedly different from some proletarian parties in the world that recognize only Marx and Engels but not Lenin. Moreover, the "basic principles of Marxism" we speak of also include the original contributions made by the Chinese Communists. Basic principles are at the level of universality, while Sinicized theories are theories at the level of particularity; the relationship between the two is that of the general and the specific. As an academic system, the object of study for the basic principles of Marxism is the worldview, methodology, and their application in analyzing the forms of human society. When applied to Chinese practice, the basic principles of Marxism radiate powerful vitality. As the world's largest Marxist ruling party, the Communist Party of China, in the process of advancing the Sinicization of Marxism, has formed a series of achievements of Sinicized Marxism, enhancing the expression of the basic principles of Marxism in Chinese discourse.

我们对“马克思主义基本原理”来源和范围的认识，有着中国的立场和视野。我们所说的“马克思主义基本原理”，不仅包括马克思和恩格斯的理论创新，而且包括列宁的理论贡献，实质上是“马克思列宁主义基本原理”。这就与世界上有的无产阶级政党只认可马克思、恩格斯而不认可列宁有着明显不同。而且，我们所讲的“马克思主义基本原理”，也包括中国共产党人所做的原创性贡献在内。基本原理是普遍性层次，而中国化理论则是特殊性的理论，二者是一般与特殊的关系。马克思主义基本原理作为一个学术体系，研究对象是世界观、方法论及其在分析人类社会形态中的运用。马克思主义基本原理运用于中国实践，焕发出强大的生命力。作为世界上最大的马克思主义执政党，中国共产党在推进马克思主义中国化进程中，形成了中国化马克思主义系列成果，增强了马克思主义基本原理的中国话语表达。

At the same time, attention should be paid to distinguishing between basic principles and the knowledge system of basic principles. The former is the ideological theory itself, while the latter is more about the construction of a knowledge system, especially manifested in the construction of a textbook system. Although the classical Marxist writers established the basic principles of Marxism, these principles are scattered throughout a vast sea of classical expositions and were not compiled into introductory works or textbooks according to the requirements of a modern disciplinary knowledge system. That is to say, constructing a knowledge system of the basic principles of Marxism based on the expositions of the classical writers remains an academic task that requires the Chinese Communists and Chinese scholars to play a role. In a certain sense, the construction of an independent disciplinary knowledge system is an academic community task with a state-institutional character. China’s Marxist academic research and disciplinary construction began with the introduction of the Soviet knowledge system, but it cannot stop or be satisfied with this. It must break free from the limitations of the old knowledge system and construct China’s own independent knowledge system for the discipline of the basic principles of Marxism. Based on the contemporary interpretation of Marxist classical works, based on the Chinese Communists’ increasingly deepened understanding and recognition of the basic principles of Marxism in the practice of revolution, construction, and reform, based on the new developments obtained in the process of integrating the basic principles of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the excellent traditional Chinese culture, especially based on the original theoretical contributions of the Chinese Communists to Marxism in the New Era, and drawing on the outstanding achievements of Marxist scholars from around the world, we should gradually construct a knowledge system for the discipline of the basic principles of Marxism that not only conforms to the expositions of the classical writers and the laws of historical development, but also possesses Chinese characteristics, Chinese style, and Chinese manner, and embodies the spirit of the New Era.

同时，应重视区别基本原理与基本原理的知识体系，前者是思想理论本身，而后者则更多是知识体系构建，尤其表现为教科书体系的构建。马克思主义经典作家虽然创立了马克思主义基本原理，但这些原理分散在浩如烟海的经典论述之中，并没有按照现代学科知识体系的要求编写概论性著作或教科书。也就是说，根据经典作家的论述来构建马克思主义基本原理的知识体系，仍然是一项需要中国共产党人和中国学者发挥作用的学术任务。从一定意义上说，学科自主知识体系的构建，是一项具有国家建制性的学术共同体任务。中国的马克思主义学术研究和学科建设是从引进苏联知识体系开始的，但不能停留和满足于此，必须走出旧有知识体系局限，构建起中国自主的马克思主义基本原理学科知识体系。立足于对马克思主义经典著作的当代解读，立足于中国共产党人在革命、建设、改革实践中对马克思主义基本原理日益深化的理解和认识，立足于把马克思主义基本原理同中国具体实际相结合、同中华优秀传统文化相结合过程中得到的新发展，特别是立足于新时代中国共产党人对马克思主义的原创性理论贡献，并借鉴世界各国马克思主义学者取得的优秀成果，逐步构建起既符合经典作家的论述和历史发展的规律，又具有中国特色、中国风格、中国气派，体现新时代精神的马克思主义基本原理学科知识体系。

III

三

Marxism is developing. Studying its development process and laws is the task of the discipline of the history of Marxist development. On the basis of years of research by scholars both domestically and internationally, especially on the basis of decades of research by Chinese scholars since reform and opening up, we should systematically sort out and summarize the regular understandings and consensus expressions therein, and construct the disciplinary knowledge system according to the principle of the unity of logic and history. Following the main thread of three major historical stages, we should clearly explain the emergence of Marxism, and the process by which Marx and Engels founded and developed their own theory; clearly explain Lenin’s enrichment and development of Marxism under the historical conditions of Russia at that time; clearly explain the application and development of Marxism in China, and the contributions of the series of theoretical achievements of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times in the history of Marxist development. Not only should the development process and historical stages be clearly explained, but also the laws presented throughout the entire development process, especially the laws of Marxism’s continuous development in the course of being adapted to the times and localized. We should strengthen the compilation, introduction, and in-depth study of Marxist classical works, promote research on important issues such as the editions and texts of classical works, as well as the ideological sources and development process of the classical writers, and produce a series of representative knowledge achievements with Chinese characteristics in areas such as textual criticism and philology. We should continue to consolidate basic theoretical construction, carry out research on the essence, conditions, path, laws, and research methods of Marxist development, continuously promote knowledge innovation, theoretical innovation, and methodological innovation, reveal the historical process and basic experience of the emergence and development of Marxism, and grasp the theoretical quality of Marxism to keep pace with the times. We should focus on studying the history of the dissemination and application of Marxism in China, sort out the historical process of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, construct a narrative system of Marxism’s development in China, clarify the adherence to and development of Marxism by socialism with Chinese characteristics, and clarify misunderstandings and distortions of socialism with Chinese characteristics both domestically and internationally.

马克思主义是发展的，对其发展过程和规律进行研究，是马克思主义发展史学科的任务。应在国内外学者多年研究的基础上，特别是在改革开放以来我国学者数十年研究基础上，系统梳理和总结其中的规律性认识和共识性表达，按照逻辑与历史相统一的原则进行学科知识体系构建。按照三个大的历史阶段的主线，讲清楚马克思主义的产生，讲清楚马克思、恩格斯创立和发展自己学说的过程；讲清楚列宁在俄国当时的历史条件下对马克思主义的丰富发展；讲清楚马克思主义在中国的运用和发展，讲清楚马克思主义中国化时代化系列理论成果在马克思主义发展史上的贡献。不但要讲清楚发展过程和历史阶段，而且要讲清楚发展全过程所呈现的规律，特别是马克思主义在时代化和本土化中不断发展的规律。加强对马克思主义经典著作的编译介绍和深入研究，推动经典著作的版本、文本以及经典作家思想来源与发展历程等重要问题的研究，产出一系列具有中国特色的版本学、文献学等方面的代表性知识成果。继续夯实基础理论建设，在马克思主义发展的本质、条件、道路、规律和研究方法等方面展开研究，不断推进知识创新、理论创新、方法创新，揭示马克思主义产生发展的历史进程和基本经验，把握马克思主义与时俱进的理论品质。重点研究马克思主义在中国的传播史和运用史，梳理马克思主义中国化时代化的历史进程，构建起马克思主义在中国发展的叙述体系，阐明中国特色社会主义对马克思主义的坚持与发展，澄清国内外对中国特色社会主义的误解和歪曲。

The basic task of the study of the sinicization of Marxism is to study the application and development of the basic principles of Marxism in China, especially the process, laws, and achievements of generating a new cultural life-form through integration with China’s specific realities and with the excellent traditional Chinese culture. Obviously, the Chinese attribute and characteristics of this discipline are very distinct and prominent. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasizes, “In interpreting Chinese practice and constructing Chinese theory, we should have the most say.” [2]2 Xi Jinping, “Speech at a Symposium on Philosophy and Social Sciences,” May 17, 2016. We have unique advantages and conditions for conducting research on the sinicization of Marxism. The core of constructing an independent knowledge system for the study of the sinicization of Marxism is to strengthen the research on the content of the sinicization of Marxism, focus on deepening the research and interpretation of theoretical achievements such as Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the important thought of Three Represents, the Scientific Outlook on Development, and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and analyze the theoretical relationships among them. We should construct a corresponding discourse system to better shape and express the independent knowledge system for the study of the sinicization of Marxism.

马克思主义中国化研究的基本任务，是研究马克思主义基本原理在中国的运用和发展，特别是同中国具体实际、同中华优秀传统文化相结合而产生新的文化生命体的过程、规律、成果。显然，这门学科的中国属性和特色是非常鲜明和突出的。习近平总书记强调，“在解读中国实践、构建中国理论上，我们应该最有发言权”。我们开展马克思主义中国化研究，拥有得天独厚的优势和条件。构建马克思主义中国化研究自主知识体系，核心是加强马克思主义中国化的内容研究，着力深化对毛泽东思想、邓小平理论、“三个代表”重要思想、科学发展观、习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想等理论成果的研究阐释，分析相互之间的理论关系。构建起与之相适应的话语体系，把马克思主义中国化研究自主知识体系更好地塑造和表达出来。

The discipline of the study of Marxism abroad is the study by Chinese scholars of the research achievements of Marxism abroad, belonging to research that “follows the object.” This disciplinary nature seems to create difficulties for the construction of its independent knowledge system. Where exactly do its independent knowledge points and theoretical growth points come from? According to what framework should China’s independent knowledge system be constructed? These are questions that urgently require our consideration. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized when presiding over a collective study session of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee on September 29, 2017, “Regarding new research achievements in Marxism abroad, we must pay close attention and study them, with analysis and discrimination, neither adopting an attitude of blanket rejection nor engaging in wholesale copying.” [3]3 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the 43rd Collective Study Session of the Political Bureau of the 18th CPC Central Committee,” September 29, 2017. This study used the concept of “contemporary world Marxist trends,” indicating that the study of Marxism abroad has the attribute of research on social trends of thought. This answers the question of the direction and principles for constructing an independent knowledge system for the discipline of the study of Marxism abroad. It is necessary to broadly pay attention to the theoretical achievements of Marxism abroad, absorb the critical revelations therein regarding the structural contradictions of capitalism as well as contradictions in the mode of production, class contradictions, and social contradictions, and deeply analyze the development trends and fate of contemporary capitalism. At the same time, it is necessary to stand on the Marxist standpoint, viewpoint, and method, examine the theoretical viewpoints of Marxism abroad, recognize its limitations, and purposefully refute the misinterpretations and reconstructions of Marxism by Marxism abroad, constructing an independent knowledge system for the discipline of the study of Marxism abroad through reflection and critique.

国外马克思主义研究学科是我国学者对国外马克思主义研究成果的研究，属于“跟着对象走”的研究。这种学科性质似乎给其自主知识体系构建造成了困难。它的自主知识点和理论生长点究竟从何而来？依照怎样的架构来构建中国自主的知识体系？这是亟需我们思考的问题。习近平总书记2017年9月29日在主持中央政治局集体学习时强调，“对国外马克思主义研究新成果，我们要密切关注和研究，有分析、有鉴别，既不能采取一概排斥的态度，也不能搞全盘照搬”。这次学习使用了“当代世界马克思主义思潮”概念，表明对国外马克思主义的研究具有社会思潮研究的属性。这就回答了构建国外马克思主义研究学科自主知识体系的方向和原则问题，既要广泛关注国外马克思主义的理论成果，吸收其中对资本主义结构性矛盾以及生产方式矛盾、阶级矛盾、社会矛盾等方面的批判性揭示，深入分析当代资本主义发展趋势和命运；又要站在马克思主义立场观点方法上，审视国外马克思主义的理论观点，认识到它的局限性，有针对性地批驳国外马克思主义对马克思主义的曲解和重构，在反思与批判中构建起国外马克思主义研究学科的自主知识体系。

The discipline of ideological and political education has been formed and developed on Chinese soil. Its knowledge mainly comes from the practical experience of the CPC in ideological and political education over more than a hundred years, thus possessing a natural Chinese autonomy. We should establish disciplinary confidence, build this discipline with full confidence, transform the rich experience of the CPC in ideological and political education into a knowledge form, and condense it into a set of knowledge systems that embody academic rationality, regularity, and standardization. We should comprehensively grasp the research fields of the discipline of ideological and political education, including the principles of ideological and political education, the methodology of ideological and political education, the history of ideological and political education, comparative ideological and political education, and applied ideological and political education. Applied ideological and political education covers different branches such as school ideological and political education, military ideological and political education, community ideological and political education, government organ ideological and political education, and enterprise ideological and political education. From a disciplinary perspective, the knowledge points of the principles of ideological and political education are rich and the system is rigorous, providing a solid foundation for constructing the knowledge system of this discipline. It should be full of the spirit of the times, accurately and timely convey the political requirements of the Party and the state, make academic rational interpretations and academic transformations, form corresponding new concepts and new knowledge, and continuously integrate and add them into the independent knowledge system.

思想政治教育学科是在中国大地上形成发展起来的，其知识主要来自中国共产党百余年思想政治教育的实践经验，因而具有天然的中国自主性。应树立学科自信，充满信心地建设好这门学科，把中国共产党丰富的思想政治教育经验转化为知识形态，凝结成一套体现学理性、规律性、规范性的知识体系。全面把握思想政治教育学科的研究领域，包括思想政治教育学原理、思想政治教育方法论、思想政治教育史、比较思想政治教育、应用思想政治教育等。应用思想政治教育涵盖学校思想政治教育、军队思想政治教育、社区思想政治教育、机关思想政治教育、企业思想政治教育等不同分支。就学科视域而言，思想政治教育学原理的知识点丰富、体系严密，是构建本学科知识体系的坚实基础。应富有时代气息、及时准确地传达党和国家的政治性要求，作出学理性阐释和学术性转化，形成相应的新概念新知识，不断整合加入到自主知识体系当中。

The study of basic issues in modern and contemporary Chinese history focuses on some major and fundamental events and issues in China’s modern and contemporary history. It is a discipline with unique advantages in interpreting Chinese practice and constructing Chinese theory. Under the guidance of Marxism, it should study the historical development and basic laws of China since modern and contemporary times, scientifically apply the Marxist worldview and methodology to analyze the historical background and laws of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the development of the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, study the experiences and laws of major events such as the New Democratic Revolution, the socialist transformation, socialist construction, and reform and opening up, and provide macroscopic sorting and interpretation. It should scientifically answer questions such as why history and the people chose Marxism, chose the Communist Party of China, chose the socialist path, and chose reform and opening up, resolve the basic question of “how to understand modern and contemporary Chinese history,” and achieve new breakthroughs in research. It should strengthen inter-disciplinary exchanges, starting from the needs of Marxist theoretical research, absorb existing achievements from related disciplines such as modern and contemporary Chinese history, the history of the Communist Party of China, and the study of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context, use them for further research, and produce rich knowledge outcomes belonging to this disciplinary system.

中国近现代史基本问题研究关注的是中国近现代历史上的一些重大而根本的事件和问题，是一门在解读中国实践、构建中国理论上具有独特优势的学科。应在马克思主义指导下研究中国近现代以来的历史发展及其基本规律，科学运用马克思主义世界观方法论分析马克思主义中国化、中国特色社会主义道路发展的历史背景及规律，研究新民主主义革命、社会主义改造、社会主义建设、改革开放等重大事件的经验与规律，作出宏观性的梳理和阐释。对历史和人民选择马克思主义、选择中国共产党、选择社会主义道路、选择改革开放等问题作出科学回答，解决“如何认识中国近现代史”这一基本问题，在研究上取得新的突破。加强学科间交流，从马克思主义理论研究的需要出发，吸收中国近现代史、中共党史、马克思主义中国化研究等相关学科的已有成果，用于进一步研究，产出属于本学科体系的丰富知识成果。

(Author: Professor, School of Marxism Studies, Renmin University of China)

（作者：中国人民大学马克思主义学院教授）

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