Basic Experiences in the Construction of the Discipline of Marxist Theory in the New Era

Socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a New Era; this is the new historical juncture of China’s development. A great era calls for and nurtures great thought and theory, and at the same time urgently needs a powerful and resolute theoretical guide. The original intention and purpose of establishing the discipline of Marxist theory is fundamentally to consolidate the guiding position of Marxism in the ideological sphere, and to provide solid scholarly support and reliable personnel guarantees for advancing the Party’s ideological and theoretical construction and for cultivating new-generation persons capable of shouldering the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Since entering the New Era, the discipline of Marxist theory has encountered unprecedented opportunities for development: the disciplinary system has grown increasingly complete, the quality of personnel training has markedly improved, scientific research achievements have emerged in an endless stream, and the capacity for social service has steadily strengthened.

中国特色社会主义进入新时代，这是我国发展新的历史方位。伟大的时代呼唤并孕育伟大的思想理论，同时也迫切需要坚强有力的思想理论引领。马克思主义理论学科设立的初衷与宗旨，就是从根本上巩固马克思主义在意识形态领域的指导地位，为推进党的思想理论建设、培养堪当民族复兴大任的时代新人提供坚实的学理支撑和可靠的人才保障。进入新时代以来，马克思主义理论学科迎来了前所未有的发展机遇，学科体系日益健全，人才培养质量显著提升，科学研究成果层出不穷，社会服务能力持续增强。

Firmly Grasping the Political Direction of Disciplinary Construction

把牢学科建设政治方向

Whether it is the Party, the government, the military, the civilian sector, or the schools, whether it is the east, the west, the south, the north, or the center, the Party exercises leadership over everything. The centralized, unified leadership of the Party is the fundamental guarantee for the construction of the discipline of Marxist theory, running through the entire process of direction-setting, overall coordination, and task implementation in disciplinary development, ensuring that the discipline always advances along the correct path.

党政军民学，东西南北中，党是领导一切的。党的集中统一领导是马克思主义理论学科建设的根本保证，贯穿于学科发展的方向引领、全局统筹与任务落实全过程，确保学科始终沿着正确道路前行。

Upholding the Party’s leadership means grasping the correct direction of disciplinary construction. Since the New Era, the Party Central Committee has consistently incorporated the construction of the discipline of Marxist theory into the overall plan of the Party’s and the state’s undertakings, emphasizing that the guiding position of Marxism must be upheld without wavering, and that the Party’s educational policy must be implemented throughout the entire process of disciplinary construction. Whether it is the construction of the textbook system, the reform of the curriculum system, the establishment of research directions, or the formation of the discourse system, it is necessary to firmly grasp the political direction, value orientation, and theoretical orientation. It is precisely under the strong leadership of the Party that disciplinary construction can ensure, from the source, that it does not deviate, and that it always remains consistent with the development of the Party’s and the state’s undertakings. Upholding the Party’s leadership means coordinating the overall deployment of disciplinary construction. Since the New Era, the Party Central Committee has attached great importance to the construction of the discipline of Marxist theory. From the central to the local levels, from education authorities to universities, comprehensive and multi-level strong support has been provided, whether in institutional setup, platform building, or in funding investment and policy guarantees. This favorable atmosphere and coordination mechanism, in which the entire Party and the whole society care about, support, and participate in the construction of the discipline of Marxist theory, has injected powerful momentum into disciplinary development and built a solid guarantee. Upholding the Party’s leadership means ensuring the comprehensive implementation of disciplinary construction. The centralized, unified leadership of the Party guarantees the political foundation of the construction of the discipline of Marxist theory. The discipline of Marxist theory undertakes the important mission of cultivating new-generation persons capable of shouldering the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Since the New Era, disciplinary construction has strictly implemented the fundamental task of fostering virtue through education [立德树人], organically integrating value shaping, knowledge transmission, and ability cultivation, so that students not only “know what it is” but also “know why it is so,” not only master theory but also strengthen their faith, thereby cultivating a large number of useful talents who unswervingly listen to the Party and follow the Party, and consciously strive for the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics throughout their lives. This is the ultimate foothold and value embodiment of disciplinary construction in upholding the Party’s leadership.

坚持党的领导，把握学科建设的正确方向。新时代以来，党中央始终将马克思主义理论学科建设纳入党和国家事业全局，强调必须坚持马克思主义指导地位不动摇，把党的教育方针贯彻到学科建设全过程。无论是教材体系的建设、课程体系的改革还是科研方向的确立、话语体系的形成，都必须牢牢把握政治方向、价值取向和理论导向。正是在党的坚强领导下，学科建设才能从源头上确保不走偏，确保学科建设始终与党和国家事业发展相一致。坚持党的领导，统筹学科建设的全局部署。新时代以来，党中央高度重视马克思主义理论学科建设，从中央到地方、从教育主管部门到各高校，无论是在机构设置、平台搭建还是在经费投入、政策保障方面，都给予了全方位、多层次的有力支持。这种全党全社会关心、支持、参与马克思主义理论学科建设的良好氛围和协同机制，为学科发展注入了强大动能，构筑了坚实的保障。坚持党的领导，确保学科建设的全面落实。党的集中统一领导保证了马克思主义理论学科建设的政治根基。马克思主义理论学科承担着培养担当民族复兴大任时代新人的重要使命。新时代以来，学科建设严格落实立德树人根本任务，把价值塑造、知识传授、能力培养有机融为一体，使学生不仅“知其然”，更“知其所以然”，不仅掌握理论，更坚定信仰，从而培养出一大批坚定不移听党话、跟党走，自觉为中国特色社会主义事业奋斗终身的有用人才。这是学科建设坚持党的领导的最终落脚点和价值体现。

Constructing an Independent Knowledge System for the Discipline

构建学科自主知识体系

Disciplinary self-awareness and disciplinary self-confidence are the internal driving forces for the development of the discipline of Marxist theory. They help to push the discipline to break free from the shackles of Western academic paradigms and form a theoretical system and discourse style with Chinese characteristics.

学科自觉与学科自信是马克思主义理论学科发展的内在动力，它有助于推动学科摆脱西方学术范式束缚，形成具有中国特色的理论体系与话语风格。

Disciplinary self-awareness is an important prerequisite for constructing the discipline of Marxist theory. It requires a profound recognition that the discipline of Marxist theory plays an irreplaceable role in the Party’s ideological and theoretical construction, the flourishing and development of philosophy and social sciences, and even the long-term stability and security of the state. This disciplinary self-awareness drives those engaged in disciplinary construction to no longer be satisfied with passive following, but to actively plan for the discipline’s long-term development, to think about how to assume the mission in theoretical innovation, and how to play a role in cultural inheritance. It is precisely this strong sense of mission and responsibility that drives disciplinary construction to continuously achieve new progress. Disciplinary self-confidence is an important support for constructing the discipline of Marxist theory. This self-confidence stems from the truth of Marxist theory itself and the powerful vitality it has demonstrated in China’s practice; it stems from the historic achievements and historic transformations in the Party’s and the state’s undertakings in the New Era; and it also stems from the significant results the discipline itself has achieved in system construction, personnel training, and academic output. It is precisely based on this self-confidence that the construction of the discipline of Marxist theory can, with a more composed posture, break away from blind superstition about Western academic paradigms, base itself on China’s actual conditions, raise China’s voice, and manifest the power of contemporary Chinese Marxism. Constructing an independent knowledge system is an important task for constructing the discipline of Marxist theory. Disciplinary self-awareness and disciplinary self-confidence must ultimately be transformed into concrete actions to construct a disciplinary system, academic system, and discourse system of Marxist theory with Chinese characteristics, Chinese style, and Chinese manner. Since the New Era, the series of studies centered on major epochal propositions such as Chinese-path modernization, the new form of human civilization, whole-process people’s democracy, and common prosperity are precisely vivid practices of constructing China’s independent knowledge system. The textbook system, curriculum system, and evaluation system have subsequently undergone systematic innovation, with the goal of making the research and education of Marxist theory truly take root in China’s soil, forming an independent knowledge system that is logically rigorous, rich in explanatory power, and leading, thereby promoting the high-quality development of the discipline of Marxist theory.

学科自觉是建设马克思主义理论学科的重要前提。它要求深刻认识到马克思主义理论学科在党的思想理论建设、哲学社会科学繁荣发展乃至国家长治久安中有着不可替代的作用。这种学科自觉推动学科建设者不再满足于被动跟随，而是主动谋划自身的长远发展，思考如何在理论创新中担当使命，如何在文化传承中发挥作用。正是这种强烈的使命感和责任感，推动着学科建设不断取得新进展。学科自信是建设马克思主义理论学科的重要支撑。这种自信，源于马克思主义理论本身的真理性，以及其在中国实践中展现出的强大生命力，源于新时代党和国家事业取得的历史性成就、发生的历史性变革，也源于学科自身在体系构建、人才培养、学术成果产出等方面取得的显著成效。正是基于这种自信，马克思主义理论学科建设能够以更加从容的姿态破除对西方学术范式的盲目迷信，立足中国实际，发出中国声音，彰显当代中国马克思主义的力量。构建自主知识体系是建设马克思主义理论学科的重要任务。学科自觉与学科自信最终要转化为构建具有中国特色、中国风格、中国气派的马克思主义理论学科体系、学术体系、话语体系的实际行动。新时代以来，围绕中国式现代化、人类文明新形态、全过程人民民主、共同富裕等重大时代命题开展的系列研究，正是构建中国自主知识体系的生动实践。教材体系、课程体系、评价体系等随之进行系统性创新，其目标就是要使马克思主义理论的研究和教育真正扎根于中国大地，形成逻辑严密、富有解释力和引领力的自主知识体系，进而推动马克思主义理论学科实现高质量发展。

Consolidating the Foundation of Disciplinary Development

筑牢学科发展根基

The powerful vitality of the discipline of Marxist theory lies in its continuous integration with China’s specific realities and with the fine traditional Chinese culture. Adhering to integration with China’s specific realities roots theoretical research in China’s soil. Disciplinary construction has consistently adhered to a problem-oriented approach, focusing on the great practice of reform and opening up and socialist modernization in the New Era, aiming to solve the problem of unbalanced and inadequate development, and answering the questions of China, the world, the people, and the times. All theoretical research proceeds not from dogmas but from national conditions, seeking topics from real life, thereby endowing Marxist theoretical research with a solid practical foundation and distinct contemporary characteristics. Adhering to integration with the fine traditional Chinese culture endows the theory with Chinese characteristics. Disciplinary construction pays attention to deeply excavating and absorbing the spiritual symbols and ideological essences accumulated over more than five thousand years of Chinese civilization, linking the ideological essence of Marxism with the essence of the fine traditional Chinese culture. This integration not only endows Marxist theory with more distinct national characteristics and richer cultural connotations, making it more appealing and infectious, but also effectively enhances the sense of national cultural identity, consolidating the historical and mass foundations for the construction of the discipline of Marxist theory. Adhering to the Two Integrations promotes the formation of original achievements. The Two Integrations are the fundamental path for the construction of the discipline of Marxist theory. They both root the theory in China’s soil and inject it with profound cultural genes, giving rise to a series of original theoretical achievements, the most concentrated embodiment of which is the formation of the systematic and scientific innovative theory of the Party. This theory itself is the concentrated embodiment of the Two Integrations, the largest and most central achievement of the construction of the discipline of Marxist theory in the New Era, guiding the future direction of disciplinary development.

马克思主义理论学科的强大生命力，在于其不断与中国具体实际相结合、与中华优秀传统文化相结合。坚持与中国具体实际相结合，使理论研究扎根中国大地。学科建设始终坚持问题导向，聚焦新时代改革开放和社会主义现代化建设的伟大实践，着眼于破解发展不平衡不充分问题，回答好中国之问、世界之问、人民之问、时代之问。一切理论研究都不是从本本出发，而是从国情出发，从现实生活中寻找课题，使得马克思主义理论研究具有了坚实的实践基础和鲜明的时代特征。坚持与中华优秀传统文化相结合，使理论彰显中国特色。学科建设注重深入挖掘和汲取中华文明五千多年积淀的精神标识和思想精髓，将马克思主义思想精髓同中华优秀传统文化精华贯通起来。这一结合，不仅赋予了马克思主义理论更加鲜明的民族特色和更加丰富的文化内涵，使其更具亲和力、感染力，而且也有效增强了民族文化认同感，夯实了马克思主义理论学科建设的历史基础和群众基础。坚持“两个结合”，推动形成原创性成果。“两个结合”是马克思主义理论学科建设的根本路径，既让理论扎根中国大地，又为其注入深厚文化基因，催生了一系列原创性理论成果，其中最集中的体现就是形成了系统科学的党的创新理论。这一理论本身就是“两个结合”的集中体现，是新时代马克思主义理论学科建设最大、最核心的成果，指引着学科发展的未来方向。

Manifesting the Value Stance of the Discipline

彰显学科价值立场

Discipline construction always closely links academic pursuits with the people’s aspiration for a better life. The focus of theoretical research is always aligned with people’s livelihood concerns and social hot spots, and is dedicated to resolving the problem of unbalanced and inadequate development. Whether it is research on common prosperity, discussion on social governance, or reflection on the construction of an ecological civilization, the value orientation of all these is to realize, safeguard, and develop the fundamental interests of the broadest majority of the people. Adhere to making the achievements of discipline construction in Marxist theory benefit the people. The fruits of discipline development are transformed through multiple channels into the people’s spiritual wealth and ideological weapon. On the one hand, through in-depth theoretical research, decision-making references are provided for the Party and government to formulate policies that benefit the people, so that the fruits of development benefit all the people more and more fairly. On the other hand, through extensive theoretical propaganda and popular and easy-to-understand theoretical explanations, the minds of the masses are armed, their ideological awareness and political literacy are enhanced, and a mighty force for united struggle is formed. At the same time, high-quality ideological and political education teaching shapes the correct worldview, outlook on life, and values of the younger generation, helping them establish lofty beliefs, master scientific methods, and become talents beneficial to the people and serving society. Adhere to the principle that the strength of discipline construction in Marxist theory comes from the people. Discipline construction adheres to the fundamental method of “from the masses, to the masses” [n]. Theoretical workers focus on going deep into the grassroots and the masses, respecting the principal position and pioneering spirit of the people, and drawing wisdom from the vivid practices and fresh experiences of the masses, promoting the continuous innovation and development of discipline construction in Marxist theory in the process of responding to reality and leading practice.

学科建设始终将学术追求与人民对美好生活的向往紧密相连。理论研究的焦点始终对准民生关切、社会热点，致力于解决发展不平衡不充分问题。无论是关于共同富裕的研究、关于社会治理的探讨，还是关于生态文明建设的思考，其价值指向都是为了实现好、维护好、发展好最广大人民根本利益。坚持马克思主义理论学科建设的成果惠及人民。学科发展的成果通过多种渠道转化为人民的精神财富和思想武器。一方面，通过深入的理论研究为党和政府制定惠民政策提供决策参考，使发展成果更多更公平惠及全体人民。另一方面，通过广泛的理论宣传和通俗易懂的理论阐释，武装人民群众的头脑，提升其思想觉悟和政治素养，形成团结奋斗的磅礴力量。同时，以高质量的思政课教学塑造青年一代正确的世界观、人生观、价值观，帮助他们树立崇高信仰，掌握科学方法，成为有益于人民、服务于社会的人才。坚持马克思主义理论学科建设的力量源于人民。学科建设坚持“从群众中来，到群众中去”的根本方法。理论工作者注重深入基层、深入群众，尊重人民主体地位和首创精神，注重从人民群众的生动实践和鲜活经验中汲取智慧，推动马克思主义理论学科建设在回应现实、引领实践中不断创新发展。

(The authors are professors at the School of Marxism, Hebei Normal University; researchers at the Research Center for Marxist Theory and Cultivating Virtue and Nurturing People, Hebei Normal University.)

（作者系河北师范大学马克思主义学院教授；河北师范大学马克思主义理论与立德树人研究中心研究员）