Behind Formalism Lies Utilitarianism and Pragmatism

Our Party has always opposed formalism. As early as the era of revolutionary war, Comrade Mao Zedong criticized formalism as something “immature, vulgar, low-grade, and thoughtless.” [1]1 This is a paraphrase of Marx’s critique of empty formalism, often cited in Chinese Marxist discourse to emphasize the unity of form and content. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out: “Formalism and bureaucratism are great

我们党历来反对形式主义。早在革命战争年代，毛泽东同志就批评形式主义是一种“幼稚的、低级的、庸俗的、不用脑筋”的东西。习近平总书记指出：“形式主义、官僚主义是实现新时代新征程党的使命任务的大敌，是党内的一个顽瘴痼疾。”形式主义的背后，往往是功利主义、实用主义作祟，根源在于政绩观错位、责任心缺失。

Marx said: “If form is not the form of content, then it has no value whatsoever.” [1]1 This is a paraphrase of Marx’s critique of empty formalism, often cited in Chinese Marxist discourse to emphasize the unity of form and content. Form is the vehicle and expression of content, serving content. When form is exaggerated to the point of deviating from actual content, it becomes formalism. In reality, formalism often appears in multiple guises. For example, the ostentatious style of knowing and doing being at odds and seeking no real results; the superficial show of mountains of documents and seas of meetings and flowery but useless moves; the “watered-down” political performance that craves empty fame and practices fraud… All such cases, without exception, substitute a vigorous form for solid implementation, seriously deviating from the Party’s nature and purpose.

马克思说：“如果形式不是内容的形式，那么它就没有任何价值了。”形式是内容的载体与表现，是为内容服务的。如果过分夸大形式，偏离实际内容，就变成了形式主义。现实中，形式主义常以多种面貌呈现。比如，知行不一、不求实效的浮夸作风，文山会海、花拳绣腿的表面文章，贪图虚名、弄虚作假的“掺水”政绩……凡此种种，无不以轰轰烈烈的形式代替扎扎实实的落实，严重背离党的性质和宗旨。

Behind formalism, one can always see the shadow of utilitarianism. Utilitarians tightly bind undertaking endeavors and building careers to personal interests, using formalism to win “fame and gain” for themselves and pursuing the accumulation of showy but unreal “political achievements” to earn political capital. They consider whatever can bring them the greatest benefit and the quickest results to be “good”; conversely, they deem whatever does not to be “bad” or “useless.” Utilitarians have only “themselves” in their hearts and do not see the urgent difficulties and pressing concerns of the masses in their eyes. Therefore, for those long-standing and difficult problems that are highly challenging, highly risky, and take a long time to resolve, they would rather put them off than take risks or bear responsibility. As for the unhealthy tendencies and evil practices that the masses strongly resent, they adopt an attitude of “none of my business, hold one’s head high” and act as silent “gentlemen,” daring not and unwilling to cause trouble or offend people for the sake of the masses’ affairs.

形式主义的背后，总能看到功利主义的影子。功利主义者将干事创业与个人利益紧密捆绑，靠搞形式主义为自己博取“名利”，追求堆砌华而不实的“政绩”来赚得政治资本。他们觉得能给自己带来最大好处、能最快见效的，就是“好”的；反之就是“坏”的或“没用”的。功利主义者心中只装着“自己”，眼中不见群众急难愁盼，故而对于那些难度较大、风险较高、解决周期较长的老大难问题，宁可拖着不办也不愿冒风险、担责任，对于群众反映强烈的歪风邪气，抱着事不关己高高挂起的态度当沉默的“绅士”，不敢也不愿为群众的事惹麻烦、得罪人。

Behind formalism, there is also a variant of pragmatism. Pragmatists adhere to “effectiveness above all else,” using any means to achieve their ends, caring only about what is “useful” and “effective,” and disregarding principles and bottom lines. Pragmatists think that truly grasping and working hard is “too difficult” and “too slow.” They worry that grasping projects with long cycles and slow results will consume time and effort and, moreover, easily “make a wedding dress for others.” They find it more time-saving and labor-saving, with a higher “cost-performance ratio,” to engage in face-saving projects and superficial empty work. Party members and cadres who hold a pragmatic attitude toward work often consider whatever can easily solve immediate troubles, quickly pass muster, and significantly boost their political performance to be “good”; conversely, they deem whatever does not to be “useless.” In their work, they are adept at opportunism and playing tricks, doing whatever can add points and luster to their own political performance record, without asking whether the working method is appropriate, whether the procedure complies with regulations, or whether the masses are satisfied. In the final analysis, they engage in superficial show for their own “practicality,” neglecting the interests of the masses and sacrificing long-term development.

形式主义的背后，还有实用主义的变种。实用主义者坚持“效果至上”，为达目的不择手段，只讲“有用”“有效”，不讲原则底线。实用主义者觉得真抓实干“太难”“太慢”，担心抓周期长、见效慢的工程耗时耗力不说，还容易给他人“做嫁衣”，不如搞些面子工程、做些表面虚功省时省力，“性价比”高。持实用主义干工作的党员干部，往往认为能轻松解决眼前麻烦、能快速过关、能显著提升政绩的，就是“好”的；反之就是“无用”的。他们在工作中精于投机取巧，怎么干能给自己政绩簿加分添彩就怎么干，不问工作方法是否得当、程序是否合规、群众是否满意，说到底是为了自己“实用”而做表面文章、忽视群众利益、牺牲长远发展。

In *Zhijiang Xinyu* [2]2 *Zhijiang Xinyu* (《之江新语》) is a collection of short commentaries written by Xi Jinping, there is a passage that prompts deep thought: “Every leading cadre must carry the ‘official hat’ to work for the people, not clutch the ‘official hat’ to be an ‘official’ for oneself.” [3] Whether utilitarianism or pragmatism, both put one’s own promotion, honor, reward, etc., in first place while casting aside the interests of the people, engaging in formalism for personal gain. Over time, formalism becomes a “psoriasis” that is difficult to eradicate. Formalism severs content from form, violates the principle that form serves content, and unilaterally pursues form while neglecting content. It is a “bad fruit” born from the “withered vine” of “utility” and “practicality.” To make vigorous efforts to rectify formalism, we must follow the vine to find the melon and uproot the “withered vine” of utilitarianism and pragmatism. Guide Party members and cadres to not crave vanity, not engage in empty work, and not seek empty fame; always remember that “if the heart has no common people, do not be an official”; adhere to a work style of seeking truth from facts; firmly establish a correct outlook on political performance; benefit the people through painstaking and hard work; cultivate a broad vision and long-term perspective for undertaking endeavors and building careers; be willing to do the kind of unglamorous work that lays foundations and benefits the long term; rid oneself of the impetuous mentality of seeking quick success and instant benefits; and do everything possible to seek tangible benefits for the people.

《之江新语》中有这样一段话发人深省：每一个领导干部都要拎着“乌纱帽”为民干事，而不能捂着“乌纱帽”为己做“官”。无论功利主义还是实用主义，都把“自己”的升迁、荣誉、奖赏等放在第一位，而将人民群众的利益抛在一边，为一己私利而搞形式主义，久而久之，使形式主义成了难以根除的“牛皮癣”。形式主义割裂内容与形式，违背形式服务内容的道理，片面追求形式而忽视内容，是从“功利”和“实用”这根“枯藤”上结出的“坏果”。下力气整治形式主义，必须顺藤摸瓜，将功利主义、实用主义的“枯藤”连根拔起。引导党员干部不慕虚荣、不务虚功、不图虚名，时刻牢记“心无百姓莫为官”，坚持求真务实的工作作风，牢固树立正确政绩观，以躬身苦干实干为民造福，涵养干事创业的宽广视野、长远眼光，甘做打基础、利长远的潜绩，戒除急于求成、急功近利的浮躁心态，想方设法为人民谋取实实在在的利益。