An Analysis of the Success Code of the Century-Old Great Party

Having weathered a century of storms, the Communist Party of China has become the political party with the largest membership in the world; the ruling party of the world’s most populous country; one of the few ruling parties in the world to have been in power continuously for over seventy years, the only ruling party that, since taking power, has created “the two miracles of rapid economic development and long-term social stability” and successfully lifted nearly 800 million people out of poverty. What is the code to its success? To forge iron, one must be strong oneself. The way of the CPC’s success lies in possessing a wise mind, a steadfast character, and rich nourishment.

中国共产党历经百年风雨,成为世界上党员人数最多的政党;成为世界上人口最多国家的执政党;成为世界上少有的连续执政70多年的执政党,唯一一个执政以来创造“经济快速发展和社会长期稳定两大奇迹”,成功使近8亿人脱贫的执政党。其成功的密码何在?打铁需要自身硬,中国共产党的成功之道在于有智慧的头脑、坚定的品格和丰富的滋养。

I. A Wise Mind — Forged by the Arming of Scientific Theory

一、智慧的头脑———来自科学理论的武装

“If a nation is to stand at the forefront of the times, it cannot be without theoretical thinking for a single moment, nor can it be without ideological guidance for a single moment.”[1]1 “Two Musts”: The requirement that comrades must remain modest, prudent, and free from arrogance and rashness, and must remain hardworking and plain in living, proposed by Mao Zedong at the Second Plenary Session of the Seventh Central Committee of the CPC in March 1949. The same holds true for a political party. The primary code to the CPC’s success is that it has forged a wise mind through scientific theory. Marxism is a scientific theory, a scientific worldview and methodology guiding the proletarian revolution and construction. The CPC’s success lies not only in taking Marxism as its guiding ideology, but also in continuously advancing theoretical innovation under the guidance of Marxism, and arming the entire Party with innovative theories to guide practice.

“一个民族要走在时代前列,就一刻不能没有理论思维,一刻不能没有思想指引。”[1]一个政党亦是如此。中国共产党成功的首要密码就是用科学理论造就了智慧的头脑。马克思主义是科学的理论,是指导无产阶级革命和建设的科学的世界观和方法论。中国共产党的成功不仅仅在于以马克思主义作为指导思想,还在于在马克思主义指导下不断推进理论创新,并以创新的理论武装全党、指导实践。

(I) Arming the Mind with Marxism

(一)以马克思主义武装头脑

Without a revolutionary theory, there can be no revolutionary practice. Since modern times, in response to the decline of national fortunes and the situation of being subjected to arbitrary bullying, China’s people of lofty ideals and political groups have all explored paths to save the nation and the people. Only the CPC ultimately achieved success. The primary reason lies in the fact that the CPC found the scientific theory — Marxism.

没有革命的理论就不会有革命的实践。近代以来,针对国运日下、任人宰割的局面,中国的仁人志士、政治团体都在探索救国救民的道路。唯有中国共产党最终取得成功,其首要原因就在于中国共产党找到了科学理论———马克思主义。

Under the guidance of Marxism, the Chinese Communists, with Mao Zedong at their core, on the basis of scientifically understanding China’s national conditions, step by step resolved key issues concerning the nature, tasks, targets, forces, methods, path, and prospects of the Chinese revolution. Applying Marxist theories on social development to analyze Chinese society, the CPC recognized China’s social nature and principal social contradiction, providing a theoretical basis for formulating the general line of the new-democratic revolution and a series of other correct policies. Under the guidance of Lenin’s theory on the national and colonial questions, the CPC, on the basis of its maximum program, formulated the democratic revolutionary program of opposing imperialism and feudalism, determined the targets of the revolution, and thus identified the primary enemy. Applying the Marxist method of class analysis, it correctly analyzed the status and role of various social classes in China in the national revolution, determined the leading force and the motive forces of the revolution, and thus recognized its own mission and found the right friends. Based on the theory of historical materialism, it recognized that only the masses of the people are the subjects who create history, so it mobilized the masses wholeheartedly, united all forces that could be united, organized the various revolutionary classes and strata, completely changed the situation since modern times where the Chinese people were like a sheet of loose sand, and forged a veritable bastion of iron. Applying the Marxist theory of class struggle, it used armed revolution to oppose counter-revolutionary armed force, and found the revolutionary path of encircling the cities from the countryside and seizing state power by armed force. Under the guidance of Marxism, the CPC completed in only 28 years the revolutionary tasks that other political parties and strata could not accomplish, and became the ruling party.

在马克思主义指导下,以毛泽东为首的中国共产党人在科学认识中国国情的基础上,一步步地破解了中国革命的性质、任务、对象、动力、方式、道路、前途等关键问题。中国共产党运用马克思主义关于社会发展原理分析中国社会,认清了中国的社会性质和社会主要矛盾,为制定新民主主义革命总路线和其他一系列正确政策提供了理论依据。在列宁民族殖民地问题理论的指导下,中国共产党在最高纲领的基础上,制定了反帝反封建的民主革命纲领,确定了革命的对象,也就找到了最主要的敌人;运用马克思主义阶级分析方法,正确分析了中国社会各阶级在国民革命中的地位和作用,确定了革命的领导力量和革命动力,也就认清了自己的使命并找对了朋友;依据历史唯物主义理论,认识到只有人民群众才是创造历史的主体,所以放手发动群众、团结一切可以团结的力量,将革命的各个阶级、阶层组织起来,彻底改变了近代以来中国民众一盘散沙的局面,铸造了真正的铜墙铁壁;运用马克思主义的阶级斗争理论,以武装革命反对武装的反革命,找到了农村包围城市、武装夺取政权的革命道路。在马克思主义指导下,中国共产党仅用28年时间就完成了其他政党和阶层不能完成的革命任务,成为执政党。

(II) Arming the Entire Party with the Party’s Innovative Theories

(二)用党的创新理论武装全党

The century-long Party history is a history of continuously advancing theoretical innovation and arming the entire Party with the Party’s innovative theories. From its very inception, the CPC inscribed Marxism on its banner, but Marxism could not provide ready-made answers for the Chinese revolution. The Marxism-Leninism brought by the salvoes of the October Revolution did not immediately set the revolution led by the CPC on a smooth path. The Chinese Communists, with Mao Zedong at their core, realized from the painful lessons of dogmatizing Marxism, absolutizing Soviet experience, and sanctifying the instructions of the Communist International, that victory in the Chinese revolutionary struggle must rely on Chinese comrades who understand the Chinese situation, and that it was necessary to “apply Marxism to the concrete struggle in the concrete environment of China,” achieving the adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese context.

百年党史,就是一部不断推进理论创新、用党的创新理论武装全党的历史。中国共产党成立伊始就把马克思主义写在自己的旗帜上,但是马克思主义不可能为中国革命提供现成答案。十月革命一声炮响送来的马列主义并没有让中国共产党领导的革命一举走上坦途。以毛泽东为首的中国共产党人是在总结马克思主义教条化、苏联经验绝对化、共产国际指示神圣化的沉痛教训中,意识到中国革命斗争的胜利必须靠了解中国情况的中国同志,必须“把马克思主义应用到中国具体环境的具体斗争中去”,实现马克思主义中国化。

The path of theoretical innovation was not smooth sailing. The CPC is a successful party not because it makes no mistakes, but because it can face up to and correct mistakes, and on this basis achieve the advancement of its guiding ideology with the times. “Over the past century, our Party has adhered to the unity of emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts, the unity of consolidating the foundation and upholding fundamental principles while breaking new ground, continuously opening up new realms of Marxism, producing Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the important thought of the Three Represents, the Scientific Outlook on Development, and producing Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, providing scientific theoretical guidance for the development of the Party and the people’s cause.”

理论创新的道路并不是一帆风顺的。中国共产党是一个成功的政党,并不是说她不犯错误,而是能够正视和纠正错误,在此基础上形成指导思想的与时俱进。“一百年来,我们党坚持解放思想和实事求是相统一、培元固本和守正创新相统一,不断开辟马克思主义新境界,产生了毛泽东思想、邓小平理论、‘三个代表’重要思想、科学发展观,产生了新时代中国特色社会主义思想,为党和人民事业发展提供了科学理论指导。”

Arming the entire Party with the Party’s innovative theories ensures not only that the CPC can correctly understand the object of social revolution, but also that it can correctly understand the subject leading the social revolution — the CPC itself, enabling the CPC to become increasingly confident in upholding and improving socialism with Chinese characteristics, to respond more and more adeptly to various risks and challenges from home and abroad, and to become one of the few successful parties in the world. As General Secretary Xi Jinping stated, “The reason why the Communist Party of China has been able to accomplish the arduous tasks that no other political force in modern times could accomplish lies precisely in its consistent adherence to this scientific theory of Marxism as its guide to action, and its insistence on continuously enriching and developing Marxism in practice.”

以党的创新理论武装全党,既确保中国共产党能够正确认识社会革命的客体,也确保能够正确认识领导社会革命的主体———中国共产党,使中国共产党越来越自信地坚持和完善中国特色社会主义,越来越自如地应对来自国内外的各种风险挑战,成为世界上少有的成功政党。正如习近平总书记所说,“中国共产党之所以能够完成近代以来各种政治力量不可能完成的艰巨任务,就在于始终把马克思主义这一科学理论作为自己的行动指南,并坚持在实践中不断丰富和发展马克思主义。”

II. A Steadfast Character — Forged by Self-Revolution

二、坚定的品格———来自自我革命的锻造

A revolutionary must first engage in self-revolution. The second code to the CPC’s success lies in forging a robust political party through self-revolution, ensuring the strength and vitality of the Party’s own organism. “Having the courage to engage in self-revolution and governing the Party strictly and comprehensively is our Party’s most distinctive character.”

革命者必先自我革命。中国共产党成功密码之二就在于通过自我革命,锻造了一个强健的政党,保证了党自身肌体的坚强有力。“勇于自我革命,从严管党治党,是我们党最鲜明的品格。”

The century-long Party history is a history of having the courage to engage in self-revolution. From the Party’s First National Congress, whose Party Program required Party members to “not hold government office or serve as members of parliament except when compelled by existing law or with the Party’s consent”[4]4 From Mao Zedong’s 1938 essay “On Protracted War.”, to the 19th National Congress Party Constitution stipulating that “except for personal interests and work functions within the scope stipulated by law and policy, all Communist Party members must not seek any private gain or privilege”[5]5 A line from Mao Zedong’s 1931 poem “The Warlords Clash,” referring to the mobilization of the masses.; from the Yan’an period, when rectification movements unified the Party’s thinking, to the New Era, when the education campaign on “staying true to our original aspiration and founding mission” consolidated the Party’s soul and strength; from Mao Zedong’s proposal of the “Two Musts”[1]1 “Two Musts”: The requirement that comrades must remain modest, prudent, and free from arrogance and rashness, and must remain hardworking and plain in living, proposed by Mao Zedong at the Second Plenary Session of the Seventh Central Committee of the CPC in March 1949. on the eve of the founding of New China to Xi Jinping’s emphasis after the 18th National Congress that “the fight against corruption is always ongoing,” it can all be seen that the CPC, through self-revolution, concentrates its energy, removes decay and regenerates healthy tissue, achieving the state of “self-purification, self-improvement, self-renovation, and self-enhancement.” The Party’s strengthening of its physique through self-revolution is mainly manifested in:

百年党史就是一部勇于自我革命的历史。从党的一大通过的党纲要求党员“除为现行法律所迫或征得党的同意外,不得担任政府官员或国会议员”[4],到十九大党章规定“除了法律和政策规定范围内的个人利益和工作职权以外,所有共产党员都不得谋求任何私利和特权”[5];从延安时期通过整风运动统一全党思想,到新时代通过“不忘初心、牢记使命”主题教育凝魂聚魄;从新中国成立前夕毛泽东提出“两个务必”1到十八大以后习近平强调“反腐败斗争永远在路上”,都可以看出中国共产党通过自我革命凝神聚力、去腐生肌,达到“自我净化、自我完善、自我革新、自我提高”的境界。党以自我革命强健体魄主要体现在:

(I) Concentrating Energy and Uniting Strength through the Original Aspiration and Founding Mission

(一)以初心和使命凝神聚力

The cohesion of a political party mainly comes from the appeal of its goals and the degree to which they are realized. As a Marxist political party, the CPC set communism as its lofty ideal from its very inception, and, based on the social nature and main tasks of China in different periods, determined the goals for each period. “The Party’s original aspiration and founding mission are the concentrated expression of the Party’s nature, purpose, ideals, beliefs, and goals.” The CPC attracts outstanding members of the Chinese nation into its organization through its original aspiration and founding mission, ensuring the health of every cell that constitutes the Party; it educates the vast majority of Party cadres and members through its original aspiration and founding mission, ensuring that the Party is always full of vitality and vigor, forever maintaining its revolutionary character.

政党的凝聚力主要来自于其奋斗目标的感召力及其实现程度。中国共产党作为马克思主义政党,成立伊始就把共产主义作为自己的远大理想,又根据不同时期中国的社会性质和主要任务,确定了每一时期的奋斗目标。“党的初心和使命是党的性质宗旨、理想信念、奋斗目标的集中体现。”中国共产党以初心和使命吸引中华民族优秀分子加入到党组织里面来,保证了组成党的每一个细胞的健康;以初心和使命教育广大党员干部,保证了党一直充满生机和活力,永葆革命性。

The original aspiration and founding mission are the fundamental driving force that impels Chinese Communists to advance unceasingly. The Communist Party of China was born with the mission of saving the nation and the people. The original aspiration and founding mission of “seeking happiness for the Chinese people and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation” united advanced elements from all walks of life, forging the CPC into a community of shared destiny with the Chinese people and the Chinese nation. The CPC’s highest ideal and its democratic revolutionary program inspired outstanding sons and daughters represented by Xia Minghan, Zhao Yiman, Wang Ruofei, and Chen Ran to shed their blood and sacrifice their lives during the period of the New Democratic Revolution [2]2 A couplet from the Song dynasty philosopher Zhu Xi’s poem “Reflections on Reading, Part I,” using the metaphor of a clear channel to illustrate the importance of a continuous source of knowledge or vitality.; the common ideal of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the historical mission of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation inspired exemplary figures of the era such as Lu Yonggen, Huang Danian, Huang Wenxiu, and Zhong Nanshan to devote themselves selflessly in the New Era. Practice has proven that our Party can endure all kinds of hardships, withstand all kinds of risk tests, and remain ever vigorous, “the fundamental reason being that whether in favorable or adverse circumstances, our Party has always steadfastly adhered to this original aspiration and founding mission of seeking happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation, advancing unswervingly toward this goal, thereby winning the heartfelt support and firm backing of the people.” [3]3 A well-known saying summarizing the decisive role of civilian support, especially from the people of Shandong, Jiangsu, and other provinces, in the Huaihai Campaign (November 1948 – January 1949) during the Chinese Civil War.

初心和使命是激励中国共产党人不断前进的根本动力。中国共产党是带着救国救民的使命诞生的。“为中国人民谋幸福、为中华民族谋复兴”的初心和使命,凝聚了各行各业的先进分子,使中国共产党与中国人民、中华民族形成命运共同体。中国共产党的最高理想和民主革命纲领,在新民主主义革命时期感召了以夏明翰、赵一曼、王若飞、陈然为代表的优秀儿女抛头颅洒热血;中国特色社会主义共同理想和中华民族伟大复兴中国梦的历史使命,在新时代感召了卢永根、黄大年、黄文秀、钟南山等时代模范忘我奋斗。实践证明,我们党能够历经各种磨难、经受各种风险考验长盛不衰,“根本原因就在于不管是处于顺境还是逆境,我们党始终坚守为中国人民谋幸福、为中华民族谋复兴这个初心和使命,义无反顾向着这个目标前进,从而赢得了人民衷心拥护和坚定支持。”

(2) Cutting away tumors and excising rot by turning the blade inward

(二)以刀刃向内割瘤去腐

The key to our Party’s ability to overcome difficulties “lies in our unremitting adherence to the principle that the Party must supervise itself and govern itself comprehensively and strictly, carrying out a thorough self-revolution while promoting social revolution.” [4]4 From Mao Zedong’s 1938 essay “On Protracted War.” As a revolutionary party whose highest ideal is the realization of communism, the CPC must not only promote social revolution but also promote self-revolution; it must use self-revolution to lead social revolution. Self-revolution means “revolutionizing” one’s own party, meaning having the courage to turn the blade inward and “operate on” one’s own existing problems, removing malignant tumors and cutting away rotten flesh.

我们党能够战胜困难的“关键在于我们始终坚持党要管党、全面从严治党不放松,在推动社会革命的同时进行彻底的自我革命。”中国共产党作为以实现共产主义为最高理想的革命党,不仅要推动社会革命,还要推动自我革命;要以自我革命引领社会革命。自我革命意味着“革”自己的命,意味着以刀刃向内的勇气,对自身存在的问题“动刀子”,清除毒瘤、割除腐肉。

The problem of corruption is a worldwide challenge and also the greatest risk to our Party’s governance. Corruption can cause public power to become a tool for satisfying the private desires of those in power, can destroy social fairness and justice, can lead to widespread popular resentment, and ultimately cause the government and the ruling party to lose legitimacy and be abandoned by the people. If the CPC cannot win the fight against corruption, it too will lose the people’s support, repeat the mistakes of the Soviet Communist Party and the Chinese Kuomintang, and forfeit its status as the ruling party. In view of this

腐败问题是世界性难题,也是我们党执政的最大风险。腐败会导致公权力成为满足掌权者私人欲望的工具、会破坏社会公平公正、会导致民怨沸腾,最终使政府和执政党丧失合法性而被民众抛弃。如果中国共产党不能打赢反腐败斗争,也会失去民心,重蹈苏共和中国国民党的覆辙,失去执政党地位。鉴于此,习近平总书记毅然决然地指出:“不得罪成百上千的腐败分子,就要得罪十三亿中国人民。这是一笔再明白不过的政治账、人心向背的账。”[6]腐败现象对党的肌体侵蚀最为严重,因此必须以刮骨疗毒、壮士断腕的勇气和决心强力反腐。尤其是十八大以来,党中央以反腐败斗争永远在路上的执著和决心,一体化构筑不敢腐、不能腐、不想腐的体制机制,将反腐败斗争向纵深推进。在党中央的坚强领导下,反腐败斗争取得了压倒性胜利,赢得了民众的好评,巩固了党的执政地位。

III. Rich Nourishment — Support from the Masses of the People

三、丰富的滋养——来自人民群众的支持

“How can the channel be so clear? It is because there is a source of living water from the headstream.” [2]2 A couplet from the Song dynasty philosopher Zhu Xi’s poem “Reflections on Reading, Part I,” using the metaphor of a clear channel to illustrate the importance of a continuous source of knowledge or vitality. The third success code of the Chinese Communist Party lies in finding the living water source — the masses of the people. “Our Party comes from the people, is rooted in the people, and the support and endorsement of the masses of the people is an inexhaustible source of strength for our victorious advance.” In the process of creating history, the masses of the people have supplied the Chinese Communist Party with a continuous stream of material and spiritual nourishment, and have also helped the Chinese Communist Party to leap out of the historical cycle of rise and fall and achieve long-term governance.

“问渠那得清如许,为有源头活水来。”中国共产党成功密码之三就在于找到了活水源头——人民群众。“我们党来自人民、根植人民,人民群众的支持和拥护是我们胜利前进的不竭力量源泉。”人民群众在创造历史的过程中给中国共产党输送了源源不断的物质营养、精神营养,还助力中国共产党跳出历史周期率实现长期执政。

(I) The Masses of the People Supply Material Nourishment

(一)人民群众输送物质滋养

At its founding, the Chinese Communist Party called on workers, peasants, and soldiers to organize themselves and establish a political system of worker-peasant dictatorship, and it took its own actions to engage in propagating among the masses, educating the masses, and organizing the masses. Under the call of the Chinese Communist Party, the awakened masses of the people quickly joined the revolutionary torrent and became the main force of the revolution, supplying a large amount of material strength for the success of the revolution.

中国共产党在成立时就号召工农劳动者和士兵组织起来、建立劳农专政的政治,而且以自身行动投入宣传群众、教育群众、组织群众中去。在中国共产党的号召下,觉醒了的人民群众很快加入到革命洪流中并成为革命的主力军,为革命的成功输送了大量的物质力量。

First, the masses of the people are the Party’s matrix. The overwhelming majority of Chinese Communist Party members come from the worker and peasant masses. By the end of 1949, the total number of Party members was over 4.488 million, of whom worker members accounted for about 2.5% of the total, peasant members for 59.6%, and military members for 24% [7]7 From Xi Jinping’s speech at the ceremony marking the 40th anniversary of reform and opening up, December 18, 2018.. Since the majority of military personnel came from peasants and workers, in 1949, over 85% of Party members came from the main body of the masses of the people — workers and peasants. In addition, the masses of the people eagerly sent their sons to the front lines, becoming the main body of the revolutionary army under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party.

第一,人民群众是党的母体。绝大多数中国共产党党员来自工农群众。1949年底,党员总人数为448.8万多人,其中工人党员约占总数的2.5%,农民党员占59.6%,军人党员占24%[7]。由于军人大多数来自农民和工人,所以1949年,党员中85%以上来自人民群众的主体———工人农民。此外,人民群众还踊跃把子弟送到前线,成为中国共产党领导下革命军队的主体。

Second, the masses of the people spontaneously sent grain and military supplies to the front lines, greatly supporting the victory of the revolutionary war. The victory of the Huaihai Campaign was “pushed out by the masses of the people with small wheelbarrows.” [3]3 A well-known saying summarizing the decisive role of civilian support, especially from the people of Shandong, Jiangsu, and other provinces, in the Huaihai Campaign (November 1948 – January 1949) during the Chinese Civil War. The root of the Party’s success lies among the people. Mao Zedong pointed out, “The deepest root of the great power of war lies among the people.” [4]4 From Mao Zedong’s 1938 essay “On Protracted War.” Extending from this, the deepest root of the great power of the success of socialist construction and reform also lies among the people.

第二,人民群众自发地为前线送粮送军用物资,极大地支援了革命战争的胜利。淮海战役的胜利是“人民群众用小推车推出来的”。党成功的根源在于民众之中。毛泽东指出,“战争的伟力之最深厚的根源,存在于民众之中。”由此推展开来,社会主义建设、改革成功的伟力最深厚的根源,也在于民众之中。

(II) The Masses of the People Supply Spiritual Nourishment

(二)人民群众输送精神滋养

Whether in the years when the Party’s cause was advancing triumphantly, or in the era when it was wandering in the low tide, the masses of the people have always stood together with the Chinese Communist Party, becoming its strong backing.

无论是党的事业处于凯歌行进的岁月,还是在低潮中徘徊的年代,人民群众始终和中国共产党站在一起,成为中国共产党的坚强后盾。

First, the awakening of the masses of the people provided a mighty force for the success of the revolution. Through propagating among, educating, and organizing the masses, the Chinese Communist Party “roused the workers and peasants by the millions,” [5]5 A line from Mao Zedong’s 1931 poem “The Warlords Clash,” referring to the mobilization of the masses. thereby awakening the subject consciousness and mighty force dormant among the masses of the people. The awakened masses of the people from all social strata joined the Anti-Japanese National United Front and the People’s Democratic United Front, [6]6 The Anti-Japanese National United Front was the coalition of the CPC and the Kuomintang against Japan (1937–1945); the People’s Democratic United Front was the broader coalition led by the CPC against the Kuomintang during the Civil War (1945–1949). launching a massive resistance movement that effectively struck at the reactionary forces, becoming the main force on the enemy’s rear battlefield during the Anti-Japanese War and on the second battlefield during the War of Liberation, providing a continuous and mighty force for the victory of the Anti-Japanese War and the War of Liberation.

第一,人民群众的觉醒为革命的成功提供了磅礴力量。中国共产党通过宣传、教育和组织群众,“唤起工农千百万”,也就唤醒了沉睡在人民群众中的主体意识和磅礴力量。觉醒了的各阶层人民群众纷纷加入抗日民族统一战线和人民民主统一战线,掀起声势浩大的抵抗运动,有力地打击了反动势力,成为抗日战争时期敌后战场和解放战争时期第二战场中的主体力量,为抗日战争和解放战争的胜利提供了源源不断的磅礴伟力。

Second, the social practice of the masses of the people is the source from which we obtain correct understanding. The wisdom of the masses of the people has provided a continuous driving force for the revolution, construction, and reform led by the Party. The tunnel warfare and landmine warfare of the war years originated from the creativity of the masses of the people; the rural household contract responsibility system and the rise of township enterprises in the reform era were also creations of the masses of the people. General Secretary Xi Jinping profoundly stated, “Every breakthrough and development in the understanding and practice of reform and opening up, the emergence and development of every new thing in reform and opening up, and the creation and accumulation of experience in every aspect of reform and opening up, all come from the practice and wisdom of hundreds of millions of people.” [7]7 From Xi Jinping’s speech at the ceremony marking the 40th anniversary of reform and opening up, December 18, 2018.

第二,人民群众的社会实践是我们获得正确认识的来源。人民群众的智慧为党领导的革命、建设和改革提供了源源不断的动力。战争年代的地道战、地雷战来源于人民群众的创造;改革年代农村家庭联产承包责任制、乡镇企业的崛起也是人民群众的创造。习近平总书记深有感悟地说“改革开放在认识和实践上的每一次突破和发展,改革开放中每一个新生事物的产生和发展,改革开放每一个方面经验的创造和积累,无不来自亿万人民的实践和智慧。”

(III) The Masses of the People Are the Source of Strength for the Party to Achieve Long-Term Governance

(三)人民群众是党实现长期执政的力量之源

The masses of the people are the fundamental force that helps the Party leap out of the historical cycle of rise and fall; the Party must forever maintain its people-centered nature. The problem of the historical cycle of rise and fall is a historical difficulty that all rulers must face. How to avoid falling into the trap of “rising swiftly and perishing suddenly” [8]8 A classical allusion to the rapid rise and fall of dynasties, often associated with the historian Huang Zongxi’s (1610–1695) analysis of the cyclical pattern of Chinese dynastic history. was a question that Mao Zedong and other Party leaders had long pondered. In the more than 70 years since the Chinese Communist Party came to power, it has explored a series of systems and mechanisms for leaping out of the historical cycle of rise and fall by relying on the power of the people, including perfecting forms of democracy, improving the system of mass supervision, and advancing the modernization of the governance system and governance capacity. Since reform and opening up, with the expansion and improvement of people’s democracy, the masses of the people’s identification with the Party has risen from political identification and emotional identification to rational identification, and the Chinese Communist Party’s governing foundation has been continuously consolidated and its governing capacity continuously enhanced.

人民群众是助力党跳出历史周期率的根本力量,党必须永葆以人民为中心的本性。历史周期率问题是执政者都需面对的历史难题,如何避免掉入“兴勃亡忽”的陷阱,是毛泽东等党的领导人一直思考的问题。中国共产党执政70多年来,探索出了依靠人民力量跳出历史周期率的一系列体制机制,包括完善民主形式、健全群众监督体系、推进治理体系和治理能力现代化等。改革开放以来,随着人民民主的扩展和完善,人民群众对党的认同由政治认同、情感认同上升到理性认同,中国共产党的执政基础不断牢固,执政能力不断提升。

The people are the graders of the effectiveness of the Party’s governance, [9]9 A reference to Xi Jinping’s statement that the people are the “graders” (阅卷人) of the Party’s work, emphasizing accountability to the people. and the Party must forever maintain its modest and prudent original intention. The Chinese Communist Party has always adhered to the principle that “the level and effectiveness of governance are not determined by oneself, but must and can only be judged by the people.” [10]10 From Xi Jinping’s speech at the ceremony marking the 65th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, September 21, 2014. Being judged by the people means that the Party is responsible to the people and subject to the people’s supervision. Under the people’s supervision, the Chinese Communist Party has always maintained a spirit of never slackening, always with a modest, prudent, and cautious “taking the examination” [11]11 A metaphor for the Party’s continuous self-examination and vigilance, originating from Mao Zedong’s 1949 analogy of the CPC’s entry into Beijing as “taking the imperial examination,” implying a test of governance. mentality, carrying out a relay race on the journey of seeking rejuvenation for the nation and happiness for the people.

人民是党执政[10]成效的阅卷人,党必须永葆谦虚谨慎的本心。中国共产党始终坚持“执政水平和执政成效都不是由自己说了算,必须而且只能由人民来评判。”由人民来评判,也就是党对人民负责,受人民监督。在人民的监督下,中国共产党一直保持着永不懈怠的精神,始终以谦虚谨慎、如履薄冰的“赶考”心态在为民族谋复兴、为人民谋幸福的征途中进行着接力赛。

Looking back on the history of the Communist Party of China over the past century, it is a history of arming the mind with Marxism, leading China to achieve the leap from standing up, growing rich, to becoming strong; it is a history of forging a strong political party through self-revolution to drive social revolution; it is a history of awakening the masses, relying on the masses, and acting for the masses to fulfill the historical mission. This is the success code that has kept the Communist Party of China vigorous and dynamic after a century. Looking ahead, for the Communist Party of China to lead the Chinese people in realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind across the world, it must continue to uphold these success codes and strive to build the strongest political party in the world.

回望百年来中国共产党的发展史,就是以马克思主义武装头脑,引领中国实现从站起来、富起来到强起来的历史,就是以自我革命锻造强大政党推动社会革命的历史,就是唤醒群众,依靠群众,为了群众实现历史使命的历史。这就是中国共产党历经百年依然朝气蓬勃的成功密码。展望未来,中国共产党要带领中国人民实现中华民族伟大复兴,要在全世界推动构建人类命运共同体,必须继续坚守这些成功密码,着力建设世界上最强大政党。

Online editor: Paul

网络编辑：保罗