Building a Socialist Ideology with Strong Cohesion and Leading Power

Ideological work is an extremely important task for the Party, a task that establishes the heart of the nation and the soul of the nation. General Secretary Xi Jinping, in his important instructions on propaganda, thought, and cultural work, emphasized: “Strive to build a socialist ideology with strong cohesion and leading power.” To realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, strategic opportunities and risks and challenges coexist, making it necessary to fully leverage the role of socialist ideology in guiding thought and consolidating strength, and to better construct Chinese spirit, Chinese values, and Chinese strength. Thoroughly studying and implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, firmly grasping leadership over ideological work, and building a socialist ideology with strong cohesion and leading power are a major proposition for upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era, and also a strategic task that propaganda, thought, and cultural work must undertake.

意识形态工作是党的一项极端重要的工作，是为国家立心、为民族立魂的工作。习近平总书记对宣传思想文化工作作出重要指示强调：“着力建设具有强大凝聚力和引领力的社会主义意识形态”。实现中华民族伟大复兴，战略机遇和风险挑战并存，需要充分发挥社会主义意识形态的思想引领和力量凝聚作用，更好构筑中国精神、中国价值、中国力量。深入学习贯彻习近平文化思想，牢牢掌握意识形态工作领导权，建设具有强大凝聚力和引领力的社会主义意识形态，是新时代坚持和发展中国特色社会主义的一个重大命题，也是宣传思想文化工作必须担负起的一个战略任务。

A comprehensive and fundamental transformation has occurred in the situation in China’s ideological sphere

我国意识形态领域形势发生全局性、根本性转变

Ideological work concerns what guiding thought and concepts are used to govern the Party, the state, and the military; what ideals and beliefs are used to educate the people and unite hearts and minds; and what values are used to cultivate youth and foster virtue. The Party Central Committee, with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, attaches great importance to ideological work, making important arrangements on many directional and strategic issues in the ideological sphere, focusing on resolving the problem of weakened Party leadership in ideological work, and promoting the building of a socialist ideology with strong cohesion and leading power.

意识形态工作关系到用什么样的指导思想、理念治党治国治军，用什么样的理想信念教育人民、凝聚人心，用什么样的价值观培养青年、立德树人。以习近平同志为核心的党中央高度重视意识形态工作，就意识形态领域许多方向性、战略性问题作出重要部署，着力解决意识形态领域党的领导弱化问题，推动建设具有强大凝聚力和引领力的社会主义意识形态。

Since the New Era, General Secretary Xi Jinping has attended the National Conference on Propaganda and Thought Work twice, presided over meetings on literary and artistic work, the Party’s news and public opinion work, cybersecurity and informatization work, philosophy and social sciences work, ideological and political work in universities, and cultural heritage and development, delivering a series of important speeches. On a series of fundamental issues, he clarified principles and positions, cleared up theoretical right and wrong, and corrected the orientation of work. Our Party firmly grasps the Party’s leadership over ideological work, clarifying the mission and tasks of propaganda and thought work in the New Era: to raise the banner, gather the people’s hearts, cultivate new generations, promote culture, and present a good image; clarifying the fundamental task of “two consolidations” [1]1 The “two consolidations” (两个巩固) refers to consolidating the guiding position of Marxism in the ideological sphere and consolidating the common ideological foundation for the united struggle of the entire Party and the people of the whole country. It was first proposed by Xi Jinping at the National Conference on Propaganda and Thought Work in 2013. in propaganda and thought work, namely, consolidating the guiding position of Marxism in the ideological sphere and consolidating the common ideological foundation for the united struggle of the entire Party and the people of the whole country; establishing and upholding the fundamental system of Marxism’s guiding position in the ideological sphere, improving the responsibility system for ideological work, and promoting the entire Party to engage in propaganda and thought work; promoting the use of the Party’s innovative theories to arm the entire Party, educate the people, and guide practice, deepening Marxist theoretical research and development, advancing the construction of the disciplinary system, academic system, and discourse system of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics, and building an independent knowledge system of China; promoting the integrated development of media, enhancing the dissemination power, guiding power, influence, and credibility of news and public opinion, clearly opposing and resisting various erroneous viewpoints, and singing the main theme and spreading positive energy throughout society.

新时代以来，习近平总书记先后两次出席全国宣传思想工作会议，就文艺工作、党的新闻舆论工作、网络安全和信息化工作、哲学社会科学工作、高校思想政治工作、文化传承发展等主持召开会议并发表一系列重要讲话，就一系列根本性问题阐明原则立场，廓清了理论是非，校正了工作导向。我们党牢牢掌握党对意识形态工作领导权，明确新时代宣传思想工作举旗帜、聚民心、育新人、兴文化、展形象的使命任务；明确宣传思想工作“两个巩固”的根本任务，即巩固马克思主义在意识形态领域的指导地位，巩固全党全国人民团结奋斗的共同思想基础；确立和坚持马克思主义在意识形态领域指导地位的根本制度，健全意识形态工作责任制，推动全党动手抓宣传思想工作；推动用党的创新理论武装全党、教育人民、指导实践，深化马克思主义理论研究和建设，推进中国特色哲学社会科学学科体系、学术体系、话语体系建设，建构中国自主的知识体系；推动媒体融合发展，提高新闻舆论传播力、引导力、影响力、公信力，旗帜鲜明反对和抵制各种错误观点，在全社会唱响主旋律、弘扬正能量。

In the New Era, under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, under the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and through the thorough implementation of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, our Party has simultaneously established and broken, stirred up the clear and washed away the turbid, fundamentally reversing the passive situation that once appeared in the ideological sphere. A comprehensive and fundamental transformation has occurred in the situation in China’s ideological sphere. The cultural confidence of the entire Party and the people of all ethnic groups in the country has significantly increased, and the cohesion and centripetal force of the whole society have been greatly enhanced, gathering a powerful spiritual force for comprehensively building a modern socialist country and comprehensively advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

新时代，在以习近平同志为核心的党中央坚强领导下，在习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想科学指引下，深入贯彻落实习近平文化思想，我们党立破并举、激浊扬清，从根本上扭转了意识形态领域一度出现的被动局面，我国意识形态领域形势发生全局性、根本性转变，全党全国各族人民文化自信明显增强，全社会凝聚力和向心力极大提升，凝聚起全面建设社会主义现代化国家、全面推进中华民族伟大复兴的强大精神力量。

Continuously advancing the adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times

不断推进马克思主义中国化时代化

Marxism is the fundamental guiding thought for our Party to establish the Party and the state, and to rejuvenate the Party and the state. Looking back at the great course of China’s revolution, construction, and reform, it is precisely because Marxism serves as the fundamental guiding thought that the will and strength of the entire Party and the people of all ethnic groups to overcome various difficulties and obstacles on the path forward and march from victory to victory have been consolidated. Whether the cohesion and leading power of socialist ideology can be continuously enhanced is closely related to whether we can advance the adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times in step with the times. Our Party insists on combining the basic principles of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the excellent traditional Chinese culture, establishing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and forming Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, thereby consolidating the cultural subjectivity of the Chinese nation. To build a socialist ideology with strong cohesion and leading power, we must continuously advance the adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, consolidate the guiding position of Marxism in the ideological sphere, consolidate the common ideological foundation for the united struggle of the entire Party and the people of the whole country, and provide a strong ideological guarantee and powerful spiritual strength for creating a new situation in the cause of the Party and the state.

马克思主义是我们党立党立国、兴党兴国的根本指导思想。回顾我国革命、建设、改革的伟大历程，正是因为有马克思主义作为根本指导思想，才凝聚起全党全国各族人民克服前进道路上各种艰难险阻、从胜利走向胜利的意志和力量。能否不断增强社会主义意识形态的凝聚力和引领力，与我们能否与时俱进推进马克思主义中国化时代化紧密相关。我们党坚持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，创立了习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想，形成了习近平文化思想，巩固了中华民族的文化主体性。建设具有强大凝聚力和引领力的社会主义意识形态，必须不断推进马克思主义中国化时代化，巩固马克思主义在意识形态领域的指导地位，巩固全党全国人民团结奋斗的共同思想基础，为开创党和国家事业新局面提供坚强思想保证和强大精神力量。

Persistently use Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to consolidate souls and unite hearts. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is the Marxism of contemporary China and the Marxism of the 21st century, the essence of Chinese culture and Chinese spirit, achieving a new leap in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, and providing scientific ideological guidance for advancing the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. To build a socialist ideology with strong cohesion and leading power, the primary task is to strengthen theoretical armament, persist in using Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to arm the entire Party and educate the people. It is necessary to comprehensively study and understand Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, both comprehensively and systematically grasping the basic viewpoints and scientific system of this important thought, and also grasping the worldview and methodology of this important thought, adhering to and applying the standpoints, viewpoints, and methods that run through it. Thoroughly study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, focusing on the new cultural mission of continuing to promote cultural prosperity, build a strong cultural country, and construct the modern civilization of the Chinese nation at the new historical starting point, making efforts in truly learning, truly understanding, truly believing, truly applying, deepening, internalizing, and transforming.

坚持不懈用习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想凝心铸魂。习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想是当代中国马克思主义、21世纪马克思主义，是中华文化和中国精神的时代精华，实现了马克思主义中国化时代化新的飞跃，为推进中国特色社会主义事业提供了科学思想指引。建设具有强大凝聚力和引领力的社会主义意识形态，首要的就是加强理论武装，坚持用习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想武装全党、教育人民。要全面学习领会习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想，既全面系统掌握这一重要思想的基本观点、科学体系，又把握好这一重要思想的世界观、方法论，坚持好、运用好贯穿其中的立场观点方法。深入学习贯彻习近平文化思想，围绕在新的历史起点上继续推动文化繁荣、建设文化强国、建设中华民族现代文明这一新的文化使命，在真学真懂真信真用、深化内化转化上下功夫。

Hold fast to the soul and root of theoretical innovation. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “The major proposition of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times itself determines that we must never abandon the soul of Marxism, and must never abandon the root of excellent traditional Chinese culture.” [2]2 This quotation is from Xi Jinping’s speech at the opening ceremony of a study session for provincial and ministerial-level leading cadres on the study and implementation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, delivered in February 2023. Holding fast to this soul and root is the foundation and prerequisite for theoretical innovation, and also an important source of the cohesion and leading power of socialist ideology. We must unswervingly adhere to Marxism, the foundation for establishing the Party and the state and rejuvenating the Party and the state; unswervingly continue to develop Marxism by rooting it in the historical and cultural soil of our country and nation; strengthen historical confidence and cultural confidence; persist in making the past serve the present and weeding through the old to bring forth the new; use Marxism to guide the comprehensive excavation of the treasure house of China’s five-thousand-year civilization; use Marxism to activate the vital excellent factors in excellent traditional Chinese culture and endow them with new contemporary connotations; inject the great spirit and rich wisdom of the Chinese nation into Marxism at a deeper level; effectively integrate the essence of Marxist thought with the essence of excellent traditional Chinese culture, converging into new theoretical advantages.

坚守理论创新的魂和根。习近平总书记指出：“马克思主义中国化时代化这个重大命题本身就决定，我们决不能抛弃马克思主义这个魂脉，决不能抛弃中华优秀传统文化这个根脉。”坚守好这个魂和根，是理论创新的基础和前提，也是社会主义意识形态凝聚力和引领力的重要来源。我们必须坚持马克思主义这个立党立国、兴党兴国之本不动摇，坚持植根本国、本民族历史文化沃土发展马克思主义不停步，坚定历史自信、文化自信，坚持古为今用、推陈出新，以马克思主义为指导对中华五千多年文明宝库进行全面挖掘，用马克思主义激活中华优秀传统文化中富有生命力的优秀因子并赋予新的时代内涵，将中华民族的伟大精神和丰富智慧更深层次地注入马克思主义，有效把马克思主义思想精髓同中华优秀传统文化精华贯通起来，聚变为新的理论优势。

Timely and scientifically answer the new questions of the times. All epoch-making theories are products that meet the needs of the times. Socialist ideology forms strong cohesion and leading power precisely in demonstrating its power to explain and guide reality. Against the background of the accelerated evolution and deep interaction of the “two overall situations” [3]3 The “two overall situations” (两个大局) refers to the overall situation of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the overall situation of changes unseen in a century in the world., various fields such as China’s reform, development, and stability; domestic and foreign affairs, national defense; and governance of the Party, the state, and the military face a series of new major issues, urgently requiring us to provide answers from the combination of theory and practice. We must firmly establish a grand historical perspective, grasp the development context and correct direction of world history with a broader vision and a longer-term perspective, recognize the major logic and major trends of China’s social development and human social development, grasp the historical evolution and practical requirements of Chinese-path modernization, and comprehensively and systematically propose scientific concepts and effective countermeasures to solve practical problems, so that the Marxism of contemporary China and the Marxism of the 21st century can demonstrate more powerful and more convincing truth power.

及时科学解答时代新课题。一切划时代的理论，都是满足时代需要的产物。社会主义意识形态正是在彰显对现实的解释力和指导力中形成强大凝聚力和引领力。在“两个大局”加速演进并深度互动的时代背景下，我国改革发展稳定、内政外交国防、治党治国治军等各个领域面临着一系列新的重大课题，迫切需要我们从理论与实践的结合上提交答案。我们要牢固树立大历史观，以更宽广的视野、更长远的眼光把握世界历史的发展脉络和正确走向，认清我国社会发展、人类社会发展的大逻辑大趋势，把握中国式现代化的历史沿革和实践要求，全面系统地提出解决现实问题的科学理念、有效对策，让当代中国马克思主义、21世纪马克思主义展现出更为强大、更有说服力的真理力量。

Provide a strong ideological guarantee for realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation

为实现中华民族伟大复兴提供坚强思想保证

On the new journey of the New Era, in the face of the complex situation of reform, development, and stability, the diversity and multiplicity of social thought consciousness, and the profound changes in the media landscape, while we concentrate our efforts on economic construction, we must not relax ideological work for a single moment. We must strive to build a socialist ideology with strong cohesion and leading power, providing a solid ideological guarantee for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

新时代新征程，面对改革发展稳定的复杂局面和社会思想意识的多元多样、媒体格局的深刻变化，我们在集中精力进行经济建设的同时，一刻也不能放松意识形态工作，必须着力建设具有强大凝聚力和引领力的社会主义意识形态，为实现中华民族伟大复兴提供坚强思想保证。

Uphold and strengthen the Party’s overall leadership over ideological work, and firmly grasp the leadership, management, and discourse power of ideological work. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “Ideological work must take centering on the central task and serving the overall situation as its basic duty, bear in mind the overall situation, grasp the general trend, focus on major events, identify the entry points and focal points of work, and achieve planning according to the situation, acting in response to the situation, and following the trend.” [4]4 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the National Conference on Propaganda and Ideological Work,” August 19, 2013. The entire Party must fully recognize the complexity and long-term nature of the ideological struggle, enhance the awareness of positions, strengthen the construction of positions, and firmly grasp the leadership, management, and discourse power of ideological work. Comprehensively implement the responsibility system for ideological work, consolidate and tighten the responsibilities of Party committees at all levels, adhere to the Party managing propaganda, the Party managing ideology, and the Party managing media, and strengthen the construction and management of ideological positions. Ideological work must closely revolve around the Party’s central tasks and goals, center on the practical issues of China’s reform and opening up and modernization, and on what we are doing, consolidate the common ideological foundation, tighten the common spiritual bond, promote the close unity of all people in thought and spirit, and better gather the mighty force to overcome difficulties and forge ahead.

坚持和加强党对意识形态工作的全面领导，牢牢掌握意识形态工作领导权、管理权、话语权。习近平总书记指出：“意识形态工作一定要把围绕中心、服务大局作为基本职责，胸怀大局、把握大势、着眼大事，找准工作切入点和着力点，做到因势而谋、应势而动、顺势而为。”全党要充分认识意识形态斗争的复杂性、长期性，增强阵地意识，加强阵地建设，牢牢掌握意识形态工作领导权、管理权、话语权。全面落实意识形态工作责任制，压实压紧各级党委责任，坚持党管宣传、党管意识形态、党管媒体，加强意识形态阵地建设和管理。意识形态工作要紧紧围绕党的中心任务和奋斗目标来进行，以我国改革开放和现代化建设的实际问题、以我们正在做的事情为中心，夯实共同的思想基础，拉紧共同的精神纽带，促进全体人民在思想上精神上紧紧团结在一起，更好汇集起攻坚克难、开拓前行的磅礴伟力。

Uphold the fundamental system of Marxism’s guiding position in the ideological domain. Institutional construction has an overall, stable, and long-term nature. Ensuring that the guiding position of Marxism is reflected in the various undertakings of the Party and the state, and consolidating the guiding position of Marxism in the ideological domain, requires strong institutional support and reliable institutional guarantees. The Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core emphasizes upholding the fundamental system of Marxism’s guiding position in the ideological domain, and has made a series of major deployments, clearly proposing to improve the work system for arming the entire Party and educating the people with the Party’s innovative theories, perfecting the learning systems at all levels such as the theoretical study center groups of Party committees (Party groups), establishing a full-staff, whole-process, all-round education system and mechanism, and implementing the responsibility system for ideological work. [5]5 The “theoretical study center groups” (理论学习中心组) are regular study sessions for Party committees at all levels, mandated to study Party theory and central policies. We must continue to implement this fundamental system throughout all aspects of cultural construction, embody it in adhering to the correct political direction, public opinion orientation, and value orientation, clearly oppose and resist various erroneous viewpoints, rectify the source and clear the stream, stir up the clear and wash away the turbid, persistently grasp the education of ideals and beliefs, so that all people are closely united in ideals, values, and moral concepts. [6]6 “Rectify the source and clear the stream” (正本清源) and “stir up the clear and wash away the turbid” (激浊扬清) are four-character idioms meaning to correct fundamental errors and promote what is good while eliminating what is bad.

坚持马克思主义在意识形态领域指导地位的根本制度。制度建设具有全局性、稳定性、长期性。确保马克思主义指导地位体现在党和国家各项事业中，巩固马克思主义在意识形态领域的指导地位，需要有力的制度支撑和可靠的制度保障。以习近平同志为核心的党中央强调坚持马克思主义在意识形态领域指导地位的根本制度，并作出一系列重大部署，明确提出健全用党的创新理论武装全党、教育人民工作体系，完善党委（党组）理论学习中心组等各层级学习制度，建立全员、全程、全方位育人体制机制，落实意识形态工作责任制。要继续把这一根本制度贯穿到文化建设各方面，体现到坚持正确的政治方向、舆论导向、价值取向上，旗帜鲜明反对和抵制各种错误观点，正本清源、激浊扬清，持之以恒抓好理想信念教育，使全体人民在理想信念、价值理念、道德观念上紧紧团结在一起。

Strengthen cultural confidence, raise the ideological and moral level of the entire nation. Cultural confidence is a more fundamental, broader, and deeper confidence. To build a socialist ideology with strong cohesion and leading power, we must strengthen confidence in the path, confidence in the theory, and confidence in the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and ultimately, we must strengthen cultural confidence. The socialist culture with Chinese characteristics embodies the deepest spiritual pursuit of the Chinese nation, represents the unique spiritual identity of the Chinese nation, and is a powerful spiritual force for the Chinese people to advance victoriously. We must adhere to the path of socialist cultural development with Chinese characteristics, strengthen cultural confidence, build a socialist cultural power around raising the flag, gathering the people, educating new people, revitalizing culture, and displaying the image, and enhance the spiritual strength to achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. To strengthen cultural confidence and better construct the Chinese spirit, Chinese values, and Chinese strength, we must vigorously cultivate and practice the core socialist values and raise the ideological and moral level of the entire nation. We must deeply carry out the publicity and education of the core socialist values, promote the spiritual lineage of Chinese Communists originating from the great founding spirit of the Party, deepen education in patriotism, collectivism, and socialism, and continuously strengthen the common ideal of socialism with Chinese characteristics. [7]7 The “great founding spirit of the Party” (伟大建党精神) refers to the spirit of the CPC’s founding in 1921, officially defined in 2021 as “upholding truth,坚守理想,践行初心,担当使命,不怕牺牲,英勇斗争,对党忠诚,不负人民.” Adhere to the Marxist view of morality, adhere to the socialist view of morality, promote the traditional virtues of the Chinese nation, advance the construction of social morality, professional ethics, family virtues, and personal morality, so that society is upright and clean, and our nation is forever full of vitality and hope.

坚定文化自信，提高全民族思想道德水平。文化自信是更基础、更广泛、更深厚的自信。建设具有强大凝聚力和引领力的社会主义意识形态，要坚定中国特色社会主义道路自信、理论自信、制度自信，说到底是要坚定文化自信。中国特色社会主义文化积淀着中华民族最深层的精神追求，代表着中华民族独特的精神标识，是中国人民胜利前行的强大精神力量。我们要坚持中国特色社会主义文化发展道路，坚定文化自信，围绕举旗帜、聚民心、育新人、兴文化、展形象建设社会主义文化强国，增强实现中华民族伟大复兴的精神力量。坚定文化自信，更好构筑中国精神、中国价值、中国力量，必须大力培育和践行社会主义核心价值观，提高全民族思想道德水平。要深入开展社会主义核心价值观宣传教育，弘扬以伟大建党精神为源头的中国共产党人精神谱系，深化爱国主义、集体主义、社会主义教育，不断坚定中国特色社会主义共同理想。坚持马克思主义道德观、坚持社会主义道德观，弘扬中华民族传统美德，推进社会公德、职业道德、家庭美德、个人品德建设，让社会风清气正，让我们的民族永远充满活力和希望。

(The author is the President of the Chinese Historical Society)

（作者为中国史学会会长）

Online editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心