Ly Son fishermen rely on the sea for economic development while steadfastly defending the national sea and islands sovereignty of Vietnam - Photo: suckhoedoisong.vn

1. “The battle position of the people’s heart” - A particularly important factor in the cause of building socialism and firmly defending the Socialist Vietnamese Fatherland

“The battle” is often understood as “the arrangement of forces in battle or competition”⁽¹⁾. “People’s heart” is often used as a symbol of psychology, emotion, the spirit of the majority of people or the vast majority of people in a country or nation about a certain event or an issue seen as having a “consensus”, “engagement”, “agreement” of the majority of people about a certain event or issue. “The battle position of the people’s heart” is understood as the activities of the leaders and managers of the country in building and promoting strongly and effectively the consensus, support and active participation of the people in implementing decisions of leaders and managers, bringing practical benefits to the majority of the people and the country, preventing and smashing all sabotage plots.

For the cause of national construction and defense under the leadership of our Party today, “The battle position of the people’s heart” is the political and spiritual state of the entire people, including patriotism and the absolute confidence in the leadership of the Party, the inevitable victory of socialism, the spirit of solidarity, consensus, engagement, and determination, etc., of the entire people in the cause of national construction and defense, led by the Party to build, develop and strongly and effectively promote its role in building a powerful country, step by step towards the goal of a rich people, strong country, democracy, justice and civilization, successfully building socialism in our country and protecting firmly the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

“The battle position of the people’s heart” has a very diverse and rich meaning, associated with and is governed by and regulated by the task of national construction and defense in each historical period; expressed in two main aspects: patriotism, solidarity, consensus, engagement, and determination, etc., of the whole people in building a strong country and in firmly defending the Fatherland; the orientation of force development, leadership, management and administration of the country, ensuring patriotism, solidarity, consensus, engagement, determination, etc., of the whole people to serve effectively and efficiently in the cause of national construction and defense.

In the current new context, “The battle position of the people’s heart” is one of the particularly important factors ensuring the victory of the cause of building socialism and firmly defending the Socialist Vietnamese Fatherland. National construction and defense are the two most important areas of focus for the country. These two fields can only be won via the correct leadership of the Party, which means that the Party sets out the right revolutionary line, clearly showing the unity between “the will of the Party and the people’s heart”. “The battle position of the people’s heart” creates a solid foundation of the all-people defense posture and people’s security posture. The 12th National Party Congress (2016) clearly stated: “Building a battle position of the people’s heart”, creating a solid foundation for building the all-people national defense and people’s security”⁽²⁾. The 13th National Party Congress (in 2021) continued to emphasize: “Building the battle position of the people’s heart”, the all-people defense and the people’s security stands firmly as the foundation in the cause of national defense⁽³⁾.

2. New requirements for building and promoting of the role of “the battle position of the people’s heart” in the building and in the defense of the Fatherland in the new situation.

Firstly, the situation in the world and the region rapidly and unpredictably changes. The 13^th National Party Congress commented: “The world is going through great changes, happening very quickly, complicatedly, and is difficult to predict. Peace, cooperation and development are still major trends, but are facing many obstacles and difficulties; strategic competition between major countries, [and] local conflicts continue to take place in more complicated, complex and drastic forms, increasing the risks to the international political and security environment, etc.”⁽⁴⁾.

In addition, “The world economy is in crisis, facing a serious and possibly prolonged recession due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, etc. The Fourth Industrial Revolution, especially the strong development of digital technology, creating breakthroughs in many fields, creating both opportunities and challenges for all countries and peoples. Global issues such as protection of peace, human security, natural disasters, epidemics, social security and non-traditional security, especially cyber security, climate change, rising sea levels, environmental pollution, etc., continues to be complicated. The Asia-Pacific region, in which Southeast Asia has an increasingly important strategic position, is an area of fierce competition between great powers, with potential instability. Disputes over territorial sovereignty, sovereignty over seas and islands have become more intense, complicated, and drastic”⁽⁵⁾.

Secondly, at home, after more than 35 years of renovation, the position and strength, the national synergy, and international prestige of the country have been increasingly enhanced, creating important prerequisites for building and preserving the Fatherland. However, the Party also identified risks, difficulties and challenges: “The four risks that our Party has pointed out still exist and are even more acute. The risk of falling behind and falling into the middle-income trap is still great. There are signs of not paying due attention to ensuring development in the socialist direction; developing culture, ensuring social welfare, realizing social progress and justice in the development of the market economy; has not yet ensured the overall and synchronous development of regions and localities according to comparative advantages and brought into play specific socio-economic conditions. Corruption, wastefulness, bureaucracy, degradation in political ideology, morality, lifestyle, “self-evolution”, “self-transformation” internally as well as social conflicts are still complicated. Enemy forces continue to intensify their opposition to the Party, the State and our country. Protecting independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, maintaining a peaceful and stable environment and adapting to climate change are urgent requirements and huge challenges for our country in the next time”⁽⁶⁾.

At the same time, the Party said: “The situation in the world and in the country  presents advantages and opportunities, as well as difficulties and challenges that are intertwined, posing many new problems, therefore the new requirements for building and defending of the Fatherland are heavier and more complicated”⁽⁷⁾. Yet the advantages and opportunities in building and promoting the role of “the battle position of the people’s heart” in the building and defense of the Fatherland in the coming years are great. Therefore, more than ever, all levels and sectors need to be properly and fully aware of the necessity of building and promoting the role of “the battle position of the people’s heart” in building a strong country, firmly protecting the integrity of the land, airspace, borders, sea and islands of the Fatherland in the coming years and take practical actions to effectively carry out this work.

3. Solutions to strengthen the building and promotion of the role of “the battle position of the people’s heart” in the building and defense of the Fatherland in the coming years

To continue to successfully carry out the cause of national construction and defense in the current period, our Party has determined: “Deeply grasping the motto of ensuring national defense and security is an important and regular task. Closely combining national defense and security assurance with socio-economic development; timely perfecting of the theory of national defense and security, and new thinking on national defense since “the country is not in danger” is the basis of building a solid battle position of the people’s heart”⁽⁸⁾, “Building the battle position of the people’s heart, promoting the strength of unity and consensus of the people at home and abroad to build and defend the Fatherland”⁽⁹⁾.

Firstly, to step up the building and rectification of the Party and the political system, to strongly bring into play the role of the Fatherland Front, socio-political organizations and the people in the building of “the battle position of the people’s heart”

First of all, it is necessary to build a clean and strong Party to meet the requirements and tasks of the revolution in the new period in general and the task of building and promoting the role of “the battle position of the people’s heart” in national construction and defense in particular. The 13th National Party Congress emphasized: “Strengthening the building and rectification of the Party in terms of politics, ideology, morality, organization and cadres; improving the leadership capacity, ruling capacity, combat strength of the Party and the effectiveness and efficiency of the State’s management”⁽¹⁰⁾. Thereby, strengthening the belief in the Party and the people’s trust in the Party.

The Party needs to renovate its methods of leadership, gathering and mobilizing the masses in the direction of flexibility, creativity, efficiency, and maximum mobilization of the people’s strength in the cause of national construction and defense. Special attention should be paid to building a contingent of cadres with qualities and capabilities on par with the task, “dare to think, dare to speak, dare to do, dare to take responsibility, dare to innovate, dare to cope with difficulties, challenging and decisive in acting for the common benefit”⁽¹¹⁾, truly “respecting the people, being close to the people, believing in the people, understanding the people, studying the people, relying on the people and being responsible to the people”⁽¹²⁾. Thereby, promoting highly and effectively the role of “the battle position of the people’s heart” in the cause of national construction and defense.

For the State, it is necessary to build a clean, strong, effective, and efficient State; have the capacity to manage, to administer, to gather the people, to bring into play the strength of the whole people in the building and defense of the Fatherland. The 13th National Congress requested: “Continuing to build and perfect the socialist Vietnamese rule of law State of the people, by the people and for the people led by the Party is the central task of reforming the political system. Improve the capacity, effectiveness, and efficiency of the State’s operations”⁽¹³⁾.

It is necessary to actively build a state administration in service of the people, democracy, rule of law, professional, modern, pure, strong, public and transparent; and at the same time build a contingent of cadres and civil servants with sufficient qualities and capacity to serve the people and the development of the country.

Bringing into play the role of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations in building and consolidating social consensus, strengthening the great national unity block, building and promoting the role of “the battle position of the people’s heart” in the building and defense of the Fatherland. To build the Vietnam Fatherland Front and other strong and effective socio-political organizations there has to be a good mechanism of coordination, bringing into play the role of each organization in the cause of national defense and protection of the country.

The 13^th National Party Congress affirmed the importance of: “Strengthening the pivotal political role and responsibility of the Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations in building the great national unity block, rallying, and mobilizing the people promoting patriotic emulation movements, etc. Renovating the organizational apparatus, contents and modes of operation, raising the responsibility of the staff of the Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations, strongly oriented towards grassroots and residential areas”⁽¹⁴⁾.

Secondly, promoting economic development in association with ensuring good social security, combining socio-economic development with strengthening, and consolidating national defense and security.

It is necessary to continue to innovate and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of state management of the socialist-oriented market economy. Continuing to innovate, maintain and improve the independence and autonomy of the economy, while at the same time actively and proactively integrate into the international economy. Perfecting the legal system, ensuring fair and transparent competition of enterprises of all economic sectors. It is necessary to step up the development of key economic zones, to create a driving force for the economy, and at the same time provide support to regions facing difficulties. It is necessary encourage that legal enrichment goes hand in hand with hunger eradication and poverty alleviation, realizing the goal of a rich people, strong country, democracy, justice and civilization.

At the same time, it is necessary to increase the State’s investment in, and mobilization of social resources for the development of culture, education, science and technology. The good settlement of labor, employment and income policies; to overcome the unreasonableness of wages, salaries and social allowances. Effectively implementing the work of hunger eradication and poverty reduction, especially in deep-lying, remote and extremely difficult areas; mobilizing all social resources together with the State to take better care of the material and spiritual life of the families that have meritoriously serviced the revolution.

It is necessary to improve the quality of people’s health care, to create a healthy environment for children to develop comprehensively, physically and intellectually; to create opportunities and conditions for all people to have a life full of learning. To solve pressing problems of social life, non-traditional security issues; to settle people’s complaints and denunciations, to promptly settle these issues so as not to not give rise to hot spots of security and order. To pay attention to improving the overall quality and combat strength of the armed forces and consolidating the people’s belief in the cause of national defense and protection of the country.

Thirdly, expand democracy in association with promoting the building and development of Vietnamese culture and for the people to meet the requirements of national construction and defense.

The 13^th National Party Congress emphasized: “Implementing correctly and effectively direct democracy and representative democracy, especially democracy at the grassroots level. Properly and effectively putting into practice the motto “The people know, the people discuss, the people do, the people monitor, the people supervise, the people benefit”⁽¹⁵⁾. Making sure that the Human rights, freedoms and equality of citizens are recognized, respected and protected; The people must be the true and highest subject of political power, state power, all institutions of power must be placed under the control and supervision of the people. The Party, the State, the Party committees and authorities at all levels must have mechanisms to ensure that the genuine patriotism of all classes is promoted, that everyone is equal, and that their intellect, talents and energies, etc., are devoted in the cause of national defense and protection of the country.

There must be the building and development of a culture, creating a good cultural environment for each individual and social community to have the conditions to develop patriotism, solidarity, pride and self-respect for the Vietnamese nation, promoting the good character, soul, and morals of Vietnamese people, which is the filter to prevent negative cultures. At the same time, it is necessary to standardize moral and spiritual values and direct the whole people to strive according to those values.

Therefore, actively building the Party culture, civil servant culture, corporate culture, etc. the 13^th National Party Congress affirmed the importance of: “Strengthening education of patriotism, national pride, and a sense of social responsibility for all strata of people, especially young people. The importance of the implementation of breakthrough solutions to effectively prevent the degradation of morality and lifestyle and repel social negativity and social evils; and to protect and promote good and sustainable values in Vietnamese cultural traditions”⁽¹⁶⁾.

Fourthly, renewing and improving the quality of education and fostering the knowledge of national defense and security for cadres, civil servants, public employees and the entire people

All levels and sectors need to strengthen their education, fostering self-respect and national pride, highlighting the glorious tradition of the Party and the Vietnam People’s Army among all classes of people, especially the young generations. It is important to strengthen the fostering of guidelines, viewpoints, requirements and tasks for national defense in the new situation, making people understand clearly the subjects and partners, opportunities and challenges for national defense and security in the current situation.

Regular, comprehensive, and effective national defense and security education must be conducted; selecting and useing educational forms and methods suitable to the requirements of the tasks and responsibilities of each subject. Attaching importance to the education of national defense and security knowledge for key cadres at all levels, branches, localities, mass organizations and social organizations is a priority. Thereby, promoting the role, the sense of self-discipline and sense of responsibility of the cadres and people of all strata in participating in the struggle to protect political security, social order and safety, border protection and protection of sovereignty over sea and islands.

Fifthly, to step up the fight against and defeat the strategy of “peaceful evolution” of hostile forces, to prevent and eliminate “self-evolution” and “self-transformation” internally and actions that hinder the building and promotion of the role of “the battle position of the people’s heart” in the building and defense of the Fatherland

Heightened vigilance is needed in actively struggling to defeat all plots and tricks of “peaceful evolution” by hostile forces. Strong renovation of relevant subjects, expanding the forces, diversifying the measures and methods of fighting on the ideological front, focusing on the application of science and technology, especially information technology, communication, internet, social networks, etc. The building a strong Party in terms of its politics, ideology, morality, organization and with cadres and party members that are exemplary in ideology, morality and lifestyle etc., is a solid pillar in the prevention and the defeat of all plots and tricks of “peaceful evolution” by hostile forces.

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Received: 20th October 2021; Revised: 17th October 2022; Approved for publication: 26th October 2022.

Endnotes:

(1) Nguyen Nhu Y (Editor): Great Vietnamese Dictionary, Culture-Information Publishing House, Hanoi, 1998, p.1558.

(2) TCPV: Documents of the 12^th National Party Congress, Office of the Central Committee of the Party, Hanoi, 2016, p.149

(3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (11), (13), (14), (15), (16)  CPV: Documents of the 13^th National Party Congress, Vol.I, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2021, p.172, 105, 107, 108, 109, 100-101, 172, 179, 174, 172, 173, 143.

(10), (12) CPV: Documents of the 13^th National Party Congress, Vol.2, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, p.229, 248.

Assoc. Prof., Dr. DINH NGOC GIANG

Scientific Management Department,

Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics