Institute for Party History and Literature

Institute for Party History and Literature
Name	Institute for Party History and Literature
Native name	中共中央党史和文献研究院
Formation	2018
Type	Research and compilation institution
Headquarters	Beijing
Parent organization	Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party
Leader title	Director
Leader name	Qu Qingshan

Institute for Party History and Literature. It is a central institution directly under the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, responsible for the research, compilation, and publication of the party's historical documents and theoretical works. Established in 2018 through a merger of several predecessor bodies, it plays a critical role in shaping the official historical narrative and ideological education. The institute's work is fundamental to the study of Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, and the theoretical system of Socialism with Chinese characteristics.

History and establishment

The institute was formally created in March 2018 as part of a broader institutional reform of the State Council and party organs. It consolidated the functions and staff of three major predecessor organizations: the Party History Research Office of the Central Committee, the Party Literature Research Office of the Central Committee, and the Compilation and Translation Bureau of the Central Committee. This merger, approved by the 19th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, aimed to streamline research on Chinese Communist Party history and Marxist theory. The consolidation was seen as enhancing the efficiency and authority of official historical research, following a tradition of such work that dates back to the Yan'an period and the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Organizational structure

The institute operates under the direct leadership of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, specifically its Politburo and its Standing Committee of the Politburo. Internally, it is divided into numerous research departments, editorial offices, and administrative bureaus, each focusing on specific historical periods, theoretical fields, or functional tasks. Key divisions include those dedicated to research on the New Democratic Revolution, the Socialist period under Mao Zedong, the Reform and Opening-up era, and the study of major party leaders like Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin, Hu Jintao, and Xi Jinping. It also oversees specialized centers for the compilation of Selected Works of Mao Zedong and the translation of Marxist classics.

Functions and responsibilities

Its primary mandate is the authoritative research, compilation, editing, and publication of the Chinese Communist Party's historical records and theoretical literature. This includes producing the official history of the Chinese Communist Party, editing the collected works of senior party leaders, and interpreting the development of Marxism in China. The institute is responsible for providing historical and theoretical support for party decision-making, often contributing research to major political events like the National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party. It also plays a key role in combating what it terms "historical nihilism" by promoting the correct official narrative on sensitive historical events such as the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Cultural Revolution.

Research and publications

The institute is the premier publisher of authoritative party historical documents and theoretical series. Its flagship publications include the multi-volume *History of the Chinese Communist Party* and the annual *Selected Important Documents Since the 18th National Congress*. It oversees the publication of *Selected Works of Deng Xiaoping*, *The Governance of China* by Xi Jinping, and critical editions of works by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. The institute's researchers publish extensively in major party journals like *Qiushi* and *People's Daily*, and it manages the Central Archive, providing access to crucial primary sources for sanctioned scholarly work.

Role in party education

The institute is integral to the ideological training and political education of party members and cadres. It develops the standardized historical and theoretical materials used in the curriculum of the Central Party School and provincial party schools across the country. Its research directly informs the content of nationwide political study campaigns, such as those on the *History of the Chinese Communist Party* and the *Four Histories*. By defining the orthodox interpretation of party history, it aims to reinforce the ideological unity of the party and the legitimacy of its leadership, linking past struggles like the Long March to contemporary policies under Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.

Leadership and key figures

The institute is led by a director, who is typically a senior party historian and a member of the Central Committee. The inaugural and current director is Qu Qingshan, a prominent historian who previously headed the Party History Research Office of the Central Committee. Other significant figures have included researchers like Li Junru, a former vice-president of the Central Party School, who has contributed extensively to the study of Deng Xiaoping Theory. The leadership and senior researchers often hold concurrent positions in important advisory bodies like the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and participate in major commemorative activities, such as those for the Centenary of the Chinese Communist Party.

Category:Research institutes in China Category:Chinese Communist Party