Institute of Philosophy - 65 years of development

Currently, the Institute of Philosophy is performing its function of teaching Marxist - Leninist philosophy and philosophy majors in the training and refresher training programs of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics; studying philosophical issues with the goal of providing training and refresher training courses to cadres, contributing to the planning of the Party’s guidelines and policies as well as the laws of the State.

The Institute of Philosophy’s main task is to participate in providing training and refresher training courses to high-and-middle-level management leaders for the political system and scientific cadres, studying the issues of Marxist - Leninist philosophy in particular and philosophy in general in order to improve the quality of teaching majors in philosophy, contributing to providing scientific arguments for the planning, development and completion of the Party and the State’s guidelines and policies, fighting against wrong and hostile opinions, actively contributing to the ideological and theoretical works of the Party. Besides this, the Institute conducts researches and summarize practical performance, supplementing, completing and developing theories on philosophy; researching and developing programs and contents, organizing the compilation and adjustment of textbooks, materials and references on philosophy; providing consultancy to the Director of the Academy on training and refresher training programs and their content, as well as scientific research on philosophy; providing guidance on the content and methods of teaching, learning and researching philosophy for the teachers of the Academy, political schools and training schools for officials in ministries, various branches of government and central organizations; cooperating with domestic and foreign organizations in the field of training and researching philosophy in accordance with the law and the Academy’s requirements.

Over 65 years of development, the Institute of Philosophy has achieved many outstanding achievements which are reflected in the following main aspects:

1. Working to providing training and refresher training courses to the leaders, high-and-middle-level managers, scientific cadres for the Party, the State and socio-political organizations

The Institute of Philosophy, considered as one of the institutes with the top quality of teaching at the Academy, has participated in teaching in all courses offered by the Academy.

Over the past 65 years, the Institute has participated in running hundreds of high-level, post-graduate, training and refresher training courses organized by the Academy, Central and local authorities. Thereby, it has trained thousands of students.

Just the last 5 years (2015-2020), the Institute participated in teaching 20 specialized university training courses, 200 decentralized classes of high-level political theory; more than 60 centralized classes of high-level political theory. The Institute participates in running short-term refresher training and knowledge updates courses in the Academy’s annual training and retraining plan. Typical examples are the refresher training courses on Marxist - Leninist classics and Ho Chi Minh’s thought; retraining and refresher training courses on Marxist - Leninist philosophical knowledge for teaching staff in the Academy system; training courses, curricula of all classes (intermediate, university, advanced) for teaching and research staff of the Academy, political schools and schools of ministries. The Institute’s staff participated in the compilation and directly runs the prospective officials classes for the 12th and 13th Party Congresses, prospective officials classes for localities across the country, and the prospective officials classes for the Lao State and its Party.

The Institute has successfully trained and provided guidance for thesis defense to nearly 30 doctorate students and over 40 specialized master students. The Institute participates in the cooperation in training and refresher training courses on Marxist - Leninist philosophical theory, training masters and PhD students in many universities and research institutes throughout the country. The Institute has successfully fulfilled its task of providing training to international students from Laos, contributing to tightening the solidarity and friendship between their country and Vietnam.

Through teaching activities, the Institute’s staff has made an important contribution to the propagation of Marxism - Leninism and Ho Chi Minh’s thought, researching, and performing the propaganda for the Party’s guidelines and policies as well as disseminating the State’s legal policies. The content taught by the Institute reflects the scientific and revolutionary nature, the humanity and humanism of Marxism - Leninism, analyzing the creative application of Marxism - Leninism by our Party in developing its guidelines and policies and forming the ideological foundation of the Party. Thereby, it has contributed to promoting the stance, thought, ideology, scientific worldview, and revolutionary outlook on life for leaders, managers, and scientists; forming political reasoning for policy makers and planners as well as theoretical scientific researchers in general; contributing to developing the orientation toward the right political perception, firmly understanding Marxism - Leninism, Ho Chi Minh’s thought and the Party’s opinions and guidelines.

Through the performance of its professional tasks, the Institute of Philosophy has contributed to improving the perception of cadres and Party members, thereby forming a revolutionary outlook on life, consolidating a firm belief in the revolutionary path that President Ho Chi Minh, the Party and people have chosen and developing a pure revolutionary sentiment, acting spontaneously and creatively in the cause of developing a rich and strong country, a just, democratic and civilized society, strengthening the confidence of cadres and party members in the Party’s leadership and in the path to socialism in Vietnam.

Through the works of research and teaching, the staff and lecturers of the Institute have contributed to protecting the Party’s ideological foundation, fighting against distorted, negative and wrong views in the perception of political issues; preventing “self-evolution” and “self-transformation” in the minds of students, contributing to the theoretical stability of the leadership and management staff of the Party and the State, forming a premise for changes in socio-economic development, political stability in national development and defense, particularly in the period of national renovation.

The Institute of Philosophy properly performs its task of innovating the contents and curriculum of the Academy. The Institute has successfully compiled, updated, and supplemented the philosophical textbooks for middle-level and high-level political theory training courses under the spirit of the Party’s Documents of 12th and 13th Party Congresses. These advanced theory textbooks are key to the entire training and refresher training system for all levels; for leaders, high-and-middle level-managers, and political theory scientists from the political system. This program aims to provide high-and-middle-level leaders and managers of the political system with foundational knowledge of political theory and the Party’s opinions and guidelines, as a basis for strengthening their ideological foundation, improving their vision and strategic thinking ability, professional competence, perfecting their methods and skills for leadership and management, cultivating and improving the personality of leaders, fulfilling the requirements and tasks set by the country in the period that the industrialization, modernization and international integration has been accelerated.

Theoretical issues from the Party’s final Documents of the National Congress and the actual situation are analyzed from the perspective of philosophical thinking to explain the inevitable trend of human history and the inevitability of Vietnam ‘s choice to be on the path to socialism. The philosophy textbooks compiled by the Institute are used by many training institutions, contributing to protecting the Party’s ideological foundation.

2. On scientific research

Over the past 65 years, the Institute has chaired and participated in hundreds of scientific events covering topics and tasks at all levels, thereby contributing to in-depth research and affirming the sustainable value of Marxism - Leninism, submitting proposals to the Central Committee, fighting against wrong and hostile views, protecting the ideological foundation of the Party.

In just the 5-year period (2015-2020), the Institute completed 01 state-level project, 02 key ministerial-level projects, 07 ministerial-level scientific projects, 02 domestic and foreign research cooperation projects and 30 scientific projects at the grassroots level and organized many seminars, and scientific talks. The topics were always implemented on schedule and highly appreciated. Some topics are valuable for scientific and practical recommendations for all levels, such as: Researching and summarizing the theory of socio-economic morphology of Marxism - Leninism and proposing, supplementing and developing such theory in the new context in Vietnam; Breakthrough solutions to promote the Vietnamese human factor in the current national development; Summarizing the theoretical development of the Party through the Congresses in the renovation period; Waking up the aspiration to develop a prosperous and happy Vietnam in the new context, etc.

In 2020, the Institute of Philosophy developed 02 consultancy reports on the Draft document of the 13th Party Congress. In 2022, the Institute prepared and submitted 01 report to the Central Government on Waking up the aspiration to develop a prosperous and happy Vietnam in the new context.

In the last 5 years, the Institute of Philosophy performed hierarchical scientific tasks of high quality, including 20 grassroots-level topics, and 10 scientific seminars and talks. Scientific conferences have attracted the participation of a large number of staff from inside and outside the Academy, helping to strengthen and expand the cooperation with agencies outside the Academy in training and scientific research, defending Marxism - Leninism, Ho Chi Minh’s thought, the guidelines and lines of the Party. Scientific research activities contribute to improving professional qualifications, research skills, and updating knowledge for research and teaching staff.

These topics and seminars are valuable for contributing to a deeper understanding as well as supplementing and developing the principles and theories of Marxism - Leninism, further deepening many theoretical issues, providing important arguments for the formulation of the Party’s guidelines, policies, and the laws of the State. At the same time, such works also contribute to the development of Marxism - Leninism in many important ways, gradually enriching the ideology of the working class and strengthening the ideological foundation of the Party. Through this research, many important theoretical issues are presented in the new conditions, such as: the theory of the role of the ruling party; ownership issues of the socialist state; the dictatorship of the proletariat; the theory of the transition period; theory of the rule of law of the socialist state; theory of class and class struggle in countries that have not undergone capitalism, etc.

The theoretical research of the Institute of Philosophy contributes to providing scientific arguments as a basis for developing the Party’s guideline, policies and the laws of the State, contributing to the cause of national renovation.

In the past 5 years, the Institute published nearly 20 books (by collective and individuals, groups of authors, including textbooks and monographs). In 2020, 2021, the Institute compiled 2 books of Fundamentals on philosophy to meet the need for research and study of officials, party members and the masses throughout the country. The Institute’s staff has over 200 articles published in domestic scientific journals, including some that have been published in foreign journals.

Particularly, since 2018, the Institute of Philosophy has focused on thoroughly grasping and implementing Resolution No. 35-NQ/TW, dated October 22nd, 2018 by the Politburo on “Strengthening the protection of the Party’s ideological foundation, fighting against wrong and hostile views in the new situation”. Through teaching and researching Marxist - Leninist philosophy, the Institute of Philosophy has participated in many research projects at ministerial and grassroots levels, issuing hundreds of articles published in mass media, contributing to the protection of the Party’s ideological foundation. The Institute has directly contributed to affirming the scientific and revolutionary character, the humanity and humanism of Marxism - Leninism, Ho Chi Minh’s thought, researching, disseminating, and propagating the Party’s guidelines and the law and policies of the State. At the same time, the Institute has directly fought against the ideological trends and tendencies that plan to sabotage, deny or distort the ideological foundation, viewpoints and guidelines of the Party, criticizing wrong and hostile views to Marxism - Leninism and socialism in Vietnam, denying the role of the Communist Party of Vietnam, fighting against all manifestations of revisionism and opportunism, particularly the allegation based on the collapse of the socialist model in the Soviet Union and Eastern European countries. Many studies and articles from the Institute have outlined the methods to identify opportunism and revisionism to protect the party organization, maintaining the Party’s leadership role, strengthening the political system, properly meeting the requirements and the task in the new revolutionary situation.

Some works and articles by the officials and lecturers at the Institute fight directly against the alienation of political ideology, morality, lifestyle, and manifestations of “self-evolution” and “self-transformation” among the cadres and party members. For example, fighting against the tricks of those who use the name of “loyal” party members to write and spread their wrong, critical and even distorting opinions on the Communist Party of Vietnam’s Platform and guidelines on the internet; claiming that Vietnam maintains a “totalitarian one-party regime” that inhibits freedom, democracy and divides the nation; providing “recommendations” to change the Party’s Platform, abandoning the guidelines of developing socialism, completely turning to nationalism and liberal democracy, changing the “political institution” from “totalitarianism” to liberal democracy, requiring the implementation of pluralism and a multi-party mechanism.

In the past year, the staff and lecturers of the Institute of Philosophy have actively participated in the research and dissemination of the article and the book “Some theoretical and practical issues on socialism and the path to socialism in Vietnam” by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, thereby spreading the Party’s opinion and policies on leadership, making an important contribution to fighting against the wrong arguments by hostile powers. The Academy Director has introduced the content of such articles to all grassroots committees of 63 Party Committees under the Party Committees of Central Agencies, the Vietnam Writers’ Association and 700 students of the centralized high-level theory courses of Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics and at localities across the country.

The staff and lecturers have actively participated in the essay writing contest on protecting the ideological foundation of the Party, fighting against wrong and hostile views, in the spirit of Resolution 35. In 2021, one staff gained a Consolation prize at the contest organized by the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics. In 2022, one staff won the Third Prize at a contest organized by the Vietnam Journalists Association and the People’s Army Newspaper.

The participation in contests has contributed to improving the perception of theoretical issues of Marxism - Leninism, enhancing Party character and the political conception of each staff and lecturer, affirming the vitality of Marxism - Leninism and the correctness of the Party’s viewpoints and guidelines.

Many staff and lecturers at the Institute have participated in interviews in many programs on Vietnam Television and the People’s Television on protecting the ideological foundation of the Party. For example, the talk show on People’s television “The faith and the path to socialism” dated June 27th, 2021; Face-off program on Vietnamese television: “Refuting misinformation about the path to socialism”, June 29th, 2021.

With outstanding achievements in protecting the ideological foundation of the Party, fighting against wrong and hostile views, the Institute of Philosophy, and its Party committee have gained many awards from the Secretary of the Party Committee, Director of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics. In 2020, the Institute gained the Certificate of Merit from the Standing Board of the Party Committee of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics for its outstanding achievements in implementing Resolution 35-NQ/TW dated October 22nd, 2018 issued by the 12th Politburo on “Strengthening the protection of the Party’s ideological foundation, fighting against wrong and hostile views in the new situation”.

In 2021, the Institute was awarded the Certificate of Merit from the Academy’s Director for its outstanding achievements in researching and following Ho Chi Minh’s ideology, morality, and lifestyle. In 2020, 03 individuals were awarded the Certificate of Merit by the Academy’s Director for their outstanding achievements in fighting against wrong and hostile views and protecting the ideological foundation of the Party. In 2021, 01 individual was awarded the Certificate of Merit by the Academy’s Director for outstanding achievements in fighting against wrong and hostile views, protecting the ideological foundation of the Party; 01 individual was awarded the Certificate of merit from the Prime Minister for his/her outstanding achievements in studying and following Ho Chi Minh’s ideology, morality, and lifestyle. In addition, individuals in the Institute have also won many similar titles for research and teaching, etc.

3. Development of scientific cadres

Over the past 65 years, the Institute has trained high-quality lecturers, providing key leaders and lecturers for the Academy as well as for central and local Party bodies and State agencies. The staff of the Institute of Philosophy in all historical periods are the cadres who are selected, trained, and improved systematically. Many comrades have grown up, holding many responsibilities: 01 comrade is a member of the Politburo, Director of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council; 01 comrade is a member of the Party Central Committee, Director of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, Standing Vice Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council; 03 comrades are Vice President of the Academy and equivalent positions; 17 comrades are department heads; 02 comrades are standing members of the Party Committee of the city and province; 01 comrade is a member of a Provincial Party Committee; 16 professors.

Among the cadres who have worked at the Institute of Philosophy, 01 comrade was awarded the Ho Chi Minh Medal; 01 comrade was conferred the title of Hero of Labor; 02 comrades were conferred the title of People’s Teacher; 04 comrades were awarded the title of Excellent Teacher; 01 comrade was awarded the Second Class Independence Medal; 03 comrades were awarded the Third-class Labor Medal; 03 comrades were awarded Certificates of Merit by the Government; many comrades were awarded medals for the cause of education.

All of these achievements reflect the contribution and excellent tradition of the Institute of Philosophy up through today. At the same time, these facts also prove that the staff from the Institute of Philosophy going to any agency or position are enthusiastic cadres, holding a firm ideological stance, having high professional qualifications and gaining the trust of many people.

4. Emulation movement

Over the past 65 years, the Institute of Philosophy has been awarded many noble medals by the Party and State for its outstanding achievements. Particularly, in 2009, the Institute was awarded the first-class Independence Medal. This is the recognition of the Party, State and Academy for the Institute’s contributions.

In the five years from 2017 to 2022, the Institute of Philosophy has always successfully completed its tasks, being recognized as an excellent Labor Unit, Party committee unit, trade union and staff groups for females for many consecutive years. The Institute fully participates in emulation movements launched by the Academy and its superiors, such as: “Studying and following Ho Chi Minh’s thought, morality and lifestyle”; “Emulation of outstanding teaching and scientific research”; Women’s movement for “Being good at school and housework”; “Women actively studying and working creatively, building a happy family”, emulating to gain achievements to celebrate major holidays and important events of the Party and the country. The patriotic emulation movements of the Institute of Philosophy have always been renewed in a practical direction, closely following its assigned political tasks, contributing to encouraging and motivating the cadres and officials in the whole unit to enthusiastically emulate, strive, and overcome difficulties, successfully completing the tasks assigned by the Party Committee and Board of Directors of the Academy. With the achievements gained in the patriotic emulation movement over the past 5 years, the Institute of Philosophy has had 10 emulation warriors at the grassroots level; 01 Emulation soldier at ministerial level.

Promoting this excellent tradition, in the coming years, the Institute of Philosophy shall continue to promote the patriotic emulation movement, successfully completing its tasks, focusing on improving the quality of teaching and scientific research; expanding the research and teaching on applied philosophy in order to enhance the role of philosophy in social life. The Institute has launched a project to develop the Bulletin of Philosophy and Life into a Journal of Philosophy and Life in order to contribute to improving the quality of philosophy research and teaching. At the same time, the Institute focuses on building a team of high-quality staff with professional and modern style, fulfilling the requirements and tasks in the new situation.

Assoc.Prof., Dr. DANG QUANG DINH

Institute of Philosophy,

Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics