Identifying and combating "peaceful evolution" and political opportunism

Assoc. Prof., Dr. MAI DUC NGOC
Academy of Journalism and Communication

1. The “peaceful evolution” strategy and political opportunism

The origin of the “peaceful evolution” strategy stems from the post-World War II period, when imperialism realized that destabilizing elements within socialism could lead to the collapse of socialist countries. Therefore, alongside the “Cold War”, imperialism promoted its ideological warfare and propaganda against socialism. This new method was called “peaceful evolution” or “peaceful transformation”.

The phrase “peaceful evolution” appeared at the beginning of the Cold War when US Secretary of State Dean Acheson recognized the failure of U.S. military interventions in socialist countries. The strategy of “peaceful evolution” is a concept that refers to the plots, tricks, and methods of operation used by imperialist and reactionary forces to create and support opposition and counter-revolutionary forces inside socialist countries, aiming to overthrow the socialist regime without violent intervention from outside. This is “a fundamental strategy aimed at overthrowing the political regimes of progressive countries, particularly socialist countries, from within, primarily through non-military means, orchestrated by imperialism and reactionary forces, led by the U.S.”⁽¹⁾.

From 1947 to 1988, the “peaceful evolution” strategy was implemented to prevent the development of socialism. In particular, imperialism took advantage of difficulties in some socialist countries to incite riots (Hungary in 1956, Czechoslovakia in 1968), etc.. From 1989 to 1993, the “peaceful evolution” strategy was closely linked to the “surpassing containment” strategy to eliminate socialism. Since 1993, there has been an intensification of the “peaceful evolution” strategy, including the implementation of “color revolutions” aimed at completely eradicating socialism.

The true nature of the “peaceful evolution” strategy today is “the activities of major capitalist imperialist forces and authoritarian powers, targeting countries with political regimes they deem incompatible with their interests, using a combination of political, military, economic, cultural, social, diplomatic, and security measures to transform the political regimes of these countries in a direction favorable to them”. This nature clearly reflects its counter-revolutionary character: reactionary politics, nationalism, globalization, and non-armed struggle. The recent transformations of “peaceful evolution” include:

1) The subjects implementing the “peaceful evolution” are not only hostile forces and capitalist-imperialist countries but also narrow-minded, expansionist, and hegemonic nationalist countries. Consequently, the political motivation of “peaceful evolution” has shifted from primarily ideological opposition to a focus on advancing narrow national interests.

2) The main goal of recent “peaceful developments” is to change perceptions and create ambiguity about the national, ethnic, and political regimes in ways that favor capitalism and imperialist power for geo-political and geo-economic interests instead of extreme political goals.

3) The method of “peaceful evolution” has shifted from external opposition to promoting internal sabotage activities from within the countries, focusing on domestic, internal, and local opposition.

4) The schemes and tricks of “Peaceful evolution” have reached a peak, to the point where it can be considered a “technology”, that is, a “subversive technology”. This involves scenarios including forming opposing forces ready for an election, intensifying media agitation during elections, rejecting or refusing to recognize election results if the opposition does not win, organize naive and opposition elements to protest in the streets, fueled by media incitement leading to street violence, external intervention under the guise of supporting “democracy fighters” due to “election fraud,” and using information and diplomatic tools to pressure the newly elected government to resign or for the parliament to annul the election results. Finally, they declare victory and openly support and recognize a new pro-Western government.

5) Applying economic and financial pressure and cyber-attacks are two prominent methods used by hostile, reactionary, and powerful forces against small countries. They thoroughly exploit social media and non-governmental organizations to sow the seeds and promote “civil society”, inciting resistance from opposing elements and demonstrations to overthrow the regime⁽³⁾.

The “peaceful evolution” strategy and political opportunism are closely intertwined and symbiotic, gaining more “lifeblood” when supported by elements of “self-evolution” and “self-transformation.” Therefore, along with identifying and exposing the plots and tricks of the “peaceful evolution” strategy, it is necessary to clearly point out the manifestations of political opportunism in the current context. Combating political opportunism to build a clean and strong Party, enhancing the pioneering and combative character of the Party organizations.

Opportunism originates from class contradictions and struggles between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie, between proletarian ideology and bourgeois ideology, and between socialism and capitalism. As long as this struggle exists, the grounds for opportunism will exist. In the proletarian revolutionary movement, political opportunism represents compromise, reformism, and unprincipled cooperation, contrary to the basic interests of the working class and working people. In reality, there exists right-wing opportunism (reformist in nature, prone to compromise, wanting to peacefully “transform” capitalism into socialism, refusing the struggle for genuine victory for the working class), and “left” opportunism which turns Marxism into a dead, rigid, uncreative doctrine (like what existed in the workers’ parties of the Second International and persists to this day). Whether it is right-wing or “left-wing” opportunism, both lead the workers’ movement to useless sacrifices and failure⁽⁴⁾. Those who indulge in opportunism seek to compromise one point of view with another, to stand in the middle between opposing views. As a result, their rhetoric is often vague and empty, and their words do not match their actions.

Ho Chi Minh referred to political opportunism and political opportunists as “careerists”⁽⁵⁾. Political opportunism is an internal enemy, possessing many, very dangerous characteristics, destroying the Party and the revolutionary movement internally. We need to clearly recognize the origins, development, and manifestations of political opportunism to implement effective and practical solutions to combat them.

2. Identifying “peaceful evolution” in the fields of ideology and culture and the manifestations of political opportunism in Vietnam today

Manifestations of “peaceful evolution” in ideology and culture

Currently, “peaceful evolution” in the fields of ideology and culture is a key focus of hostile forces’ strategic efforts. They attack the ideology, policies, and viewpoints of the Party and the cultural and spiritual life of Vietnamese society, aiming to eliminate the socialist regime in Vietnam and erase the nation’s valuable traditional cultural identity.

Regarding goals, depending on the situation and timing, hostile forces focus on achieving specific goals. However, their fundamental aim to cause political instability, ideological confusion, and ultimately lead to the abandonment or rejection of Marxism - Leninism, Ho Chi Minh Thought, and the socialist regime in Vietnam.

In terms of content, hostile forces deny Marxism - Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought; distort and defame the images of communist leaders, leaders of the Party, and the State of Vietnam; deny the leadership role of our Party; deny and distort the nation’s fine traditional cultural values, and so on.

Regarding methods, these include slander, distortion, and blatant false accusations regarding certain events; biased, one-sided reporting that exaggerates and distorts the truth; creating figureheads; employing psychological warfare tactics; using media channels, especially new media platforms like social media and various forms of literature and art, to propagate incorrect and hostile views within the country; and exploiting Vietnam’s trend of globalization and international integration to undermine the Vietnamese revolution.

Manifestations of political opportunism in our country today

In the history of the international communist and workers’ movement, there have been both right-wing and “left-wing” tendencies. Right-wing opportunism is the worship of spontaneous movements, abandonment of the socialist revolution, and denial of the working class’s right to seize power. “Left” opportunism is a mixed combination of radical and adventurous revolutionary mottos based on the idealistic concept of the absolute power of revolutionary violence. Although they may appear outwardly opposed, their essence is the same.

In our country, political opportunism and political opportunists refer to those who have participated in revolutionary activities, contributing to the revolution to some extent, but due to various historical conditions and the failure to fulfill their personal interests, they become dissatisfied, pessimistic, and ideologically confused.

In practice, the subjects of political opportunity are not only limited to leading cadres in the corrupt political system but also includes opposition and counter-revolutionary elements who have been disciplined and have been nurturing ambitions for revenge. Additionally, intellectuals, artists, and even a group of young intellectuals who lack proper schooling, are indulgent, and forget their responsibilities to the community, are also included. When the revolution is favorable, they appear “radical”, when the revolution encounters difficulties, they retreat, compromise, and attack the Party.

They can be divided into groups: 1) Political opportunists currently servings as cadres, civil servants, public employees, military officers, police, artists, intellectuals, journalists, writers, poets, etc. They are currently working in Party and State agencies, socio-political organizations, mass organizations, and they get paid a salary from the State budget, but they say one thing in meetings and another outside, or their words do not match their actions, etc. 2) Retired political opportunists, who, after retiring, may abandon the Party and their pension, openly opposing the Party, and attacking Party policies, State laws, and societal interests, etc., 3) Political opportunists who are dissidents or discontented individuals (including those from the above two groups) and those with resentment against the revolution, including officials from the former regime who were re-educated by the revolution. They harbor ambitions for revenge and exploit unfavorable circumstances, collaborating with hostile forces to form groups and lay the groundwork for reactionary organizations to oppose the revolutionary cause. 4) Political opportunists who are respected figures within ethnic minority communities or religious leaders with extremist political views. They seek to exploit political and social issues within the country, connect with external forces for support, and attempt to undermine national unity, instigate rebellion, overthrow the regime, integrate religion into politics, and nurture ideas of secession and establishing separate states⁽⁶⁾.

Tactics of hostile forces implementing “peaceful evolution” and using political opportunists to undermine the vietnamese revolution

Firstly, they use mass media, the internet, books, newspapers and magazines from abroad, radio and television stations with programs in Vietnamese, many newspapers and magazines in Vietnamese, and publishing houses to spread propaganda to distort and combat the Vietnamese revolution. They also conduct direct phone interviews, incite, flatter, and entice individuals with incorrect or hostile views.

Secondly, the US and Western countries exploited reactionary organizations Vietnamese exiles abroad to both gather forces and conduct riots to cause instability in Vietnam. A number of reactionary organizations are actively linking up with domestic political opportunists to raise “flags” against the Party, forming opposition organizations to the Communist Party of Vietnam in the form of “linkage groups”, “pluralistic democratic gathering”, and so on. This serves as a foundation for gradually publicizing opposition political organizations, awaiting the opportunity to overthrow the government.

Thirdly, they take advantage of the guise of “democracy”, “human rights”, ethnicity, and religion to exert political pressure, internal division, incite hatred, and form a separatist tendency to oppose the Communist Party of Vietnam. They exploit the guise of “democracy” and “human rights” to blatantly interfere in Vietnam’s internal affairs, view religion in Vietnam as a potential political force to “counterbalance” the Communist Party, and believe that “nationalism is the strongest force at the end of the 20th century that can be used to collapse the socialist system”. Therefore, they encourage and nurture reactionary subjects that exploit ethnic and religious issues to increase their activities and spread propaganda with the aim of dividing the great national unity bloc.

Fourthly, they have a policy of attracting, through allied countries, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), using cultural, scientific, and educational exchanges and cooperation as a means to infiltrate, gather intelligence, politically transform, and bribe cadres. They establish connections with those who hold state secrets. They specifically invite young people who they consider to be progressive to the Western countries to visit and research, to propagate and promote Western democracy. Additionally, they engage in activities that deeply interfere with Vietnam’s internal affairs, such as organizing discussions and seminars to promote and propagate Western values.

Fifthly, they strengthen their connections with a number of political opportunists who oppose Vietnam, looking for a “flag” to gather forces, form factions, and eventually establish an opposition party in Vietnam. They engage in activities such as writing and disseminating materials under the guise of contributing opinions, journals, dialogues, emergency letters, and appeals, but their true aim is to find ways to coordinate campaigns to oppose the Party and the State through various means.

Recognizing the sophisticated and cunning schemes of hostile forces within the “peaceful evolution” strategy and the manifestations of political opportunism is a crucial foundation for timely and appropriate solutions to combat and prevent these threats.

3. Solutions to combat “peaceful evolution” and manifestations of political opportunism

Combating to prevent and combat “peaceful evolution”, maintain political stability, protect the Party, and protect the regime is inseparable from the uncompromising combat against political opportunists. This must be considered a strategic task of vital significance in the current period. Particularly, the combat against political opportunism is an objective need, closely linked with prevention and combat of deterioration in political ideology, ethics, lifestyle, “self-evolution”, and “self-transformation” internally. Therefore, it is necessary to focus on some of the following basic solutions:

Firstly, enhance the awareness and responsibility of party committees and leaders of party and government organizations in the combat against “peaceful evolution” and political opportunism.

Raising the political competence and courage of Party committees, local leaders, and heads of agencies and units is essential to support increasing awareness and political enlightenment among cadres, Party members, and the people. These leaders are the key figures in leading, managing, and organizing the fight against “peaceful evolution” and political opportunism. Practical experience shows that in any locality, agency, or unit, where the party committee or leader has strong political will, being able to properly review, analyze, and evaluate the situation, and correctly identify the plots and tricks of “peaceful evolution” and “political opportunities”, they can achieve unity of thought and action. Cadres, party members, armed forces, and the people can effectively prevent and handle the subversive actions of hostile forces.

To achieve this, it is necessary to pay special attention to propaganda and education of Marxism - Leninism, Ho Chi Minh Thought, and the Party’s viewpoints and guidelines. Every cadre and party member must understand the Party’s political guidelines, policies, and laws of the State and have a correct understanding of the path to socialism. They must be political sensitive, clearly identifying “peaceful evolution” plots and tricks, and manifestations of political opportunism, and proactively prevent and decisively fight to block any negative consequences.

Secondly, renovate the Party’s leadership methods, coupled with promoting the role, effectiveness, and management efficiency of the State and socio-political organizations in combating “peaceful evolution” and political opportunities.

The Party’s leadership and the State management play an extremely important role in determining victory in the ideological struggle. This ensures that all officials and party members are absolutely loyal to the Fatherland and the nation’s revolutionary cause, loyal to the Party, the State, and people; always steadfast in the goals and ideals of national independence and socialism, and fulfill all assigned tasks excellently.

In particular, it is necessary to focus on aspects such as: improving the capacity to form guidelines, policies, and direct combat activities; building a comprehensively strong state apparatus, agencies, and units; consolidating and promoting the role of authorities at all levels; building and promoting the role of socio-political organizations in the combat against “peaceful evolution” and political opportunism. It is necessary to rapidly screen, detect, and remove politically opportunistic elements from the apparatus.

Focus on researching and improving the mechanism for selecting and appropriately appointing the cadre team under new conditions. Strengthen and persevere in the solution of political and ideological education, and enhance the management and supervision of cadres and party members both inside and outside the political system. Consistently implement policies that honor and adequately reward those who have contributed to the revolution.

Thirdly, build and strengthen communication committees and steering committees at all levels; improve the quality of core cadres, mobilize intellectuals, writers, and artists, build a “people’s heart and mind posture” to participate in the combat against “peaceful evolution” and political opportunities.

Review the organizational system protecting the Party’s ideological foundation from the Central to local levels; eliminate overlaps, and clearly define functions and tasks for each organization, between the Party’s leadership apparatus and state management. The execution of responsibility must be regularly monitored by Party regulations, State laws, standard codes, and professional ethics.

Promote renovation in mechanisms and policies for identifying, selecting, training, fostering, and attracting talented people, people with bravery and good experience to create a contingent of officials working to protect the Party’s ideology foundation-sufficient in quantity, strong in quality, and ensuring continuity between generations. Create an attractive environment (in terms of working conditions, salary policies, housing, etc.) so that talented people can feel secure in their work, be enthusiastic about their profession, and make many contributions to the work of building and rectifying the Party, combating to prevent and counter sabotage plots by hostile forces. Establish a system of specific criteria for identifying sabotage and hostile groups and objects.

Fourthly, strengthen inspection, supervision, and combat to prevent deterioration in political ideology, ethics, lifestyle, corruption, and waste; enhance exemplary behavior among cadres and party members, especially heads of agencies and units.

Party committees, party organizations, and inspection committees at all levels need to proactively renovate and strengthen periodic and extraordinary inspection and supervision of the implementation of resolutions, directives, regulations, decisions, and conclusions by the Party at all levels, as well as policies, and laws of the State. In particular, focus on strengthening inspection, supervision, and publicizing the results of inspection, supervision, and the handling of defects and violations to contribute to the prevention and repulsion of degradation, “self-evolution”, and “self-transformation”.

Prevent and combat corruption, strictly enforce regulations on power control, and improve mechanisms and policies to enhance the responsibility of setting an example by leaders, officials, and party members. Practice the ethical principle “saying goes hand in hand with doing”, and resolutely overcome the situation where actions do not match words. Uphold the revolutionary ethics of “diligence, frugality, integrity, righteousness, impartiality”, actively combat corruption and negative phenomena within our agencies and units and clean up our teams of cadres and party members, contributing to improving the Party’s leadership capacity and combat power. Now more than ever, it is necessary to strengthen and promote the combat against individualism, political opportunism, and internal opportunistic elements to eliminate them from party organizations.

Fifthly, increase investment in physical facilities and information technology equipment to serve the task of combating “peaceful evolution” and political opportunities.

Promote the application of information technology in the work processes of specialized agencies tasked with this mission, ensuring increased effectiveness and efficiency. Continue to develop communication technology solutions; Invest in modern technical equipment to serve forces participating in the struggle on the internet and social networks. Fully and synchronously equip material and technical facilities to serve the management of scientific research activities, political theory, culture, arts, journalism, publishing, etc. Ensure adequate financial investment combined with tapping into other resources to best support the Party’s leadership and the State’s management activities.

After nearly 40 years of national renovation, Vietnam has attained great and historically significant achievements. Our country has never had the same fortune, potential, position, and international prestige as it does today. However, the path to socialism in Vietnam is unprecedented. Therefore, limitations and shortcomings in the Party’s leadership process cannot be avoided. This is the space for political opportunists to spread wrong and hostile ideas. The hostile forces’ political opportunistic ideologies along with the “peaceful evolution” strategy seriously endanger the Party’s political and ideological stability and the organizational purity of the Party’s apparatus, the Party’s leadership role, and the country’s destiny. This is an issue that every cadre, party member and our people must clearly understand, to increase their “resistance” and “immunity” to avoid “self-evolution” and “self-transformation” in the face of sinister conspiracies, and cunning tricks by hostile and reactionary forces.

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Received: February 13, 2024; Revised: April 16, 2024; Approved for publication: April 22, 2024.

Endnotes:

(1) Ministry of National Defense - Military Encyclopedia Center: Vietnam Military Encyclopedia, People’s Army Publishing House, Hanoi, 2004, p.303.

(2), (3) Phung Huu Phu, Le Huu Nghia, Vu Van Hien, Nguyen Viet Thong: Some theoretical and practical issues about socialism in Vietnam through 30 years of renovation, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2016, pp.732, 732-733.

(4) Electronic Newspaper of the Communist Party of Vietnam, February 25, 2020.

(5) Ho Chi Minh: Complete works, vol. 2, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2011, pp. 297, 308, 311.

(6) See Truong Giang Long: Political opportunities - identification and prevention, https://cand.com.vn/, posted on May 12, 2020.