The compilation of the Great Dictionary of Marxism (GDM) is a Major Entrusted Project of the National Social Science Fund of China undertaken by the Centre for Collaborative Innovation of Marxist Theory and Chinese Practice, Wuhan University, as well as a key project for the prosperous development of philosophy and social sciences in Hubei Province. The project took five years from its inception in 2013 to its finalization in November 2017. The first manuscripts of the entry articles were written in two and a half years from the winter of 2013 to the end of April 2016. From the beginning of May 2016 to the end of November 2017, it took more than a year to unify the manuscripts, resulting in 2,094 entries. In line with the stages of development of Marxism, there are 626 entries on Marxism (General Theories & Strict Sense), 382 entries on Leninism, 578 entries on Mao Zedong Thought, and 508 on the Theoretical System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics (including Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Important Thought of Three Represents, the Scientific Outlook on Development, and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era), and by kind, there are 1,023 entries on the fundamental concepts and principles, 552 entries on representative works, 147 entries on representative figures, 150 entries on major historical events, newspapers and periodicals, organizations and institutions, 124 entries on important meetings, 56 entries on schools of thought and 42 entries on historical background. On the occasion of the publication of the Great Dictionary of Marxism by Chongwen Press of the Hubei Changjiang Publishing and Media Group and its English version by Canut Press, I would like to make some points on a number of issues.
The naming and the significance of the compilation and publication of the Great Dictionary of Marxism
The naming of the dictionary as The Great Dictionary of Marxism, is intended to comprehensively and systematically reflect Marxism-Leninism as the guiding ideology of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and its enrichment and development in China and to highlight the scientific, revolutionary, ideological, theoretical, practical and innovative nature of Marxism from the perspective of the integrity of Marxism.
The significance of the compilation and publication of this Great Dictionary of Marxism lies in the fact that the Communist Party of China is a great, mature and time-tested Marxist party. Over the past century, the CPC has studied and disseminated, researched and applied, adhered to and developed, pioneered and innovated Marxism, combined the fundamental principles of Marxism with the concrete reality of China, achieved two historic leaps, and attained two major theoretical achievements − Mao Zedong Thought and the Theoretical System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics. Under the guidance of Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought and the Theoretical System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, the Communist Party of China won the great victory of revolution, construction and reform, highlighting the utmost importance of Marxism, especially of Sinicized Marxism, to the revolution, construction and reform in China, and its strong vitality of keeping pace with the times and unceasing innovation and development. Since the 18th Party Congress, the CPC Central Committee, with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, attached great importance to upholding and developing Marxism, focused closely on the major questions of the era, i.e. what kind of socialism with Chinese characteristics to uphold and develop in the new era and how to uphold and develop it, adhered to taking Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Important Thought of Three Represents and the Scientific Outlook on Development as a guidance, adhered to emancipating the mind, seeking truth from the facts, keeping pace with the times, and dealing with concrete issues, upheld dialectical materialism and historical materialism, closely combined the new conditions of the era and the requirements of practice, and deepened the understanding of the laws of governance by the Communist Party, the laws of socialist construction and the laws of development of human society with a brand-new vision, conducted a painstaking theoretical exploration and gained major achievements in theoretical innovation, thus forming Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Such thought is an inheritance and development of Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Important Thought of Three Represents and the Scientific Outlook on Development, the latest achievement of the Sinicisation of Marxism, the crystallization of the practical experience and collective wisdom of the Party and the people, an important content of the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and an important component part of the Theoretical System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and a guide to action for the whole Party, nation and the people to strive for achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and must be upheld in the long term and developed incessantly. The compilation and publication of this dictionary is beneficial to our in-depth study of Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought and the Theoretical System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, and especially beneficial to us in better studying and mastering, carrying out and putting into effect the Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese characteristics for a New Era.
In order to achieve the highest ideal of communism and uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics, the Party leaders and the CPC Central Committee have always attached importance to the study of Marxist theory by the whole Party during various periods of the historical development of the Party and the state, and emphasized that theoretical firmness is the prerequisite and foundation for political firmness. On the issue of strengthening theoretical study, strengthening theoretical armament, strengthening theoretical construction, strengthening theoretical innovation and unswervingly upholding and developing Marxism in the new stage of historical development, General Secretary Xi Jinping has delivered a series of important speeches, the CPC Central Committee has issued a number of important documents, and profoundly organized and implemented Marxist theoretical research and construction projects. The spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speeches on upholding and developing Marxism is a new thought, a new guideline and a new driving force for guiding the research and innovation of Marxist theory in China in the new era, and is of fundamental long-term guiding significance to further push forward the Sinicisation, the modernization and the popularization of Marxism, and to advance the development of Marxism in the 21st century and contemporary Chinese Marxism in all respects. The spirit of these important speeches has demonstrated the Chinese Communists’ firm faith in Marxism, their lofty faith in communism and their strong confidence in socialism with Chinese characteristics, shining with the light of truth of Marxism. In particular, in the practice of upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics, General Secretary Xi Jinping has combined theoretical innovation with practical innovation and institutional innovation, put forward a series of important new ideas, new thoughts and new strategies, and created the Thought of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for the New Era. He has personally presided over the collective thematic study and discussion sessions of the CPC Central Politburo on Marxist philosophy, Marxist political economy, etc. on a number of occasions and delivered important speeches, and researched and cracked the major theoretical and practical questions of upholding and developing of socialism with Chinese characteristics. He has also personally organized and deployed the research and construction projects for deepening the Marxist theory and the work concerning the prosperous development of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics, and set a shining example for the whole Party in studying and applying, researching and innovating, and upholding and developing Marxism. The compilation and publication of this dictionary is beneficial to us our relentless advancement of theoretical innovation and the course of the Sinicisation of Marxism.
Marxism is the scientific system of understanding the world and changing the world, which is comprehensive and systematic, deep and profound, which keeps pace with the times, and has a strong vitality and far-reaching influence. Studying the scientific theories of Marxism requires knowledge in many respects and the provision of conditions in all respects, including relevant reference books. Many comrades who study, propagate, research and apply Marxism and other philosophical and social sciences hoped to have a scientific, accurate, systematic and reliable dictionary of Marxism based on the classical works of Marxism, the basic literature of the Communist Party of China, the important expositions of the chief leaders of the party and the state, and the objective and true historical facts, so as to clearly explain the fundamental principles, fundamental concepts and fundamental categories of Marxism and their innovative development, the basic contents, thoughts and views of the founders, successors, developers of Marxist theory and of their representative works, and the closely related historical contexts, major historical events, well-known figures, important meetings, and schools of thought, and so as to introduce the history of development, the outstanding achievements and the important role played by the Sinicisation of Marxism, especially the latest achievements of Marxism in the 21st century and the innovative development of Marxism in contemporary China. It is very meaningful to the implementation of the major decision and deployment by the CPC Central Committee, with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core, to uphold and develop Marxism, strengthen ideological construction, consolidate the guiding position of Marxism in the ideological sphere, and consolidate the common ideological basis for the unified struggle of the entire Party and the people of all nationalities, for the vast majority of Party members, cadres, teachers, researchers and young students to study Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought and the Theoretical System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, especially Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, to enhance their confidence in the path, theory, system and culture, and to better serve the people, socialism, the governance of the country by the CPC and reform, opening up and socialist modernization, to assist those who study, propagate, study and apply Marxism in complicated ideological struggles to improve their ability to identify erroneous currents and erroneous views, to adhere to the correct direction, and to master substantive expertise.
In a nutshell, in order to implement the decision and deployment by the Central Committee on incessantly pushing forward the Sinicization of Marxism and comprehensively developing Marxism in the 21st century, and to adapt to the current fervent demand of the whole Party, the whole army and the whole nation to study, research and apply Marxism, we have organized our forces and compiled this Great Dictionary of Marxism.
The positioning and the principles of compilation of the Great Dictionary of Marxism
This Great Dictionary of Marxism is positioned as a reference book, a textbook and a history book to assist Party members and cadres, university teachers, researchers, young students and the broad masses to study, propagate, research and apply the classical original works of Marxism, and to correctly understand and grasp the fundamental principles and fundamental knowledge of Marxism and their development, innovation and application in China, and aims to provide accurate, scientific and reliable answers for those who encounter problems in studying, propagating, researching and applying Marxism.
In line with this positioning, in the entire compilation process, we have always adhered to the following principles:
1. We have always adhered to the Marxist outlook of the Chinese Communists. Today, there are many schools and figures who call themselves Marxist, and a wide variety of interpretations of Marxism have been made, passing off the sham as the genuine. Our dictionary unswervingly adheres to the standpoints, views and methods of Marxism upheld by the CPC, i.e. Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Important Thought of Three Represents, the Scientific Outlook on Development and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, as the guiding ideology of the CPC. It does not discuss Marxism in general, nor does it promote or introduce any other form of “Marxism”. In the face of the challenges posed by various social currents to the scientific theory of Marxism, the Editorial Board strived to reflect comprehensively and accurately the spirit of the original works and the original theories of Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, the Theoretical System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, especially Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. In the selection of entries, any work, representative figure and event that is not relevant is excluded. As regards works, representative figures and events that have little relevance, the entries are chosen to be as few and concise as possible and to the point. As for various social currents and controversial academic views, the original works and theories on Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought and the Theoretical System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, especially Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and the content of the documents of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China are taken as the fundamental basis and identification criteria for discernment and review.
2. We have always adhered to high standards and strict requirements. The compilation of this Great Dictionary of Marxism is a serious work of extremely strong political, ideological and intellectual nature. There must be no political deviation, no ideological ambiguity, and no intellectual error. By giving full play to the maximum capacity and highest level of Marxism research of the authors of this dictionary, the Editorial Board hoped to compile a reference book, a textbook, and a history book that is cross-disciplinary and cross-era, that gathers the quintessence of Marxist thought and theory, the achievements of innovating and developing Marxism, and the major accomplishments of knowledge and wisdom of the Marxist theoretical community, a reference book, a textbook, and a history book that comprehensively, systematically, scientifically and accurately introduces, interprets, and disseminates the fundamental theories and fundamental knowledge as well as the course of development and the achievements of development of Marxism. Vertically, the design of the dictionary entries begins with the old forefathers of Marxism, Marx and Engels, and proceeds up to the present, CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, including Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Theoretical System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, especially Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, capable of historically reflecting how Marxism has emerged and how it developed over more than a century and a half. Horizontally, it must contain each chief component part of Marxism: the fundamental theories of Marxist philosophy, political economy and scientific socialism and the social and historical background upon which they emerged and developed, their representative works, representative figures and the schools of thought closely related to them. In its totality, it must contain the fundamental principles, fundamental standpoints, fundamental views, fundamental common knowledge of Marxism and their fundamental context. In particular, it must adhere to the principle of combining the fundamental principles of Marxism with the concrete reality of China, and focus on reflecting the outstanding achievements of the Communist Party of China in its long-term study, research, application, adherence to, innovation and development of Marxism. Compiled by Marxist theorists from all relevant areas within the Party after the 18th Congress, this dictionary shall prominently reflect the important contributions made by the CPC Central Committee, with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, to the development of 21st century Marxism and contemporary Chinese Marxism from the practical perspective of upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics. In short, it is designed to be a Great Dictionary of Marxism with Chinese characteristics, Chinese style and Chinese manner, which is outstanding in its scientific, comprehensive, systematic, innovative nature.
3. The characteristics of the dictionary as a normative reference book has been adhered to from beginning to end. Accuracy, conciseness, clarity, comprehensibility and practicality are the most important features of a reference book. The selection and interpretation of the thousands of entries in this dictionary seeks to accurately reflect the views of the classical works of Marxism, the views of the basic literature of the Communist Party of China, and the views of the important articles and speeches publicized and published by the main leaders of the CPC Central Committee, is not based on the personal opinions of the authors of the entries, nor is it written to be a compendium of academic controversies. As regards the relevant historical facts, the authoritative history books and historical materials shall prevail. The facts are told in their original flavor, without ‘adding oil or vinegar’. The evaluation of representative works and representative figures is clear and concise and seeks to reflect the spirit of the basic literature of the Communist Party of China in a precise and historical manner. In the compilation process, efforts have been made to be scientifically reliable, seek truth from facts, be objective and fair, be precise and clear, be easy to understand, and be easily accessible.
The academic strength of the compilation of the Great Dictionary of Marxism
The compilation of this Great Dictionary of Marxism was organised and implemented by the Centre for Collaborative Innovation of Marxist Theory and Chinese Practice, Wuhan University, and the School of Marxism of Wuhan University. The team of authors consists of 44 Party, government and military institutions, including the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, the Party History Research Office of the CPC Central Committee, the Party Literature Research Office of the CPC Central Committee, the Ministry of Education, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the journal Qiushi (Seeking Truth), the Central Compilation and Translation Bureau, Wuhan University, Peking University, Renmin University of China, Beijing Normal University, Nankai University, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Nanjing Normal University, Soochow University, the former Nanjing Institute of Politics of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, etc.. The Editorial Board was composed of 90 experts and scholars, including advisory members and chief experts of the Marxist Theory Research and Construction Project of the CPC Central Committee. The Editorial Board was headed by Xu Guangchun (director and chief expert of the Advisory Committee of the Marxist Theory Research and Construction Project of the CPC Central Committee, former Deputy Minister of the Propaganda Department of the CPC Central Committee) as editor-in-chief and Mei Rongzheng (chief expert of the Marxist Theory Research and Construction Project of the CPC Central Committee and professor of the Institute of Marxism of the Wuhan University) as executive associate editor, and 12 experts including Wei Xinghua (first-class professor of Renmin University of China), Tian Xinming (former director of the Social Science Research Center of Higher Education of the Ministry of Education, main member of the Marxist Theory Research and Construction Project of the CPC Central Committee, professor), Yin Hanning (member of the Advisory Committee of the Marxist Theory Research and Construction Project of the CPC Central Committee, deputy head of the National Leading Group for Philosophical and Social Science Planning), Sha Jiansun (chief expert of the Marxist Theory Research and Construction Project of the CPC Central Committee, former deputy director of the Party History Research Office of the CPC Central Committee, former Vice President of Peking University), Li Jie (member of the Advisory Committee of the Marxist Theory Research and Construction Project of the CPC Central Committee, chief expert, president of the journal Qiushi), Zhou Xincheng (first-class professor of Renmin University of China), Zhao Yao (chief expert of the Marxist Theory Research and Construction Project of the CPC Central Committee, senior professor of the Party School of the CPC Central Committee), Gu Hailiang (member of the Advisory Committee of the Marxist Theory Research and Construction Project of the CPC Central Committee, chief expert of the Marxist Theory Research and Construction Project of the CPC Central Committee, former president of the National Academy of Education and Administration of the Ministry of Education), Liang Zhu (first-class professor of Peking University, former vice president of Peking University), Jin Huiming (chief expert of the Marxist Theory Research and Construction Project of the CPC Central Committee, professor and member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences), Tao Delin (chief expert of the Marxist Theory Research and Construction Project of the CPC Central Committee, senior Professor of Wuhan University, former President of Wuhan University), Zhong Zheming (professor of Peking University) and as associate editors. The Editorial Board also invited Wei Jianhua (member of the Advisory Committee of the Marxist Theory Research and Construction Project of the CPC Central Committee, chief expert, former director of the Central Compilation and Translation Bureau), Chai Fangguo (deputy director of the Central Compilation and Translation Bureau), Ren Dakui (Professor of Renmin University of China, former editor and reviewer of the journal Ideological and Theoretical Education) and Ding Bing (professor of Capital University of Economics and Business) to participate in the review and unification of the manuscripts. Hu Jun (professor of Renmin University of China), Li Zhen (deputy director of the First Editorial and Research Department of the Party Literature Research Office of the CPC Central Committee and researcher) and 40 other famous experts were invited to write sample articles. The compilation of this dictionary with the participation of renowned experts and scholars from so many units can also be said to be a product of collaborative innovation of contemporary Chinese Marxist scholars.
It is also important to note that the authors of the entry articles have made great efforts to achieve the positioning and the principles of compilation of the Great Dictionary of Marxism. Most of these authors are deans and vice-deans of the schools of Marxism at universities, leading figures in their respective disciplines, and senior Marxist scholars in China. They have born multiple responsibilities at once and undertaken heavy tasks. They worked with due diligence and responsibility and expended a great deal of painstaking effort to compile a good Great Dictionary of Marxism; the experts who are associate editors and those who have been invited to participate in the review of the entry articles are mostly familiar to the academic community. They are all renowned experts in Marxist philosophy, political economy, scientific socialism and international communist movement, Party building and Party history in China. They are all experts and scholars directly trained and grown up by the Party between the 1940s and 1960s. They are people who ‘love the Party as members, speak the Party’s language, share the Party’s concerns, and serve the Party’s interests’. They are people who are loyal to the Party’s cause of building Marxist theory, and consciously maintain a high degree of consistency with the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core in politics, thought and action. Many scholars among them are over eighty years old, among whom Professor Wei Xinghua, a famous Marxist economist in China, is already a 92-years-old elderly. To compile this dictionary, they came up with ideas, gave good advice, wrote entries, and reviewed manuscripts, and kept a watchful eye on all aspects of the process. In particular, in the process of unifying the manuscripts, some of them put aside the topics they had been working on to concentrate on the unification of the manuscripts; some of them accepted work just as soon as they recovered from surgery until they successfully completed the task; some of them were bedridden, reviewing the entry articles with great dedication and meticulousness; some of them reviewed the entry articles several times and even rewrote them, taking great pains to do so. All this shows their loyalty to Marxism, their perseverance in upholding and developing Marxism, their eagerness in propagating and researching Marxism, and their determination to compile a good Great Dictionary of Marxism. Such spirit commands profound respect and admiration. It should be said that the publication of this Great Dictionary of Marxism on schedule is inseparable from the selfless dedication of the authors and the experts who unified the manuscripts. In a certain sense, the compilation and publication of this Great Dictionary of Marxism also has the nature of seizing and retaining the academic accumulation and theoretical achievements of the older generation of Marxist scholars, which is indeed invaluable.
The conditions and the guarantees for the compilation of the Great Dictionary of Marxism
General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly stressed that “The key to running things well in China lies in the Party.” This is a fundamental conclusion drawn from the great success of Chinese revolution, construction and reform, and it is also our deep experience in compiling this Great Dictionary of Marxism. First of all, when we reported the compilation of this Great Dictionary of Marxism to the relevant leading comrades of the Party Central Committee, we received great attention and enthusiastic support from the leading comrades of the Party Central Committee. At the same time, the leading comrades of the Propaganda Department of the CPC Central Committee gave instructions to include the compilation of this Great Dictionary of Marxism as a Major Entrusted Project of the National Social Science Fund of China, and the leaders of the Bureau of Theory, the Bureau of Publishing and the Bureau for Planning Social Sciences of the Propaganda Department of the CPC Central Committee gave specific guidance and support. The State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television listed the dictionary as a key publication to be dedicated to the 19th Party Congress. Dozens of Party, government, military and academic units and nearly 100 experts and scholars across the country actively participated in the compilation of this dictionary, especially the deputy editors and senior experts who were engaged in reviewing and revising the manuscripts of thousands of dictionary entries not only took part in the preparation work themselves, but also carefully reviewed and revised the dictionary. It would have been inconceivable to complete this dictionary without the concern of the central leadership, the attention, support and assistance of the relevant party committees, and the enthusiastic participation and hard work of experts and scholars across the country. The Propaganda Department of the CPC Hubei Provincial Committee has listed this Great Dictionary of Marxism as a key project for the prosperous development of philosophy and social sciences in the province, and the leaders of the Propaganda Department of the Provincial Party Committee and the Party Committee of Wuhan University have personally visited the Editorial Board for many times to guide the work. The leaders of the Yangtze River Publishing and Media Group have made the publication of this dictionary a major project and set up a special committee under the leadership of the chief leaders, appointed a special person to take charge of it, and implemented the necessary funding and office conditions from various aspects. These enthusiastic endorsements and favourable conditions ensured the successful completion of the compilation of the Great Dictionary of Marxism.
The sincere expectations of the Editorial Board of the Great Dictionary of Marxism
Quality is the lifeblood of a dictionary. Marxism is a scientific theory and a crystallisation of civilisation, a valuable spiritual treasure and a great ideological banner of human society. The Communist Party of China has always upheld and developed Marxism. This great dictionary was compiled by contemporary Chinese scholars engaged in the research of Marxism, and it is only right that we, with our loyalty to Marxism and the CPC, and with a responsible attitude towards Marxism and the CPC, should compile a dictionary that fully reflects the level of Marxism of the CPC and its ability to apply Marxism and its innovative achievements, and as the result of our earnest study and implementation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, deliver a satisfactory answer to the Party and the people. In the process of reviewing and revising the manuscripts, we have strived to ensure that the responsibilities are clear, that the review and revision are paid equal attention to, and that strict checks are made to eliminate any “glaring errors” (political errors, common knowledge errors, factual errors, errors of major omission, etc.) and to ensure scientificity, accuracy and authority of the entry articles. However, due to the large time span of the contents of this dictionary, the richness of the content, the mountain of information, the ideological vibrancy of the academic community in the recent years, coupled with the difficulty of organization and coordination of the participation of many units and authors in the compilation, and the limitations of the authors and Editorial Board members in terms of their knowledge level, the first edition will certainly have some less ideal, less desirable, or even erroneous points. After the publication of this dictionary, scholars and readers from all walks of life are welcome to comment on the quality and level of the dictionary, and the Editorial Board sincerely desires to receive criticisms and advice from all sides, so as to make corrections, revisions, refinements, and improvements in the reprinting of the dictionary.
2017 was an extraordinary year: the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China was held, sounding the call to march into a new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and the publication of this Great Dictionary of Marxism at this major historical juncture is undoubtedly our best tribute to the 19th Party Congress ! 2018 marks the 200th anniversary of Marx’s birth, one of the founders of Marxism, and with this we also express our deep commemoration!
Xu Guangchun, Editor-in-chief
Beijing, November 24, 2017