Volume 2, No. 2, February 2001

(Continuation from last issue)

Every School or Trend of Thought Reflects Class Interests and Demands

In grasping the superstructure and line, we must pay attention to studying the many schools and trends of thought in the ideological realm — in philosophy, literature, art and education — and distinguish what class and line each represents and whether it is of benefit to the consolidation and development of the socialist economic base.

The Marxist theory of the economic base and the superstructure tells us that social being determines social consciousness. Since human society divided into classes, there has been no such thing as a supra-class and unified social ideology. In the same society people having different class status and interests will have different ideas, wishes and world outlooks, and different and even diametrically opposite schools and trends of thought will emerge. Chairman Mao has pointed out: "So long as classes exist, there will be as many doctrines as there are classes, and even various groups in the same class may have their different doctrines." (On New Democracy.)

In class society, therefore, there are only the doctrines of classes, but no supra-class doctrine of the "whole people." "The communist world outlook is the world outlook of the proletariat and of no other class." (Speech at the Chinese Communist Party’s National Conference on Propaganda Work.) For all their motley and variegated character, different schools and trends of thought in the final analysis are direct or indirect reflections of the interests and demands of certain classes and are overtly or covertly linked with the class and political struggles of the time.

In the entire historical period of socialist revolution and construction by the proletariat, the struggle between the two classes, the two lines and the two world outlooks in the ideological sphere will be a long one and will frequently recur. Outdated traditional ideas and idealist and metaphysical viewpoints as well as literary and art works and theories in defence of the overthrown exploiting classes and their ideologies all stand in the way of the revolution in the superstructure and consequently obstruct the consolidation and development of the socialist economic base. Some comrades, however, often fail to see or understand the importance of the class struggle in the ideological sphere and the fact that bourgeois ideology, idealism and metaphysics impede socialist revolution and construction. They regard the struggle on the cultural and educational front as purely the business of the "cultural departments" without any bearing on the national economy and the people’s livelihood. This is quite wrong.

The struggle of different schools and trends of thought in the ideological sphere "in the last analysis reflects the tendencies and ideology of the antagonistic classes in modern society." (Lenin: Materialism and Empirio-Criticism.) Far from having no bearing on the overall situation, the outcome of such a struggle advances or puts back the socialist cause. To advance socialist revolution and construction, the proletariat must struggle against and criticize outdated traditional ideas and erroneous schools and trends of thought. In such criticism, "efforts should be made to apply the dialectical method. What is needed is scientific analysis and convincing argument." (On the Correct Handling of Contradictions Among the People.) This is an important experience gained from years of struggle in the ideolegical and cultural fields.

The ideological struggle between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie, between dialectical materialism on the one hand and idealism and metaphysics on the other, and between Marxism and revisionism, is an objective reality independent of man’s will. One need not worry about opposites. There is nothing unusual about controversies over differing opinions. "There can be no differentiation without contrast. There can be no development without differentiation and struggle. Truth develops through its struggle against falsehood." (Speech at the Chinese Communist Party’s National Conference on Propaganda Work.) Only by thrashing them out and by criticism can erroneous ideas be set at naught, and only by clashing with erroneous ideas can correct ideas develop. Only through such struggles can the superstructure be constantly transformed to adapt to the developing socialist economic base. In these struggles, the Party’s basic line should be taken as the guide to correctly distinguish and handle the two different types of contradictions and carefully distinguish fragrant flowers from poisonous weeds. Questions of ideology and understanding the part of the people and matters of the mind can only be dealt with by presenting facts and reasoning.

In order to do better in the class struggle in the ideological sphere, we must "read and study seriously and have a good grasp of Marxism." We must study some history for it will help us to sum up useful experiences and draw lessons from class struggles and ideological struggles in history, get a deeper and more specific understanding of the Marxist theory on class struggle, raise our ability to tell the difference between real and sham Marxism and initiate us into the great struggle of the day. We must study seriously, assiduously and perseveringly. We must use the Marxist stand, viewpoint and method to criticize and sum up the history of the development of human cognition and ancient culture, distinguish between the essence and the dross and adopt the principle of making the past serve the present and foreign things serve China and weeding through the old to bring forth the new. This is essential for overcoming the bourgeois ideology and enriching and developing the proletarian ideology. Only class struggle in the ideological sphere can bring this about.

Some comrades, though realizing the importance of grasping the class struggle in the ideological sphere, feel that the difficulties are too great and hesitate to take bold steps forward. Actually, the road of revolution has always been a difficult and tortuous one; there is no smooth and easy course. This is even more so with revolution in the superstructure. We cannot advance if, for fear of our lack of rich and well-grounded revolutionary experience in this sphere, we choose the beaten track which offers least resistance and difficulties. One must note that "today, socialism is in an advantageous position in the ideological struggle. The main power of the state is in the hands of the working people led by the proletariat. The Communist Party is strong and its prestige stands high." (On the Correct Handling of Contradictions Among the People.) True, the ideologies of the bourgeoisie and all other exploiting classes still exist in society and in every sphere of the superstructure. But they are the ideologies of decadent classes and their economic bases have been destroyed. They are therefore without vitality and are rotten to the core, and they can be defeated completely. On the other hand, the proletariat, being the most revolutionary class, represents the new productive forces. Its ideology is full of great vitality and is unconquerable.

Socialist new things may look somewhat weak and not deep-rooted at the start, but they are full of revolutionary vigour. Compared to the old things which seem strong and deep-rooted but reek of decay, they have a fine future for development. Though they mav have taken only the first step, this first step will take them farther than all old things.

The development of new things always proceeds from superficial to deep, from weak to strong and from a low to a higher level. A big revolutionary movement, like the turbulent Yangtze rushing down from the gorges on the upper reaches to swell at the mouth, must pass through a process involving a beginning, a climax and a deepening stage. Our revolutionary comrades, therefore must be steadfast and confident in carrying on the socialist revolution in the superstructure, including the ideological sphere.

In making revolution in the superstructure we must combine revolutionary fervour with a realistic spirit. We must learn from the revolutionary spirit of those who, in creating the model revolutionary theatrical works, diligently studied to create lofty images of proletarian heroes, and took the greatest pains to improve their portrayal to perfection. We must keep up with the working class’s dauntless heroic spirit and its scientific attitude of laying stress on Party policy when the workers first took hold of the superstructure. The proletariat "must exercise all-round dictatorship over the bourgeoisie in the field of the superstructure, including the various spheres of culture."

To achieve this, the broad masses, under the guidance of Chairman Mao’s revolutionary line, must do a great deal of painstaking work over a long period of time. Persistently taking the Party’s basic line as our guide is the universal law that must be followed in all endeavours in the superstructure. At the same time, we must take care to study the particular contradictions of each concrete item of work in every department and make concrete analysis of concrete things and grasp the particular laws of things. Only by being earnest and doing all kinds of work soundly can we keep ourselves in an indomitable position and step by step defeat the bourgeoisie. Occupying each position in the superstructure with Marxism-Leninism-Mao Tsetung Thought and trans- forming it is a long-term strategic task. We must be determined, persevere and carry it through. The revolution is advancing. The road ahead may be full of twists and turns, but our future is bright. Let us go all out, aim high and win new victories under the guidance of Chairman Mao’s revolutionary line!

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