Marxism laid the theoretical foundation for communist party people to strengthen their ideals and beliefs.

　　— — Learn from the important speech of the Supreme Leader at the 200th anniversary of Marx’s birth.

　　Wang Tingyou, Professor and Doctoral Supervisor, School of Marxism, Renmin University of China

　　On the morning of May 4th, General Secretary of the Supreme Leader attended the conference to commemorate the bicentennial of Marx’s birth and delivered an important speech. The speech is a brilliant Marxist programmatic document with a broad vision, profound thoughts and rich contents. This is the solemn oath of the ruling party with more than 80 million party member and the second largest economy in the world to hold high the great banner of Marxism in front of the world, strengthen the lofty belief of Marxism, and let the bright future of human society envisioned by Marx and Engels be vividly displayed on the land of China.

　　The speech deeply cherished the great achievements of Marx’s life, profoundly explained the scientific connotation of Marxism and its great role in the development of human society, scientifically summarized the magnificent course and great achievements of the Communist Party of China (CPC)’s creative promotion of Marxism in China, and pointed out the basic requirements for the Communist Party of China (CPC) people to study and practice Marxism in the new era, which was of great theoretical guidance and practical pertinence, and was of great and far-reaching significance.

　　In his speech, General Secretary of the Supreme Leader put forward nine important requirements on how to study Marx, study and practice Marxism in the new era. The first requirement is to "study and practice Marxist thoughts on the laws governing the development of human society".

　　General Secretary of the Supreme Leader regards Marxism’s thought on the law of development of human society as the primary requirement for studying and practicing Marxism in the new era, and connects this thought with the firm ideals and beliefs of communist party people, believing that this thought is the theoretical basis for communist party people to stick to their spiritual homeland. The supreme leader pointed out that Marx’s science revealed the inevitable trend of human society finally moving towards communism. Marx firmly believes that the historical trend is rushing forward. As long as the people become their own masters, the masters of society and the masters of the development of human society, the communist ideal will certainly be realized step by step in the realistic movement that constantly changes the existing situation. Marxism has laid the theoretical foundation for communist party people to strengthen their ideals and beliefs. This profound insight has grasped the essence and essence of Marxist belief, which needs to be firmly remembered and deeply understood by every firm communist party people in the new era.

　　Marxism reveals the general law of the development of human society. Today, we are talking about the law of the evolution and replacement of human society before capitalism. For example, slave society will inevitably replace primitive society, feudal society will inevitably replace slave society, and capitalist society will inevitably replace feudal society. Most people can agree with it, because history has fully proved that this law exists objectively, and Marxism’s revelation of this law is also based on summing up history and facts. However, it is a scientific truth that socialism will inevitably replace capitalism and mankind will eventually enter communism. I am afraid that some people will not agree with it, and even some party member cadres cannot fully accept it from the bottom of their hearts. Maybe they will support it politically, but they can’t form consciousness in their ideological understanding, and they can’t turn it into a firm belief in the depths of their souls.

　　There are many reasons for this situation, including objective reasons and subjective factors, but the subjective factor is the first one. An important subjective reason is the lack of profound understanding and accurate grasp of Marxist thought on the law of human social development. If you are not sober in thought and theory, you will not be firm in political action. Therefore, the General Secretary of the Supreme Leader repeatedly emphasized the importance of firm ideals and beliefs. For example, on November 17th, 2012, he pointed out in his speech at the first collective study in the 18th the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee that the belief in Marxism, socialism and communism is the political soul of communist party people and the spiritual pillar for communist party people to stand any test. Figuratively speaking, ideals and beliefs are the spiritual "calcium" of communist party people. Without ideals and beliefs, ideals and beliefs are not firm, they will be mentally "calcium-deficient" and will get "rickets".

　　On September 11th, 2015, during the 26th collective study in the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, he pointed out that the root of communist party people is our belief in Marxism, communism and socialism, and our loyalty to the Party and the people. To establish a solid foundation is to strengthen this belief, this belief and this loyalty. Only by working hard to establish a solid foundation can we have strong immunity and resistance.

　　In these two paragraphs, the Supreme Leader described it as "political soul", "spiritual pillar" and "the root of communist party people" that it is extremely important to be firm in ideals and beliefs. There are many similar arguments.

　　The conclusion of the law of social development that capitalism is bound to perish and communism is bound to win is not the result of Marx and Engels’ subjective imagination, but the result of their analysis of the basic contradictions in capitalist society by using the basic principles of historical materialism. Because there is an insurmountable basic contradiction between the sociality of production and capitalist private possession of means of production in capitalist society, the outbreak of cyclical economic crisis has become a "strange circle" that capitalist economy can’t jump out of and a lingering nightmare in capitalist society.

　　The history of capitalist development since the birth of Marxism has fully proved this ironclad fact. According to the Marxist viewpoint, to completely solve the basic contradictions in capitalist society, we need to adapt to the requirements of socialization of production, replace capitalist private ownership with socialist public ownership, and let the society occupy the means of production and adjust the national economy. This is the theoretical basis of the "two necessities" put forward in the communist party Declaration, and it is also the theoretical basis for communist party people to strengthen their ideals and beliefs and stick to their spiritual home.

　　Of course, it will take a long time for socialism to replace capitalism, and it will not happen overnight; However, no matter how tortuous the historical experience is, the general trend of human social development has not changed and will not change.

　　In today’s era when socialism and capitalism coexist and capitalism is still dominant, it is particularly important to strengthen ideals and beliefs. The key to measure whether a party member is qualified depends on whether he sincerely believes in Marxism and has firm faith in communism and socialism, and whether he can adhere to the basic viewpoint of historical materialism that capitalism is bound to perish and communism is bound to win. Only when party member cadres have lofty ideals of communism and adhere to the fundamental purpose of serving the people heart and soul, can they be hardworking, enjoy themselves in the back, work diligently, be honest and perform their duties in public, and work hard for their ideals, strive hard and give all their energy and even their lives. This is also a great significance for us to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Marx’s birth today. As General Secretary of the Supreme Leader pointed out in his speech, stick to the ideals and beliefs of communist party people and fight for communism for life like Marx.

　　Strengthening ideals and beliefs should be combined with being down-to-earth. Since its founding, the Communist Party of China (CPC) has scientifically integrated the Party’s highest ideal and ultimate goal with the Party’s basic program and the main tasks at the present stage, and successfully completed the tasks of the new-democratic revolution and the socialist revolution. After the reform and opening up, our party led the people to start a new great revolution. Upholding and developing Socialism with Chinese characteristics and realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation are the fundamental tasks to be accomplished by the Party in a long historical period. This requires that our party should not only adhere to the highest ideal and ultimate goal of the party, but also adhere to and develop Socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era and complete the main tasks of the party at this stage. It is necessary to deeply understand that the realization of communism is a historical process in which the goals are achieved step by step, to unify the lofty ideal of communism with the common ideal of Socialism with Chinese characteristics and what we are doing, and to strengthen Socialism with Chinese characteristics’s road confidence, theoretical confidence, institutional confidence and cultural confidence.

　　In order to scientifically understand Marxist thought about the law of human social development, we must study Marxism hard. Marxism, like any other science, needs hard study before it can be systematically mastered and applied flexibly. The supreme leader pointed out that it is necessary to study deeply, persistently and assiduously, and learn with problems and practice. He also said: "communist party people should regard reading Marxist classics and understanding Marxist principles as a living habit and as a spiritual pursuit, and use classics to cultivate righteousness, refine thoughts, sublimate the realm and guide practice." These important expositions have clarified the basic methods and requirements for studying Marxism, which should become the motto of every cadre in party member, set off an upsurge of studying and practicing Marxism in the whole party and society, and provide a powerful spiritual motivation and action guide for realizing the two centenary goals and the Chinese nation’s great rejuvenation of the Chinese dream. (Editor Guo Suping)

　　(This article is the phased achievement of China Renmin University’s 21st Century China Marxist Research Collaborative Innovation Center.)