Strengthening the Theoretical System of the Chinese National Community

The deeper theoretical research goes, the stronger and more solid the support for ideology becomes. Forging a sense of community for the Chinese nation requires the construction of a scientific and complete theoretical system of the Chinese national community. General Secretary Xi Jinping, with a view to promoting the integrity and innovation of the Party’s ethnic theory in the New Era, has put forward the major task of “building a theoretical system of the Chinese national community based on the long history of the Chinese nation.” This is not only an important part of constructing an independent knowledge system for Chinese philosophy and social sciences, but also a key measure to break free from the influence of Western ethnic theoretical thought and discourse systems. We must deeply study, thoroughly understand, and earnestly implement Xi Jinping’s important thoughts on strengthening and improving ethnic work, strengthen the theoretical system of the Chinese national community, promote the continuous deepening of research on the Chinese national community, and assist the high-quality development of the Party’s ethnic work in the New Era.

理论研究越深入，对意识形态的支撑就越坚强有力。铸牢中华民族共同体意识，需要构建科学完备的中华民族共同体理论体系。习近平总书记着眼于推动新时代党的民族理论守正创新，提出了“立足中华民族悠久历史，加强中华民族共同体理论体系建设”的重大任务。这既是构建中国哲学社会科学自主知识体系的重要内容，也是摆脱西方民族理论思想和话语体系影响的关键举措。我们要学深悟透做实习近平总书记关于加强和改进民族工作的重要思想，加强中华民族共同体理论体系建设，推动中华民族共同体研究不断走向深入，助力新时代党的民族工作高质量发展。

Apply the scientific method of the “Two Integrations” [1]1 The Two Integrations refers to the combination of the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the excellent traditional Chinese culture.

运用好“两个结合”的科学方法

The Chinese nation has its own unique history; to analyze the history of the Chinese nation, one cannot mechanically apply the Western set of ethnic theories. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that “we must base ourselves on the long history of the Chinese nation, combine Marxist ethnic theory with China’s specific realities and with the excellent traditional Chinese culture, follow the historical and theoretical logic of the Chinese nation’s development, and scientifically reveal the rationale, principles, and philosophy of the formation and development of the Chinese nation.” To strengthen the theoretical system of the Chinese national community, we must adhere to and apply the scientific method of the “Two Integrations,” running it through the entire process and all aspects of the construction of the theoretical system.

中华民族有自身独特的历史，解析中华民族的历史，不能套用西方那一套民族理论。习近平总书记强调，“必须立足中华民族悠久历史，把马克思主义民族理论同中国具体实际相结合、同中华优秀传统文化相结合，遵循中华民族发展的历史逻辑、理论逻辑，科学揭示中华民族形成和发展的道理、学理、哲理”。加强中华民族共同体理论体系建设，必须坚持运用好“两个结合”的科学方法，将其贯穿于理论体系建设的全过程各方面。

Combine Marxist ethnic theory with China’s specific realities. Marxist ethnic theory is the fundamental guiding ideology for our Party’s ethnic work. Guided by Marxist ethnic theory, our Party has addressed China’s ethnic issues, continuously advanced the adaptation of Marxist ethnic theory to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, and creatively blazed a correct path for solving ethnic problems with Chinese characteristics. To strengthen the theoretical system of the Chinese national community, we must follow the theoretical logic of the Chinese nation’s development, deeply study the ethnic theories of Marxist classical writers, our Party’s important thoughts on strengthening and improving ethnic work, and the relationship between them that both carries forward the tradition and keeps pace with the times. Based on the national condition that China is a unified multi-ethnic country, we must continuously construct and improve the theoretical system of the Chinese national community, scientifically revealing the rationale, principles, and philosophy of the formation and development of the Chinese nation.

把马克思主义民族理论同中国具体实际相结合。马克思主义民族理论是我们党开展民族工作的根本指导思想。我们党以马克思主义民族理论为指导解决中国民族问题，不断推进马克思主义民族理论中国化时代化，创造性地走出了一条中国特色解决民族问题的正确道路。加强中华民族共同体理论体系建设，要遵循中华民族发展的理论逻辑，深入研究马克思主义经典作家的民族理论、我们党关于加强和改进民族工作的重要思想，以及其既一脉相承又与时俱进的关系，立足我国是统一的多民族国家的国情，不断构建完善中华民族共同体理论体系，科学揭示中华民族形成和发展的道理、学理、哲理。

Combine Marxist ethnic theory with the excellent traditional Chinese culture. Culture is the spiritual lifeline and creative source of a nation. The profound history and culture of the Chinese nation have driven the formation and development of the Chinese national community, demonstrating the common psychological characteristics, common historical memory, and common value orientation formed by various ethnic groups through long-term interaction, exchange, and integration. This provides a living source for strengthening the theoretical system of the Chinese national community. To strengthen the theoretical system of the Chinese national community, we must follow the historical logic of the Chinese nation’s development, take root in the fertile soil of the long history of the Chinese nation and its excellent traditional culture, strengthen research on the history of the Chinese nation, and further deepen the understanding of the “Four Commons” [2]2 The Four Commons is a formulation of the historical view of the Chinese nation, stating that the territory, history, culture, and spirit of China were jointly created by all its ethnic groups. view of Chinese national history—that is, our vast territory was jointly开拓 by all ethnic groups, our long history was jointly written by all ethnic groups, our splendid culture was jointly created by all ethnic groups, and our great spirit was jointly cultivated by all ethnic groups. We must systematically and clearly sort out the historical context of the formation and development of the Chinese national community, combine the outstanding characteristics of Chinese civilization to comprehensively study and explain issues concerning the construction of the theoretical system of the Chinese national community in the process of Chinese-path modernization, and grasp the right of historical narrative and discourse from the height of the Chinese national community.

把马克思主义民族理论同中华优秀传统文化相结合。文化是民族的精神命脉和创造源泉。中华民族深厚的历史文化，推动着中华民族共同体的形成和发展，展现了各民族在长期交往交流交融中形成的共同心理特征、共同历史记忆、共同价值取向，为加强中华民族共同体理论体系建设提供了源头活水。加强中华民族共同体理论体系建设，要遵循中华民族发展的历史逻辑，扎根中华民族悠久历史和中华优秀传统文化肥沃土壤，加强中华民族史研究，进一步深化对“四个共同”中华民族历史观的认知，即我们辽阔的疆域是各民族共同开拓的，我们悠久的历史是各民族共同书写的，我们灿烂的文化是各民族共同创造的，我们伟大的精神是各民族共同培育的，系统清晰梳理中华民族共同体形成和发展的历史脉络，结合中华文明突出特性全面研究阐释中国式现代化进程中的中华民族共同体理论体系建设问题，从中华民族共同体的高度把握历史叙述权和话语权。

Deeply study fundamental issues and major practical issues

深入研究基础性问题和重大现实问题

Constructing a scientific and complete theoretical system of the Chinese national community is a major mission and task for China’s philosophy and social sciences circles. To strengthen the theoretical system of the Chinese national community, we must be guided by Xi Jinping’s important thoughts on strengthening and improving ethnic work, deeply study the fundamental issues and major practical issues in the construction of the Chinese national community, and provide academic support for promoting Chinese-path modernization through the great unity of the Chinese nation.

构建科学完备的中华民族共同体理论体系，是我国哲学社会科学界肩负的一项重大使命任务。加强中华民族共同体理论体系建设，要以习近平总书记关于加强和改进民族工作的重要思想为指导，深入研究中华民族共同体建设中的基础性问题和重大现实问题，为以中华民族大团结促进中国式现代化建设提供学理支撑。

Deepen research on Xi Jinping’s important thoughts on strengthening and improving ethnic work. Xi Jinping’s important thoughts on strengthening and improving ethnic work have opened up a new realm in adapting Marxist ethnic theory to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, providing a fundamental guide for doing a good job in the Party’s ethnic work in the New Era. We must conduct systematic and theoretical research and explanation around its theoretical themes, framework, internal logic, concepts, and categories, and profoundly clarify the great significance, scientific connotation, core essence, spiritual substance, and practical requirements of major original assertions such as forging a sense of community for the Chinese nation.

深化习近平总书记关于加强和改进民族工作的重要思想研究。习近平总书记关于加强和改进民族工作的重要思想，开辟了马克思主义民族理论中国化时代化新境界，为做好新时代党的民族工作提供了根本遵循。要围绕其理论主题、体系框架、内在逻辑、概念范畴等方面进行体系化学理化研究阐释，深刻阐明铸牢中华民族共同体意识等重大原创性论断的重大意义、科学内涵、核心要义、精神实质、实践要求等。

Advance research on fundamental issues of the Chinese national community. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that we must “continuously enrich and develop the Party’s ethnic theory in the New Era, and advance research on fundamental issues of the Chinese national community.” Focusing on the historical process of the formation and development of the Chinese national community, we must deeply study the connotations and extensions of concepts such as ethnicity, the Chinese nation, and the Chinese national community, clarify basic concepts, systematically explain the national condition of China as a unified multi-ethnic country and basic relational categories such as commonality and difference, the sense of community for the Chinese nation and the consciousness of various ethnic groups, Chinese culture and the cultures of various ethnic groups, and the material and the spiritual. We must scientifically analyze the pattern of unity in diversity of the Chinese nation, do a good job in the academic explanation of basic concepts and major fundamental issues, and lay a solid academic foundation for forging a sense of community for the Chinese nation in the New Era.

推进中华民族共同体基础性问题研究。习近平总书记指出，要“不断丰富和发展新时代党的民族理论，推进中华民族共同体基础性问题研究”。围绕中华民族共同体形成和发展的历史进程，深刻研究民族、中华民族、中华民族共同体等概念的内涵外延，澄清基本概念，系统阐释我国统一多民族国家国情以及共同性和差异性、中华民族共同体意识和各民族意识、中华文化和各民族文化、物质和精神等基本关系范畴，科学分析中华民族多元一体格局，做好基本概念和重大基础性问题的学理性阐释工作，为新时代铸牢中华民族共同体意识打牢学术根基。

Strengthen research on major practical issues in the construction of the Chinese national community. The “Opinions on Strengthening the Construction of the Theoretical Research System for Forging a Sense of Community for the Chinese Nation,” jointly issued by the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee and three other departments, points out the need to strengthen research on major practical issues in the construction of the Chinese national community, conducting in-depth research around building a common spiritual home for the Chinese nation, promoting all ethnic groups to move together towards socialist modernization, promoting interaction, exchange, and integration among all ethnic groups, enhancing the modernization level of the ethnic affairs governance system and governance capacity, and preventing major risks and hidden dangers in the ethnic field. Based on the practice of Chinese-path modernization, we must conduct in-depth research on the above issues from multiple aspects such as politics, economy, culture, society, rule of law, and ethnic psychology, and produce original theoretical achievements that are rooted in Chinese history, interpret Chinese practice, and answer Chinese questions. In particular, we must strive to solve the problem of Chinese ethnology research being dominated by Western ethnic theories and discourse systems, accelerate the formation of an independent Chinese system of historical materials, discourse system, and theoretical system for the Chinese national community, and tell the story of the Chinese nation well.

加强中华民族共同体建设重大现实问题研究。中央统战部等四部门联合印发的《关于加强铸牢中华民族共同体意识理论研究体系建设的意见》指出，加强中华民族共同体建设重大现实问题研究，围绕建设中华民族共有精神家园、推动各民族共同走向社会主义现代化、促进各民族交往交流交融、提升民族事务治理体系和治理能力现代化水平、防范民族领域重大风险隐患深入开展研究。要立足中国式现代化建设实践，围绕上述问题从政治、经济、文化、社会、法治、民族心理等多方面开展深入研究，推出立足中国历史、解读中国实践、回答中国问题的原创性理论成果。特别是要着力解决我国民族学研究中存在的被西方民族理论和话语体系所左右的问题，加快形成中国自主的中华民族共同体史料体系、话语体系、理论体系，讲好中华民族故事。

Strengthen disciplinary construction and talent support

强化学科建设与人才支撑

The construction of the theoretical system of the Chinese national community is a systematic project involving many disciplines such as Marxist theory, ethnology, political science, history, anthropology, archaeology, sociology, and linguistics. It requires cross-departmental, cross-field, and cross-professional collaborative research, strengthening disciplinary construction and talent support, and gathering academic synergy to strengthen the theoretical construction of the Chinese national community.

中华民族共同体理论体系建设是一项涉及马克思主义理论、民族学、政治学、历史学、人类学、考古学、社会学、语言学等众多学科的系统工程，需要开展跨部门、跨领域、跨专业的协同攻关研究，强化学科建设与人才支撑，凝聚起加强中华民族共同体理论建设的学术合力。

Consolidate and improve the disciplinary foundation. Optimize the disciplinary setup of ethnology, build a high-level, distinctive disciplinary system, and provide specialized disciplinary support for the construction of the theoretical system of the Chinese national community. Innovate the mechanism for multi-disciplinary joint research, break down disciplinary boundaries and barriers to academic resources, strengthen the construction of interdisciplinary subjects, and use multi-disciplinary forces to carry out collaborative research. Build and make good use of research platforms, mobilize the forces of research bases for forging a sense of community for the Chinese nation, universities, and scientific research institutions with more effective incentive mechanisms, collaboratively promote multi-dimensional research on the Chinese national community, and continuously expand the breadth and depth of research and explanation of major practical issues concerning the Chinese national community.

夯实完善学科基础。优化民族学学科设置，构建高水平、有特色的学科体系，为中华民族共同体理论体系建设提供专业化的学科支撑。创新多学科联合攻关机制，破除学科界限和学术资源壁垒，加强交叉学科建设，运用多学科力量协同开展研究。建强用好研究平台，以更有效力的激励机制动员铸牢中华民族共同体意识研究基地、高校、科研机构等各方面力量，协同推进中华民族共同体多维度研究，不断拓展中华民族共同体重大现实问题研究阐释的广度和深度。

Actively cultivate and make good use of talent. Improve the talent cultivation model, orderly expand the research team for forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, focus on building a core expert team, strengthen the cultivation of top-notch innovative talents, support talents in niche and endangered academic disciplines, fully mobilize their enthusiasm, initiative, and creativity for in-depth research, and make good use of intellectual resources. Strengthen the cultivation of young experts and scholars, improve the mechanisms for talent discovery, selection, and cultivation, provide them with proper direction, build platforms, and create opportunities, encourage them to participate in major scientific research projects in the field of the Chinese national community, continuously enhance their professional quality and capability in the process of strengthening research on the Chinese national community, and provide continuous intellectual support and talent backing for constructing a scientific and complete theoretical system of the Chinese national community.

积极培养用好人才。完善人才培养模式，有序壮大铸牢中华民族共同体意识研究队伍，着力打造核心专家团队，加强拔尖创新人才培养，扶持冷门绝学学科人才，充分调动他们深入研究的积极性主动性创造性，盘活用好智力资源。加强青年专家学者培养，完善人才发现、选拔、培养机制，为他们把好方向、搭建平台、创造机会，鼓励他们参与中华民族共同体领域重大科研项目，在加强中华民族共同体研究中不断提升其专业素质和能力水平，为构建科学完备的中华民族共同体理论体系提供源源不断的智力支持和人才支撑。

(Author: Sun Beibei, Assistant Researcher and Postdoctoral Fellow at the Institute of Modern History, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences)

（作者：孙贝贝，系中国社会科学院近代史研究所助理研究员、博士后）

Online editor: Huihui

网络编辑：慧慧