Deepening Foundational Theoretical Research on Ideological and Political Education in the New Era, Continuing to Write a New Chapter of High-Quality Disciplinary Development

In the 40 years since the establishment of the discipline of ideological and political education, from its inception to achieving leapfrog development, what stages has the disciplinary development gone through? What basic experiences have been gained? On the new journey of the new era, how should the discipline of ideological and political education uphold fundamental principles and break new ground? With these questions, our journal’s reporter had the privilege of interviewing Professor Zhang Yaocan. As one of the founders of China’s discipline of ideological and political education, Professor Zhang Yaocan has made significant contributions to the discipline over more than 60 years of teaching. The main content of the interview is compiled as follows for the benefit of our readers.

思想政治教育学科设立40年来，从创立到取得跨越式发展，学科发展经历了哪几个阶段？取得哪些基本经验？新形势新征程上，思想政治教育学科应该如何守正创新？带着这些问题，本刊记者有幸采访了张耀灿教授，作为我国思想政治教育学科创始人之一，张耀灿教授从教60多年来，为思想政治教育学科作出了重要的贡献。现将访谈主要内容整理如下，以飨读者。

Reporter: Good day, Professor Zhang. As a firsthand participant and witness to the establishment and development of China’s discipline of ideological and political education, how did you come to be associated with this discipline? What stages has the development of the discipline of ideological and political education gone through? What factors have driven its development? What basic experiences have been gained?

记者：张教授好，作为我国思想政治教育学科创立和发展的亲历者和见证者，您是如何与思想政治教育这门学科结缘的？思想政治教育学科发展经历了哪几个阶段？哪些因素推动了思想政治教育学科的发展？取得了哪些基本经验？

Zhang Yaocan: When I was an undergraduate at Central China Normal University, I studied the political education major. After graduating in 1958, I stayed on to work in the Student Affairs Office, primarily engaged in student ideological and political education work. At the beginning of 1982, I became deputy director of the Moral Education Teaching and Research Office, teaching the course “Cultivation of Communist Ideology and Moral Character.” Besides compiling and publishing textbooks, I also seriously reflected on and summarized the experiences of college student ideological and political education, exploring its regularities. I was also invited to teach the course “College Student Ideological and Political Education” in provincial training classes for university political work cadres. On this basis, I published the book *An Introduction to University Moral Education* in 1986. During the nationwide process of bringing order out of chaos [1]1 Bringing order out of chaos (拨乱反正): A political campaign initiated after the end of the Cultural Revolution (1976) to correct the errors of that period and restore normal political and social order, closely associated with Deng Xiaoping’s leadership., a major discussion on the “scientization of ideological and political work” was launched. The military and Comrade Song Renqiong [2]2 Song Renqiu (宋任穷, 1909–2005): A senior Chinese Communist Party military and political leader, who served as Secretary of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee in the early 1980s., then Secretary of the Secretariat of the Central Committee, both proposed that “ideological and political work is a science.” The Party and the state decided to add the specialty of ideological and political education in some qualified universities. Central China Normal University was among the first batch of schools to establish the ideological and political education specialty, enrolling undergraduate and second bachelor’s degree students in 1984. The university decided to transfer me to the Political Education Department as deputy department head, overseeing research, graduate students, and the three tasks of the ideological and political education specialty. At that time, it could be said there was “a specialty but no discipline.” When teaching specialized courses to ideological and political education students, I borrowed the lecture notes from the “College Student Ideological and Political Education” course I had taught in the provincial training classes for university political work cadres. Since the discipline is an important support for the specialty, and the specialty is the platform for disciplinary construction, we relied on the specialty to accelerate the construction of the ideological and political education discipline. Thus, I became associated with the discipline of ideological and political education and have devoted my life to striving for it.

张耀灿：我在华中师范大学上大学时学的政治教育专业，1958年毕业留校到学生科工作，主要从事学生思想政治教育工作，1982年初开始当德育教研室副主任，教“共产主义思想品德修养”课，除编写出版教材外，还认真思考总结大学生思想政治教育经验、探讨其规律性，并受聘在省高校政工干部培训班讲授“大学生思想政治教育”课程，在此基础上于1986年出版了《大学德育概论》一书。在全国拨乱反正进程中，开展了“思想政治工作科学化”大讨论，军队、时任中央书记处书记宋任穷同志都提出“思想政治工作是一门科学”，党和国家决定在部分有条件的高校增设思想政治教育专业。华中师范大学是首批设立思想政治教育专业的学校，1984年招收了本科生、第二学士学位生。学校决定调我到政治教育系任副系主任，分管科研、研究生和思想政治教育专业3项工作。当时，可以说是“有专业无学科”。我给思想政治教育专业学生上专业课便借用省高校政工干部培训班讲授的“大学生思想政治教育”课程的讲稿。由于学科是专业的重要支撑、专业是学科建设的依托平台，所以，我们便依托专业加紧建设思想政治教育学科。由此，我便与思想政治教育学科结缘，并毕生为之倾力奋斗。

Establishing the discipline of ideological and political education alongside the social practice of reform and opening up is a significant and pioneering move in the history of the Communist Party of China’s ideological and political work. It is a practical and theoretical achievement of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context. Over more than 40 years, the discipline of ideological and political education has gone through three historical stages of development: exploration, establishment, and innovative development.

伴随着改革开放的社会实践建立思想政治教育学科，这是中国共产党思想政治工作史上具有重要意义的创举，是马克思主义中国化的实践成果和理论成果。40多年来，思想政治教育学科经历了从探索、创立和创新发展3个历史发展阶段。

(I) Preliminary Exploration Stage (1978–1983)

（一）初步探索阶段（1978—1983年）

In advancing the Two Integrations [3]3 The Two Integrations (两个结合): A key theoretical formulation by Xi Jinping, referring to the integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the best of traditional Chinese culture., the Communist Party of China achieved a historic leap in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times. At different historical stages, the CPC has always focused on summarizing the experiences of ideological and political work, continuously innovating the theoretical achievements of ideological and political education on the basis of practice. During the revolutionary war years, due to environmental constraints, conditions were not yet ripe for building the study of ideological and political education as a discipline. However, as a latent discipline, it already had a deep practical foundation. After the founding of the People’s Republic, from 1953 to 1983, universities nationwide, especially normal colleges, generally offered the undergraduate specialty of “political education,” but there was only a specialty, not yet a discipline.

中国共产党在推进“两个结合”的过程中，实现了马克思主义中国化时代化的历史性飞跃。在不同历史阶段，中国共产党都注重总结思想政治工作的经验，在实践基础上不断创新思想政治教育的理论成果。革命战争年代，由于环境所限，还不具备把思想政治教育的学问作为一门学科来建设的条件，但是作为一门潜在学科，已具有深厚的实践根基。建国后，从1953年到1983年，全国高校特别是师范院校都普遍开设了“政治教育”本科专业，但是只有专业，尚无学科。

In this stage, the prominent achievement was the determination of the names of the discipline and the specialty, based on the discussion on the scientization of ideological and political work. The adoption of the *Resolution on Certain Historical Issues of the Party Since the Founding of the People’s Republic of China* [4]4 Resolution on Certain Historical Issues of the Party Since the Founding of the People’s Republic of China: A landmark document adopted by the CPC Central Committee in 1981 that officially assessed Mao Zedong’s role and the Cultural Revolution, guiding the Party’s ideological correction after the Cultural Revolution. pointed the direction for bringing order out of chaos in the field of ideological and political work. The proposal and discussion of the proposition “scientization of ideological and political work” was an important component of bringing order out of chaos in the early period of reform and opening up. It was the prelude, prerequisite, and foundation for building the study of ideological and political education as a discipline. In May 1980, the First Ministry of Machine Building and the National Machinery Trade Union jointly held a symposium on ideological and political work, putting forward the new proposition of “scientization of ideological and political work,” which attracted the attention and heated discussion of peers nationwide. The results of the discussion were compiled in the book *On the Scientization of Ideological and Political Work*. In July 1983, the CPC Central Committee approved and transmitted the *Outline for the Ideological and Political Work of Employees in State-Owned Enterprises (Trial Implementation)*, which proposed that qualified institutions of higher learning “should all add political work specialties” and “form a nationwide education and training system for primary, intermediate, and senior political work cadres,” providing an important basis for carrying out the construction of the ideological and political education discipline.

在这个阶段，突出成果表现在基于思想政治工作科学化的讨论，确定了学科和专业的名称。《中共中央关于建国以来党的若干历史问题的决议》的通过为思想政治工作领域的拨乱反正指明了方向。“思想政治工作科学化”命题的提出和讨论，是改革开放初期拨乱反正的一个重要组成部分，是把思想政治教育的学问作为一门学科来建设的前奏、前提和基础。1980年5月，第一机械工业部和全国机械工会联合召开思想政治工作座谈会，提出了“思想政治工作科学化”的新命题，引起了全国同行的关注和热烈讨论，讨论的成果集中在《论思想政治工作科学化》一书中。1983年7月，中共中央批转《国营企业职工思想政治工作纲要（试行）》，提出有条件的高等院校“都要增设政治工作专业”，“在全国形成一个初级、中级和高级的政治工作干部的教育训练体系”，为开展思想政治教育学科建设提供了重要依据。

In July 1983, the Ministry of Education held a demonstration meeting on the ideological and political education specialty, conducting a comprehensive demonstration of the necessity, scientific nature, and feasibility of establishing the specialty. The meeting determined the name of the discipline as “Ideological and Political Education Studies”; the specialty on which disciplinary construction and talent cultivation relied was named the “Ideological and Political Education Specialty.” Fudan University and Wuhan University were entrusted with compiling some main course textbooks, and it was decided to begin enrollment in 1984.

1983年7月，教育部召开思想政治教育专业论证会，对设置专业的必要性、科学性、可行性等问题进行了全面论证，会议确定学科名称为“思想政治教育学”；学科建设和人才培养所依托的专业名称为“思想政治教育专业”，并委托复旦大学、武汉大学编写部分主干课教材，决定在1984年开始招生。

(II) Systematic Construction Stage (1984–1996)

（二）系统建设阶段（1984—1996年）

In this stage, the prominent achievement was the formation of a disciplinary and specialty system with complete levels. Disciplinary construction gained a reliable foundation, and a solid foundation for disciplinary construction was laid, forming a team of teaching and research personnel for the ideological and political education discipline.

在这个阶段，突出成果是形成层次完善的学科专业体系，学科建设有了可靠依托，打牢了学科建设的坚实基础，形成了思想政治教育学科教学和研究队伍。

In April 1984, the Ministry of Education issued the *Opinion on Establishing the Ideological and Political Education Specialty in Twelve Institutions*, formally including the ideological and political education specialty in the disciplinary and specialty catalog. This milestone document marked the formal establishment of the ideological and political education discipline. In June 1984, the *Opinion on Establishing Second Bachelor’s Degree Programs in the Ideological and Political Education Specialty in Six Institutions of Higher Learning* was issued. The first batch of undergraduate and second bachelor’s degree students enrolled in the autumn of 1984. In September 1984, the first batch of 12 institutions, including Wuhan University and Central China Normal University, that established the ideological and political education specialty began enrolling undergraduates. Subsequently, many universities across the country successively launched the ideological and political education specialty.

1984年4月，教育部颁布《关于在十二所院校设置思想政治教育专业的意见》，将思想政治教育专业正式列入学科专业目录。这个具有里程碑意义的文件，标志着思想政治教育学科的正式确立。1984年6月，《关于在六所高等院校开办思想政治教育专业第二学士学位班的意见》出台，第一批招收的本科生、第二学士学位生秋季入学。1984年9月，武汉大学、华中师范大学等首批设置思想政治教育专业的12所院校开始招收本科生，此后全国多所高校陆续开办了思想政治教育专业。

With the ideological and political education specialty established, the scientific study of ideological and political education, disciplinary construction, and the formal training of specialized personnel gained a reliable foundation and platform. In 1984, the compilation of textbooks for the undergraduate specialty of “Ideological and Political Education” began. In September 1987, the State Education Commission issued the *Implementation Opinions on Cultivating Master’s Students in the Ideological and Political Education Specialty*, beginning the cultivation of master’s students. In October 1990, the *Catalog of Disciplines and Specialties for Granting Master’s and Doctoral Degrees and Cultivating Graduate Students* was issued, explicitly adding two master’s degree-granting specialties: Marxist Theory Education and Ideological and Political Education. From 1988 to 1996, the number of master’s degree programs in the ideological and political education discipline grew to 35. In 1996, a doctoral program in “Marxist Theory and Ideological and Political Education” was established, and doctoral students began enrolling in 1997.

有了思想政治教育专业，思想政治教育科学化研究、学科建设和专门人才正规化培养便有了可靠的依托和平台。1984年，“思想政治教育”本科专业教材开始编写。1987年9月，国家教委发布《关于思想政治教育专业培养硕士研究生实施意见》，开始培养硕士生。1990年10月发布《授予博士、硕士学位和培养研究生的学科、专业目录》，明确增设马克思主义理论教育和思想政治教育两个硕士学位授予专业。1988至1996年，思想政治教育学科硕士点发展到35个。1996年设立“马克思主义理论与思想政治教育”博士点，1997年开始招收博士生。

(III) Innovative Development Stage (1996 to the Present)

（三）创新发展阶段（1996年至今）

In this stage, the construction of the ideological and political education discipline has embarked on a path of integrated, leapfrog innovative development. The innovative development of the discipline in this stage is marked by the establishment of the first-level discipline doctoral program in “Marxist Theory” and the second-level discipline doctoral program in “Ideological and Political Education.”

在这个阶段，思想政治教育学科建设走上整合式跨越式的创新发展之路。这一阶段学科创新发展以“马克思主义理论”一级学科博士点与“思想政治教育”二级学科博士点的建立为重要标志。

In 2005, the "Opinions of the Propaganda Department of the CPC Central Committee and the Ministry of Education on Further Strengthening and Improving Ideological and Political Theory Courses in Institutions of Higher Learning" pointed out: "The discipline on which the teaching and education of ideological and political theory courses relies is a discipline unique to our country with strong political, scientific, and practical nature; it can only be strengthened, not weakened." This provided policy and legal basis for teachers of ideological and political theory courses and ideological and political education workers to clarify their professional disciplinary foundation, disciplinary affiliation, and disciplinary positioning. In December 2005, the first-level discipline of "Marxist Theory" was newly established, with five second-level disciplines including "Basic Principles of Marxism" and "Ideological and Political Education" under it. In 2008, the second-level discipline "Research on Basic Issues of Modern Chinese History" was added, achieving leapfrog development of the discipline. In January 2006, a meeting was held to separately review and approve the addition of doctoral and master's degree programs for first- and second-level disciplines of Marxist theory.

2005年，《中共中央宣传部、教育部关于进一步加强和改进高等学校思想政治理论课的意见》指出：“思想政治理论课教育教学所依托的学科是我国特有的一门政治性、科学性和实践性很强的学科，只能加强，不能削弱。”这为思想政治理论课教师、思想政治教育工作者明确职业的学科依托、学科归属、学科定位提供了政策法规依据。2005年12月，新增设“马克思主义理论”一级学科，下设“马克思主义基本原理”“思想政治教育”等5个二级学科，2008年增设“中国近现代史基本问题研究”二级学科，实现了学科的跨越式发展。2006年1月召开会议单独审批增列马克思主义理论一、二级学科博士点、硕士点。

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, to respond to the needs of the development of the times and promote the development of ideological and political work, important meetings such as the National Conference on Propaganda and Ideological Work, the Symposium on Philosophy and Social Sciences, the National Conference on Ideological and Political Work in Colleges and Universities, the National Education Conference, and the Symposium for Teachers of Ideological and Political Theory Courses in Schools have been held successively. These meetings clarified the new tasks, new missions, and new requirements of ideological and political work, made institutional arrangements for the development of the discipline of ideological and political education, and promoted its innovative development. In 2016, Xi Jinping pointed out at the Symposium on Philosophy and Social Sciences that upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics requires continuous exploration in practice and theory, using developing theories to guide developing practice; at the National Conference on Ideological and Political Work in Colleges and Universities, he emphasized that fostering virtue through education should be taken as the central link, and ideological and political work should be integrated into the entire process of education and teaching, achieving whole-process and all-round education; in 2019, at the Symposium for Teachers of Ideological and Political Theory Courses in Schools, he pointed out: "We attach great importance to ideological and political work, always uphold the guiding position of Marxism, vigorously promote the construction of the disciplinary system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and provide a fundamental guarantee for the construction of ideological and political courses." These speeches elevated ideological and political work to the strategic height of national governance, highlighted the important status and significant value of the discipline of ideological and political education, and further clarified the tasks, goals, paths, and methods of disciplinary construction.

党的十八大以来，为回应时代发展和促进思想政治工作发展的需要，相继召开了全国宣传思想工作会议、哲学社会科学工作座谈会、全国高校思想政治工作会议、全国教育大会、学校思想政治理论课教师座谈会等重要会议，明确了思想政治工作的新任务新使命新要求，对思想政治教育学科发展作出了制度安排，推动了思想政治教育学科的创新发展。2016年，习近平在哲学社会科学工作座谈会上指出，坚持和发展中国特色社会主义，需要不断在实践和理论上进行探索，用发展着的理论指导发展着的实践；在全国高校思想政治工作会议上强调，要坚持把立德树人作为中心环节，把思想政治工作贯穿教育教学全过程，实现全程育人、全方位育人；2019年在学校思想政治理论课教师座谈会上指出：“我们对思想政治工作高度重视，始终坚持马克思主义指导地位，大力推进中国特色社会主义学科体系建设，为思政课建设提供了根本保证。”这些讲话，将思想政治工作上升到治国理政的战略高度，彰显了思想政治教育学科的重要地位和重大价值，进一步明确了学科建设任务、建设目标、建设路径和方法。

The 20th National Congress of the CPC proposed: "Hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and fully implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era." In the New Era, as a discipline with Chinese characteristics and Chinese style, ideological and political education, guided by Marxist theory, grasps the pulse of the times, maintains self-confidence and self-reliance, upholds fundamental principles and breaks new ground, follows the historical logic, theoretical logic, and practical logic of disciplinary development, continuously improves the disciplinary system, expands the disciplinary team, and raises the research level, promoting the great development and great leap of the discipline of ideological and political education.

党的二十大提出：“高举中国特色社会主义伟大旗帜，全面贯彻新时代中国特色社会主义思想”。在新时代，作为具有中国特色、中国气派的思想政治教育学科，以马克思主义理论为指导，把握时代发展脉搏，自信自强、守正创新，遵循学科发展的历史逻辑、理论逻辑和实践逻辑，学科体系不断健全、学科队伍不断壮大、研究水平不断提高，推动了思想政治教育学科的大发展、大跨越。

The main factors driving the development of the discipline of ideological and political education are the following three.

推动思想政治教育学科发展最主要的有以下3个因素。

First, in the practice of national governance, the CPC adheres to the Two Integrations, continuously advancing adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times. Among the great and rich achievements of theoretical innovation, the experiences and theories of propaganda and ideological work are included, all of which directly or indirectly contain elements of the discipline of ideological and political education and promote its development.

第一，中国共产党在治国理政实践中坚持“两个结合”，不断推进马克思主义中国化时代化，在伟大丰富的理论创新成果中，包含了宣传思想工作的经验、理论，都直接或间接地包含着思想政治教育学科要素，并推动着思想政治教育学科发展。

Second, builders from all walks of life, in the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, combine leadership with the masses, implement the Party's theories, lines, and strategies, and inevitably use the Party's theories, lines, and strategies to arm the minds of cadres and the masses, creating and accumulating rich experiences, which are also important sources for promoting the development of the discipline of ideological and political education.

第二，各行各业的建设者在中国特色社会主义事业中，领导与群众结合，贯彻党的理论、路线、方略，必然要用党的理论、路线、方略武装干部与群众头脑，创造和积累了丰富经验，也是推动思想政治教育学科发展的重要源泉。

Third, ideological and political workers and scholars of ideological and political education learn, apply, and research the theory of ideological and political education in the practice of arming the masses with the Party's innovative theories and cultivating souls and educating people. They are the new force driving the development of the discipline of ideological and political education.

第三，思想政治工作者和思想政治教育学者在用党的创新理论武装群众、铸魂育人的思想政治教育实践中学习、运用、研究思想政治教育理论，他们是推动思想政治教育学科发展的生力军。

The construction and development of the discipline of ideological and political education have accumulated rich experience. I believe the most basic experiences are the following five.

思想政治教育学科的建设和发展积累了丰富经验，我认为最基本的有以下5点经验。

First, adhere to the guidance of the innovative theory of Marxism adapted to the Chinese context. This is the success code for the prosperous development of the discipline of ideological and political education over the past 40 years. The development process of the discipline shows that the innovative theory of Marxism adapted to the Chinese context has directly promoted the innovative development of the discipline of ideological and political education. During the period of the New Democratic Revolution, the "Resolution of the Ninth Congress of the Fourth Red Army of the Communist Party of China" [5]5 The phrase "fine Marxist style of study" (马克思主义优良学风) is a standard term in CPC discourse, referring to the principle of applying theory to concrete practice rather than engaging in abstract dogmatism. epitomized the valuable experience of Marxist theory guiding the innovative development of the Party's ideological and political work. After the establishment of the discipline of ideological and political education, the construction of the basic theoretical system of the discipline has always adhered to the guidance of Marxist theory. In the 40-year development process of the discipline, it has fully highlighted the distinctive feature of the innovative theory of Marxism adapted to the Chinese context guiding the theoretical innovation of the discipline of ideological and political education. In the practice of mobilizing, arming, and rallying the masses, the CPC has combined the basic principles of Marxism with China's actual conditions, creatively proposed a series of theoretical doctrines, and laid an important theoretical foundation for the scientific development of ideological and political education. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, Xi Jinping has proposed that fostering virtue through education should be taken as the fundamental task of education, cultivating new generations capable of shouldering the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and cultivating socialist builders and successors who are well-developed morally, intellectually, physically, aesthetically, and labor-wise. In the New Era, Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era provides important intellectual nourishment and basic guidelines for the deepening and expansion of the basic theory of the discipline of ideological and political education.

第一，坚持以中国化马克思主义创新理论为指导。这是40年来思想政治教育学科繁荣发展的成功密码。学科的发展历程表明，中国化马克思主义创新理论直接推动了思想政治教育学科的创新发展。新民主主义革命时期，《中国共产党红军第四军第九次代表大会决议案》集中体现了马克思主义理论指导党的思想政治工作创新发展的宝贵经验。思想政治教育学科设立以后，构建学科基础理论体系始终坚持以马克思主义理论为指导，在40年的学科发展历程中，全面凸显了中国化马克思主义创新理论指导思想政治教育学科理论创新的鲜明特色。中国共产党在动员群众、武装群众、凝聚群众的实践中，把马克思主义基本原理与中国实际相结合，创造性地提出了一系列理论学说，奠定了思想政治教育科学化发展的重要理论基础。党的十八大以来，习近平提出，把立德树人作为教育的根本任务，培养担当民族复兴大任的时代新人，培养德智体美劳全面发展的社会主义建设者和接班人。在新时代，习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为思想政治教育学科基础理论的深化拓展，提供了重要的思想滋养和基本遵循。

Second, promote the fine Marxist style of study that integrates theory with practice. Mao Zedong once emphasized that adhering to the style of study that integrates theory with practice is a requirement and manifestation of Party spirit. Xi Jinping also pointed out, "The times are the mother of thought

第二，弘扬理论与实践相结合的马克思主义优良学风。毛泽东曾强调，坚持理论与实践相结合的学风是党性的要求和体现。习近平也指出，“时代是思想之母，实践是理论之源。实践发展永无止境，我们认识真理、进行理论创新就永无止境”。只有做到坚持理论与实践相结合，做到学以致用、学用结合，用理论观照现实，回答时代和实践提出的问题，才能带来思想理论的进步，进而引领和推动实践发展。40年思想政治教育学科的发展历程表明，正是坚持理论联系实际，发时代之声、答时代之问，体现了时代性，把握了规律性，才创造性地推进了思想政治教育创新，开辟了学科发展的新境界。

First, adhere to theoretical innovation on the basis of practice. The landmark works that have a major impact on promoting the construction and development of the discipline of ideological and political education all attach importance to empirical research, attach importance to summing up experience, and deeply study the status and function, purpose and task, content and principle, approach and method of ideological and political education. They are all theoretical reflections, summaries, generalizations, refinements, and theoretical sublimations based on the practice of ideological and political education.

其一，坚持实践基础上的理论创新。推动思想政治教育学科建设发展有着重大影响的标志性著作，都重视实证研究，重视总结经验，深入研究了思想政治教育的地位和功能、目的和任务、内容和原则、途径和方法，都是建立在思想政治教育实践基础上的理论思考、总结、概括、提炼和理论升华。

Second, adhere to practical innovation on the basis of theoretical guidance. Practicality is the most distinctive feature of Marxism, and integrating theory with practice is the most distinctive theoretical character of Marxism. The purpose of studying Marxism lies in its application. The discipline of ideological and political education originates from practice and develops along with the development of practice. In its 40-year history, it has always adhered to a problem-oriented approach and promoted the fine Marxist style of study of integrating theory with practice. The high-level papers published by scholars of ideological and political education all follow the Marxist epistemology, attach importance to the study and resolution of major practical issues raised by practice, attach importance to theoretical guidance, answer the major issues of ideological and political education raised by the times and practice, elevate the understanding and grasp of the objective laws of ideological and political education, and continuously promote the healthy development of the discipline of ideological and political education.

其二，坚持理论指导基础上的实践创新。实践性是马克思主义最鲜明的特点，理论联系实际是马克思主义最鲜明的理论品格。学习马克思主义的目的在于应用。思想政治教育学科源于实践并伴随着实践的发展而发展，在40年的历程中，始终坚持问题导向，弘扬理论联系实际的马克思主义优良学风。思想政治教育学者所发表的高水平的论文，都是遵循马克思主义的认识论，重视对实践提出的重大实际问题的研究和解决，重视理论指导，回答了时代和实践提出的思想政治教育重大课题，升华对思想政治教育客观规律的认识和把握，不断推进思想政治教育学科的健康发展。

Third, adhere to the integration of history and theory, and steadily advance the construction of the disciplinary system. Innovation is the theme of the development of philosophy and social sciences, and an inevitable requirement imposed by social progress and historical advancement on disciplinary development. As a discipline within philosophy and social sciences, ideological and political education must adhere to the integration of history and theory. It must both strengthen research on the basic theories and fundamental methods of ideological and political education, and conduct thorough research on the history of ideological and political education. The academic viewpoints and basic theories of ideological and political education ultimately derive from the historical experience of ideological and political education—that is, taking history as the basis and deriving theory from history, enriching and substantiating the theories and methods of ideological and political education through research on its history, and grasping the inherent laws of ideological and political education within a broad and grand historical perspective. An important experience from the 40 years of development of the discipline of ideological and political education is precisely that by achieving the "integration of history and theory," it has created its own characteristics and advantages, steadily advancing the construction of an autonomous disciplinary system.

第三，坚持史论结合，稳步推进学科体系建设。创新，是哲学社会科学发展的主题，是社会进步、历史前进对学科发展的必然要求。思想政治教育学作为哲学社会科学的一门学科，必须坚持史论结合，既要加强思想政治教育基础理论与基本方法的研究，又要做好思想政治教育史的研究。思想政治教育理论的学术观点、基本理论，归根到底来自思想政治教育的历史经验，即以史为据、论从史出，以思想政治教育史研究来丰富和充实思想政治教育理论与方法，在广阔宏大的历史视野中把准思想政治教育的内在规律。40年来思想政治教育学科发展的一个重要经验，正是做到了“史论结合”，才创造了自身的特色和优势，稳步推进了具有自主性的学科体系构建。

First, this is reflected in the construction of a disciplinary group system for ideological and political education. The discipline of ideological and political education has now developed into a vast disciplinary group system. After 40 years of development, the theoretical system of the discipline of ideological and political education includes two major categories: basic theoretical disciplines and applied theoretical disciplines. These two categories each contain a main disciplinary group and a branch disciplinary group. As a discipline, ideological and political education is in fact a disciplinary group system. Disciplinary construction and development have achieved the integration of history and theory, possessing open and broad space as well as grand and far-reaching prospects for development.

其一，体现在构建了思想政治教育学科群体系。思想政治教育学科发展到现在，已经是一个宏大的学科群体系。经过40年的发展，思想政治教育学科理论体系包含基础理论学科和应用理论学科两大类。这两大类又各包含主干学科群和分支学科群。思想政治教育作为一个学科实际上就是一个学科群体系，学科建设、学科发展做到了史论结合，有着开放宽广的空间和宏阔远大的发展前景。

Second, this is reflected in the construction of a rich textbook system for the discipline of ideological and political education. In 1984, Higher Education Press published 12 textbooks, including *Principles of Ideological and Political Education*, *Methodology of Ideological and Political Education*, *History of Party Ideological and Political Education*, *Comparative Ideological and Political Education*, and *Guided Reading of Classic Works on Ideological and Political Education*. In 1994, a second series of 12 textbooks was compiled and published. Among them, the undergraduate textbooks *Principles of Ideological and Political Education* and *Methodology of Ideological and Political Education*, and the graduate textbooks *Historical Theory of the CPC's Ideological and Political Work* and *Theoretical Foundations of Marxist Ideological and Political Education*—four in total—were rated as "21st Century Curriculum Textbooks." The framework of the textbook theoretical system became more scientific, more complete, and more accurate. Concepts, categories, principles, and rules were systematized and standardized, achieving new breakthroughs in areas such as the research object of the discipline, process structure, main categories, mechanism principles, and fine traditions. The 2001 publication *Modern Ideological and Political Education* was also approved as a "Graduate Teaching Book" and a "National Key Textbook for the 11th Five-Year Plan." [6]6 The 11th Five-Year Plan refers to China's national economic and social development plan for 2006–2010.

其二，体现在建设了丰富的思想政治教育学科教材体系。1984年，高等教育出版社出版了《思想政治教育学原理》《思想政治教育方法论》《党的思想政治教育史》《比较思想政治教育学》《思想政治教育经典著作导读》等12本教材。1994年，编写出版第二套系列教材12本，其中的本科生教材《思想政治教育学原理》《思想政治教育方法论》，研究生教材《中国共产党思想政治工作史论》《马克思主义思想政治教育理论基础》共4部，被评为“面向21世纪课程教材”。教材理论体系框架更加科学、更加完整、更加准确，概念、范畴、原理和原则系统化、规范化，在学科研究对象、过程结构、主要范畴、机制原理、优良传统等方面都有了新的突破。2001年出版的《现代思想政治教育学》，还被批准为“研究生教学用书”和“十一五国家级重点教材”。

The expansion and improvement of the disciplinary group system and textbook system of ideological and political education over the past 40 years demonstrate that the integration of history and theory must be achieved in order to promote the continuous, rapid maturation of the disciplinary and professional system of ideological and political education.

40年来思想政治教育学科群体系和教材体系的拓展和完善表明，必须做到史论结合，才能推进思想政治教育学科专业体系建设持续快速地走向成熟。

Fourth, both cooperate sincerely and each excels in their own strengths, striving to produce outstanding works. An important experience from the 40 years of construction, development, and flourishing of the discipline of ideological and political education is: both cooperate sincerely and each excels in their own strengths; each appreciates its own beauty and jointly appreciates the beauty of all.

第四，既精诚合作又各展其长，努力推出精品力作。思想政治教育学科40年的建设、发展和繁荣，其中一条重要的经验是：既精诚合作又各展其长，既各美其美又美美与共。

First, from the perspective of the founding of the discipline of ideological and political education over 40 years: the establishment of the specialty of ideological and political education and the creation of the discipline of ideological and political education were the result of the combined forces of the high importance attached by the Party and the state, the continuous promotion by education authorities, the joint impetus from academic organizations and platforms, and the collective efforts of ideological and political workers.

其一，从40年思想政治教育学科的创立来看：创办思想政治教育专业、设立思想政治教育学科，是党和国家的高度重视、教育主管部门的持续推进、学术组织和学术平台的共同推动、思想政治工作者的共同努力等多种力量合力推进的结果。

Second, from the perspective of the disciplinary attributes of ideological and political education: it is precisely by opening up the internal connection with the discipline of Marxist theory, and by opening up the internal connection with the other five second-level disciplines, [7]7 The "other five second-level disciplines" refers to the five sub-disciplines under the first-level discipline of Marxist theory in the Chinese academic classification system, alongside ideological and political education: the basic principles of Marxism, the history of Marxism development, the study of Marxism in China, foreign Marxism, and Marxist theory of the Chinese approach to modernization. that the discipline of ideological and political education has constructed and formed a high-quality development state of autonomous development combined with benign interaction, complementary advantages, and organic collaborative innovation.

其二，从思想政治教育的学科属性来看：思想政治教育学科正是打通了与马克思主义理论学科之间的内在联系，打通了与其他5个二级学科之间的内在联系，才构建和形成了一种自主发展又良性互动、优势互补、有机结合的协同创新的优质发展状态。

Third, from the perspective of the connection between the discipline of ideological and political education and other humanities and social sciences: the discipline of ideological and political education, under the guidance of Marxism, comprehensively applies the theoretical achievements of multiple disciplines to establish itself as an applied discipline with strong comprehensiveness, political nature, scientific character, and practicality. Over 40 years, it has continuously drawn on and absorbed theoretical achievements and research methods from other social sciences such as philosophy, political science, ethics, psychology, pedagogy, sociology, management science, and behavioral science, thereby gradually forming its own theoretical system.

其三，从思想政治教育学科与其他人文社会学科的关联来看：思想政治教育学科是在马克思主义指导下，综合运用多门学科的理论成果，建立起来的综合性、政治性、科学性、实践性很强的一门应用学科，是40年不断借鉴和汲取哲学、政治学、伦理学、心理学、教育学、社会学、管理学、行为科学等其他社会科学的理论成果和研究方法，从而逐步形成了自身的理论体系。

Fourth, from the perspective of the relationship between theory and practice in ideological and political education: the discipline of ideological and political education is a theoretical exploration and disciplinary construction based on social practice in various fields, including ideological and political education in the military, in schools, in ethnic minority regions, among workers, and among peasants.

其四，从思想政治教育理论与实践的关系来看：思想政治教育学科是立足于军队思想政治教育、学校思想政治教育、民族地区思想政治教育、职工思想政治教育、农民思想政治教育等各领域社会实践基础上的理论探索和学科构建。

Fifth, from the perspective of the realization of the discipline's purposes and tasks: the discipline of ideological and political education promotes "three-whole education" and "five-sphere ideological and political education," [8]8 "Three-whole education" (三全育人) refers to educating all students, throughout the entire process, and in all aspects. "Five-sphere ideological and political education" (五个思政) is a specific policy framework for ideological and political work in Hubei Province, China. gathers the collective wisdom of the ideological and political education workforce, advances the alignment of ideological and political courses and curriculum-based ideological and political education, and promotes the construction of an integrated community for ideological and political education across primary, secondary, and tertiary schools, thereby constructing an effective "grand ideological and political education" collaborative education pattern.

其五，从学科的目的和任务实现来看：思想政治教育学科推进“三全育人”“五个思政”，凝聚思想政治教育工作队伍的集体智慧，推进思政课程和课程思政同向同行，推进大中小学思想政治教育一体化共同体建设，从而构建了行之有效的“大思政”教育协同育人格局。

In the 40 years since the creation of the discipline of ideological and political education, ideological and political education workers nationwide have stood at the forefront of the times, understood the changes of past and present, and issued the first voices of thought. They have expounded theories and established doctrines for the Party and the people, offered suggestions and strategies, and through collective efforts have produced a large number of outstanding works and achieved a wealth of theoretical results through unity and collaboration. Taking only the projects approved by the National Social Science Fund in the more than ten years since 2012: there have been over 300 major and key projects in the category of Marxism-Leninism and Scientific Socialism. A large number of experts and scholars have engaged in extensive learning, careful inquiry, clear discernment, earnest practice, and dedicated action, upholding the value pursuit of "the scholar promotes the Way," [9]9 "The scholar promotes the Way" (士以弘道) is a classical Chinese expression from the Confucian tradition, emphasizing the intellectual's moral responsibility to uphold and propagate the correct principles. pursuing great learning and true scholarship. Facing major issues in social development, they have jointly undertaken major project research, moving in the same direction and with concerted effort, endowing the discipline of ideological and political education with vigorous vitality and dynamism.

思想政治教育学科创建40年来，全国思想政治教育工作者，立时代之潮头、通古今之变化、发思想之先声，为党和人民述学立论、建言献策，群策群力推出了一大批精品力作，团结协作取得了一大批丰硕的理论成果。仅就2012年以来十几年间国家社科基金项目立项的情况而言：马列·科社类的重大项目和重点项目有300多项，一大批专家学者博学、审问、慎思、明辨、笃行，崇尚“士以弘道”的价值追求，做大学问、做真学问，面对社会发展重大问题联合开展重大项目攻关，同向同行、同心合力赋予了思想政治教育学科蓬勃发展的生机与活力。

"This is an era that needs theory and is certainly capable of producing theory; this is an era that needs thought and is certainly capable of producing thought." In *Ludwig Feuerbach and the End of Classical German Philosophy*, Engels for the first time clearly expounded the theory of resultant forces: "Whatever the outcome of history, people always make their history by each pursuing his own consciously intended ends, and the resultant of these many wills operating in different directions and their manifold effects on the external world is precisely history." [10]10 This is a paraphrase of Engels's concept of the "resultant of forces" in history, as developed in his 1886 work. The 40 years of practice have proven that by both cooperating sincerely and each excelling in their own strengths, a large number of outstanding works have been produced, and new outstanding works will certainly continue to be produced.

“这是一个需要理论而且一定能够产生理论的时代，这是一个需要思想而且一定能够产生思想的时代。”恩格斯在《路德维希・费尔巴哈和德国古典哲学的终结》中第一次明确阐述了合力论思想：“无论历史的结局如何，人们总是通过每一个人追求他自己的、自觉预期的目的来创造他们的历史，而这许多按不同方向活动的愿望及其对外部世界的各种各样的合力，就是历史。”40年的实践证明，做到既精诚合作又各展其长，推出了一大批精品力作，也一定会不断推出新的精品力作。

Fifth, adhere to the relationship of support and reliance, and properly construct the discipline specialty and the ideological and political theory courses. Summarizing the experience of 40 years of construction and development of the discipline of ideological and political education, an important point is correctly handling the "support and reliance" relationship between the discipline of ideological and political education, the specialty of ideological and political education, and the ideological and political theory courses.

第五，坚持支撑与依托关系，搞好学科专业建设和思想政治理论课建设。总结40年来思想政治教育学科建设和发展的经验，其中重要一条，就是正确处理好思想政治教育学科与思想政治教育专业和思想政治理论课之间“支撑与依托”的关系。

Between the discipline and the specialty: the discipline of ideological and political education has followed a development path of "first establishing the specialty, then building the discipline," carrying out disciplinary construction at multiple levels—bachelor's, master's, and doctoral—thereby forming a disciplinary system with an internal structure and hierarchy. In 1984, the Ministry of Education issued the "Opinions on Establishing the Specialty of Ideological and Political Education in Twelve Institutions" and the "Opinions on Offering Second Bachelor's Degree Programs in the Specialty of Ideological and Political Education in Six Institutions of Higher Education." With the specialty of ideological and political education established, the scientific study of ideological and political education, disciplinary construction, and the formal training of specialized personnel gained a reliable foundation and platform. By 1995, 35 institutions of higher education each had obtained the authority to confer master's degrees in Marxist theoretical education and in ideological and political education; in 1996, Renmin University of China, Wuhan University, Tsinghua University, and other institutions were among the first to obtain the authority to confer doctoral degrees in the discipline of "Marxist theory and ideological and political education." At this point, a disciplinary system of ideological and political education with Chinese characteristics and a fully hierarchical specialty system had been formed. Practice has proven that the development path of "first establishing the specialty, then building the discipline" has endowed the development of the discipline of ideological and political education with a solid specialty foundation. At the same time, over the 40 years since the creation of the discipline of ideological and political education, the maturation and perfection of its theoretical system have further advanced the progress and development of the specialty of ideological and political education.

在学科与专业两者之间：思想政治教育学科走的是“先办专业、再建学科”，本硕博多层次开展学科建设，从而形成具有内在结构和层次的学科体系的发展之路。1984年，教育部发布《关于在十二所院校设置思想政治教育专业的意见》和《关于在六所高等院校开办思想政治教育专业第二学士学位班的意见》。有了思想政治教育专业，思想政治教育科学化研究、学科建设和专门人才的正规化培养便有了可靠的依托和平台。到1995年，获得马克思主义理论教育、思想政治教育学科硕士学位授予权的高校各有35所；1996年中国人民大学、武汉大学、清华大学等高校第一批获得“马克思主义理论与思想政治教育”学科博士学位授予权。至此，形成了一个具有中国特色的思想政治教育学科体系和层次完备的专业体系。实践证明，“先办专业、再建学科”的发展道路，赋予了思想政治教育学科发展坚实的专业基础。同时，思想政治教育学科创建40年来，学科理论体系的成熟和完善，又深入推进了思想政治教育专业的进步和发展。

Between the discipline and the ideological and political theory course: the discipline on which the ideological and political theory course relies is the discipline of Marxist theory, which provides solid and powerful theoretical and personnel support for the construction of the ideological and political theory course. Following the "05 Plan" for the reform of ideological and political theory courses in institutions of higher education, in 2019, the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council issued several opinions on deepening the reform and innovation of school ideological and political theory courses in the New Era; in December 2020, the Propaganda Department of the CPC Central Committee and the Ministry of Education issued the "Implementation Plan for the Reform and Innovation of School Ideological and Political Theory Courses in the New Era." By implementing the leading-engineering project for the discipline of Marxist theory, fully leveraging the discipline's leading and driving role for ideological and political theory courses, overall planning of course objectives, innovating the course system, advancing course content construction, correctly handling the relationship of "reliance and support," forming a long-term mechanism of two-way interaction and win-win cooperation, providing strong disciplinary support for strengthening the construction of ideological and political theory courses in institutions of higher education, and promoting the strengthening of ideological and political theory courses through improvement and their enhancement through innovation.

在学科与思想政治理论课两者之间：思想政治理论课所依托的学科是马克思主义理论学科，马克思主义理论学科为思想政治理论课建设提供了坚实有力的理论支撑和人才支撑。继高校思想政治理论课改革“05方案”之后，2019年，中共中央办公厅、国务院办公厅对深化新时代学校思想政治理论课改革创新提出了若干意见；2020年12月，中宣部、教育部印发了《新时代学校思想政治理论课改革创新实施方案》。通过实施马克思主义理论学科领航工程，充分发挥学科对思想政治理论课的引领带动作用，整体规划课程目标、创新课程体系、推进课程内容建设，正确处理了“依托与支撑”的关系，形成两者双向互动、合作共赢的长效机制，为加强高校思想政治理论课建设提供了有力的学科支撑，推动思想政治理论课在改进中加强、在创新中提高。

The discipline of ideological and political education was created amid the development of the times. Reviewing its 40-year history of development from nothing, and summarizing its 40-year historical experience of growing from weak to strong, the purpose is to adhere to the original intention of the discipline's creation, firmly guard the "root" and "soul" of the discipline, seek innovative development of the discipline in the New Era, advance practical innovation in ideological and political education in the New Era, use the charm of thought and the power of theory to create new achievements in fostering virtue and nurturing people, and continue to write a new chapter in the high-quality development of the discipline of ideological and political education.

思想政治教育学科是在时代发展中创建的，回顾40年从无到有的发展历程，总结40年从弱到强的历史经验，目的就是坚守学科创建的初衷，守稳学科的“根”和“魂”，谋求学科在新时代的创新发展，推进新时代思想政治教育的实践创新，用思想的魅力和理论的力量，创造立德树人的新成就，续写思想政治教育学科高质量发展的新篇章。

Reporter: How do you view the status and role of basic theoretical research in the discipline of ideological and political education within disciplinary construction? How was basic theoretical research conducted at the inception of the specialty of ideological and political education? What suggestions do you have for strengthening basic theoretical research?

记者：您怎么看待思想政治教育学科基础理论研究在学科建设中的地位和作用？在思想政治教育专业初创时是如何做好基础理论研究的？您对加强基础理论研究有什么建议？

Zhang Yaocan: Theoretical construction is the foundation of disciplinary and specialty construction. Basic theory is the primary manifestation of a discipline's scientific nature. Similarly, basic theoretical research in the discipline of ideological and political education is the primary manifestation of the scientific nature of the discipline of ideological and political education. Therefore, basic theoretical research in the discipline of ideological and political education holds a primary status in disciplinary construction.

张耀灿：理论建设是学科和专业建设的基础。而基础理论则是学科科学性的首要体现。同理，思想政治教育学科基础理论研究是思想政治教育学科科学性的首要体现。因此，思想政治教育学科基础理论研究在学科建设中具有首要的地位。

Since basic theory is the crystallization of historical experience and the generalization of laws, basic theoretical research plays a more fundamental, more stable, and longer-term role in disciplinary construction. Since basic theory is the primary manifestation of scientific nature, the basic theory of the discipline of ideological and political education both serves as the foundation and support for realizing its ideological nature and guarantees the implementation and realization of the ideological nature of the discipline of ideological and political education. Thus, it can be seen that basic theoretical research in the discipline of ideological and political education plays a more fundamental, more stable, and longer-term role in disciplinary construction.

由于基础理论是历史经验的结晶和规律的概括，因此，基础理论研究在学科建设中的作用更为根本、更稳定、管长远。由于基础理论是科学性的首要体现，因此，思想政治教育学科基础理论既是实现意识形态性的基础和依托，又保证着思想政治教育学科意识形态性的落实和实现。可见，思想政治教育学科基础理论研究在学科建设中的作用更根本、更稳定、管长远。

In the early period of the specialty of ideological and political education, conducting good basic theoretical research in the discipline of ideological and political education was crucial to running the specialty well. At that time, colleagues in the specialty, in order to teach specialized courses well, primarily focused their efforts in basic theoretical research on compiling basic textbooks for undergraduate programs, namely, collaborating to write *Principles of Ideological and Political Education*, *History of Ideological and Political Education of the Communist Party of China*, *Selected Writings and Guided Readings on Ideological and Political Education by Classical Marxist Writers*, and others. To teach specialized courses well and compile basic textbooks, teachers also wrote and published a series of papers, and some applied for and led related humanities and social science research projects.

在思想政治教育专业初创时期，搞好思想政治教育学科基础理论研究对办好专业至关重要。当时，专业同仁为开好专业课，搞好思想政治教育学科基础理论研究主要体现在为编写好本科基本教材而努力，即同行合作编写《思想政治教育学原理》《中国共产党思想政治教育史》《马克思主义经典作家思想政治教育论述选编与导读》等。为开好专业课、编写好基本教材，教师们也撰写和发表了系列论文，有的还申报和主持了相关的人文社科研究课题。

Since conducting good basic theoretical research in the discipline of ideological and political education is so important for ensuring the scientific nature of the discipline and running the specialty well, basic theoretical research in the discipline of ideological and political education must be strengthened. To this end, it is necessary to achieve the "Five Persistences": persist in promoting the fine Marxist style of study that combines theory with practice, persist in the unity of scientific nature and ideological nature, persist in combining history and theory, persist in making good use of the interdisciplinary paradigm, and persist in the combination of the old, middle-aged, and young. In this way, the construction of the discipline of ideological and political education can forever maintain its vitality and vigor.

既然搞好思想政治教育学科基础理论研究对保证学科的科学性和办好专业这么重要，那么，思想政治教育学科基础理论研究必须加强。为此，要做到“五坚持”：即坚持弘扬理论与实践相结合的马克思主义优良学风，坚持科学性与意识形态性相统一，坚持史论结合，坚持用好跨学科范式，坚持老中青三结合。这样，思想政治教育学科建设便能永葆生机与活力。

Reporter: On the new journey in the new situation, how can the discipline of ideological and political education uphold fundamental principles and break new ground, and better undertake the important mission of serving the Party's central tasks and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation?

记者：新形势新征程上，思想政治教育学科如何守正创新、更好地承担起服务党的中心任务和中华民族伟大复兴的重要使命?

Zhang Yaocan: To better undertake the important mission of serving the Party's central tasks and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, first, it is necessary to guide the construction of the discipline of ideological and political education with Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Wherever the Party's innovative theory develops, the construction of the discipline of ideological and political education must follow, fully reflecting the guiding role of contemporary Chinese Marxism and 21st-century Marxism in ideological and political education. Only in this way can ideological and political education play its role as the "central link" in advancing the cause of Chinese-path modernization, ensuring the smooth completion of the tasks of "two civilizations." [11]11 "Two civilizations" (两个文明) refers to material civilization and spiritual civilization (or cultural-ethical progress), a key concept in Chinese socialist construction.

张耀灿：为了更好地承担起服务党的中心任务和中华民族伟大复兴的重要使命，首先，要以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想统领思想政治教育学科建设。党的创新理论发展到哪一步，思想政治教育学科建设就要跟进到哪一步，使之充分体现当代中国马克思主义、21世纪马克思主义对思想政治教育的指导作用。唯有如此，思想政治教育才能在推进中国式现代化事业中发挥好“中心环节”的作用，保证“两个文明”任务的顺利完成。

Second, it is necessary to use the theoretical achievements of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times to guide education in ideals and beliefs, cultivating talent for the Party and nurturing talent for the country. Cultivate and promote the core socialist values, guide the broad masses to devote themselves to the cause of scientific and technological innovation and rural revitalization, and make greater contributions to resolving the principal contradiction in contemporary Chinese society. [12]12 The principal contradiction in contemporary Chinese society is defined as the contradiction between unbalanced and inadequate development and the people's ever-growing needs for a better life. The education in communist ideals should be implemented in participation in the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative and in promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. Vigorously publicize the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, and the Global Development Initiative.

其次，要用马克思主义中国化时代化的理论成果指导理想信念教育，为党育人、为国育才。培育和弘扬社会主义核心价值观，引导广大群众投身到科技创新、乡村振兴事业中去，为解决当代中国社会主要矛盾多作贡献。要把共产主义理想教育落实到参与“一带一路”建设和推动人类命运共同体建设中去。大力宣传全球安全倡议、全球文明倡议、全球发展倡议。

Finally, it is necessary to adhere to the practical orientation of ideological and political education research, delve deeply into practice, and in the process of applying theory to solve practical problems, focus on absorbing and summarizing the fresh experience created by the masses, elevating it into innovative theory, and further serving the New Era and serving the broad masses of the people. While focusing on developing the applied theory of ideological and political education, strengthen basic theoretical research in ideological and political education, and enrich and develop the core theories and basic categories of ideological and political education. Currently, there has been some innovative development in the meta-theory of ideological and political education, such as discussions on the forms of ideological and political education, but in terms of the basic categories of the science of ideological and political education, research results are few and academic debate is lacking. For a mature discipline, reaching consensus on basic categories is often an important marker. Only by further strengthening the construction of the discipline of ideological and political education and advancing its work of upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground can we better serve the construction of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the great cause of the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

最后，要坚持思想政治教育研究的实践指向，深入实践，在运用理论解决实际问题的过程中，注重吸取和总结群众创造的新鲜经验，升华为创新理论，进一步服务于新时代、服务于广大人民。在着重发展思想政治教育应用理论的同时，加强思想政治教育基础理论研究，丰富发展思想政治教育核心理论和基本范畴。目前，思想政治教育元理论有一定的创新发展，如关于思想政治教育形态等论述，但在思想政治教育学的基本范畴上，研究成果较少，缺乏学术论争。而一门成熟的学科，达成共识的基本范畴往往是其重要标志。我们只有进一步加强思想政治教育学科建设，推进其守正创新，才能更好地服务于中国特色社会主义建设和中华民族复兴伟大事业。

Online Editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心