Comrade Mao Zedong’s “Persuasion and Education” Method and Its Contemporary Implications

Ideological and political work is the Party’s fine tradition, its distinctive feature, and its prominent political advantage; it is the lifeline of all work. In the course of carrying out ideological and political work, Comrade Mao Zedong adhered to a comprehensive, panoramic perspective of historical materialism, established for the first time in the history of the development of scientific socialist theory a doctrine concerning contradictions in socialist society, and formed a series of methods for ideological and political work characterized distinctively by “persuasion and education,” which were systematically presented in *On the Correct Handling of Contradictions Among the People*.

思想政治工作是党的优良传统、鲜明特色和突出政治优势，是一切工作的生命线。毛泽东同志在开展思想政治工作的过程中，坚持全方位、全景式的历史唯物主义视野，在科学社会主义理论发展史上首次创立了有关社会主义社会矛盾的学说，形成了以“说服教育”为鲜明特色的一系列思想政治工作方法，并在《关于正确处理人民内部矛盾的问题》中得以系统呈现。

The Establishment of Comrade Mao Zedong’s Method of “Persuasion and Education” in Ideological and Political Work

毛泽东同志关于思想政治工作“说服教育”方法的创立

Ideological and political work is the “family heirloom” of the Chinese Communist Party, running through the Party’s century-long struggle. After the Autumn Harvest Uprising in 1927, Comrade Mao Zedong, based on the state of army building, decided to reorganize and reorient the troops, implementing the “establishment of Party branches on company-level units” and, through the great undertaking of the “Sanwan Reorganization,” [1]1 The Sanwan Reorganization (September–October 1927) was a military restructuring carried out by Mao Zedong after the failure of the Autumn Harvest Uprising, which established Party branches at the company level and introduced democratic principles into the Red Army. opened the prelude to the Party’s original ideological and political work. The *Resolution of the Ninth Congress of the Fourth Red Army of the Chinese Communist Party* (also known as the “Gutian Congress Resolution”) [2]2 The Gutian Congress Resolution (December 1929) was a foundational document of the Chinese Communist Party’s military and political work, emphasizing the Party’s absolute leadership over the army and the primacy of ideological and political education. clarified the goals, tasks, methods, and systems of the Party’s ideological and political work, laying the theoretical foundation for carrying out such work. In 1944, Comrade Mao Zedong personally added to Tan Zheng’s *Report on the Question of Political Work in the Army* [3]3 Tan Zheng (1906–1988) was a senior Chinese Communist Party military and political officer. His 1944 report, revised by Mao, systematized the Party’s experience in political work within the army. the major thesis that “the revolutionary political work led by the Communist Party is the lifeline of the revolutionary army,” marking the maturity of the Party’s theory of ideological and political work. During the War of Liberation, the ideological and political work carried out by the Party achieved successes in areas such as army politics, disintegrating enemy forces, work among peasants in liberated areas, and intra-Party education.

思想政治工作是中国共产党的“传家宝”，贯穿于党的百年奋斗历程。1927年秋收起义后，毛泽东同志立足军队建设现状，决定对部队进行整顿和改编，实行“支部建在连上”，以“三湾改编”的壮举拉开了党的独创性思想政治工作的序幕。《中国共产党红军第四军第九次代表大会决议案》（又称“古田会议决议”）明确了党的思想政治工作的目标与任务、方法与制度，奠定了开展思想政治工作的理论基础。1944年，毛泽东同志在谭政所作《关于军队政治工作问题的报告》中，亲笔增写了“共产党领导的革命的政治工作是革命军队的生命线”的重大论断，标志着党的思想政治工作理论的成熟。解放战争时期，党开展的思想政治工作在军队政治、瓦解敌军、解放区农民工作、党内教育等方面都取得了成就。

After the founding of New China, Comrade Mao Zedong further elevated ideological and political work to a position of overall importance in the cause of socialist revolution and construction, regarding political work as the lifeline of all economic work. He systematically summarized the lessons of the international communist movement and the practical experience of China’s revolution and construction, deeply discerned the roots, essence, and fundamental methods for resolving the prominent contradictions that had emerged, and wrote and delivered the speech *On the Correct Handling of Contradictions Among the People*, forming a relatively complete theory of the basic contradictions of socialist society. Comrade Mao Zedong pointed out clearly that the contradictions appearing in our society are entirely different in nature: contradictions between ourselves and the enemy are a matter of distinguishing between friend and foe, while contradictions among the people are a matter of distinguishing between right and wrong. “All questions of an ideological nature and all disputes among the people can only be resolved by democratic methods, by methods of discussion, criticism, and persuasion and education, and not by coercive, oppressive methods.” Thus, a scientific method was formed for resolving contradictions in the ideological and political sphere among the people, following the path of “unity—criticism—unity.” [4]4 “Unity—criticism—unity” is a formula for handling contradictions among the people: starting from the desire for unity, resolving contradictions through criticism or struggle, and achieving a new unity on a new basis. By using meticulous, reasoning-based methods among cadres, students, and the masses of workers and peasants to carry out socialist ideological and political education, a favorable situation of unity in building socialism was achieved, highlighting the power of “persuasion and education.”

新中国成立以后，毛泽东同志进一步将思想政治工作推至社会主义革命和建设事业的全局位置，将政治工作视为一切经济工作的生命线，他系统总结国际共产主义运动教训和中国革命与建设的实践经验，深刻洞察内在矛盾凸显的根源、本质及解决矛盾的根本方法，撰写并发表了《关于正确处理人民内部矛盾的问题》讲话，形成了比较完整的社会主义社会基本矛盾学说。毛泽东同志鲜明指出，我国社会中出现的矛盾性质完全不同，敌我矛盾是分清敌我的问题，而人民内部矛盾是分清是非的问题，“凡属于思想性质的问题，凡属于人民内部的争论问题，只能用民主的方法去解决，只能用讨论的方法、批评的方法、说服教育的方法去解决，而不能用强制的、压服的方法去解决”，由此形成了以“团结—批评—团结”为路径解决人民思想政治领域内在矛盾的科学方法，在干部、学生、工农群众之间用细致的讲理的方法开展社会主义思想政治教育，实现了团结一致建设社会主义的良好局面，凸显了“说服教育”的力量。

The Principles of Comrade Mao Zedong’s Method of “Persuasion and Education” in Ideological and Political Work

毛泽东同志关于思想政治工作“说服教育”方法的原则

Human-centeredness — “Self-education work among the people.” The reason Marxism has been widely accepted as a theory that changes the world is that it provides a plan for human liberation, and a crucial link in realizing human liberation lies in forming a virtuous cycle of doing good ideological and political work among the people through means such as ideological enlightenment and educational guidance. In Comrade Mao Zedong’s view, contradictions among the people should be handled through education and persuasion by democratic methods, and this educational work is “self-education work among the people.” On the one hand, ideological and political work, as an important means for the Party and the state to educate, guide, and shape people, has an inherent political attribute; it is a prerequisite for the people to legitimately and reasonably express their own demands and an important precondition for social harmony and stability. It must proceed in the same direction as the rigid means of administrative orders, jointly acting upon real life. However, the issuance of administrative orders “must also be accompanied by persuasion and education,” thereby neutralizing their inherent coerciveness and achieving a better effect of inculcation. On the other hand, ideological and political work is, in the final analysis, the self-education of “real people.” Putting the people first is the firm stance and important concept of the Party’s ideological and political work. Ideological and political work must adhere to a people-centered approach, firmly grasp the highest essence of humanity, use people’s real demands to drive “persuasion and education” deeper and more solidly, and in the process of basing itself on people, serving people, and shaping people, construct a scientific theory that is truly loved, recognized, and supported by people, achieving human liberation in thorough revolution.

人本性——“人民内部的自我教育工作”。马克思主义之所以被广泛接受，成为改变世界的理论，是因为它提供了解放人的方案，而人的解放得以实现的重要环节就在于通过思想启蒙、教育引领等方式，形成做好人民思想政治工作的良性循环。在毛泽东同志看来，人民内部矛盾要用民主的方法开展教育和说服工作，而这种教育工作是“人民内部的自我教育工作”。一方面，思想政治工作作为党和国家教育人、引导人、塑造人的重要手段，具有先天的政治属性，是人民合法合理表达自我诉求的先决条件，是社会和谐稳定的重要前提，必须与行政命令的刚性手段同向同行，共同作用于现实生活。但是，行政命令的发布“也要伴之以说服教育”，以此中和其固有的强制性，实现更好的灌输效果。另一方面，思想政治工作归根结底是“现实的人”的自我教育。人民至上是党的思想政治工作的坚定立场和重要理念，思想政治工作要坚持以人民为中心，牢牢把握人的最高本质，以人的现实诉求推动“说服教育”走深走实，在立足人、服务人、塑造人的过程中，构建真正为人所喜爱、所认同、所拥护的科学理论，在彻底的革命中实现人的解放。

Thoroughness — “Everyone needs remolding.” A thorough revolution must first possess thorough ideological and political remolding. Ideological and political work is a very thorough and conscious work of educating people. “In the process of building a socialist society, everyone needs remolding; the exploiters need remolding, and the working people also need remolding.” The deeper, more thorough, and more fundamental the persuasion, the more it can remold people. On the one hand, “persuasion and education” must be thorough. Ideological and political work is not an activity targeting only a single group or a single field; it is an indispensable educational activity targeting all real people in society. Therefore, “persuasion and education” must fully implement the principle of thoroughness from top to bottom and from the inside out, facing real problems, studying real problems, and revealing real problems, rather than moaning without being ill or mystifying things. This is an important prerequisite for maintaining the scientific nature of “persuasion and education.” On the other hand, “persuasion and education” possesses long-term consciousness. The purpose of “persuasion and education” is not only to interpret the world but, more importantly, to consciously change the world; this is its thoroughness in the dimension of goals. Although the creation of persuasion is an internal activity of thought itself, and the result of persuasion is the crystallization of the brain’s wisdom, the objects of thought activity and the materials for creating theory are not thought itself, nor are they abstract concepts or categories. On the contrary, the objects of thought return to the subjective existence of people, to real, active individuals. Therefore, the scientific theory of “persuasion and education” must be transformed into people’s thorough internal thought, becoming a conscious practical activity, so that the process of persuasion strikes directly into the depths of people’s hearts.

彻底性——“人人需要改造”。彻底的革命，首先要拥有彻底的思想政治改造。思想政治工作是一项十分彻底且自觉的育人工作，“在建设社会主义社会的过程中，人人需要改造，剥削者要改造，劳动者也要改造”。说服越深入、越透彻、越根本，也就越能改造人。一方面，“说服教育”必须彻底。思想政治工作并不是仅仅针对某一单一群体的活动，也不是针对某一单一领域的活动，而是针对全部社会现实的人的必不可少的教育活动。因此，“说服教育”必须完整贯彻自上而下、由里到外的彻底性原则，面向真问题、研究真问题、揭示真问题，而不能无病呻吟、故弄玄虚，这是保有“说服教育”科学性的重要前提。另一方面，“说服教育”具有长期自觉性。“说服教育”的目的不仅在于解释世界，更在于自觉地改变世界，这是其在目标维度的彻底性。虽然说服的创立是思维本身的内在活动，说服的成果是大脑智慧的结晶，但是思维活动的对象、创立理论的材料并不是思维本身，更不是什么抽象的概念或者范畴，恰好相反，思维的对象回归于人的主体性存在，回归现实的、能动的个人。因此，“说服教育”的科学理论必须转化为人的彻底的内在思维，成为自觉的现实活动，使说服的过程直击人的心灵深处。

Practicality — “Remolding in prolonged class struggle.” The depth of theory and the depth of practice are interdependent and mutually reinforcing. In *On the Correct Handling of Contradictions Among the People*, Comrade Mao Zedong systematically explained two ways of undergoing his own ideological remolding: one was books, and the other was “remolding in prolonged class struggle.” In his view, learning book knowledge only teaches one to interpret the world superficially, whereas the essence of “persuasion and education” lies in breaking the spiritual shackles of the internal contradictions of real society, thereby constructing a spiritual weapon that can truly transform the world and achieve human liberation. Therefore, genuine ideological remolding must be obtained from prolonged practice. Generally speaking, what people directly perceive is real social life; they do not blindly worship or follow any theory. In terms of sequence, it seems that practice comes first, followed by the summation of practical experience, which then forms theory. But in reality, theory and practice are unified. That theory originates from practice does not mean that theory is passive before practice. On the contrary, the more truth is combined with practice, the more it can in turn enhance the persuasive power of theory. In this sense, the depth and thoroughness of theoretical persuasion prepare the necessary conditions for practice, making the depth of practice more possible. Therefore, ideological and political work should avoid a metaphysical style, truly base itself on social practice, social problems, and social experience, and fully exert the practical role of “persuasion and education” in guiding practice, shaping practice, and forming powerful practical force.

实践性——“在长期阶级斗争中改造”。理论的深入性和实践的深入性是唇齿相依、相互促进的。毛泽东同志在《关于正确处理人民内部矛盾的问题》中系统说明了自身进行思想改造的两种方式，一种是书本，另一种则是“在长期阶级斗争中改造”。在他看来，对书本知识的学习，仅仅是学会了单纯地从表面上解释世界，而“说服教育”的本质在于破除现实社会内在矛盾的精神枷锁，从而建构真正能够改造世界、获得人的解放的精神武器，因此必须从长期的实践中获得真正的思想改造。一般而言，人所直接感知到的是现实的社会生活，并不会盲目地崇拜和盲从于某种理论。从先后次序来看，似乎是先有实践，再有对实践经验的总结，进而形成理论。但实际上，理论与实践是相互统一的，理论来源于实践并不是说理论在实践面前是被动的，相反，真理越是与实践相结合，越是能够反过来推进理论的说服力量。从这个意义上说，理论说服的深入、彻底为实践准备了必要条件，实践的深入性也就有了更大的可能。因此，思想政治工作理应避免形而上学的作风，真正立足于社会实践、社会问题、社会经验，充分发挥“说服教育”引导实践、塑造实践、形成强大实践力量的现实作用。

The Contemporary Implications of Comrade Mao Zedong’s Method of “Persuasion and Education” in Ideological and Political Work

毛泽东同志关于思想政治工作“说服教育”方法的现实启示

Cultivate a people-oriented philosophy and enhance guiding power. A genuine theory of ideological and political work for the people cannot transcend reality to engage in lofty fantasies, nor can it be vague and boundless rhetoric; it must necessarily serve the practical theories of the people and the era. Comrade Mao Zedong repeatedly explored the correct methods for resolving contradictions among the people precisely to transform people’s thinking, enabling them to become truly free practical subjects and realizing the highest essence of humanity. Therefore, the practical application of the “persuasion and education” method must firmly grasp a people-oriented philosophy, focusing on finding innovative points and growth areas for “theory persuading people” within the practical care for people. Specifically, on one hand, it is necessary to base oneself on a people-oriented philosophy and deepen the non-coercive nature of persuasion. Persuasion is a gentle, gradual process; its concrete expression should align with the people’s living customs, reflect the characteristics of their discourse, and conform to their habits of reception. Its concrete content must stand firmly on the people’s side, and its concrete dissemination must help enrich the people’s spiritual life, constructing a scientific theory of persuasion that truly resonates with the people. On the other hand, it is necessary to attend to the people’s demands, ensuring that “persuasion and education” serves the people’s needs for a better life. “Persuasion and education” is, in the final analysis, education of “real people”; the people’s concrete practical demands and developmental requirements are the goal-oriented direction for innovation in the “persuasion and education” method. “Persuasion and education” must truly resolve the questions of for whom it is researched, on whose behalf it speaks, and whom it serves, disseminating the Party’s innovative theories among the people, further strengthening the practical efficacy of “theory persuading people,” and enhancing ideological guiding power.

厚植人本理念，增强引领力。真正的人民的思想政治工作理论，不可能是超于现实去作高远遐想，也不可能是空泛而漫无边际的高谈阔论，而是必然要服务于人民和时代的现实的理论。毛泽东同志反复探寻解决人民内部矛盾的正确方法，就是为了改造人的思想，使人成为真正自由的现实主体，实现人的最高本质。因此，“说服教育”方法的现实应用要牢牢把握人本理念，在对人的现实关怀中，着力寻找“理论说服人”的创新点和生长点。具体来说，一方面，要立足人本理念，深化说服的非压服性方式。说服是一种温婉循序渐进的过程，其具体表达要贴近人民的生活习俗、体现人民的话语特点、符合人民的接受习惯，具体内容要站稳人民的立场，具体传播要助力人民精神富足、构建起真正贴近人民的科学说服理论。另一方面，要关注人民诉求，让“说服教育”服务于人民群众对美好生活的需要。“说服教育”归根结底是对“现实的人”的教育，人民的具体现实诉求和发展要求是“说服教育”方法创新的目标导向。“说服教育”要真正解决好为谁研究、替谁说话、为谁服务的问题，将党的创新理论传播到人民中去，进一步强化“理论说服人”的现实效能，增强思想引领力。

Deepen theoretical research and improve persuasiveness. Only when a theory is thoroughly explained can it persuade people; only a thorough theory can thoroughly persuade people. The primary prerequisite for improving the persuasiveness of theory is to deepen theoretical research, construct a thorough theoretical system, and ensure that a scientific theory is used to thoroughly persuade people. On one hand, ideological and political workers must maintain theoretical clarity and ensure the correct political direction. Every time the Party’s theoretical innovation advances one step, theoretical armed [study and application] must follow one step. [5]5 “Theoretical armed” (理论武装) is a standard CPC term for the process of systematically studying and applying the Party’s theories to guide practice and unify thinking. Ideological and political workers must put effort into thoroughly studying, deeply understanding, and achieving mastery through comprehensive comprehension, fully absorbing theoretical nourishment, strengthening their own theoretical literacy and political level, promoting theory from the “mind” to reach the “heart,” and shaping themselves into steadfast supporters, researchers, and disseminators of the Party’s innovative theories. On the other hand, ideological and political workers must consolidate their academic foundation and provide scholarly support. For theory to be thorough, it must be adept at discerning social phenomena, analyzing social problems, relying on profound scholarly support, and grasping the essential attributes of things. Therefore, it is necessary to adhere to a problem-oriented approach in ideological and political work, focusing not only on research into the foundational, fundamental, and complex issues of ideological and political work but also on research into the new situations, new problems, and new challenges that arise in the process of “persuasion and education,” ensuring that wherever there is confusion, there is research; wherever there are blind spots, there is research; wherever there are new situations, there is research. Sufficient effort and achievements must be made in the theoretical research of ideological and political work to provide solid support for solving problems.

深化理论研究，提高说服力。理论只有讲得透彻才能够说服人，只有彻底的理论才能够彻底说服人。提高理论的说服力，首要前提是深化理论研究，建构彻底的理论体系，确保用具有科学性的理论来彻底说服人。一方面，思想政治工作者要保持理论清醒，确保正确的政治方向。党的理论创新每前进一步，理论武装就要跟进一步。思想政治工作者要在学深悟透、融会贯通上下功夫，充分汲取理论养分，强化自身理论素养和政治水平，推动理论由“头脑”抵达“心脏”，将自己塑造为党的创新理论的坚定拥护者、研究者、传播者。另一方面，思想政治工作者要夯实学术功底，提供学理支撑。理论要彻底，就要善于洞察社会现象、剖析社会问题，以深厚的学理作为支撑，抓住事物的本质属性。因此，要坚持思想政治工作的问题导向，既要着力开展对思想政治工作基础性、根本性和复杂性问题的研究，也要开展针对“说服教育”过程中出现的新情况、新问题、新挑战的研究，做到哪里有困惑哪里就有研究、哪里有盲点哪里就有研究、哪里有新情况哪里就有研究。要在思想政治工作的理论研究上做足功夫、有所作为，为解决问题提供坚实支撑。

Advance practical innovation and enhance appeal. Practice is the intermediate bridge connecting the subjective world and the objective world. To enhance the educational effectiveness of the “persuasion and education” method, it is necessary to coordinate the unity of theoretical persuasion and practical persuasion, promote practical innovation from multiple dimensions, and develop “persuasion and education” in breadth, width, and depth. First, it is necessary to highlight the educational function of practice and broaden the breadth of “persuasion and education.” Practice is the ultimate foothold of “persuasion and education.” “Persuasion and education” must firmly grasp the important link of educating through practice, fully leverage the guiding, applied, and externalizing functions of practice, strengthen practical teaching, innovate forms of military training, and extensively carry out social practice activities, using education through practice to promote a deep-level transformation of “persuasion and education” from relying solely on “incultation” to enhancing “experience.” Second, it is necessary to value the nurturing function of culture and expand the width of “persuasion and education.” Culture has an important role in nourishing the human heart, cultivating roots, and forging the soul. “Persuasion and education” should be adept at utilizing cultural carriers, emphasizing the use of culture to educate people and cultivate people, fully absorbing the rich nourishment from over five thousand years of Chinese civilization history, achieving a cluster effect through resource integration and linkage, and guiding the people to understand virtue and uphold goodness. Third, it is necessary to grasp the pulse of the times and increase the depth of “persuasion and education.” Diverse media provide new choices for “persuasion and education.” It is necessary to leverage the communication advantages of media convergence to construct a deep memory of this method, promote the diverse dissemination of theory through “drip-feed education” and “immersive experiences,” and advance the “persuasion and education” method in depth, making it more grounded, more attractive, and more appealing.

推进实践创新，增强感染力。实践是联结主观世界与客观世界的中间桥梁。提升“说服教育”方法的育人成效，必须统筹好理论说服与实践说服的同一性，多维度推动实践创新，在广度、宽度、深度上发展“说服教育”。其一，要突出实践育人功效，拓宽“说服教育”的广度。实践是“说服教育”的落脚点。“说服教育”要牢牢抓好实践育人的重要环节，充分发挥实践所具有的导向功能、应用功能、外化功能，强化实践教学、创新军事训练形式、广泛开展社会实践活动，以实践育人推动“说服教育”实现从仅仅依靠“灌输”到增强“体验”的深层次变革。其二，要重视文化涵养功用，拓展“说服教育”的宽度。文化具有滋养人心、培根铸魂的重要作用。“说服教育”要善于利用文化载体，重视以文化人、以文育人，充分汲取五千多年中华文明史的丰厚养分，以资源整合联动实现集群效应，引导人民群众明德崇善。其三，要把握时代脉搏，增加“说服教育”的深度。多元传播媒体为“说服教育”提供了全新选择，要借助媒体融合的传播优势建构这一方法的深层记忆，以“滴灌式教育”“沉浸式体验”推动理论的多元传播，推动“说服教育”方法向纵深发展，使其更接地气、更有吸引力、更富感染力。

In the great practice of socialist revolution and construction, Comrade Mao Zedong established the method of “persuasion and education,” laying a profound philosophical foundation for ideological and political work. In the New Era, strengthening and improving ideological and political work requires highlighting multi-dimensional linkages, unleashing a “multiplier” effect, promptly shifting thinking and innovating, firmly grasping the principles of people-centeredness, thoroughness, and practicality, systematically and reasonably transforming thinking, and ensuring that “persuasion and education” achieves broad, lasting, and deep results.

在社会主义革命与建设的伟大实践中，毛泽东同志创立了“说服教育”的方法，为思想政治工作奠定了深厚的哲理内涵。新时代加强和改进思想政治工作要凸显多维联动，释放“乘数”效应，及时转换思路、开拓创新，牢牢把握人本性、彻底性、实践性原则，系统而合理地改造思想，确保“说服教育”取得广泛、持久、深入的成效。

Online editor: Huihui

网络编辑：慧慧