Maintaining the ideological front, contributing to the successful protection of the 12th National Party Congress

On the eve of the 12th National Party Congress, hostile forces and political opportunists are thoroughly using the internet and social networking sites to vigorously implement the strategy of "peaceful evolution" to sabotage Vietnam in all areas of politics, ideology, economy, culture, society, foreign affairs, national defense, and security, in which sabotage of the Draft Documents and personnel issues of the 12th National Party Congress is identified by them as a breakthrough, the mastermind and top priority to sabotage our Party.

Therefore, regardless of the conditions and circumstances, the struggle to expose the false and reactionary nature of erroneous and hostile viewpoints to protect the Party's ideological foundation, guidelines and viewpoints, and to make the 12th Party Congress a success is an urgent, pressing and extremely important task in the struggle to prevent and combat "peaceful evolution" and to protect the Party and the current regime.

Under the leadership of the Party, the struggle on the ideological, cultural and theoretical fronts of the army has developed and matured, achieved important achievements, contributed to exposing the nature, plots, insidious tricks, harms and the necessity to reject and destroy erroneous, reactionary and hostile viewpoints; raised revolutionary vigilance; oriented ideology, level of awareness, strengthened the confidence of cadres, soldiers and people in the goal of national independence and socialism; proposed to the Party policies and measures to fight against erroneous and hostile viewpoints, especially in the fields of military, national defense and protection of the Fatherland; built a politically strong army, absolutely loyal to the Fatherland, the Party and the people; ready to receive and excellently complete all tasks.

Illustration photo.

In the coming time, especially from now until the 12th National Party Congress, the ideological and theoretical struggle in Vietnam will certainly take place more and more fiercely, becoming the hottest front. To win this struggle and successfully protect the 12th National Party Congress, it is necessary to grasp the requirements and have feasible and synchronous solutions to create "immune" resistance in each cadre, party member and people against the new plots and sabotage tricks of hostile forces and political opportunists; on that basis, create high political and ideological unity within the Party, consensus in society for the cause of national renewal in the direction of socialism for the goal of a rich people, a strong country, democracy, fairness and civilization.

The characteristic of ideological and theoretical struggle is that it is a war without “gun smoke”, without weapons, but extremely fierce, fierce and complicated. In order for the army to successfully complete the task of ideological and theoretical struggle and successfully protect the 12th National Party Congress, there needs to be centralized and unified leadership and direction from the Central Military Commission, the Ministry of National Defense, the General Department of Politics to the leadership and command system at all levels in the entire army. To do so, it is necessary to effectively implement the following solutions:

Firstly, raise awareness and clearly define the responsibilities of organizations, forces and each cadre and soldier regarding the importance, nature and content of the ideological and theoretical struggle. Through many forms and measures, make the entire army clearly recognize the nature, plots and sabotage tricks of hostile forces in terms of ideology and theory; constantly raise vigilance, build the will and determination to fight, resolutely oppose all wrong and reactionary viewpoints; protect the Party, the State and the regime.

Second, clearly define the responsibilities of organizations and forces in the army for the task of fighting on the ideological and theoretical front. In particular, clearly define the responsibility of leadership, direction and implementation of the ideological and theoretical struggle of Party committees, commanders, functional agencies and steering committees against "peaceful evolution" in the ideological and cultural fields at all levels. At the same time, clearly define the responsibilities of core forces and all cadres and soldiers in the struggle on the ideological and theoretical front.

Third, strengthen the direct leadership and direction of Party committees at all levels, the centralized and unified management and administration of political commissars, political officers and commanders at all levels in the army on the ideological and theoretical front. Focus on improving the effectiveness of the Party's leadership mechanism over the army in organizing the struggle on the ideological and theoretical front; link building the ideological battlefield with building truly clean and strong Party organizations and cells; build comprehensively strong agencies and units.

Fourth, step up theoretical research, summarize practices, research forecasts and research on hostile forces' plots and sabotage tricks in the ideological and theoretical fields. Proactively resolve newly arising issues, avoid being passive or surprised ideologically in any situation. On the other hand, it is necessary to proactively study and grasp the plots and tricks of hostile forces, promptly propose to the Party and State countermeasures to handle complicated situations and "hot spots" in the struggle on the ideological and theoretical front.

Fifth, to lead, direct, and coordinate the struggle forces on the ideological and theoretical front. To strengthen the leadership and direction of schools, research institutes, propaganda systems, press, radio, television, and military publishing in the struggle on the ideological and theoretical front. To strengthen close coordination between forces in the army and party organizations, authorities, and socio-political organizations from the central to grassroots levels, creating a combined strength on the ideological and theoretical front.

Sixth, correctly and accurately identify the content and effectively use the forms and measures of struggle on the ideological and theoretical front in accordance with the characteristics, functions and tasks of the army. In particular, it is necessary to focus on refuting the arguments that distort Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh's thought; the arguments that deny the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, deny the goals, ideals and path to socialism that the Party, Uncle Ho and our people have chosen; and fight uncompromisingly against erroneous and hostile views on issues of democracy, human rights, ethnicity and religion. Fight to defeat the plot to "depoliticize" the army.

Seventh, organize and build forces to meet the requirements and tasks of the army fighting on the ideological and theoretical front. In particular, focus on building and nurturing the core force of the army; invest in building research centers and teaching social sciences and humanities; attach importance to building and nurturing a core team of cadres fighting on the ideological and theoretical front. Organize and mobilize a large number of cadres and soldiers to participate in the ideological and theoretical struggle and firmly build the ideological battlefield in each unit.

Eighth, to build and perfect mechanisms and policies, and strengthen the material foundation for the army to fight on the ideological and theoretical front. In the short term as well as in the long term, it is necessary to promote the work of building and perfecting mechanisms and regulations for the army's operations on the ideological and theoretical front; to build and perfect coordination mechanisms within the army, coordination mechanisms between the army and other forces on the ideological and theoretical front; to build and perfect regulations and rules for ideological and theoretical struggle within the army.

The goal of the ideological and theoretical struggle front in our country today needs to be achieved on both the main fronts of “fighting” and “building”. The new thinking about the task of protecting the socialist Fatherland requires the army to be not only good at fighting on the armed struggle front but also good at fighting on the political-ideological front, fighting against the sabotage of hostile forces in the ideological and theoretical fields.

Major General, Associate Professor, Dr. NGUYEN BA DUONG/QĐND

(Director of the Institute of Military Social Sciences and Humanities)