General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trọng and the people - Photo: vnanet.vn

The book titled Some theoretical and practical issues of socialism and the path towards socialism in Vietnam, including 29 articles and speeches by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong sheds light on fundamental issues of socialism and the path to socialism in the country. In particular, the idea that the Party’s leadership is the decisive factor in the victories of the Vietnamese revolution is consistent throughout the book. This is reflected in all the articles, most directly expressed in the following points: 

Firstly, despite different expressions, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has always affirmed that the Party’s leadership has a decisive role to play in the victories of the Vietnamese revolution. In the article Some theoretical and practical issues of socialism and the path to socialism in Viet Nam, published on May 15, 2021, on the occasion of the 131st birthday anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh (May 19, 1890 - May 19, 2021), Election of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and all-level People’s Councils, the General Secretary reiterated the affirmation and assessment of the 13th Congress on the Party’s leadership. “Following the 35-year renewal period and 30-year implementation of the Platform for national construction in the transitional period to socialism, theoretical views on the renovation and the path to socialism have been perfected and brought into practice. Outstanding achievements of historical significance have featured robust and comprehensive development compared to the previous years of renovation. 

It is fair to say, “never in its history has the country had such opportunity, potentiality, position and prestige as today. It is these achievements that prove and confirm that “the party’s leadership is the decisive factor in the victories of the Vietnamese revolution”⁽¹⁾.

In celebration of the 89th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) (February 3, 1930 - February 3, 2019), General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong wrote an article entitled “Strong party, growing country, long-lasting nation”, an article underpinned with theoretical and practical justifications features powerful arguments. He stated, “The long-standing practice of the Vietnamese revolution over the last 89 years, since the Party was established, has proved that the Party’s sound leadership has been the decisive factor of victories of the Vietnamese revolution, leading to numerous outstanding achievements in the country. At the same time, during its leadership, the Party was trained and challenged, grew in perfection and drew on valuable experience, thus deserving its role and mission and the people’s trust. In fact, over the recent past of nearly a century in Vietnam, the CPV was the only political entity which has enough will, courage, determination, brainpower, experience, prestige and capacity to lead the country to overcome difficulties and challenges and drive the national revolutionary cause from one victory to another”⁽²⁾.

Delivering a speech at the ceremony to celebrate the 90th founding anniversary of the CPV (February 3, 1930 - February 3, 2020) themed Continue to promote the proud tradition, revolutionary nature, pioneering and exemplary role, and build a clean and strong Party, the General Secretary continued to affirm, “The reality of the Vietnamese revolution with ups and downs in the past 90 years has shown that the victories of the Vietnamese revolution and outstanding gains in the country were attributed to the proper and creative leadership of the Party”⁽³⁾.

Based on a thorough review of Vietnam’s revolutionary practice and theoretical research, the General Secretary affirmed and emphasized, “The reality confirms the truth that the Communist Party of Vietnam was the only political entity, which has a strong will, courage, determination, brainpower, experience, prestige and capacity to lead the country to overcome difficulties and challenges, and to drive the national revolutionary cause from one victory to another”⁽⁴⁾.

In a speech delivered to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the implementation of President Ho Chi Minh’s Testament and the 50th anniversary of his death on August 30, 2019, with the theme Ho Chi Minh’s testament: the torch shines Vietnamese revolution, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong reaffirmed the leadership of the Party with convincing justifications:

Firstly, the General Secretary affirmed that under the leadership of the Party, the people succeeded in gaining national independence, liberating the South and reunifying the whole nation. He underscored that “Under the leadership of the Party, great national solidarity, strong will and overall strength of the whole nation were combined with the power of the times; the Vietnam People’s Army and its people won a great victory in the resistance war against the US imperialists for saving the country, liberating the South and unifying the country. Mountains and rivers were no longer split, and Uncle Ho’s aspiration was fulfilled”⁽⁵⁾.

Secondly, the leadership of the Party lends its credence to outstanding achievements in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland. The General Secretary said, “In the process of building and defending the Fatherland and socialism, especially after more than 30 years of carrying out the national renovation, our country has achieved great historic achievements, which were attributable to the strength of the whole nation, the unfailing efforts of all generations of cadres, party members and the people from all walks of life.”

Thirdly, the achievements in the national renewal demonstrate the Party’s capacity of leadership, governance and political courage, thereby indirectly highlighting the leadership of the Party as the decisive factor in the victories of the Vietnamese revolution. “The achievements in the renewal created favorable conditions and premise for our country to firmly build socialism and defend the Socialist Fatherland of Vietnam, and acted as compelling justifications of the Party’s strong leadership, governance and political bravery, the people’s great power and creativity,” the General Secretary added⁽⁶⁾.

In brief, throughout the book Some theoretical and practical issues of socialism and the path to socialism in Vietnam, either directly or indirectly, the General Secretary consistently emphasized that the leadership of the Party was the decisive factor in the victories of the Vietnamese revolution.

Secondly, the General Secretary highlighted the fact that the Party’s correct and wise leadership was the decisive factor in all victories of the Vietnamese revolution for the following reasons:

Firstly, the Party successfully executed its role in the revolution course. The General Secretary pointed out, “Throughout the process of revolutionary leadership, the Party was constantly trained, challenged and perfected, deserving its role and mission of revolutionary leadership and the trust and expectations of the people”⁽⁷⁾.

Obviously, the Party was not chosen to take on the leadership role by chance. Instead, its position and importance resulted from hard training and arduous efforts of all the Party members and the whole Party. Therefore, the Party has sufficient political courage, brainpower, experience, prestige and capacity to lead the country’s development course.

Secondly, in the book, the General Secretary repeatedly emphasized that it was in the process of leading the revolution that the Party, with its modesty and diligence, had consolidated its political stance, bravery, brainpower, experience, and prestige. In particular, it has drawn on numerous invaluable lessons and experiences, making up the glorious traditions of the Party. These traditions include i) “absolute loyalty to the interests of the nation and the working class, remaining steadfast in the goal of national independence and socialism based on Marxism - Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought”⁽⁸⁾; ii) “maintaining independence and autonomy in guidelines, firmly grasping and creatively applying and developing Marxism - Leninism in consultation with lessons drawn from other nations to map out and effectively implement revolutionary tasks”⁽⁹⁾; iii), “the flesh-and-blood bond between the Party and the people, exalting the task of serving the people as the ultimate goal in life”⁽¹⁰⁾; iv), “unity, solidarity, organization and discipline based on democratic centralism, self-criticism, criticism and comradeship”⁽¹¹⁾; v), “faithful and pure international solidarity based on international customs and for good courses”⁽¹²⁾. Thoroughly grasping and promoting these five precious traditions, the Party’s leadership has always been correct and creative. This explains why the Party’s leadership is the decisive factor in the victories of the Vietnamese revolution.

Thirdly, also in the book, the General Secretary repeatedly emphasized that stepping up building and rectification work to uphold a clean and strong Party is the most important measure to maintain the Party’s leadership. According to the General Secretary, this is because, “We all know that the Party plays a decisive role in the victories of our country’s revolution, and Party building has always been the Party’s key task in the national revolutionary cause”⁽¹³⁾. If the Party does not keep itself transparent and strong, it cannot have enough courage, wisdom and prestige to take on the leadership of the revolutionary cause.

It is no coincidence that in the revolutionary cause, primarily since the 1986 national renewal, our Party has issued many resolutions on Party building and rectification, such as Resolution No. 3 of the Central Committee (10th Tenure) in 1992 on several tasks of renovating and rectifying the Party; Resolution of the 6th Central Committee (second time, eighth Tenure, 1999) on some fundamental and urgent issues about the Party building work in the current context; Resolution of the 4th Party Central Committee, (11th tenure, January 2012) on some urgent issues of Party building; Resolution of the 4th Central Committee, (12th tenure, October 2016) on strengthening the Party building and rectification; preventing, repelling the degradation of political stance, ideology, morality and lifestyle of a number of the Party’s cadres and members and the manifestations of internal “self-evolution” and “self-transformation.

The Party has implemented the Resolutions of the 4th Party Central Committee, (11th and 12th tenure), in association with Directive 05-CT/TW of the Politburo on promoting studying and following Ho Chi Minh ideology, morality and style; Regulation No. 08-QDi/TW dated October 25, 2018 on the Responsibility to set examples of cadres and party members, first and foremost members of the Politburo, members of the Secretariat, members of the Party Central Committee; Regulation No. 47-QD/TW dated November 1, 2011 on things that party members cannot do; The 4th Plenum of the Party Central Committee (13th tenure) discussed and unanimously promulgated the Conclusion on stepping up the building and rectification of the Party and the political system; resolutely preventing, repelling the degradation of political stance, ideology, morality and lifestyle of a number of the Party’s cadres and members and the manifestations of internal “self-evolution” and “self-transformation; and New Regulations on things that party members cannot do.

In short, the Party pays special attention to building and rectifying for a clean and strong Party and to uphold its mettle, intelligence, capability and prestige and prove itself in revolutionary leadership roles. Therefore, “positive and clear changes were recorded throughout the whole Party and political system, gaining the people’s trust, sympathy and support, making a significant contribution to the implementation of political tasks in general, the implementation of the tasks of economic, cultural and social development, national defense, security and international integration in particular”⁽¹⁴⁾.

However, the General Secretary also objectively specified several drawbacks and limitations during the implementation of the Resolution of the 4th Central Party Committee (12th tenure). Accordingly, some cadres and party members, including leaders and managers, are not fully aware of the significance of Party building and rectification. Some have not fully acknowledged their Responsibility, while there is a lack of role models among others. Other negative manifestations include the fading ideals, loss of will to fight, individualism, inconsistency between speech and actions, and infringements on the Party discipline and laws. 

There are also problems regarding leadership capacity, fighting strength, self-criticism and criticism, inspection and supervision over numerous party organizations, cadres, and party members. The political system is not as transparent and strong as expected. Many cadres and party members, especially those with high positions and responsibilities, working in areas prone to corruption and negative phenomena, still lack nurturing and training and end up falling into individualism, violating the Party’s regulations, the State’s laws, and being worse, being penalized by the Party and criminally handled, etc”⁽¹⁵⁾.

It is of importance to overcome these limitations and weaknesses and at the same time to well implement the Resolution of the 13th Party Congress in the context of constant, complicated and unpredictable changes, notably the Covid-19 pandemic, the Fourth industrial revolution, complicated sovereign disputes in the East Sea, climate change, environmental pollution, natural disasters, epidemics, and non-traditional security challenges especially on the Internet, hostile and reactionary forces with malicious artifices and increased sabotage activities. The General Secretary clarified, “the above situation requires the Party to continue improving its courage and wisdom, to be truly ‘moral and civilized’. More efforts should be made in the Party building and rectification so that the Party and political system could be more transparent, stronger, and more capable of fulfilling every task, leading the construction and development of the Party at a faster pace and more sustainably”⁽¹⁶⁾. In order to well grasp this requirement, the General Secretary emphasized that the Conclusion of the 4th Plenum of the 13th Central Committee must be well implemented. 

i) Associating Party building and rectification with constructing a clean and strong political system. That is to say, the content of Party building and rectification applies “not only to Party members and all levels of Party committees and organizations but also to cadres, public servants, agencies and units at all levels across the political system, especially those holding high positions and working in law enforcement agencies and ones receiving many privileges such as agencies responsible for preventing and combating corruption and negative phenomena”⁽¹⁷⁾. In addition, it is essential to update and further clarify the system of manifestations of degradation in political ideology, ethics and lifestyle; “self-evolution”; “self-transformation”; “negative practices”; and especially fading revolutionary ideals in light of the new developments. These points regarding the construction and rectification of the Party and the political system are innovative and need thoroughly grasping.

ii) The work of Party building and rectification should be levitated and tailored to the practical situation. The objective is to improve the Party’s leadership, governance capacity and combativeness; enhance the efficiency of State management; to renovate the operations of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations. The objective is extended to resolutely fighting against individualism; preventing, repelling the degradation of political stance, ideology, morality and lifestyle among a number of the Party’s cadres and members and the manifestations of internal “self-evolution” and “self-transformation”; closely combining “building” and “combating”, making clear that while fighting is a fundamental, strategic and long-term task, combating is a crucial, regular and urgent task⁽¹⁸⁾. On these premises, “the Party has come to a new height of brainpower, political courage, and become a truly moral and civilized institution with a close bond with the people. It also wins the people’s trust and love, earns good prestige and leadership capacity to successfully implement the Resolution of the 13th Party Congress and the cause of national construction and defense”⁽¹⁹⁾.

iii) In the time to come, it is imperative to synchronously and effectively carry out the task of building and rectifying the Party in association with the four solution groups in various areas: firstly, the political and ideological work, self-criticism and criticism; secondly, institution and policy; thirdly, Party inspection, supervision, and discipline; finally, the role of people and Fartherland Fronts of all levels as well as other socio-political organizations. In addition, the General Secretary accentuated the solution group on “building a pool of competent and prestigious cadres at all levels, particularly at the strategic level in association with innovating and reorganizing the organizational apparatus of the political system to be streamlined, effective and efficient⁽²⁰⁾, saying that personnel work occupies a pivotal position. According to this solution group, it is required to ensure the personnel work is strictly controlled in a fair, objective, close, rigorous, and effective manner in compliance with regulations and procedures. Those who are unqualified, tempted for power, and show political opportunism should be excluded from leadership and management at all levels. Some policies that are binding on the cadres in charge should be piloted. For example, the cadre who is entitled to make potential appointments as well as the appointments of his or her deputies to proceed the election procedure must shoulder full Responsibility for those appointments; the committee secretary must claim full Responsibility for his or her appointments of standing committee members; the cadre in charge must take full responsibility for his or her potential appointments and the dismissal of cadres in charge who are subject to his or her power⁽²¹⁾. Good implementation of this solution group is bound to enhance the Party’s leadership and governance capacity, ensuring that the Party’s leadership is the decisive factor in the victories of the Vietnamese revolution.

iv) The Conclusion of the 4th Plenum of the 13th Central Committee gives weight to the supplement and perfection of institutions in building and rectifying the Party and the political system and fighting against corruption and negative phenomena. In the book, the General Secretary affirmed that “the Conclusions and new regulations on things that Party members cannot do” were considered and promulgated by the 4th Plenum of the 13th Central Committee. This shows that the Party attaches great importance to the inheritance, supplement and perfection of its regulations on building and rectifying the Party and the political system, fighting against corruption and negative phenomena in the spirit of a close combination of building and fighting, and of building revolutionary morality and fighting individualism in particular”⁽²²⁾.

The new regulation on things that Party members cannot do focuses on two groups of issues: (1) the degradation of political stance, ideology, morality and lifestyle and the manifestations of internal “self-evolution” and “self-transformation; (2) wrongdoings in the cadre work. In addition, new regulations involve the supervision over accreditation and recognition for diplomas, certificates and qualifications, nationality, income, money transfer, overseas asset purchase, etc. This acts as an essential mechanism to detect and handle infringements committed by cadres and Party members and, therefore to fight against corruption, and negative phenomena⁽²³⁾.

At the same time, the General Secretary also asserted, “As institutions on Party building and rectification, the fight against corruption and negative phenomena are implemented widely across the whole Party and political system, the Party and political system will certainly become stronger, more transparent, comprehensive and synchronized”. Only in this manner can the Party solidify its working class characteristics and deserve to take on leadership and governance.

On that account, the Party’s leadership is the decisive factor in the victories of the Vietnamese revolution.

On the whole, the notion that the Party plays a decisive role in all victories of the Vietnamese revolution is consistently justified throughout the book Some theoretical and practical issues of socialism and the path towards socialism in Vietnam by the General Secretary. The Party’s leadership role is accredited through the process of revolution, in which it has been constantly trained and challenged, deserving its revolutionary leadership role and mission as well as the trust and expectations of the people. In order to strengthen the Party’s leadership, it is vital to step up building and rectification work to uphold a clean and strong Party.

__________________

Received: March 1, 2022; Revised: March 2, 2022; Approved for Publication: April 22, 2022.

Endnotes:

(1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11), (12), (13), (14), (15), (16), (17), (18), (19), (21), (22), (23) Nguyen Phu Trong: Some theoretical and practical issues of socialism and the path towards socialism in Vietnam, Truth National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2022, pp.34, 47, 208, 221, 221, 248, 249, 221, 221, 221, 221-222, 221, 222, 369-370, 372, 372, 375, 375-376, 378, 378, 379-380, 381, 382.

(20) CPV: Documents of the 4th Plenum of the Party Central Committee (13th tenure), Truth National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2021, p.96.

PROF., DR. TRAN VAN PHONG

Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics