Enhancing the Consciousness and Thoroughness of Ideological Transformation

At the Central Military Commission Political Work Conference in June 2024, General Secretary Xi Jinping profoundly analyzed the deep-seated contradictions and problems that need to be resolved in current political army building, emphasizing that “these problems manifest in the political, ideological, organizational, disciplinary and other spheres, but their roots lie in ideals and convictions, Party spirit, and official morality and personal character.” He proposed that advancing political army building on the new journey requires focusing on six key areas of work, the foremost being “enhancing the consciousness and thoroughness of ideological transformation.” General Secretary Xi’s profound exposition not only precisely diagnoses the crux of the problems but also points out the correct direction, principles and methods for solving them. To fundamentally resolve these problems, we must start with ideological transformation, through a comprehensive and resolute “thorough ideological cleansing,” continuously removing ideological impurities and eliminating selfish desires and distracting thoughts, so that correct, advanced and pure thoughts occupy the high ground and become indestructible. The process of ideological transformation is both a process of upholding truth and correcting errors, and a process of tempering Party spirit and elevating one’s realm. On the new journey of the New Era, continuously and deeply advancing ideological transformation is not only an inherent requirement for individual growth and progress but also a powerful driving force for the flourishing development of the Party’s and the nation’s undertakings.

2024年6月中央军委政治工作会议上，习近平总书记深刻剖析了当前政治建军需要解决的深层次矛盾与问题，强调“这些问题表现在政治、思想、组织、作风、纪律等方面，根子在理想信念、党性修养、官德人品上”。提出新征程上推进政治建军要抓好6个方面重点工作，首要的便是“增强思想改造的自觉性和彻底性”。习近平总书记的深刻论述，不仅精准把脉问题症结，更指明了解决问题的正确方向、遵循和方法。要从根本上破解这些问题，就必须从思想改造着手，通过全面的、坚决的“思想大扫除”，不断剔除思想杂质、清除私欲杂念，让正确的、先进的、纯洁的思想占据高地、坚不可摧。思想改造的过程，既是坚持真理、修正错误的过程，又是锤炼党性、提升境界的过程。新时代新征程，持续深入推进思想改造不仅是个人成长进步的内在要求，更是党和国家事业蓬勃发展的强大动力。

The key to continuously and deeply advancing ideological transformation lies in deepening theoretical armedness. “Only when theory is strong can the direction be clear, people’s hearts be united, and confidence be sufficient.” Neglecting study and being poor at learning will cause thinking and concepts to lag behind; over time, this will inevitably lead to ideological confusion and wavering faith. Theoretical study should be systematic and grasp the essence. Through systematic reading of original works, participating in specialized training, engaging in seminars and exchanges, and other methods, one should comprehensively understand the scientific system, core essence and practical requirements of the Party’s innovative theory, ensuring that theoretical study enters the mind and heart. At the same time, one should also integrate theory with practice and apply what is learned. One must not only learn more but also comprehend more deeply, achieving an understanding not only of the words but also of their meaning, not only of what is so but also of why it is so. Closely linking work reality and personal ideological reality, one should use theory to guide practice, solve concrete problems, and deepen understanding of theory through practice, forming a virtuous cycle of mutual reinforcement between theory and practice. Thus, one can strengthen faith, forge loyalty, cultivate a people-centered sentiment, and shoulder the mission and responsibility.

持续深入推进思想改造，重点在于深化理论武装。“理论强，才能方向明、人心齐、底气足。”忽视学习，不善学习，思维理念就会滞后不前，长此以往，必将陷入思想迷茫、信仰动摇的境地。进行理论学习，应做到系统学习、把握精髓。通过系统阅读原著、参加专题培训、参与研讨交流等方式，全面理解党的创新理论的科学体系、核心要义和实践要求，确保理论学习入脑入心，同时也应做到理论联系实际，学以致用。既要学得多更要悟得深，做到知其言更知其义、知其然更知其所以然。紧密联系工作实际和个人思想实际，用理论指导实践，解决具体问题，通过实践加深对理论的理解，形成理论与实践相互促进的良性循环。从而坚定信仰、铸就忠诚，涵养为民情怀、担当使命责任。

The key to ideological transformation lies in strengthening the discernment of right and wrong, correcting vague understandings, always maintaining a clear head and a firm stance, and continuously enhancing political judgment, political comprehension, and political execution. Marx believed that the communist revolution “in its development process must effect the most radical rupture with traditional ideas.” From the Gutian Congress [1]1 The Gutian Congress (December 1929) was a meeting of the Fourth Red Army in Gutian, Fujian Province, that resolved ideological and organizational issues within the Party and army, emphasizing ideological building and political work. and the Yan’an Rectification Movement [2]2 The Yan’an Rectification Movement (1942–1944) was a Party-wide campaign to correct subjectivism, sectarianism and stereotyped Party writing, aimed at unifying ideology around Mao Zedong Thought. to the successive intra-Party centralized education campaigns after the founding of New China, all have directly targeted contradictions and problems, through in-depth and thorough correction of deviations and self-correction, promoting a more unified Party membership and purer and more consolidated ideology. As Party members and cadres, we must make good use of the weapon of criticism and self-criticism, consciously engage in self-reflection and self-education, always maintain the consciousness of “self-examination like counting beans in a bowl” [3]3 “Self-examination like counting beans in a bowl” (投豆自省) is a classical allusion to a method of self-reflection, where one uses beans to count good and bad thoughts, symbolizing rigorous self-scrutiny., and adopt an attitude of digging deep into the roots and touching the soul to include ourselves in the process. Analyze from the depths of thought and work style, “align benchmarks” with the requirements of the Party Central Committee, “scan” with the Party Constitution and intra-Party regulations, “compare” with revolutionary forebears and martyrs, earnestly compare to find gaps, see the essence through phenomena, trace the problems behind problems, and practically identify the most critical points. Actively accept external supervision and criticism from others. Set aside face, widely accept advice, muster the determination for real and thorough reform, treat the criticism of the organization and comrades as a “catalyst” for improving work and a “lubricant” for correcting shortcomings, accept criticism actively, humbly and sincerely, and earnestly rectify.

思想改造的关键在于加强是非辨析，纠正模糊认识，时刻保持头脑清醒、立场坚定，不断增强政治判断力、政治领悟力、政治执行力。马克思认为，共产主义革命“在自己的发展进程中要同传统的观念实行最彻底的决裂”。从古田会议、延安整风到新中国成立后的历次党内集中教育，无一不直击矛盾问题，通过深入彻底地纠偏正向、改正自我，推动党员队伍更加整齐划一、思想更加纯洁巩固。作为党员干部，必须用好批评和自我批评这一武器，自觉进行自我反省与自我教育，始终保持“投豆自省”的自觉，以深挖根源、触动灵魂的态度，把自己摆进来。从思想和作风深处剖析，同党中央要求“对标”，拿党章党规“扫描”，同先辈先烈“对照”，认真比对找差距，透过现象看本质，追踪问题背后的问题，切实找到最关键的要害。主动接受外在监督与他人批评。抛开面子，广纳谏言，拿出真改实改的定力，将组织和同志的批评当作改进工作的“催化剂”、修正缺点的“润滑剂”，主动、虚心、诚恳地接受批评，并认真整改。

The most fundamental test of the actual effectiveness of ideological transformation is whether one is loyal and consistent, and whether one integrates knowledge and action. Loyalty or not lies not in the elegance of words or the height of tone, but in the firmness of action. Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai and other older-generation revolutionaries, as well as countless revolutionary martyrs, have set up exemplary benchmarks of loyalty and consistency, and integration of knowledge and action for us. As Party members and cadres, we must take a firm political stand, obey organizational arrangements with a high degree of political consciousness, ideological consciousness and action consciousness, and achieve resolute response to what the Party Central Committee advocates, resolute implementation of what the Party Central Committee decides, and resolute non-action on what the Party Central Committee prohibits. At the same time, we must match words with deeds, not only speaking well but also doing well, always remembering that our first identity is that of a Communist Party member and our first duty is to work for the Party. Consciously achieve consistency whether in public or in private, on or off the stage, and with or without supervision. Persistently and consistently defend the Party’s will, decisions, systems, discipline and rules, maintain faith unchanged in quality, obey the organization unchanged in heart, devote to the cause without slackening, and abide by discipline without crossing the line.

检验思想改造的实际成效，最根本的是看是否忠诚如一、知行合一。忠诚与否，不在于言辞之华丽、声调之高昂，而在于行动之坚定。毛泽东、周恩来等老一辈革命家，以及无数的革命先烈，为我们立起了忠诚如一、知行合一的榜样标杆。作为党员干部，要站稳政治立场，以高度的政治自觉、思想自觉和行动自觉服从组织安排，做到党中央提倡的坚决响应、党中央决定的坚决照办、党中央禁止的坚决不做。同时也要言行一致，既要讲得好更要做得好，始终牢记自己的第一身份是共产党员、第一职责是为党工作。自觉做到人前人后一个样、台上台下一个样、有无监督一个样。一以贯之、一如既往地勇于捍卫党的意志、决定、制度和纪律规矩，保持信仰不变质，服从组织不变心，投身事业不懈怠，遵守纪律不越轨。

“The gap of a needle’s eye is enough to let the wind through.” [4]4 “The gap of a needle’s eye is enough to let the wind through” (针眼之隙，足以容风) is a Chinese idiom warning that even the smallest oversight can lead to serious consequences. A momentary ideological laxity may lead step by step into an abyss without being aware of it. Ideological transformation is valuable for a lifetime and difficult in its consistent application. The higher the position and the greater the power, the more complex the situation, the more full of temptations, the more one should maintain the sobriety and determination to “keep learning, keep improving, and keep transforming until old age” [5]5 “Keep learning, keep improving, and keep transforming until old age” (活到老、学到老、改造到老) is a phrase attributed to Zhou Enlai, emphasizing lifelong self-cultivation and ideological transformation., and make persistent and sustained efforts in self-purification, self-improvement, self-renovation and self-enhancement. Vigorously cultivate the uprightness of political firmness and clean governance, the talent for thinking and planning affairs, doing things and achieving results, the courage to take responsibility and overcome difficulties, the vitality of exuberance and pioneering innovation, and the harmony of unity and cohesion, so as to provide strong support for comprehensively advancing the building of a strong country and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization.

“针眼之隙，足以容风。”一时的思想松懈，就可能步步跌入深渊而不自知。思想改造贵在一辈子、难在一以贯之。越是位高权重，越是形势复杂，越是充满诱惑，越应保持“活到老、学到老、改造到老”的清醒和定力，在自我净化、自我完善、自我革新、自我提高上久久为功、绵绵用力。大力培植政治坚定、清明廉洁的正气，想事谋事、干事成事的才气，敢于担当、攻坚克难的勇气，蓬勃盎然、开拓创新的朝气，团结融洽、力聚心齐的和气，为以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业提供坚强力量支撑。

(The author is the Political Commissar of the Engineering University of the People’s Armed Police Force, with the rank of Major General)

（作者系武警工程大学少将政治委员）

Online editor: Huihui

网络编辑：慧慧