Thread by @PM_Thornton

A few take-aways from the full text of XJP's February 20, 2021 speech at the Party History Study and Education Mobilization Conference in Beijing (and related recent speeches on new Party history campaign) 习近平：在党史学习教育动员大会上的讲话 12371.cn/2021/03/31/ART…

Lists the Taiping Rebellion, Self-Strengthening Movement, 100 Days Reform, Boxer Rebellion & Xinhai Revolution as successive attempts that "all ended in failure, having failed to change the tragic fate of the Chinese people" reduced to semi-feudal, semi-colonial state post-1842

Notes that the 1917 October Revolution, however, brought Marxism-Leninism to #China, "ringing out like a gunshot," "lighting the way" for "advanced elements" seeking to save the country, rejuvenate the nation, "transforming them from spiritually passive to spiritually active."

Marks off a list of goals successfully achieved by the Party's leadership: united & led the people in the "new democratic revolution;" "reform and opening on the basis of socialist revolution for 40+ years;" "won the battle against poverty ahead of schedule"

"The rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is ahead & the future is bright;" but #China is now at a critical juncture: "we will not tolerate staying put, hesitation, or a wait-and-see attitude; we must not forget our original aspiration/keep our mission in mind," and strive...

Two future goals: "by 2035, our Party must unite and lead the people to realise the foundation of socialist modernization;" then, "struggle for another 15 years to build a socialist modern power in an all-round way by the middle of this century" (2050)

"In the new era, firm belief and conviction are paramount to strengthen confidence in the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics" (Four Self-Confidences 四个自信):

"In the world today, if you want to say which Party, country & nation can [rightly] be confident, then the CCP, the PRC, and the Chinese nation have the most reason to be confident!" (eradication of poverty, largest middle-income population in the world, #coronavirus control)

Thought/ideology must be combined with innovation: "Thought is power. If a nation wants to be at the forefront of the times, it cannot for a moment be without theoretical thinking or ideological guidance "

But "the vitality of theory lies in innovation;" "The history of our Party is a history of continuously advancing the sinicization of Marxism, and the history of continuously advancing both theoretical innovation and creation."

#China facing unprecedented risks & challenges, with unexpected "black swans" and "grey rhinos" making their arrival all the time. But the biggest threat comes from within:

"A fort is most easily breached from the inside. In a sense, since the founding of the Party, the biggest risk our party has always faced has been internal deterioration, changing colours, and the loss of its political nature as a Marxist party"

So, what can we glean from XJP's 20 Feb speech about how the CCP Study Party History Campaign will unfold?

1. That it extends and will build upon the foundation laid by the 2019 “Never Forget Our Original Aspiration, Remember Our Mission” (不忘初心、牢记使命”教育活动) campaign, bringing it up to the present, now including a focus on "the new era" socialism w/ Chinese characteristics;

2. The focus will be on innovations in Party thought over time, ie., how the Party has continuously remoulded Marxism-Leninism-Mao Zedong Thought to fit changing historical circumstances and to forward shifting *national* goals;

3. These innovations are being highlighted now as responses to risks and challenges, with an emphasis on how the Party has adapted itself to challenging problems in the past, w/the implication being that it can do so again moving forward;

4. That past progress has been made possible by a high degree of centralisation (and, so, more emphasis on centralisation is likely moving forward-- XJP cites the victorious centralisation of the CCP under Mao at Zunyi, disloyalty of Zhang Guotao on the Long March...

but also notes approvingly the success of the large-scale Yan'an Rectification Campaign, "which brought the Party an unprecedented level of unity & unification & laid a strong ideological & political foundation for #China's victory in the War of Resistance & national liberation."

5. That success in the Party history campaign will be measured in terms of "practical results"-- so, not merely Party branches studying history, but also engaging in practical action, "positive innovation," to achieve Party learning & education (new apps? new media? new classes?)

6. Structurally, it will be a top-down effort with leaders of Party groups setting up agencies to carry out the campaign within their groups; and supervising & inspecting subordinate Party branches and groups to ensure they are engaging in "quiet, serious study" of Party history

7. Study materials will be strictly policed to ensure that the correct version of Party history is transmitted, ensuring no one "exaggerates the mistakes, twists & turns in the history of the Party," or cites "illegal foreign publications" in the weaving of historical narrative;

8. The study campaign will also be combined with heavier service burdens for Party members, who will be organising and taking on volunteer work to benefit ordinary people in need, "solving livelihood problems," as part of the study campaign.

Case in point: Beijing Municipal Study Party History Leading Small Group members held a ceremony at & tended to the grave of revolutionary martyr Li Dazhao to mark Tomb-Sweeping Festival 清明祭 (1, 6, 8) 党史学习教育领导小组办公室清明祭扫李大钊烈士陵园 xuexi.cn/lgpage/detail/…

Case in point: The Guangzhou office of #China Construction 4th Engineering Division Corp. teamed up w/China Unicom to create an immersive 5G, virtual reality "Party History in the Cloud" experience for workers (1, 5, 8) 广东广州：5G+VR“点亮”工地党史学习课堂xuexi.cn/lgpage/detail/…