A Fundamental Move to Advance Patriotic Education by Rule of Law

On January 1 of this year, the Patriotic Education Law of the People’s Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as the Patriotic Education Law) came into effect. This is the first law on patriotic education in the history of our country. The Patriotic Education Law is divided into five chapters—General Provisions, Duties and Tasks, Implementation Measures, Support and Guarantees, and Supplementary Provisions—comprising 40 articles in total. It clearly stipulates the purpose and content of patriotic education, its subjects and objects, its forms and carriers, and its support and guarantees, providing the most authoritative legal basis for advancing patriotic education.

今年1月1日起，《中华人民共和国爱国主义教育法》（以下简称“爱国主义教育法”）施行，这是我国历史上第一部关于爱国主义教育的法律。爱国主义教育法分为总则、职责任务、实施措施、支持保障、附则，共5章40条，对爱国主义教育的目的和内容、主体和对象、形式和载体、支持和保障等作出了明确规定，为推进爱国主义教育提供了最具权威性的法律依循。

Elevating the Requirements of Patriotism to the Will of the State

把爱国主义要求上升为国家意志

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping has delivered a series of important discourses, issued a series of important instructions and directives, and put forward a series of clear requirements on promoting the spirit of patriotism and carrying out patriotic education. These have profoundly elucidated the great significance, essential characteristics, distinct themes, and practical requirements of patriotism, pointing the way forward and providing fundamental guidance for our deep understanding of why we must thoroughly carry out patriotic education in the New Era, what kind of patriotic education we must carry out, and how to thoroughly carry it out. The promulgation and implementation of the Patriotic Education Law is to codify the practical experience of our Party in advancing patriotic education through legislation, to elevate the requirements of patriotism to the will of the state, and to promote and guarantee patriotic education in the New Era by means of the rule of law.

党的十八大以来，习近平总书记围绕弘扬爱国主义精神、开展爱国主义教育发表一系列重要论述，作出一系列重要指示批示，提出一系列明确要求，深刻阐明了爱国主义的重大意义、本质特征、鲜明主题和实践要求，为我们深刻理解新时代为什么要深入开展爱国主义教育、深入开展什么样的爱国主义教育、怎样深入开展爱国主义教育指明了前进方向、提供了根本遵循。颁布实施爱国主义教育法，就是把我们党推进爱国主义教育的实践经验通过立法的形式固定下来，把爱国主义要求上升为国家意志，以法治方式推动和保障新时代爱国主义教育。

Patriotism is not only a basic moral requirement for citizens but also a civic duty stipulated in the Constitution. Advancing patriotic education through the rule of law is an embodiment of the spirit of the Constitution and a common practice among major countries worldwide. The Constitution of the People’s Republic of China stipulates: “The state advocates core socialist values, promotes the public virtues of loving the motherland, loving the people, loving labor, loving science, and loving socialism, and conducts education in patriotism, collectivism, internationalism, and communism among the people.” Article 2 of the Patriotic Education Law states: “The state conducts patriotic education among all the people, cultivates and enhances feelings toward the Chinese nation and the great motherland, inherits the national spirit, strengthens the concept of the state, expands and unites all patriotic forces, so that patriotism becomes the firm belief, spiritual strength, and conscious action of all the people.” From the enactment of the National Flag Law in 1990 to the National Anthem Law and the Heroes and Martyrs Protection Law promulgated after the 18th National Congress of the CPC, these laws are all directly related to patriotic education. Formulating the Patriotic Education Law in accordance with the Constitution and establishing a legal system for patriotic education with the Constitution at its core is not only an inevitable requirement for perfecting the socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics centered on the Constitution, but also an inevitable requirement for promoting the spirit of patriotism, gathering the spiritual strength of comprehensively building a modern socialist country through the power of the rule of law, and uniting in struggle for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

爱国不仅是公民的基本道德要求，也是宪法规定的公民义务。通过法治方式推进爱国主义教育是宪法精神的体现，也是世界各主要国家的通行惯例。《中华人民共和国宪法》规定：“国家倡导社会主义核心价值观，提倡爱祖国、爱人民、爱劳动、爱科学、爱社会主义的公德，在人民中进行爱国主义、集体主义和国际主义、共产主义的教育”。爱国主义教育法第二条规定：“国家在全体人民中开展爱国主义教育，培育和增进对中华民族和伟大祖国的情感，传承民族精神、增强国家观念，壮大和团结一切爱国力量，使爱国主义成为全体人民的坚定信念、精神力量和自觉行动。”从1990年制定实施国旗法，到党的十八大以来出台的国歌法、英雄烈士保护法等法律，都与爱国主义教育直接相关。依据宪法制定爱国主义教育法，形成以宪法为核心的爱国主义教育法律体系，既是完善以宪法为核心的中国特色社会主义法律体系的必然要求，更是弘扬爱国主义精神、以法治力量汇聚全面建设社会主义现代化国家精神力量、为实现中华民族伟大复兴而团结奋斗的必然要求。

Deeply Understanding the Distinct Theme of Patriotic Education

深刻认识爱国主义教育的鲜明主题

Since modern times, all the sacrifices and struggles of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation have been aimed at achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Entering the New Era, our Party has taken the realization of the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation as the distinct theme of patriotism in contemporary China. The legislative purpose of the Patriotic Education Law is precisely “to strengthen patriotic education in the New Era, inherit and promote the spirit of patriotism, and gather the mighty force for comprehensively building a modern socialist country and comprehensively advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” Article 3 of the Patriotic Education Law emphasizes: “Adhere to the unity of loving the country, loving the Party, and loving socialism, take safeguarding national unity and ethnic solidarity as the focal point, and take comprehensively building a modern socialist country and realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation as the distinct theme.” Advancing the great cause of building a strong country and national rejuvenation through Chinese-path modernization is the central task of the entire Party and the people of all ethnic groups in the country in the New Era and new journey, and it is also the most inspiring and persuasive patriotic action. Advancing patriotic education in the New Era means awakening the historical consciousness of all Chinese people, stimulating the patriotic feelings of all Chinese sons and daughters at home and abroad, and gathering the mighty force for building a strong country and national rejuvenation. The promulgation and implementation of the Patriotic Education Law is to elevate the unremitting pursuit of the Chinese people since modern times, the firm propositions of Chinese Communists in the New Era, and the common aspiration of hundreds of millions of Chinese sons and daughters into the will of the state. Through patriotic education, guide people to consciously become firm advocates of national unity and ethnic solidarity, active promoters of national rejuvenation and the building of a strong country, and gather each person’s conscious action into the torrent of the times for realizing national rejuvenation.

近代以来，中国人民和中华民族的一切牺牲和奋斗，都是为了实现中华民族伟大复兴。进入新时代，我们党把实现中华民族伟大复兴的中国梦作为当代中国爱国主义的鲜明主题。爱国主义教育法的立法目的就是“为了加强新时代爱国主义教育，传承和弘扬爱国主义精神，凝聚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磅礴力量”。爱国主义教育法第三条强调：“坚持爱国和爱党、爱社会主义相统一，以维护国家统一和民族团结为着力点，把全面建成社会主义现代化强国、实现中华民族伟大复兴作为鲜明主题。”以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业，是全党全国各族人民在新时代新征程的中心任务，也是最具感召力说服力的爱国主义行动。推进新时代爱国主义教育，就是要唤醒全体中国人民的历史自觉，激发海内外所有中华儿女的爱国情感，汇聚起强国建设、民族复兴的磅礴力量。颁布实施爱国主义教育法，就是要把近代以来中国人民的不懈追求、新时代中国共产党人的坚定主张、亿万中华儿女的共同心愿上升为国家意志。通过爱国主义教育，引导人们自觉做国家统一和民族团结的坚定拥护者、民族复兴和强国建设的积极推进者，以每一个人的自觉行动汇聚成实现民族复兴的时代洪流。

The People’s Republic of China is a socialist country led by the Communist Party of China. The fate of the motherland is inseparable from the fate of the Party and the fate of socialism. In contemporary China, the essence of patriotism is to adhere to the high degree of unity of loving the country, loving the Party, and loving socialism. Article 6 of the Patriotic Education Law clearly stipulates the main content of patriotic education, covering nine aspects. Articles 7, 8, and 9 respectively emphasize the current priorities of patriotic education from three aspects: forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, inheriting and developing fine traditional Chinese culture, and drawing on and absorbing all outstanding achievements of human civilization. The content of patriotic education is extremely rich, and the main thread running through it is the unity of loving the country, loving the Party, and loving socialism. Patriotic education in the New Era means helping people elevate their natural and simple patriotic feelings into rational patriotic consciousness, guiding people to continuously strengthen confidence in the path, confidence in the theory, confidence in the system, and confidence in the culture.

中华人民共和国是中国共产党领导的社会主义国家，祖国的命运与党的命运、社会主义的命运密不可分。在当代中国，爱国主义的本质就是坚持爱国和爱党、爱社会主义高度统一。爱国主义教育法第六条明确规定爱国主义教育的主要内容，涵盖九个方面。第七、八、九条则分别从铸牢中华民族共同体意识、传承和发展中华优秀传统文化、借鉴吸收人类一切优秀文明成果等三个方面强调当前爱国主义教育的重点。爱国主义教育的内容极其丰富，贯穿其中的主线就是爱国和爱党、爱社会主义的统一。新时代爱国主义教育，就是要帮助人们把自然朴素的爱国情感升华为理性的爱国意识，引导人们不断坚定道路自信、理论自信、制度自信、文化自信。

Building a Work Pattern for Patriotic Education under the Leadership of the Party

构建党领导的爱国主义教育工作格局

The vitality of the law lies in its implementation. Article 4 of the Patriotic Education Law clearly states: “Patriotic education adheres to the leadership of the Communist Party of China, and improves the work pattern of unified leadership, joint management, participation by all parties, and joint advancement.” Chapter 2 clarifies the responsibilities of central and local Party committees and government departments, enterprises and institutions, and mass organizations at all levels in patriotic education. The key to running China’s affairs well lies in the Party. Patriotic education in the New Era must adhere to the leadership of the Party, give full play to the Party’s core leadership role in exercising overall leadership and coordinating all efforts, integrate patriotic education into the entire process of national education and cultural-ethical progress, extend it to all aspects of social life, and build a work pattern for the coordinated advancement of patriotic education across society.

法律的生命力在于实施。爱国主义教育法第四条明确提出：“爱国主义教育坚持中国共产党的领导，健全统一领导、齐抓共管、各方参与、共同推进的工作格局。”第二章明确了中央和地方党委部门、企事业单位、各级群团组织在爱国主义教育方面的职责。办好中国的事情关键在党。新时代爱国主义教育必须坚持党的领导，发挥党总揽全局、协调各方的领导核心作用，把爱国主义教育贯穿到国民教育和精神文明建设全过程，延伸到社会生活各方面，构建起全社会统筹推进爱国主义教育的工作格局。

The focus of patriotic education is young people. Patriotic education must start from childhood. Article 15 of the Patriotic Education Law stipulates: “The state incorporates patriotic education into the national education system. Schools at all levels and of all types shall integrate patriotic education throughout the entire process of school education, conduct and teach ideological and political theory courses well, and integrate the content of patriotic education into various subjects and teaching materials.” “Schools at all levels and of all types and other educational institutions shall, in accordance with state regulations, establish a linkage mechanism for courses related to patriotic education, determine the key content of patriotic education according to the characteristics of students at different age groups, adopt rich and appropriate teaching methods, and enhance the pertinence, systematicness, affinity, and appeal of patriotic education.” Article 17 stipulates: “Parents or other guardians of minors shall integrate love for the motherland into family education, support and cooperate with schools in carrying out patriotic education teaching activities, and guide and encourage minors to participate in social activities for patriotic education.” The Patriotic Education Law clarifies the shared responsibilities of families, schools, and society in patriotic education, and also puts forward specific requirements for patriotic education at different educational stages based on the laws of youth development, providing specific and operable requirements for us to carry out patriotic education among young people.

爱国主义教育的重点是青少年。爱国主义教育要从娃娃抓起。爱国主义教育法第十五条规定：“国家将爱国主义教育纳入国民教育体系。各级各类学校应当将爱国主义教育贯穿学校教育全过程，办好、讲好思想政治理论课，并将爱国主义教育内容融入各类学科和教材中”“各级各类学校和其他教育机构应当按照国家规定建立爱国主义教育相关课程联动机制，针对各年龄段学生特点，确定爱国主义教育的重点内容，采取丰富适宜的教学方式，增强爱国主义教育的针对性、系统性和亲和力、感染力”。第十七条规定：“未成年人的父母或者其他监护人应当把热爱祖国融入家庭教育，支持、配合学校开展爱国主义教育教学活动，引导、鼓励未成年人参加爱国主义教育社会活动。”爱国主义教育法明确了家庭、学校、社会在爱国主义教育方面的共同责任，又依据青少年成长规律对不同学段的爱国主义教育提出了具体要求，为我们在青少年中开展爱国主义教育提出了具体的可操作性的要求。

Integrate patriotic education into all aspects of social life. Patriotic education can fully play its role only when it is integrated into people’s social life. Article 24 of the Patriotic Education Law stipulates: “Make full use of all types of patriotic education resources and platform carriers to promote the effective implementation of patriotic education.” Articles 25 through 32 provide clear directions on how various carriers and platforms can perform their patriotic education functions, such as utilizing red resources, giving play to the role of patriotic education bases and various venues, implementing the national system of honors and awards, conducting education through various important festivals and time nodes, strengthening content construction in news media, and doing a good job of building online patriotic content platforms, among others. To correctly and effectively implement the Patriotic Education Law, it is necessary to create a favorable atmosphere across society for promoting the patriotic spirit, so that people can imperceptibly receive the edification and nourishment of patriotism in their social lives.

把爱国主义教育融入社会生活各方面。爱国主义教育只有融入人们社会生活中，才能够充分发挥作用。爱国主义教育法第二十四条规定：“充分利用各类爱国主义教育资源和平台载体，推进爱国主义教育有效实施”。第二十五条到第三十二条对各种载体和平台如何发挥爱国主义教育功能提出了明确指向，比如利用红色资源、发挥爱国主义教育基地和各类场馆作用、实施国家功勋荣誉表彰制度、利用各种重要节庆时间节点开展教育、加强新闻传播媒体的内容建设以及做好网络爱国主义内容平台建设等。正确有效实施爱国主义教育法，要在全社会营造弘扬爱国主义精神的良好氛围，让人们在社会生活中潜移默化地接受爱国主义的熏陶和滋养。

The whole society must shoulder the responsibility for patriotic education. Advancing patriotic education requires mobilizing the strength of the whole society. The Patriotic Education Law clearly stipulates the responsibilities of different social subjects in patriotic education, fully embodying the principle of differentiated guidance and effectively ensuring the targeted nature of patriotic education. At the same time, the Patriotic Education Law clearly stipulates that any citizen or organization must promote the patriotic spirit, consciously safeguard national security, honor, and interests, and must not engage in acts that damage the national image, desecrate heroic deeds, glorify foreign aggression, or damage patriotic education facilities. Those who violate these provisions shall bear corresponding legal liability, and corresponding legal consequences are stipulated, providing a strong guarantee for patriotic education through the coercive force of law.

全社会都要担负起爱国主义教育的责任。推进爱国主义教育要发挥全社会的力量。爱国主义教育法明确规定不同社会主体在爱国主义教育中的职责，充分体现分类指导的原则，有效保证爱国主义教育的针对性。与此同时，爱国主义教育法明确规定，任何公民和组织都应当弘扬爱国主义精神，自觉维护国家安全、荣誉和利益，不得有损害国家形象、亵渎英雄事迹、美化外来侵略、损害爱国主义设施等方面的行为，违反者要承担相应的法律责任，并规定了相应的法律后果，以法的强制力为爱国主义教育提供了强有力保障。

(The author is Dean of the School of Marxism at Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

（作者为上海交通大学马克思主义学院院长）

Online editor: Zhang Jian

网络编辑：张剑