栏目（目录）

　　Specifically, as the world entered the 20th century, and particularly in the wake of World War II, within the scope permitted by the capitalist system, the Western capitalist countries adopted numerous measures in such fields as taxation, welfare policy and enterprise organizational structure, as well as in intensifying government interference in economic affairs, which regulated and eased to a certain extent the restraints of the private ownership of the means of production over the development of the productive forces. In particular, they have absorbed and utilized the most up-to-date achievements of modern scientific and technological development, which has provided new space for the development of capitalist productive forces. It is worthy of notice that under the conditions of the continuous existence of the old international economic order and before the establishment of a new international economic order, the developed capitalist countries have relied on their economic, scientific and technological and even military superiorities to obtain huge profits in the world market. This is another important condition for their continuous development.

　　In recent years, I have frequently quoted the viewpoint expressed by Engels in his "A Critique of the Draft Social-Democratic Programme of 1891." Engels says that capitalist production by joint-stock companies is no longer private production but production on behalf of many associated people. "And when we pass on from joint-stock companies to trusts, which dominate and monopolize whole branches of industry, this puts an end not only to private production but also to planlessness." This suggests that changes may take place during the course of the self-development of capitalism. We should correctly understand these changes and explain them theoretically. The self-amelioration and self-improvement made by Western capitalist countries have neither touched the foundation of capitalist rule nor changed the nature of the capitalist system or the truth of the basic Marxist tenets about capitalism. The advanced capitalist countries have made energetic efforts to develop a "new economy'' and accelerate the process of economic globalization, which has resulted in the continuous growth of their wealth. However, wealth has become increasingly concentrated in the hands of a small number of people, which has unavoidably aggravated the basic contradictions of capitalism. Meanwhile, it deserves notice that the advanced countries also have adopted some measures to limit excessive incomes and monopoly.

　　The production and development of all things are governed by objective laws. No matter how concrete the process of development is, nothing can escape the objective laws in the end. But, generally speaking, the historical end decreed by these objective laws is unlikely to manifest itself in advance before the whole process of evolution works itself out. Any objective law plays its role gradually and more and more profoundly in the process of the evolution of history. We should adhere to the basic principles of Marxism, and pay attention to guiding the masses of cadres and people to correctly understand the historical progress of modern capitalism by extensively integrating theory with practice and history with reality. It is necessary to let people understand why only socialism can save and develop China. On the one hand, the basic principles and scientific theses of Marxism should not be negated owing to the prosperity appearing in the specific course of evolution of capitalism. On the other hand, it is necessary to strengthen the study of the self-regulation and development of modern capitalism, produce a convincing theoretical analysis, and further enrich and develop Marxist theory.

　　The third question is how to understand the impact of the practice of China's socialist reform on people's thinking. Since the Third Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee, in late 1978, we have practiced reform and opening-up, developed a socialist market economy, promoted fundamental changes in the economic structure and in the mode of economic growth, and further emancipated and developed our country's socialist social productive forces. This profound social reform is bound to bring about profound changes in people's thinking.

　　Our Party estimated this change in the early stage of the reform and opening-up. The reform and opening-up and the modernization drive have brought about rapid economic development and tremendous social progress, enhanced people's consciousness of competition, efficiency, democracy and the rule of law, and heightened the spirit of exploration and innovation, which has created better material and spiritual conditions for us to improve our ideological and political work. Meanwhile, owing to the increasing diversity of social economic sectors, organizational forms, material interests and ways of employment, people's ideological activities have become noticeably independent, selective, variable and different. The weak points of market economic activities and the negative impacts brought about by them have been reflected in people's thinking and interpersonal relations, which leads to liberalism, decentralism, money worship, hedonism and egoism. Many new circumstances have also presented themselves in the content and forms of expression of the contradictions among the people. Our practice of opening to the outside world helps the people to broaden their vision, widen their knowledge and enliven their thinking. However, decadent capitalist thinking and culture have infiltrated from outside. The remnants of feudal thinking that have existed in our society for a long time, including feudal superstition and ignorant and backward ideas and concepts, like the dregs of society, are tending to float to the top again. Once the changes in social life are reflected in people's minds, they are bound to cause corresponding changes in ideology.

　　The process of our reform has seen a stimulation in thinking and the emergence of a great variety of concepts, with the interweaving of correct and incorrect ideas and the mutual influence of progressive and backward ones. There is no doubt about it. Although the erroneous and backward ideas and concepts that go against Marxism are nonessentials, they must be treated seriously. To allow them to develop unchecked will cause tremendous social hazards. The growth and spread of some erroneous ideological trends has often begun with the neglect of such by-products. In the end, we have to pool great efforts to solve them. Such lessons should not be forgotten. The more deeply the reform goes, the higher the vigilance we need against the occurrence of erroneous ideologies and the negative impacts they bring about, and greater efforts should be made to intensify and improve our Party's ideological and political work.

　　The fourth question is how to understand the current international environment and the influence of the international political struggle. The world is now heading toward multi-polarity, the process of economic globalization is being accelerated, and scientific and technological progress is being made worldwide day by day. Under such circumstances, different ideological trends interlock and buffet each other. This is bound to exert an influence in our country's ideological field and on the thinking of our cadres and people. This kind of influence has both positive and negative aspects.

　　It is worth noting that since the October Revolution the capitalist countries have spared no pains to launch attacks of all kinds against the socialist countries, including ideological infiltration as the major form of offensive. The drastic changes in Eastern Europe and the disintegration of the Soviet Union were closely related to the long-term ideological infiltration from advanced capitalist countries. At present, China is the largest socialist country in the world. It is developing continuously, and becoming more powerful and prosperous all the time. Hostile capitalist forces are intensifying the implementation of the "Westernization'' and "disintegration'' political strategies through various ways and means, in an attempt to subvert the leadership of the CPC and China's socialist system. They will never change this political scheme of theirs. Over the past few years, they have ceaselessly used human rights, democracy, freedom, ethnicity, religion, the Dalai Lama and Taiwan issues to attack us. They have colluded with the so-called "democratic movement elements'' who exile themselves abroad and antagonistic elements in China, in an attempt to take colluded action. The struggle between us and domestic and overseas hostile forces in the field of infiltration and anti-infiltration and subversion and anti-subversion will be protracted and complicated. This is a main manifestation of class struggle that still exists and will continue to exist for a long time to a certain extent in China.

　　Our correction of the mistake of "taking class struggle as the key link'' that occurred for a time was entirely correct. But, this does not mean that class struggle is extinct. As long as class struggle still exists to any extent we should not cast aside Marxist views and methods about class and class analysis. These views and methods provide us with the key to understanding the complicated political phenomenon of the struggle between socialism and hostile forces. While adhering to the reform and opening-up, and strengthening international economic and cultural exchanges, we should attach great importance to guarding against the infiltrative and subversive activities of hostile forces. This is also a major subject that requires intensive study in our effort to strengthen the Party's ideological and political work during the new historical period.

　　Profound changes are taking place in the world today, and China is carrying out self-transformation with the aim of perfecting and developing its socialist system. The Party's ideological and political work faces a more complicated situation, heavier tasks and more arduous work. The Party's ideological and political work is not dispensable and insignificant. On the contrary, it is indispensable and can accomplish a great deal. Practice tells us that success in ideological and political work will facilitate the development of our cause. During the effort to combat the floods in 1998, the protest against the bombing of our embassy in Yugoslavia by US-led NATO, and the struggles against Lee Teng-hui's "two states'' proposition that aims at splitting the motherland, and the "Falun Gong" cult, the masses of the Chinese people displayed extremely high political enthusiasm and a patriotic spirit, which helped build up a strong momentum. But if ideological and political work remains weak or is neglected, erroneous ideological trends will spread, which will confuse people's thinking, lead to disunity and create serious consequences. The political turbulence in 1989 was a grave lesson. We must have a sober understanding that owing to complicated international and domestic factors, we have a great deal of work to do in the ideological and political field, and the contradictions and struggles in our country's ideological and political field are protracted and complicated, and will become extremely acute under certain conditions. Hence, the role of ideological and political work in the Party's entire work schedule should remain unchanged, the task of the Party organizations at all levels to unswervingly push forward ideological and political work should remain unchanged, and the requirement for constantly enhancing the quality and level of ideological and political work should remain unchanged.

　　The Party's ideological and political work is the lifeline of economic and other work. This is determined by its functions and roles. Only by fully developing the political advantages of the Party's ideological and political work can we stick to the correct orientation of the development of economic and other work, ensure that the Party's line, principles and policies are implemented in the work in various fields and among the masses of people, promptly eliminate and overcome interference by all kinds of wrong things, and consolidate and develop the ideological and political foundation for the united struggle of all ethnic groups in China, thereby providing a powerful motive force and guarantee for the work in economic and other fields. Comrades of the whole Party, particularly leading cadres at all levels, must have sufficient understanding of the importance of ideological and political work. 　

　　*Part of a speech delivered by Jiang Zemin at the Central Conference on Ideological and Political Work.