Transforming Iron Discipline into Conscious Action

The Communist Party of China is a Marxist political party organized with revolutionary ideals and iron discipline. Strict organization and rigorous discipline are the fine traditions and political strengths of our Party, and they are also the source of our Party’s strength. Party discipline is the intrinsic unity of iron discipline and conscious discipline. It contains the basic methods of addressing both symptoms and root causes and of systematic governance, reveals the profound connotation of advancing the integrated approach of ensuring that officials dare not, cannot, and do not want to be corrupt [1]1 The “integrated approach of ensuring that officials dare not, cannot, and do not want to be corrupt” (一体推进不敢腐、不能腐、不想腐) is a key anti-corruption strategy of the CPC, combining deterrence, institutional prevention, and ideological transformation., and embodies the organic unity of ideological Party building and institutional Party governance, fully demonstrating the advanced nature and purity of a Marxist political party. Correctly understanding and grasping the unity of the compulsion and consciousness of Party discipline is of great and far-reaching significance for consolidating and enhancing the effectiveness of Party discipline learning and education, comprehensively strengthening discipline building, and advancing comprehensive and strict governance of the Party in depth.

中国共产党是用革命理想和铁的纪律组织起来的马克思主义政党，组织严密、纪律严明是我们党的优良传统和政治优势，也是我们党的力量所在。党的纪律是铁的纪律和自觉的纪律的内在统一，蕴含着标本兼治、系统施治的基本方法，揭示了一体推进不敢腐、不能腐、不想腐的深刻内涵，体现了思想建党和制度治党的有机统一，充分彰显了马克思主义政党的先进性和纯洁性。正确认识和把握党的纪律是强制性和自觉性的统一，对于巩固提升党纪学习教育效果，全面加强纪律建设、纵深推进全面从严治党，具有重大而深远的意义。

I

一

Iron discipline is a distinctive characteristic of a proletarian political party. Every political party has its own disciplinary requirements; without discipline, it cannot be a political party. All discipline has rigid constraints, and compulsion is the essential attribute of discipline. The particularity of proletarian party discipline lies in its being “iron,” using iron discipline to eliminate various non-proletarian ideologies and forge an iron proletarian revolutionary team. In his report to the Central Committee at the Ninth Congress of the Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks) on March 29, 1920, Lenin proposed the need for “iron discipline”: “The task now is to throw all the forces that the proletariat can concentrate, all the absolutely unified forces of the proletariat, into the peaceful task of economic construction, into the task of restoring the destroyed productive forces. This requires iron discipline and iron organization; otherwise, we would not only be unable to hold out for more than two years, but even for two months.” Comrade Mao Zedong emphasized, “As a Party member, iron discipline must be enforced. The hoop on Sun Wukong’s head is made of gold; Lenin said that the discipline of the Communist Party is iron, even more formidable and harder than Sun Wukong’s gold hoop.” [2]2 Sun Wukong (孙悟空) is the Monkey King, a central character in the classic Chinese novel *Journey to the West*; the gold hoop (金箍) placed on his head by the Bodhisattva Guanyin tightens when he disobeys, enforcing discipline through pain. Comrade Deng Xiaoping pointed out, “We must, as Lenin said, build a party with the strictest organization and discipline. We must have the iron discipline that Lenin spoke of; otherwise, the Party will have no combat effectiveness.”

铁的纪律是无产阶级政党的鲜明特性。任何政党都有自己的纪律要求，没有纪律不能成为政党，任何纪律都有刚性约束，强制性是纪律的本质属性。无产阶级政党纪律的特殊性在于它的纪律是“铁的”，用铁的纪律消除各种非无产阶级思想，打造铁的无产阶级革命队伍。列宁在1920年3月29日向俄共（布）第九次代表大会作中央委员会的报告中就提出需要有“铁一般的纪律”，“现在的任务是要把无产阶级所能集中的一切力量，把无产阶级的绝对统一的力量都投到经济建设这一和平任务上去，都投到恢复被破坏了的生产这一任务上去。这里需要有铁一般的纪律，铁一般的组织，否则，我们不仅支持不了两年多，甚至连两个月也支持不了”。毛泽东同志强调，“身为党员，铁的纪律就非执行不可。孙行者头上套的箍是金的，列宁论共产党的纪律说纪律是铁的，比孙行者的金箍还厉害，还硬”。邓小平同志指出，“一定要照列宁所说的，建立有最严密的组织和纪律的党。一定要有列宁所说的铁的纪律，否则党就没有战斗力”。

Iron discipline is an important guarantee for maintaining the Party’s unity and solidarity and fulfilling its mission and tasks. Unity and solidarity are the Party’s strength and lifeblood; Party discipline is an important guarantee for maintaining the Party’s unity and solidarity and enhancing its cohesion and combat effectiveness. Marx pointed out: “We must now absolutely maintain Party discipline, otherwise nothing will be accomplished.” Lenin pointed out, “The proletariat’s implementation of unconditional centralization and the strictest discipline is one of the basic conditions for defeating the bourgeoisie,” and “We must greatly strengthen the proletariat’s labor discipline; only then will we be invincible.” General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasizes, “The more complex the situation the Party faces and the more arduous the tasks it shoulders, the more it must maintain its unity and solidarity. What guarantees the Party’s unity and solidarity? It depends on common ideals and convictions, on a tight organizational system, on the high degree of consciousness of all Party comrades, and also on strict discipline and rules.”

铁的纪律是维护党的团结统一、实现党的使命任务的重要保证。团结统一是党的力量和生命所在，党的纪律是维护党的团结统一、增强党的凝聚力战斗力的重要保证。马克思指出：“我们现在必须绝对保持党的纪律，否则将一事无成。”列宁指出，“无产阶级实现无条件的集中和极严格的纪律，是战胜资产阶级的基本条件之一”,“必须极大地加强无产阶级劳动纪律，这样我们才是不可战胜的”。习近平总书记强调，“党面临的形势越复杂、肩负的任务越艰巨，就越要保持党的团结统一。党的团结统一靠什么来保证？要靠共同的理想信念，靠严密的组织体系，靠全党同志的高度自觉，还要靠严明的纪律和规矩”。

Iron discipline is an important guarantee for our Party to overcome risks and challenges and achieve great victories. Strengthen discipline, and the revolution will be invincible. Over the past hundred years and more, our Party has relied on strict discipline to unite and lead the people of all ethnic groups across the country in overcoming numerous difficulties and challenges, surmounting various hardships and perils, and continuously winning great victories in revolution, construction, and reform. Comrade Mao Zedong emphasized, “The line is the ‘kingly way,’ and discipline is the ‘hegemonic way’; both are indispensable,” and “A party with discipline, armed with Marxism-Leninism, and adopting the method of self-criticism, and linked with the masses. An army led by such a party. A united front of all revolutionary classes and revolutionary factions led by such a party. These three are our main weapons for defeating the enemy.” Comrade Deng Xiaoping pointed out: “How can a country as large as ours be united and organized? First, by ideals; second, by discipline. Organized, we have strength. Without ideals and without discipline, we would be like old China, a heap of loose sand. How then could our revolution succeed?” General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized, “The Party must govern the Party and govern it strictly. By what means? By strict discipline,” and “During the revolutionary war years, our Party united and led the people to defeat ferocious enemies and win the Chinese revolution, relying on the guarantee of iron discipline. Under new historical conditions, our Party must unite and lead the people to build a moderately prosperous society in all respects and basically realize modernization; this too relies on the guarantee of iron discipline.”

铁的纪律是我们党战胜风险挑战、取得伟大胜利的重要保证。加强纪律性，革命无不胜。一百多年来，我们党依靠严明的纪律团结带领全国各族人民克服重重困难挑战、战胜各种艰难险阻，不断夺取革命、建设、改革伟大胜利。毛泽东同志强调，“路线是‘王道’，纪律是‘霸道’，这两者都不可少”，“一个有纪律的，有马克思列宁主义的理论武装的，采取自我批评方法的，联系人民群众的党。一个由这样的党领导的军队。一个由这样的党领导的各革命阶级各革命派别的统一战线。这三件是我们战胜敌人的主要武器之一”。邓小平同志指出：“我们这么大一个国家，怎样才能团结起来、组织起来呢？一靠理想，二靠纪律。组织起来就有力量。没有理想，没有纪律，就会像旧中国那样一盘散沙，那我们的革命怎么能够成功？”习近平总书记反复强调，“党要管党、从严治党，靠什么管，凭什么治？就要靠严明纪律”，“革命战争年代，我们党团结带领人民打败穷凶极恶的敌人、夺取中国革命胜利，靠的是铁的纪律保证。新的历史条件下，我们党要团结带领人民全面建成小康社会、基本实现现代化，同样要靠铁的纪律保证”。

Iron discipline is the “ruler” for governing the Party and managing it, and it is also the standard and guideline for Party members and officials to constrain their own behavior. To comprehensively strengthen discipline building, it is necessary to make strengthening the rigid constraints of discipline an important task, continuously enhance the enforcement and deterrent power of discipline, and enable Party members and officials to move from the “dare not” that comes from fear of being investigated and punished to the “dare not” that comes from reverence for Party discipline and state law, and from the “dare not” of fear and reverence to the “cannot” of insurmountability and the “do not want” of inner consciousness. Through genuine and strict governance, bold and strict governance, and sustained and strict governance, Party members and officials will be made to know reverence, maintain caution, and hold the bottom line, truly making iron discipline effective and prohibitions authoritative, making officials take it seriously, stay alert, and know when to stop, thereby promoting the formation of a high degree of consciousness in the entire Party to abide by rules and discipline.

铁的纪律是管党治党的“戒尺”，也是党员、干部约束自身行为的标准和遵循。全面加强纪律建设，必须把增强纪律刚性约束作为重要任务，不断强化纪律执行力和威慑力，让党员、干部从害怕被查处的“不敢”走向敬畏党纪国法的“不敢”，从敬畏害怕的“不敢”走向无法逾越的“不能”、内心觉悟的“不想”，以真管真严、敢管敢严、长管长严使党员、干部知敬畏、存戒惧、守底线，真正让铁纪发力、禁令生威，让干部重视、警醒、知止，推动全党形成遵规守纪的高度自觉。

II

二

Party discipline is iron discipline built on the basis of consciousness. Conscious discipline and iron discipline complement each other; conscious discipline is the foundation, and iron discipline is the guarantee. Without conscious discipline as the foundation, iron discipline cannot be sustained; without iron discipline as the guarantee, conscious discipline cannot be enforced. Engels pointed out, “By the word ‘discipline’ I do not mean the correction of bad behavior; I mean discipline that has become habitual unity, that is, the union of spirit and body aimed at achieving a certain purpose—a union that makes everything act as a whole, making a company, a battalion, or a regiment act like a machine.” Lenin not only clarified the “iron” nature of proletarian party discipline but also emphasized the consciousness of discipline. He believed that socialist discipline differs from the “cane discipline” and “hunger discipline” of exploitative societies; “this discipline is the discipline of trust in the organization of workers and poor peasants, the discipline of comradeship, the discipline of great respect for people, the discipline of initiative and creativity in struggle,” and “without such conscious discipline of the workers and peasants, our cause would be hopeless.” Comrade Mao Zedong pointed out, “Party discipline is coercive; but at the same time, it must be built on the consciousness of Party members and cadres, and must never be one-sided commandism.” Comrade Deng Xiaoping pointed out, “In our past revolution, we relied on discipline, and it was conscious discipline. After the founding of the Communist Party of China, the best style was precisely this.” General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized that all Party members should cultivate a discipline consciousness, internalize Party discipline in the mind and externalize it in action, and consciously transform iron discipline into daily habits and behavioral norms.

党的纪律是建立在自觉性基础之上的铁的纪律。自觉的纪律和铁的纪律相辅相成，自觉的纪律是基础，铁的纪律是保障。没有自觉的纪律为基础，铁的纪律就难以持久；没有铁的纪律做保障，自觉的纪律就无法执行。恩格斯指出，“我用‘纪律’这个词，并不是指纠正不良行为说的；我说的纪律，是指成了习惯的团结一致，即旨在实现一定目的的那种精神和肉体的结合，——这种精神和肉体的结合使一切作为一个整体来行动，使一个连、一个营或一个旅的行动就像一部机器一样”。列宁不仅明确无产阶级政党纪律“铁的”性质，而且强调纪律的自觉性。他认为，社会主义的纪律不同于剥削社会的“棍棒纪律”和“饥饿纪律”，“这种纪律就是信任工人和贫苦农民的组织性的纪律，是同志的纪律，是对人非常尊重的纪律，是在斗争中发挥独创性和主动性的纪律”,“没有这样的工农的自觉纪律，我们的事业就毫无希望”。毛泽东同志指出，“党的纪律是带着强制性的；但同时，它又必须是建立在党员与干部的自觉性上面，决不是片面的命令主义”。邓小平同志指出，“我们过去革命，就是靠纪律，而且是自觉的纪律。中国共产党成立后，最好的风气就是这个”。习近平总书记多次强调，全体党员要养成纪律自觉，把党的纪律内化于心、外化于行，自觉把铁的纪律转化为日常习惯和行动准绳。

Conscious discipline is discipline built on the foundation of lofty ideals and convictions. Party discipline and rules condense the Party’s nature, purpose, ideals, convictions, original aspiration and founding mission. Adhering to the nature and purpose, firming up ideals and convictions, and undertaking the mission and responsibility are themselves basic requirements of Party discipline. A proletarian political party is composed of the most enlightened advanced elements of the proletariat, committed to safeguarding the “common interests of the proletariat, irrespective of nationality” and the “interests of the movement as a whole.” The Constitution of the Communist Party of China clearly states that the Communist Party of China is the vanguard of the Chinese working class, and at the same time the vanguard of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation. Members of the Communist Party of China are vanguard fighters of the Chinese working class with communist consciousness. The vanguard nature of the proletarian political party and the advanced element attribute of its members determine that observing and enforcing discipline is not only the result of external compulsion but also the conscious choice from the heart of every Party member, a conscious action of loyalty to the Party.

自觉的纪律是建立在崇高的理想信念基础之上的纪律。党的纪律规矩凝结着党的性质宗旨、理想信念和初心使命，坚守性质宗旨、坚定理想信念和担负使命责任本身是党的纪律的基本要求。无产阶级政党是由无产阶级中最有觉悟的先进分子组成，致力于维护“无产阶级共同的不分民族的利益”和“整个运动的利益”。《中国共产党章程》明确指出，中国共产党是中国工人阶级的先锋队，同时是中国人民和中华民族的先锋队。中国共产党党员是中国工人阶级的有共产主义觉悟的先锋战士。无产阶级政党的先锋队性质和党员的先进分子属性决定遵守纪律、执行纪律不只是外在强制的结果，还是每个党员发自内心的自觉选择，是对党忠诚的自觉行动。

Conscious discipline is discipline built on a broad foundation of freedom and democracy. Discipline and freedom are a unity of opposites; discipline is the guarantee of freedom, freedom is the goal of discipline. Without freedom there is no discipline, and without discipline there is no freedom. To comprehensively strengthen discipline building, it is necessary to oppose both authoritarianism and liberalism, creating a political situation that has both centralism and democracy, both discipline and freedom, both unified will and individual ease of mind and lively vitality. Lenin pointed out: “Unity of action, freedom of discussion and criticism — that is our clear view. Only such discipline is worthy of the democratic party of the advanced class.” [3]3 V. I. Lenin, “The Disruption of Unity under the Slogan of Freedom of Criticism,” 1906. Comrade Mao Zedong pointed out: “Within the ranks of the people, democracy is the counterpart of centralism, and freedom is the counterpart of discipline. These are two contradictory aspects of a single entity; they are contradictory and yet unified. We should not one-sidedly emphasize one aspect while negating the other. Within the ranks of the people, there can be neither freedom nor discipline, neither democracy nor centralism. This unity of democracy and centralism, this unity of freedom and discipline, constitutes our democratic centralism. Under this system, the people enjoy extensive democracy and freedom, while at the same time they must restrain themselves with socialist discipline.” [4]4 Mao Zedong, “On the Correct Handling of Contradictions among the People,” 1957.

自觉的纪律是建立在广泛的自由和民主基础之上的纪律。纪律和自由对立统一，纪律是自由的保障，自由是纪律的目标，没有自由就没有纪律，没有纪律也就没有自由。全面加强纪律建设，既要反对专制主义又要反对自由主义，造成一个既有集中又有民主，既有纪律又有自由，既有统一意志又有个人心情舒畅、生动活泼的政治局面。列宁指出：“行动一致，讨论和批评自由——这就是我们明确的看法。只有这样的纪律才是先进阶级民主主义政党所应有的纪律。”毛泽东同志指出，“在人民内部，民主是对集中而言，自由是对纪律而言。这些都是一个统一体的两个矛盾着的侧面，它们是矛盾的，又是统一的，我们不应当片面地强调某一个侧面而否定另一个侧面。在人民内部，不可以没有自由，也不可以没有纪律；不可以没有民主，也不可以没有集中。这种民主和集中的统一，自由和纪律的统一，就是我们的民主集中制。在这个制度下，人民享受着广泛的民主和自由；同时又必须用社会主义的纪律约束自己”。

Conscious discipline is discipline built on a foundation of high Party spirit consciousness. Party spirit is the concentrated expression of the class attributes represented by a political party, and it is also an important cornerstone for a Party member to establish themselves, their work, their virtue, and their words. Party spirit consciousness is a Party member’s profound cognition of the class nature, advanced nature, people-centered nature, and practical nature of the party to which they belong. The proletarian party is composed of the advanced elements of the proletariat; Party members are the most outstanding, most thorough, and most conscious minority within the proletariat. “The party is the advanced, conscious stratum of the class, the vanguard of the class.” [5]5 V. I. Lenin, “One Step Forward, Two Steps Back,” 1904. Disciplinarity and Party spirit are closely linked and mutually reinforcing; Party spirit is the concentrated expression of disciplinarity, and disciplinarity is an important guarantee of Party spirit. Observing discipline and abiding by rules is an important test of the Party spirit of Party members and cadres, and also an important test of loyalty to the Party. Strengthening disciplinarity is an important pathway for strengthening Party spirit cultivation. The consciousness of discipline must be built on a clear understanding and conscious practice of Party spirit consciousness. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasizes: “To adhere to the principle of Party spirit, the key is to establish rules, abide by rules, and observe rules. What can be done, what cannot be done, what should be done this way, what should be done that way — all must be clearly stipulated.” [6]6 Xi Jinping, speech at the Sixth Plenary Session of the 18th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, 2016. “Intra-Party rules, some have explicit written provisions, some do not, but as a Party cadre, especially a senior cadre, one should understand them. If one does not understand them, then one lacks the consciousness and level to be a cadre, especially a senior cadre.” [7]7 Xi Jinping, speech at the Fifth Plenary Session of the 18th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, 2015.

自觉的纪律是建立在高度的党性觉悟基础之上的纪律。党性是一个政党所代表的阶级属性的集中体现，也是一名党员立身、立业、立德、立言的重要基石。党性觉悟是党员对自己所属政党的阶级性、先进性、人民性、实践性等的深刻认知。无产阶级政党是由无产阶级中的先进分子组成，党员是无产阶级中最优秀、最彻底、最觉悟的少数，“党是阶级的先进觉悟阶层，是阶级的先锋队”。纪律性和党性紧密相连、相互促进，党性是纪律性的集中体现，纪律性是党性的重要保证，守纪律、讲规矩是对党员、干部党性的重要考验，也是对党忠诚的重要考验，加强纪律性是加强党性锻炼的重要途径，纪律的自觉必须建立在对党性觉悟的清醒认识和自觉践行上。习近平总书记强调，“坚持党性原则，关键是立规矩、讲规矩、守规矩。哪些事能做、哪些事不能做、哪些事该这样做、哪些事该那样做，都要规定得明明白白”，“党内规矩有的有明文规定，有的没有，但作为一个党的干部特别是高级干部应该懂的。不懂的话，那就不具备当干部特别是高级干部的觉悟和水平”。

Three

三

Iron discipline and conscious discipline are two sides of the same coin; the coerciveness and consciousness of discipline complement each other. To comprehensively strengthen discipline building, it is necessary to correctly understand and grasp the coerciveness and consciousness of Party discipline. While strictly enforcing discipline and enhancing the rigid constraints of discipline, it is also necessary to strengthen discipline education and cultivate discipline consciousness, promoting Party members and cadres to internalize the requirements of Party discipline and rules in their hearts and externalize them in their actions, forming a discipline consciousness that is “used daily without being noticed.” [8]8 A classical allusion to the *Book of Changes* (*Yijing*), “The Great Treatise,” meaning something so habitual it is used without conscious reflection.

铁的纪律和自觉的纪律一体两面，纪律的强制性和自觉性相辅相成。全面加强纪律建设，必须正确认识和把握党的纪律的强制性和自觉性，在严格执纪、增强纪律刚性约束的同时加强纪律教育、涵养纪律自觉，推动党员、干部将党的纪律规矩要求内化于心、外化于行，形成“日用而不觉”的纪律自觉。

Adhere to the unity of ideological Party building and institutional Party governance, comprehensively strengthen discipline building, and consolidate the ideological foundation and institutional guarantee of conscious discipline. Ideological Party building and institutional Party governance complement each other and are inherently unified. The one is soft, the other hard; hardness and softness complement each other, exerting force in the same direction and at the same time, capable of producing an effect where “one plus one is greater than two.” Adhering to the unity of ideological Party building and institutional Party governance is not only an important experience of comprehensive and strict governance of the Party but also an effective path for comprehensively strengthening discipline building. To adhere to ideological Party building, it is necessary to treat ideological construction as a long-term and foundational project of discipline building, to make discipline education an important part of centralized intra-Party study and education, integrate it into political education, Party spirit education, and Party history education, and run it through the entire process of daily education, management, and supervision of Party members and cadres. Educate and guide the vast number of Party members and cadres to deeply study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, consciously strengthen theoretical armament, strictly abide by Party discipline and rules, continuously improve the ideological consciousness, spiritual realm, and moral cultivation to resist corruption and prevent degeneration, and always maintain the clean and honest political character of Communists. To adhere to institutional Party governance, it is necessary to run institutional construction through discipline building, to treat institutional implementation as the lifeline of discipline building, to focus on perfecting the intra-Party laws and regulations system, to promptly solidify the requirements of the Party’s ideals and convictions, original aspiration and founding mission, traditional work style, norms and rules into Party discipline provisions, to tighten the cage of Party rules and discipline, and to enhance the rigid constraints of discipline. To adhere to the unity of ideological Party building and institutional Party governance, it is necessary to implement the integrated advancement of not daring to be corrupt, not being able to be corrupt, and not wanting to be corrupt into discipline building. It is necessary to strengthen discipline enforcement and reinforce the awe of not daring to be corrupt; to improve the discipline system, perfect the working mechanism of using cases as a mirror and promoting rectification based on cases, and enhance the constraints of not being able to be corrupt; and to comprehensively strengthen discipline education, enhance the consciousness of not wanting to be corrupt, supervise and urge Party members and cadres to strengthen Party spirit cultivation, adhere to the bottom line of discipline, correctly handle the relationships between self-discipline and heteronomy, governing the body and governing the mind, trust and supervision, principles and feelings, high standards and bottom lines, freedom and discipline, and the individual and the organization, effectively enhance political resolve, disciplinary resolve, moral resolve, and anti-corruption resolve, consolidate and expand the ideological foundation of discipline consciousness, strengthen the institutional guarantee for the rigid operation of discipline, and truly make holding awe in the heart and grasping the ruler in the hand a daily consciousness. [9]9 “Holding awe in the heart and grasping the ruler in the hand” is a common Chinese political idiom for maintaining reverence for discipline and self-restraint.

坚持思想建党和制度治党相统一，全面加强纪律建设，夯实自觉的纪律的思想基础和制度保障。思想建党和制度治党相辅相成、内在统一，二者一柔一刚、刚柔相济，同向发力、同时发力，能够产生“一加一大于二”的功效。坚持思想建党和制度治党相统一既是全面从严治党的重要经验，也是全面加强纪律建设的有效路径。坚持思想建党，必须把思想建设作为纪律建设的长期性、基础性工程，把纪律教育作为党内集中学习教育的重要内容，融入政治教育、党性教育、党史教育之中，贯穿到对党员、干部的日常教育管理监督全过程，教育引导广大党员、干部深入学习贯彻习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想，自觉强化理论武装，严格遵守党的纪律规矩，不断提高拒腐防变的思想觉悟、精神境界、道德修养，始终保持共产党人清正廉洁的政治本色。坚持制度治党，必须把制度建设贯穿于纪律建设之中，把制度执行作为纪律建设的生命线，以健全党内法规制度体系为重点，把党的理想信念、初心使命、传统作风、规范规矩等方面的要求及时固化为党的纪律规定，扎紧党规党纪的笼子，增强纪律的刚性约束。坚持思想建党和制度治党相统一，必须把一体推进不敢腐、不能腐、不想腐贯彻到纪律建设中去，既要加强纪律执行，强化不敢腐的敬畏，又要健全纪律体系，完善以案为鉴、以案促改工作机制，增强不能腐的约束，还要全面加强纪律教育，增强不想腐的自觉，督促党员、干部加强党性锻炼，坚守纪律底线，正确处理自律和他律、治身和治心、信任和监督、原则和感情、高标准和守底线、自由与纪律、个人与组织的关系，切实增强政治定力、纪律定力、道德定力、抵腐定力，巩固拓展纪律自觉的思想基础，强化纪律刚性运行的制度保障，让心存敬畏、手握戒尺真正成为日常自觉。

Adhere to comprehensive strictness and strictness to the end, use a strict tone to strengthen conduct and enforce discipline, and continuously enhance the rigid binding force of iron discipline. Strengthening discipline building is the fundamental policy for comprehensive and strict governance of the Party. It is necessary to use a strict tone to correct conduct and enforce discipline, enhancing the rigid binding force of discipline. First, strictness across the entire chain: it is necessary to highlight and grasp the key link of strict enforcement of discipline, adhere to the principle that violations must be investigated and discipline must be strictly enforced, seriously investigate and punish acts of disobeying orders and prohibiting what is forbidden, especially acts showing no awe and violating discipline in defiance of regulations, ensure the rigid constraints of discipline through strict enforcement of discipline and law, prevent discipline from becoming a “scarecrow” or “plasticine,” and avoid creating a “broken window effect.” [10]10 “Broken window effect” is a criminological theory, popularized in Chinese political discourse, arguing that visible signs of disorder encourage further violations. At the same time, strict requirements must be run through the entire process of formulating Party rules, Party discipline education, and supervision of discipline enforcement, establishing and perfecting a complete chain of learning discipline, understanding discipline, clarifying discipline, and observing discipline, forming an overall force for discipline building. Second, strictness across all aspects: it is necessary to grasp the “key minority,” [11]11 “Key minority” (*guanjian shaoshu*) is a term used in Chinese political discourse to refer to leading cadres, especially at senior levels, whose conduct sets an example for others. urge leading cadres, especially senior cadres, to be strict with themselves, strictly assume their responsibilities, and strictly manage their jurisdictions with higher requirements and stricter standards, playing a demonstrative and leading role. At the same time, it is necessary to watch over the “vast majority,” use strict education and strict discipline to govern the entire Party and the entire Party, allow all Party members to consciously accept strict education, management, and supervision, and become accustomed to working and living under supervision and constraints. Third, strictness across all elements: it is necessary to use strict political discipline to drive the comprehensive strictness of all aspects of Party discipline, and at the same time, use strict enforcement of discipline to promote strictness in thought, strictness in supervision, strictness in governing officials, strictness in conduct, and strictness in anti-corruption, establish and perfect a strict management system that governs thought, work, conduct, and discipline, consolidate and expand an atmosphere of truly strict, daringly strict, and persistently strict management, and continuously enhance the political nature, contemporary relevance, and targeted nature of discipline building. Fourth, strictness across the entire cycle: it is necessary to maintain the deterrent and high pressure of strict discipline enforcement, establish strict standards and strict requirements, consolidate and expand the good atmosphere of comprehensive and strict governance of the Party, and at the same time, persist in the long-term continuation of the strict tone, strict measures, and strict atmosphere, implement the requirements of comprehensiveness, the strict tone, and the concept of governance into comprehensive and strict governance of the Party, use fine conduct as a guide, use strict discipline as a strong guarantee, and use anti-corruption and punishment of evil to clear obstacles, promote comprehensive and strict governance of the Party to be interlinked and progressive layer by layer, so that comprehensively strengthening discipline building can better reflect the times, grasp the laws, and be rich in creativity.

坚持全面从严、一严到底，以严的基调强化正风肃纪，不断提升铁的纪律刚性约束力。加强纪律建设是全面从严治党的治本之策，必须以严的基调正风肃纪，提升纪律的刚性约束力。一是全链条从严，既要突出抓住执纪从严这个关键环节，坚持违纪必究、执纪必严，严肃查处有令不行、有禁不止特别是不知敬畏、顶风违纪行为，以严格的执纪执法确保纪律的刚性约束，防止纪律成为“稻草人”、“橡皮泥”，形成“破窗效应”，又要把严的要求贯穿党规制定、党纪教育、执纪监督全过程，建立健全学纪、知纪、明纪、守纪完整链条，形成纪律建设的整体合力。二是全方位从严，既要抓住“关键少数”，以更高要求、更严标准督促领导干部特别是高级干部严于律己、严负其责、严管所辖，发挥示范领导作用，又要看住“绝大多数”，用严格教育、严明纪律管全党治全党，让全体党员自觉接受严格的教育管理监督，习惯在监督和约束下工作生活。三是全要素从严，既要以严明的政治纪律带动党的各方面纪律全面严起来，又要以执纪从严推动思想从严、监督从严、治吏从严、作风从严、反腐从严，建立健全管思想、管工作、管作风、管纪律的从严管理体系，巩固拓展真管真严、敢管敢严、长管长严的氛围，不断增强纪律建设的政治性、时代性、针对性。四是全周期从严，既要保持从严执纪的震慑高压，把严的标准、严的要求立起来，巩固拓展全面从严治党的良好氛围，又要把严的基调、严的措施、严的氛围长期坚持下去，把全的要求、严的基调、治的理念落实到全面从严治党之中，以优良作风作引领，以严明纪律强保障，以反腐惩恶清障碍，推动全面从严治党环环相扣、层层递进，使全面加强纪律建设更好体现时代性、把握规律性、富于创造性。

Persist in simultaneously addressing Party spirit, Party conduct, and Party discipline, improve the collaborative working mechanism, and promote the transformation of iron discipline into conscious discipline. Party spirit, Party conduct, and Party discipline are interconnected and internally unified, forming an organic whole that complements and interpenetrates each other. Among them, Party spirit is the foundation, Party conduct is the manifestation, and Party discipline is the guarantee. To comprehensively strengthen discipline building, it is necessary to simultaneously address Party spirit, Party conduct, and Party discipline, advance the integrated promotion of rectifying conduct, enforcing discipline, and combating corruption, and promote the elevation of iron discipline into conscious discipline. First, leverage the guiding role of Party spirit, making the strengthening of Party spirit cultivation a foundational project for comprehensively strengthening discipline building. On one hand, focus on ideology, shape images, and set benchmarks; on the other hand, focus on warnings, clarify bottom lines, and foster reverence. Promote the unity of high standards and adherence to bottom lines, educate and guide Party members and cadres to establish themselves through Party spirit, correct their conduct through Party conduct, and restrain themselves through Party discipline. Consciously strive toward the high standards of ideals and convictions, continuously enhance Party spirit cultivation and ideological realm, maintain a persistent pursuit of lofty ideals and struggle goals, and strengthen the political consciousness to resist corruption and prevent degeneration. Second, leverage the guiding role of Party conduct, correctly grasp the internal connection between Party spirit, Party conduct, and Party discipline, deeply understand the internal mechanism by which conduct leads to corruption and conduct and corruption are integrated. Be adept at discovering issues of weak Party spirit and lax discipline from unhealthy tendencies, and also adept at tracing the root causes of conduct problems from Party spirit awareness. Improve the mechanism for simultaneous investigation and governance of conduct and corruption, perfect the mechanism for blocking the transition from conduct to corruption, and use strict discipline to sever the chain of interests where conduct leads to corruption and conduct and corruption are integrated, achieving integrated and coordinated governance of Party spirit, Party conduct, and Party discipline. Third, leverage the guaranteeing role of Party discipline, using strict political discipline and political rules to ensure the entire Party consciously strengthens the "Four Consciousnesses,"[12]12 The "Four Consciousnesses" (四个意识) refer to the consciousness of the need to maintain political integrity, think in terms of the big picture, follow the leadership core, and keep in alignment with the central Party leadership. strengthens the "Four Confidences,"[13]13 The "Four Confidences" (四个自信) refer to confidence in the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics. and achieves the "Two Upholds,"[14]14 The "Two Upholds" (两个维护) refer to upholding the authority and centralized, unified leadership of the Party Central Committee, and upholding the core position of General Secretary Xi Jinping in the Party Central Committee and the entire Party. promoting the implementation of the Party's theories, lines, principles, and policies. Use comprehensively strengthening discipline building to provide a strong guarantee for comprehensive and strict governance of the Party and for comprehensively building a modern socialist country.

坚持党性党风党纪一起抓，完善协同工作机制，推动铁的纪律转化为自觉的纪律。党性党风党纪相互联系、内在统一，是一个相辅相成、相互贯通的有机整体。其中，党性是根本，党风是表现，党纪是保障。全面加强纪律建设，必须坚持党性党风党纪一起抓，正风肃纪反腐一体推进，推动铁的纪律提升为自觉的纪律。一是发挥党性的引领作用，把加强党性锻炼作为全面加强纪律建设的基础性工程，一手抓思想、塑形象、立标杆，一手抓警示、明底线、知敬畏，推动高标准和守底线相统一，教育引导党员、干部以党性立身、以党风正形、以党纪律己，自觉向着理想信念高标准努力，不断提升党性修养和思想境界，保持对远大理想和奋斗目标的执着追求，增强拒腐防变的政治自觉。二是发挥党风的导向作用，正确把握党性党风党纪的内在联系，深刻认识由风及腐、风腐一体的内在机理，既善于从不正之风中发现党性不强、纪律松弛问题，又善于从党性觉悟上查找作风问题根源，完善风腐同查同治机制，健全由风及腐的阻断机制，用严明的纪律斩断由风及腐、风腐一体的利益链条，实现党性党风党纪一体化协同治理。三是发挥党纪的保障作用，以严明的政治纪律和政治规矩确保全党自觉增强“四个意识”、坚定“四个自信”、做到“两个维护”，推动党的理论和路线方针政策贯彻落实，以全面加强纪律建设为全面从严治党、全面建设社会主义现代化国家提供坚强保证。

Persist in combining incentives with constraints and balancing strict management with care, mobilize the entire Party's initiative, creativity, and enthusiasm, and achieve the integration and fusion of iron discipline and conscious discipline. Incentives and constraints are inherently aligned; strict management and care are dialectically unified. Adhering to the combination of strict management and care, and the equal emphasis on incentives and constraints, is an important principle of comprehensive and strict governance of the Party and a fundamental guideline for comprehensively strengthening discipline building. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "The purpose of comprehensive and strict governance of the Party is not to control people to death, making them hesitant, timid, and turning them into a stagnant pool of lifelessness and inaction, but rather to clarify direction, establish rules, rectify conduct, and strengthen immunity, creating a positive, healthy, and entrepreneurial political ecosystem and good atmosphere." First, adhere to the consistent policy of learning from past mistakes to avoid future ones and curing the illness to save the patient, integrate ideological and political work throughout discipline building, establish and improve long-term working mechanisms for the daily education, management, and supervision of Party members and cadres. In ideological education, explain discipline and law; in enforcing discipline and law, convey truth and emotion. Use the truth power and personality power of Communists to enlighten conscience, awaken Party spirit, and move people's hearts, enabling Party members and cadres to truly feel that strict management is care and that curing the illness is to save the patient. Maximally prevent cadres from making mistakes, maximally stimulate cadres' initiative, achieving hardness in disciplinary and legal constraints, strength in criticism and education, and warmth in organizational care. Second, adhere to discipline being stricter than law and discipline preceding law, put discipline first, address problems early and at their inception, prevent problems before they occur. Correctly grasp the requirements of the "Three Distinctions,"[15]15 The "Three Distinctions" (三个区分开来) refer to distinguishing between mistakes made in exploring reforms and violations of discipline and law, between errors caused by a lack of experience and intentional violations, and between improper conduct not explicitly prohibited and violations of explicit prohibitions. continuously deepen the application of the "Four Forms,"[16]16 The "Four Forms" (四种形态) refer to the four levels of disciplinary measures: criticism and self-criticism as the norm; light disciplinary actions and minor organizational adjustments as the majority; heavy disciplinary actions and major organizational adjustments as a minority; and serious disciplinary actions involving criminal charges as a very small minority. establish and improve systems for the integration of discipline and law and the connection between law and law, making "red-faced and sweating" and "pulling ears and tugging sleeves"[17]17 "Red-faced and sweating" and "pulling ears and tugging sleeves" are metaphors for the practice of conducting earnest criticism and mutual reminders within the Party to address problems early, before they become serious. the norm. Educate and guide the vast majority of Party members and cadres to enhance their awareness of Party spirit, Party Constitution, discipline, and rules, learn to work creatively under the atmosphere of comprehensive strictness, and cultivate the habit and consciousness of working and living in an environment of supervision and constraint. Third, adhere to the unity of strict management and care and trust. On one hand, maintain the seriousness of Party discipline, urge Party members and cadres to consciously fulfill the various duties assigned by the organization, strictly act in accordance with the Party's principles, discipline, and rules, and strictly operate within the scope of the Constitution and laws. On the other hand, unequivocally support cadres who dare to take responsibility, and take responsibility for cadres who dare to be accountable. Stimulate and protect the initiative, creativity, and enthusiasm of cadres in their work and entrepreneurship. Educate and guide the vast majority of Party members and cadres to fully understand and implement the Party's discipline, work with peace of mind and act boldly under the premise of abiding by rules and discipline, forge ahead with keen determination and actively work, and create achievements worthy of the era and the people.

坚持激励约束结合、严管厚爱并重，调动全党积极性主动性创造性，实现铁的纪律和自觉的纪律贯通融合。激励约束内在契合、严管厚爱辩证统一。坚持严管厚爱结合、激励约束并重是全面从严治党的重要原则，也是全面加强纪律建设的基本遵循。习近平总书记强调：“全面从严治党的目的不是要把人管死，让人瞻前顾后、畏首畏尾，搞成暮气沉沉、无所作为的一潭死水，而是要通过明方向、立规矩、正风气、强免疫，营造积极健康、干事创业的政治生态和良好氛围。”一要坚持惩前毖后、治病救人的一贯方针，把思想政治工作贯穿纪律建设始终，建立健全对党员、干部日常教育管理监督长效工作机制，在思想教育中释纪释法，在执纪执法中传道传情，以共产党人的真理力量和人格力量启发良知、唤醒党性、感化人心，让党员、干部真切感受到严管就是厚爱、治病为了救人，最大限度防止干部出问题，最大限度激发干部积极性，实现纪法约束有硬度、批评教育有力度、组织关怀有温度。二要坚持纪严于法、纪在法前，把纪律挺在前面，抓早抓小、防微杜渐，正确把握“三个区分开来”要求，持续深化运用“四种形态”，建立健全纪法贯通、法法衔接体系，让红脸出汗、咬耳扯袖成为常态，教育引导广大党员、干部增强党性意识、党章意识、纪律意识、规矩意识，学会在全面从严的氛围下创造性开展工作，养成在监督约束的环境中工作生活的习惯自觉。三要坚持严格管理和关心信任相统一，既要维护党的纪律严肃性，督促党员、干部自觉履行组织赋予的各项职责，严格按照党的原则、纪律、规矩办事，严格在宪法法律范围内活动，又要旗帜鲜明为敢于担当的干部担当，为敢于负责的干部负责，激发和保护干部干事创业的积极性主动性创造性，教育引导广大党员、干部全面理解和执行党的纪律，在遵规守纪前提下安心工作、放手干事，锐意进取、积极干事，创造不负时代、不负人民的业绩。

(Author: Second-level Inspector and Discipline Inspection and Supervision Officer of the Research Office of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Commission of Supervision, Professor)

（作者：中央纪委国家监委研究室二级巡视员、纪检监察员，教授）

Online Editor: Ma Jingren

网络编辑：马京仁