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1 Textual Origin and Core Essence of the “Theory of Inculcation”—Based on a Textual Interpretation of What Is to Be Done?

What Is to Be Done? is Lenin’s response to the prominent social contradictions confronting Russia both at home and abroad. At the turn of the 20th century (late 19th century to early 20th century), Russia was plagued by internal turmoil and external aggression. To resolve the country’s social crisis, advance the proletarian revolution, and build a proletarian political party, What Is to Be Done? came into being as a necessary work. Rich in ideological connotations, this book addresses the most pressing issues facing Russia at that time.

1.1 The Writing Background and Core Concerns of What Is to Be Done?

1.1.1 The Writing Background of What Is to Be Done?

At the turn of the 20th century (late 19th century to early 20th century), capitalism in Russia evolved into the imperialist stage. The tsarist autocracy was integrated with monopoly capital, and all the contradictions of imperialism manifested themselves acutely in Russia. Far lagging behind other capitalist countries of the same period in terms of economy and culture, Russia witnessed the convergence of the proletarian revolution against the bourgeoisie and the peasant revolution against the feudal landlords, forging a formidable revolutionary force.

Starting from the 1880s, Russia entered the era of the proletarian revolution. After decades of development of the proletarian revolutionary movement, certain progress had been made in the construction of the Russian proletarian political party. In 1898, the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party (RSDLP) convened its First Congress, proclaiming the party’s establishment. The RSDLP was formed through the unification of several political parties. However, following the congress, the party failed to consolidate all Marxist groups and organizations under a single umbrella, nor did it formulate a party programme or constitution. Local organs, committees, groups and organizations lacked unified leadership and a clear, consistent set of policies and strategies. Lenin and many other Marxist revolutionaries were subsequently exiled.

At that time, the RSDLP suffered not only from organizational fragmentation but also from ideological interference by Economism, an opportunist faction. Russian Economism was a variant of Bernsteinism: it advocated “freedom of criticism” and defended Bernsteinism, blindly worshipped the spontaneity of the workers’ movement, vulgarized Marxism, propagated the theory of the mitigation of social contradictions, denied the guiding role of revolutionary theory, and opposed the inculcation of scientific socialist ideas into the workers’ movement from outside. Obsessed with the craft-like approach to organizational work, the Economists argued that the interests of the working class should be secured through economic struggles alone. They reduced the workers’ movement and class struggle to a narrow trade-unionist movement, confining it to realistic struggles for trivial, gradual reforms. They repudiated the necessity of a proletarian political revolution, opposed the establishment of a revolutionary organization capable of leading the proletariat’s liberation struggle, and advocated that Marxist intellectuals should form an alliance with the liberals for political struggle. In doing so, they neglected the political tasks of the proletarian revolutionary movement and became the greatest obstacle to the construction of a revolutionary proletarian party in Russia.

From practical experience, Lenin came to realize that without a strong proletarian leadership core and the guidance of scientific socialist theory, the Russian proletarian revolutionary movement could never achieve victory. Against this backdrop, Lenin published What Is to Be Done?, proposing that scientific socialist ideas should be inculcated among the broad masses of the people. This initiative aimed to enhance the political consciousness of the people, expand the mass base of the proletarian revolutionary movement, and thereby advance the development of both proletarian party building and the proletarian revolutionary cause.

1.1.2 The Core Concerns of What Is to Be Done?

Under the misleading influence of the Economists’ notions of “freedom of criticism” and opportunism, ideological disarray and organizational fragmentation prevailed within the RSDLP. Lenin was profoundly aware that the working class constituted the main force of the revolution, yet, constrained by their economic status and educational level, the working class could only spontaneously develop trade-unionist ideas on their own. Such ideas focused on specific economic interests such as wage increases and improved working conditions, failing to address the essence of the capitalist system. In fact, this kind of struggle operated within the framework of bourgeois ideology and could hardly guide the working class toward a thoroughgoing revolution.

To build a unified, new-type revolutionary proletarian party, to mobilize and rally the broad masses for the proletarian revolution, and to overthrow the old regime and build a new world, Lenin put forward the Theory of Inculcation in What Is to Be Done?. He pointed out that the ideology of scientific socialism was formulated by educated intellectuals on the basis of summing up the laws governing the development of human society and analyzing the contradictions of capitalism. Therefore, it was imperative for the proletarian party to inculcate the ideology of scientific socialism into the working class. This would enable the working class to recognize its historical mission, elevate its spontaneous economic struggles to the level of conscious political struggles, and embrace the revolutionary goal of overthrowing the capitalist system and establishing a socialist society.

The proposal of the Theory of Inculcation not only clarified the direction for ideological development within the RSDLP at that time and propelled the establishment of a unified proletarian party with firm revolutionary resolve, but also provided important theoretical guidance for the proletarian revolutionary movements across the world. It underscored the guiding role of progressive theory in revolutionary practice, expounded the crucial responsibility of the proletarian party in disseminating scientific theory and rallying revolutionary forces, and to this day, it still offers significant enlightenment for our understanding of the construction of the proletarian party and the work of ideological guidance.

1.2 The Main Connotations of the “Theory of Inculcation”

1.2.1 The Subject of “Inculcation”: Revolutionary Social Democrats

Neither the Russian opportunists nor the “revolutionists” were able to transcend the constraints of the economic base of the workers’ movement. They maintained that the workers’ movement could never break away from the craft-like mode of operation and failed to grasp the most pressing political tasks of the proletarian party. For a long time, Russia had been dominated by a small-scale peasant economy, and its economic development could not keep pace with the tempo of capitalist advancement. The proletariat, generally low in educational attainment, could not generate proletarian revolutionary ideas spontaneously through the workers’ movement; such ideas could only emerge as a natural and inevitable outcome of the ideological development of revolutionary socialist intellectuals. Consequently, the scientific socialist consciousness required for the proletariat to wage revolutionary struggles could only be inculcated into it from the outside.

“To equip the workers with genuine, comprehensive and vivid political knowledge, it is essential to have ‘our own people’, namely Social Democrats, everywhere — among all social strata and on all fronts where the inner workings of our state apparatus can be understood.” (Lenin, 2018) As the spokesmen of the people, the Social Democratic Party was composed of progressive intellectuals armed with scientific socialist ideas. It acted as propagandists and agitators in the proletarian revolutionary movement, and served as disseminators of advanced thought in advancing the course of the proletarian revolution. Guided by Marxist ideology and in the spirit of being a revolutionary vanguard, the Party took the struggle for political freedom as the goal of all movements. It inculcated the scientific socialist ideas — which were scientific, progressive and revolutionary — among the worker masses, organized all-round political exposure of the autocratic system, provided scientific socialist ideas to the proletariat, and fulfilled the task of cultivating the political consciousness of the workers. It integrated the democratic struggle of the entire Russian people against autocracy with the socialist struggle of the proletariat against the bourgeoisie, gave full play to the guiding role of scientific socialist ideas in the proletarian revolutionary movement, and waged a resolute struggle against bourgeois ideology.

1.2.2 The Content of “Inculcation”: Scientific Socialism

“Without revolutionary theory there can be no revolutionary movement.”(Lenin, 2018) “Only a party guided by an advanced theory can fulfill the role of an advanced fighter.”(Lenin, 2018) The RSDLP had just taken shape. Faced with the dual tasks of the democratic revolution against the feudal autocratic system and the socialist revolution against the capitalist system, it was imperative to recognize that the theory of scientific socialism and bourgeois democratic ideas were two opposing ideological systems. In the world, there exist only two ideologies: capitalism and socialism. “Any neglect or deviation from socialist ideology signifies a strengthening of bourgeois ideology.”(Lenin, 2018)

The Economist faction within the party advocated opportunism, claiming that the spontaneous workers’ movement was a trade-unionist, purely trade union-oriented movement, and trade unionism meant being enslaved by bourgeois ideology. Therefore, in the proletarian revolutionary movement and the construction of the proletarian party, revolutionary Social Democrats must take the theory of scientific socialism as the guiding theory of the Russian workers’ movement and regard scientific socialism as the content of inculcation. They must conduct ideological inculcation among the working class through positive publicity, education and agitation, so as to equip the proletariat with scientific socialist ideas and political consciousness. This provides a scientific theoretical foundation for upholding and strengthening the ideological and theoretical development of Marxist political parties.

1.2.3 The Approach to “Inculcation”: Combining Theoretical Education with Practical Struggle

The revolutionary movement in Russia was based on a craft-like mode of operation, exhibiting marked fragmentation and narrow-mindedness. Confined by regional and industrial barriers, the workers’ movement was reduced to purely local-level activities; narrow local organizations remained isolated for a long time, operating within limited scopes with a lax organizational structure. Lacking proactive revolutionary enthusiasm, they could hardly keep pace with the development of the revolutionary movement.

Faced with this predicament, Lenin argued that the Social Democratic Party must inculcate the ideology of scientific socialism into the working class from the outside through the approach of “combining theoretical education with practical struggle”. It was essential not only to conduct systematic ideological guidance and theoretical education among the entire population, but also to lead the working class in deepening their understanding through practical struggle, breaking free from class limitations, and enabling revolutionary ideas to truly take root among the masses.

Theoretical education constituted the core link of inculcation. In What Is to Be Done?, Lenin proposed establishing a revolutionary organization and founding an all-Russian political newspaper to systematically propagate socialist ideas. He advocated criticizing the erroneous ideas of “freedom of criticism” and opportunism peddled by the Economists, exposing the actions of the Russian government and the ruling class in all aspects of social life, and disseminating these newly revealed facts among the worker masses. By providing theoretical education to all social classes, the proletariat could transcend class limitations, foster the political consciousness and revolutionary enthusiasm of the masses, and gradually build up their identification with socialist ideology.

Lenin consistently emphasized that the ultimate realization of inculcation must rely on practical struggle. In guiding the working class to carry out the proletarian revolution, the Social Democratic Party should attach great importance to the role of practical struggle, allowing the working class to deepen their theoretical understanding and strengthen their class consciousness through concrete practice. The approach to inculcation was to integrate theoretical education with practical struggle: through theoretical education methods such as establishing revolutionary organizations and founding an all-Russian political newspaper, scientific socialist ideas were disseminated among the worker masses to cultivate their political consciousness and revolutionary enthusiasm; relying on practical struggle, these ideas were transformed into concrete revolutionary actions, enabling the proletariat to break through parochialism, consolidate organizational capacity in the course of struggle, and ultimately achieve the transformation of scientific socialist ideas from “external inculcation” to “internal identification”.

1.2.4 The Purpose of “Inculcation”: Transforming the Workers’ Movement from Spontaneity to Consciousness

In What Is to Be Done?, Lenin clearly pointed out that the purpose of Social Democrats conducting political agitation and exposure, and inculcating the ideology of scientific socialism among the masses, is to transform the workers’ movement from spontaneity to consciousness.

The Economist faction within the Social Democratic Party worshipped the spontaneity of the workers’ movement and reduced social-democratic politics to trade-unionist politics. Consequently, the revolutionary vanguard lost its advanced nature, revolutionary struggles lacked correct theoretical guidance, and the workers’ movement became a tool of the bourgeois democratic faction.

In response to the Economists’ erroneous obsession with the spontaneity of the workers’ movement, Lenin analyzed the interrelationship between spontaneity and consciousness in the workers’ movement. He pointed out that the socialist doctrine is not born spontaneously; instead, it “has evolved from the philosophical, historical and economic theories created by educated members of the propertied classes, namely the intellectuals” (Lenin, 2018). “The working class, exclusively by its own effort, is able to develop only trade-unionist consciousness.” (Lenin, 2018) As the vanguard, the Social Democratic Party must, through the approach of combining theoretical education with practical struggle, inculcate the ideology of scientific socialism into the working class, combat bourgeois democratic ideas and refute the assertions that vulgarize Marxism, so as to realize the transformation of the workers’ movement into a socialist revolutionary movement.

2 The Connotations, Characteristics and Ideological and Cultural Requirements of Chinese Modernization

Chinese modernization is a theory formulated during the governance practice of the Communist Party of China (CPC). It not only embodies the common features of modernization across countries but also possesses distinct characteristics rooted in China’s national context.

In today’s world shaped by the influence of diverse cultures, the inadequate awareness of socialism among Party members, cadres and the general public has posed severe ideological challenges to Chinese modernization. The CPC must always uphold Marxism, satisfy the people’s needs for spiritual and cultural enrichment, gather strong spiritual strength for Chinese modernization, foster powerful cohesion and solidarity for joint endeavors, and thereby provide spiritual motivation and value underpinning for the drive of modernization construction.

2.1 The Essential Characteristics and Core Essence of Chinese Modernization

2.1.1 The Essential Characteristics of Chinese Modernization

The concept of Chinese modernization is a theoretical and practical framework proposed and continuously refined by the Communist Party of China (CPC) in the course of its long-term governance practice. In 2022, the 20th National Congress of the CPC systematically elaborated on the theory of Chinese modernization, pointing out that “Chinese modernization is socialist modernization pursued under the leadership of the Communist Party of China. It contains elements that are common to the modernization processes of all countries, but it is more characterized by features that are unique to the Chinese context.”(Xinhua News Agency, & Central Party History and Literature Research
Institute, 2022)

First, Chinese modernization is the modernization of a huge population. China has the world’s largest population base, and its modernization drive is grounded in this fundamental national context. In the process of governance, the CPC has not only addressed the basic livelihood needs of this huge population—such as education, employment, healthcare and elderly care—but also stimulated the people’s innovation vitality and consumption potential, leading the country’s 1.4 billion people toward modernization.

Second, Chinese modernization is the modernization of common prosperity for all. Common prosperity is an essential requirement of socialism. Since its founding, the CPC has always adhered to the people-centered philosophy, leading the people in concerted efforts to achieve the great leap from standing up, getting rich, to becoming strong. Unlike Western modernization, characterized by polarization, Chinese modernization advocates that development is for the people, by the people, and its fruits are shared by the people in the course of advancing national development. It promotes common prosperity through the principle of “prosperity for some leading to prosperity for all”, and has achieved the goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects.

Third, Chinese modernization is the modernization of material and cultural-ethical advancement. The principal contradiction facing Chinese society is that between unbalanced and inadequate development and the people’s ever-growing needs for a better life (Xinhua News Agency, & Central Party History and Literature Research Institute, 2022). In the new era of rapid economic growth, the people’s demand for cultural enrichment is constantly rising. In practice, China has focused on two key aspects: on the one hand, it vigorously develops the economy to continuously improve the people’s material living standards; on the other hand, it attaches great importance to cultural development, promotes fine traditional Chinese culture, revolutionary culture and advanced socialist culture, fosters and practices core socialist values, and steadily advances modernization featuring the coordinated development of material and cultural progress.

Fourth, Chinese modernization is the modernization of harmony between humanity and nature. While promoting the country’s high-speed development, the CPC adheres to a strategy of ecologically sustainable development, follows a green, low-carbon and circular development path, and strives to realize the harmonious coexistence of humanity and nature.

Fifth, Chinese modernization is the modernization of peaceful development. China has always been a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, and a defender of the international order. Committed to an independent foreign policy of peace, Chinese modernization rejects the outdated path of modernization adopted by some countries through war, colonization and plunder. Instead, it emphasizes driving global development through its own growth and pursues common development and prosperity with other countries.

2.1.2 The Core Essence of Chinese Modernization

Chinese modernization refers to the modernization drive pursued by the Communist Party of China (CPC) in the course of governance. It upholds the guiding position of Marxism in the ideological field, sets national prosperity, national rejuvenation and people’s happiness as its goals, and integrates the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with the progress of humanity to achieve modernization.

First, Chinese modernization is a modernization drive led by the CPC. Leadership by the Communist Party of China is the essential requirement of Chinese modernization and the fundamental guarantee for realizing modernization. As the core leadership of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the CPC has always adhered to a people-centered approach in governance, prioritized the people’s interests, taken the realization of people’s happiness as its primary goal, coordinated domestic and international affairs, and driven national development and social progress.

Second, Chinese modernization is a socialist modernization drive guided by Marxism. The CPC is a Marxist political party. In the course of governance, it has always upheld the guiding position of Marxism in the ideological field, regarded the liberation and development of productive forces, the elimination of exploitation and the eradication of polarization as the core principles of modernization, and steadfastly implemented the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics. In advancing national development, it has ensured the socialist nature of the drive and kept Chinese modernization firmly on the path of socialism.

Third, Chinese modernization is a modernization drive that integrates national rejuvenation with human progress. In the new era, based on China’s national conditions, the CPC has adhered to the principle of democratic centralism domestically, emphasized systematic, holistic and coordinated development, and consolidated the ruling position of the Party while safeguarding the democratic rights of the people. Externally, it has followed the path of peaceful development, upheld the principle of building a community with a shared future for mankind, and fulfilled its responsibilities as a major country to create opportunities for its own development and the progress of humanity.

In summary, unlike the modernization of Western capitalist countries, Chinese modernization is a socialist modernization drive with distinctive Chinese characteristics. Led by the CPC, the Chinese people have proceeded from China’s specific realities, maintained the simultaneous advancement of high-speed economic development and ecological sustainability over decades, given full play to the guiding role of Marxism, adhered to a governance strategy centered on the people, coordinated development domestically, followed the path of peaceful development externally, and integrated the journey of national rejuvenation with the cause of human progress across the globe.

2.2 Ideological and Cultural Challenges and Practical Requirements in the Process of Chinese Modernization

2.2.1 Ideological and Cultural Challenges in the Process of Chinese Modernization

With the in-depth development of economic globalization and the rapid advancement of information technology, countries around the world have become increasingly integrated as a whole. The collision of diverse ideological trends has exerted a tremendous impact on Chinese modernization. As a socialist country, China faces strategic challenges from Western neoliberal ideological actors seeking to exert influence through asymmetric value embedding. These entities often leverage transnational cultural platforms and algorithmic dissemination to repackage historical nihilism and other ideologies. By employing deconstructive narratives, they aim to erode the cultural identity and historical confidence essential to Chinese modernization.

Furthermore, in the process of Chinese modernization, economic sectors and social structures have become increasingly diversified, and social groups exhibit striking differences in lifestyles and cultural identities, leading to the growing diversification of ideological consciousness and value pursuits. In addition, the development of internet technology and social media has provided platforms for the spread of diverse ideas, giving rise to a wide range of social ideological trends that pose challenges to the guiding position of Marxism and core socialist values.

Confronted with Western asymmetric cultural penetration and the gradual diversification of social ideologies, China’s cultural productivity remains to be enhanced in the drive toward Chinese modernization. Despite its profound cultural heritage and abundant cultural resources, there is still a long way to go in integrating fine traditional culture with Marxism in practice. Therefore, in today’s world influenced by multiculturalism, the inadequate awareness of socialism among Party members, cadres and the general public has posed severe ideological challenges to Chinese modernization.

2.2.2 Ideological and Cultural Requirements in the Process of Chinese Modernization

In the process of Chinese modernization, faced with complex domestic and international situations and severe ideological and cultural challenges, it is imperative to promote the development of cultural-ethical advancement and strengthen the guiding force, cohesion and persuasiveness of Marxist theory. At the current stage, the principal contradiction facing Chinese society has undergone changes. As material conditions improve steadily, the people’s demand for cultural-ethical advancement keeps growing, and their ideological and cultural needs present the characteristics of diversity, multi-levels and multi-facetedness. Chinese modernization calls for strong ideological guidance, profound cultural nourishment and abundant spiritual support.

The ideological and cultural development in the process of Chinese modernization must satisfy diverse cultural preferences, cover the multi-level demand structure, expand cultural life in all aspects, enhance cultural productivity, align with international cultural exchanges, and ensure the people’s access to high-quality cultural experiences. It is not only required to meet the people’s needs for spiritual and cultural enrichment, but also necessary to uphold the guidance of Marxism, promote and practice core socialist values, and inherit and carry forward fine traditional Chinese culture. By doing so, we can gather strong spiritual strength for Chinese modernization, foster powerful cohesion and solidarity for joint endeavors, and provide spiritual motivation and value underpinning for the drive of modernization construction.

3 The Value Dimensions of Lenin’s Theory of Inculcation in the Process of Chinese Modernization

Lenin’s Theory of Inculcation holds significant value in the process of Chinese modernization. The Communist Party of China (CPC) must draw on Lenin’s Theory of Inculcation to consolidate the theoretical foundation of Chinese modernization, integrate the social forces for Chinese modernization, resist the interference of deconstructive value orientations in the modernization drive, and cultivate the builders of Chinese modernization.

3.1 Consolidating the Theoretical Foundation of Chinese Modernization Through the Theory of Inculcation

3.1.1 Methodological Enlightenment for Upholding the Guiding Position of Marxism

Marxist thought is a revolutionary and scientific theory. It has been continuously enriched and developed in the ongoing process of practice, always maintaining an open nature. In What Is to Be Done?, Lenin analyzed the interrelationships between economic struggle, political struggle, and theoretical struggle, emphasized the advanced guiding role of revolutionary theory, and pointed out that the proletarian revolution must adhere to the basic stance of Marxism, integrate Marxist thought with Russia’s specific national conditions, and achieve the victory of the proletarian revolution through violent revolution. This exposition provides significant enlightenment for the Communist Party of China (CPC) in revolution, construction, and reform.

Marxist thought is the foundation for building and strengthening the Party and the country in contemporary China. Since its founding, the CPC has been committed to integrating the basic principles of Marxism with China’s specific realities, and has blazed a path of socialism with Chinese characteristics and characteristics of the times through China’s specific practices.

In the process of Chinese modernization, we must uphold the leading position of Marxism in the ideological field. We should strengthen ideological guidance for the general public and leading cadres through the “inculcation” theory, deepen the understanding and recognition of the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era by telling stories and setting examples, understand and transform the world from the stance, viewpoints, and methods of dialectical materialism and historical materialism, integrate Marxism with China’s specific realities, advance the process of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, consolidate the theoretical foundation of Chinese modernization, and give play to the ideological leading role of the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.

3.1.2 The Thought of Opposing “Theoretical Nihilism”

In What Is to Be Done?, Lenin clearly pointed out that the proletarian party must adhere to the basic stance of Marxism in practice, oppose “spontaneous innovation” that deviates from scientific theory, and emphasize the importance of “theoretical struggle”. This proposition effectively eliminated the ideological erosion of the Russian proletarian party by the “opportunism” advocated by the Economist faction, resolved the predicament of ideological confusion and organizational slack within the Social Democratic Party, and laid the ideological foundation for the ultimate victory of the Russian proletarian revolution. Meanwhile, it also provides a reference for the international communist movement and countries pursuing national liberation and independence.

Only two ideologies exist in the world: capitalism and socialism. Approaching capitalist ideology means moving away from socialist ideology. In the new era, Global hegemonic cultural entities have carried out asymmetric cultural penetration against China in the form of “ideological deconstruction within systemic rivalry”, intending to disintegrate China spiritually. In the process of governance, the Communist Party of China (CPC) should rationally apply the Theory of Inculcation, propagate Marxist thought among the people, clarify the guiding role of scientific theory in the people’s practice, so as to tackle “theoretical nihilism”¹, avoid the impact of spontaneism on China, further advance the adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times in practice, and guide the great practice of Chinese modernization with Marxism that embodies Chinese characteristics and the features of the times.

3.2 Integrating the Social Forces for Chinese Modernization Through the Theory of Inculcation

3.2.1 Forging Synergy in Ideology and Motivating Forces in Spirit

In his work What Is to Be Done?, Lenin clearly put forward the idea of “effective inculcation”, emphasizing that the scientific ideas created by educated intellectuals should be “inculcated” into all classes of the residents. By building social consensus, this approach consolidated the mass foundation of Marxist thought and provided important theoretical guidance and practical paths for the advancement of the Russian proletarian movement.

In contemporary China, nearly half a century of reform and opening up has brought about continuous improvements in the level of opening up and the market economy. The country’s social and economic sectors, organizational forms, employment methods, interest relations and distribution methods have become increasingly diversified. While this profound social transformation has stimulated development vitality, it has also led to the gradual rise of ideas such as “egoism” and “money worship” that are contrary to socialist ideology, posing practical challenges to the Party’s leadership and the dominant position of socialist ideology.

Therefore, in the process where the Communist Party of China leads the people to work together for advancing Chinese modernization, we must inherit and develop the ideological essence of Lenin’s Theory of Inculcation, and promote the popular dissemination of the theoretical achievements of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times. We should accurately instill the socialist core value system among the people, strengthen the whole society’s recognition of core consensus, such as “common prosperity” and “national rejuvenation”, so as to effectively resolve the realistic predicament of diversified interests and differentiated concepts, and forge synergy in ideology and motivating forces in spirit for Chinese modernization.

3.2.2 Strengthening the Party’s Ideological Guidance

In What Is to Be Done?, Lenin clearly pointed out that in the course of the Russian revolution, it was imperative for Social Democrats equipped with the attainments of scientific socialism to organize themselves into a revolutionary organization and exert the core role of the proletarian party in theoretical dissemination and revolutionary practice. As the subject of “inculcation”, the Social Democratic Party must take Marxist thought as its fundamental guide, uphold the spiritual characteristics of a revolutionary vanguard, and regard the struggle for political freedom as the goal of all movements. Its core mission was to systematically “inculcate” the scientific, progressive and revolutionary ideas of scientific socialism among the working class. By arming the masses with theory, it organically integrated the democratic struggle of the entire Russian people against the autocratic system with the socialist struggle of the proletariat against the bourgeoisie. In this way, it gave full play to the guiding role of scientific socialist thought in the proletarian revolutionary movement and consolidated its ideological positions in the struggle against bourgeois ideology.

Lenin’s theory on the “inculcation” responsibility of the proletarian party is of profound enlightening significance for contemporary China. As the ruling party, the Communist Party of China (CPC) is confronted with dual domestic and international pressures and challenges in advancing Chinese modernization in the new era. It is all the more necessary for the CPC to clarify the ideological responsibility of the proletarian party and inherit and carry forward the “inculcation” tradition of the revolutionary vanguard. By giving play to the CPC’s core role in ideological cohesion, it should “must keep on strengthening the Party’s ability to lead politically, to guide through theory, to organize the people, and to inspire society”(China Internet Information Center, 2017). Acting as the subject of practice, it should proactively advance the ideological development of the people, “inculcate” Marxist ideological theories among the public, consolidate social consensus with Marxism adapted to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, and guide social development, thereby forging ideological synergy for the in-depth advancement of Chinese modernization.

3.3 Resisting the Interference of Deconstructive Value Orientations in Modernization Through the Theory of Inculcation

3.3.1 Critically Absorbing the Militant Nature of the Theory of Inculcation

With the in-depth development of economic globalization, the connections between countries around the world have become increasingly close. As a socialist country, China faces strategic challenges from Western neoliberal ideological actors seeking to exert influence through asymmetric value embedding. These entities often leverage transnational cultural platforms and algorithmic dissemination to repackage historical nihilism and other ideologies. By employing deconstructive narratives, they aim to erode the cultural identity and historical confidence essential to Chinese modernization. Against this backdrop, the Communist Party of China (CPC) must actively address the interference of wrong ideological trends in the process of Chinese modernization.

In What Is to Be Done?, aiming at the erroneous ideas such as “opportunism” and “freedom of criticism” advocated by the Economist faction, Lenin clearly pointed out that it is essential to conduct theoretical propaganda among the people by means of “inculcation”, and place theoretical struggle on an equal footing with economic struggle and political struggle, so as to resist the attacks of wrong ideological trends on Marxist thought.

Currently, in the face of the impact of deconstructive value orientations such as historical nihilism, the CPC needs to rationally draw on the militant principle of “inculcation”. On the one hand, it should firmly clarify that Marxist thought is the guiding ideology for building the Party and the country, and “inculcate” a scientific world outlook and methodology among the people through systematic theoretical education. On the other hand, it should highlight the important role of the history of the CPC, the history of New China, the history of reform and opening up, the history of socialism, and the history of the Chinese nation in the historical process of Chinese modernization. Through historical education, it should consolidate the people’s historical identity and theoretical confidence in Chinese modernization, and fundamentally resist the erosion of deconstructive value orientations such as national nihilism and historical nihilism.

3.3.2 Constructing a Security Line of Ideological Defense

Ideological security constitutes a core component of the national security system, bearing on the stability of state power, social cohesion, and the foundation of the national spirit. With the deepening of China’s opening-up drive, constructing a solid security line of ideological defense has become a strategic task for safeguarding national sovereignty and development interests in the process of advancing Chinese modernization.

The idea of “inculcation” was put forward by Lenin in What Is to Be Done? emphasizes that scientific theories cannot emerge spontaneously; instead, proactive theoretical propaganda and educational guidance must be carried out to help the people establish sound ideological perceptions. In 21st-century China, faced with the impact of diverse ideological trends, it is imperative to maintain theoretical clarity and prevent the people from “spontaneously accepting” the deconstructive value orientations propagated by Global hegemonic cultural entities due to the lack of systematic guidance.

We should apply the idea of “inculcation” to governance practice and build a security line of ideological defense in the course of Chinese modernization. On the one hand, we need to focus on guiding the people to exert their subjectivity, help them deeply understand the scientific nature and practicality of Marxism through systematic theoretical education, and consolidate the fundamental position of Marxism as a theoretical bedrock. On the other hand, we should coalesce value consensus through regular ideological guidance, integrate national development goals with the people’s interests and demands, and strengthen identification with the mainstream ideology. In addition, it is essential to consolidate the construction of public opinion positions, build a defense mechanism in the ideological field, and realize the coordination of risk early warning and proactive response, so as to fundamentally resist the infiltration and interference of deconstructive value orientations and provide solid ideological safeguards for Chinese modernization.

3.4 Cultivating the Builders of Chinese modernization Through the Theory of Inculcation

3.4.1 Cultivating New Era Talents with Ideals and Convictions

Against the dual backdrop of constructing a security line of ideological defense and advancing Chinese modernization, cultivating builders of Chinese modernization with firm ideals and convictions has become the core goal of ideological education work. In What Is to Be Done?, Lenin clearly pointed out that in Russia, a country plagued by internal and external troubles, it was imperative to “inculcate” the ideas of scientific socialism among the people and provide them with ideological guidance.

In the process of advancing Chinese modernization, the traditional “inculcation” model has laid the foundation for the popularization of Marxist theory and the dissemination of mainstream values. However, with the profound changes in the social environment, the people, especially the youth group, have shown distinct characteristics of active thinking and diversified cognition. A one-dimensional “inculcation” model alone can no longer meet the requirements of ideal and conviction education in the new era.

Therefore, in the course of advancing Chinese modernization, there is an urgent need to promote the innovative development of the “inculcation” theory and shift to a new model of “combining theoretical guidance with independent construction”. Through the reform of ideological and political courses in colleges and universities and the innovation of social education, we can realize the modernization-oriented transformation of ideological and conviction education.

The key to advancing the localization and modernization of “inculcation” lies in basing ourselves on China’s realities and the characteristics of the times. By reforming ideological and political courses in colleges and universities, innovating social education, building diversified practical platforms, and exploring ideological guidance methods that conform to Chinese characteristics and the cognitive laws of the youth, we can guide the new generation in a way that reflects the features of the times and Chinese characteristics, and ultimately cultivate builders of Chinese modernization with firm ideals and convictions.

3.4.2 Promoting the Coordinated Development of Material Civilization and cultural-ethical advancement

Chinese modernization is the modernization of material and cultural-ethical advancement, with the core goal of realizing the all-around development of human beings. At present, the principal contradiction facing Chinese society has evolved into one between unbalanced and inadequate development and the people’s ever-growing needs for a better life. As the people’s demand for a richer spiritual life keeps rising, it is imperative for the Communist Party of China (CPC) to conduct conscious ideological and political guidance among the people by means of “inculcation”.

The theoretical “inculcation” centered on the ideas of scientific socialism is by no means a simple transmission of knowledge. Instead, it is a strategic measure to consolidate the foundation of cultural-ethical advancement and address the problem of unbalanced and inadequate development, as well as an inevitable requirement for satisfying the people’s cultural and spiritual needs and enhancing the ideological and moral standards of the whole nation. The core essence of the Theory of Inculcation lies in transforming scientific ideas and values into the ideological and behavioral consciousness of all social members through purposeful, planned and organized theoretical dissemination, thereby providing theoretical support and directional guidance for the construction of cultural-ethical advancement.

On the journey of advancing Chinese modernization, the “inculcation” of scientific theories is by no means an “outdated method”, but rather an “epochal necessity” for meeting the people’s cultural and spiritual needs and elevating the ideological and moral caliber of the entire population. It is not only a practical choice to respond to the upgrading of spiritual and cultural demands reflected in the principal social contradiction, but also a strategic underpinning for ensuring the “coordinated development of the two civilizations”. Therefore, we must adhere to the people-centered approach, innovate the content and forms of theoretical dissemination, enable the ideas of scientific socialism to truly reach the people, integrate into daily life and guide practice, consolidate the spiritual foundation for Chinese modernization, and ultimately achieve material and spiritual affluence for all.

4 Conclusion

The Theory of Inculcation put forward by Lenin in What Is to Be Done?, as an important theoretical achievement of Marxist party building and ideological guidance, not only laid the ideological foundation for the victory of the Russian proletarian revolution, but also provided profound theoretical enlightenment and practical guidance for Chinese modernization a century later. Through the textual tracing and interpretation of the core essence of the Theory of Inculcation, we can clearly conclude that the ideological responsibility of the proletarian party, the proactive dissemination of scientific theories, and the in-depth integration of theory and practice are the keys to resolving ideological confusion and consolidating social consensus.

In the process of advancing Chinese modernization, faced with the ideological and cultural challenges posed by the confrontation of diverse ideological trends, the people’s ever-growing demand for spiritual and cultural life, and the essential requirement of “coordinating material civilization with cultural-ethical advancement”, the value of Lenin’s Theory of Inculcation has become increasingly prominent.

In the drive for Chinese modernization, we must always uphold the CPC’s position as the core subject of ideological guidance, and accurately instill the theoretical achievements of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times among the people. We should combine theoretical education with practical experience to transform the external dissemination of scientific socialist thought into internal recognition. By consolidating core consensus and criticizing deconstructive value orientations, we can build a solid security line of ideological defense and cultivate new era talents who shoulder the mission of national rejuvenation.

History and practice have proven that the “inculcation” of scientific theories is by no means a simple transmission of knowledge, but a strategic project to realize people’s ideological consciousness and social spiritual cohesion. On the journey of advancing Chinese modernization in the new era, only by inheriting the ideological essence of the Theory of Inculcation and endowing it with Chinese characteristics and contemporary connotations can we truly achieve the coordinated development of material affluence and spiritual enrichment, and provide lasting ideological motivation and spiritual support for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

References

[1] China Internet Information Center. (2017, November 6). Full text of Xi Jinping’s report at 19th CPC National Congress [Bilingual: Chinese-English]. http://www.china.org.cn/chinese/2017-11/06/content_41852215.htm

[2] Lenin, V. I. (2018). What is to be done?. Translated by the Central Compilation and Translation Bureau. People’s Publishing House.

[3] Xinhua News Agency, & Central Party History and Literature Research Institute. (2022, October 27). Hold High the Great Banner of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and Strive in Unity to Build a Modern Socialist Country in All Respects Report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China [Bilingual: Chinese-English]. https://wb.beijing.gov.cn/home/zwxx/djgz/202210/t20221027_2846141.html