The Chinese Communist Party has officially proposed Xi Jinping’s Party Building Thought, claiming it to be a significant original contribution. But what exactly is it? What is its position in the theoretical system of the CCP? In reality, since Xi Jinping came to power, not only has corruption become increasingly severe, even loyalty has become a problem, proving the thorough failure of Xi Jinping’s Party Building Thought. Is the generational decline of CCP leadership theory coming to its final twilight?
Recently, the CCP suddenly put forward a new idea, Xi Jinping’s Party Building Thought. It was proposed at a national party building work symposium held in Beijing on June 15, attended by Politburo Standing Committee members Cai Qi and Li Xi. This indicates it is not the sudden whim of an individual but a decision made at the highest level. Subsequently, major media outlets and theoretical publications followed suit in praising it.
On June 18, the Central Party Building Work Leading Group issued a notice on “Learning and Implementing Xi Jinping’s Party Building Thought.” Although the concept of Xi Jinping’s Party Building Thought first appeared in 2017, this is the first time it has been officially introduced through a central document.
The meeting highly praised Xi Jinping’s Party Building Thought as making a “significant original contribution to the development of Marxist building-the-party theory.”
However, there are two major problems with this statement. Marxism does not have a theory of building the party. The first and second internationals in Marx’s era, in which Engels participated in founding, were not political parties in the current sense. Marxism primarily formed a complete theoretical foundation, with Lenin successfully putting it into practice, creating communist parties, known as Leninist parties.
The CCP leader’s theory only amounts to adherence to party leadership, strict party governance, staying true to the original aspiration and mission, and advancing anti-corruption efforts. Yet, which of these points was not mentioned by Mao Zedong? Which is an original idea by Xi Jinping? And which of these can truly be called “thought”?
Party building, shortened from party construction, was considered one of the “Three Great Treasures” of the Chinese Revolution by Mao Zedong, which stresses strengthening the CCP’s ideological and organizational construction to maintain the party’s so-called advancement and combat effectiveness.
Does Xi Jinping have his own ideology or theoretical system? Xi Jinping’s Party Building Thought is said to be part of Xi Jinping’s Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. However, understanding what exactly these ideologies entail remains murky. Prior to assuming General Secretary, Xi Jinping had not published any theoretical explorations, suggesting that his ideological system was summarized and elevated by others after he gained the highest authority. Except for some bureaucrats and intellectuals who praise him, no one truly knows what his “thought” is.
This is a common trait of the CCP — once obtaining ultimate power, leaders suddenly become theoreticians and experts in various fields, even when they had no prior experience in those areas before assuming leadership positions.