The Political Theory Journal’s contribution to the establishment and advancement of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics

Assoc.Prof., Dr. NGUYEN THANG LOI
Political Theory Journal

1. The operational history of the two antecedent publications, Theoretical Information and Theoretical Research

The Political Theory Journal emerged from the amalgamation of two antecedent journals, Theoretical Information (affiliated with the Institute of Marxist-Leninist and Ho Chi Minh Thought Studies) and Theoretical Research (associated with the Nguyen Ai Quoc Party School), releasing its inaugural issue during the period of national unification, when the nation was advancing towards socialism and the demand for theoretical frameworks to construct socialism was imperative. In accordance with Publishing License No. 2561/VP15 from the Prime Minister’s Office (August 31, 1976), the Theoretical Information Journal released its inaugural issue in September 1976. The journal originally published bimonthly, then transitioning to a monthly schedule, with each issue comprising 1,000 copies, each containing 100 pages. The journal was maintained in compliance with regulations as an internal circulation document, with each issue bearing an order stamp numbered from 01 to 1,000 and a Confidential stamp. The Journal’s content meticulously adheres to the stipulations of the Party’s theoretical information initiatives, delivering insights on contemporary theoretical matters pertaining to Marxism-Leninism, socialism, and the directives and policies of the Party and State; it addresses political theoretical issues that aid in the development of the Party and State’s guidelines and policies, while enhancing the theoretical mettle of the Party’s leadership and research personnel. The Journal addresses topics including: Proletarian leadership and the establishment of a socialist state; The divergence of socialism; Improvement of economic management in socialist nations; Neo-colonialism under American imperialism; Party building (theory of Party building, presentation of the Charter of Communist and workers’ parties in socialist countries, etc.).

The inaugural edition of the Research Newsletter was released in June 1977. Following over three years of testing, on January 9, 1981, the journal was authorized for publication in accordance with Decision No. 83-V.10 from the Minister of the Prime Minister's Office, with a quarterly frequency, producing 1,000 copies per issue, each including 64 pages. On April 4, 1983, the Ministry of Culture authorized the transformation of the Research Newsletter into the Research Journal. The inaugural edition of the Journal was No. 1-2, released in July 1983. On December 13, 1988, the Ministry of Information consented to the Research Journal’s rename as the Theoretical Research Journal, with the inaugural issue under the new title being No. 2-1988. The Journal has effectively presented theoretical insights and research on socialism, the socialist movement, and the practical implementation of socialism in the Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, and Vietnam, encompassing aspects of Party development, State development, economic development, and economic management.

During the initial years of national renewal, the two journals maintained investment interest, achieved extensive distribution, and served a substantial readership. The Theoretical Information Journal swiftly augmented its publishing volume and established itself as a prominent scientific platform within the Vietnamese revolutionary press. In the context of the rare system of newspapers, journals, and channels for political, ideological, and scientific theoretical information, the existence of the Theoretical Information Journal and Theoretical Research Journal, with a circulation of up to 5,000 copies per issue, held significant importance for senior Party leaders and those responsible for researching and teaching Marxist-Leninist theory nationwide; it was also highly esteemed by the academic community.

2. Political Theory Journal - an extensive journey spanning nearly 25 years (from 2001 to the present)

Between 2001 and 2014, the Political Theory Journal was established and consistently evolved its content and format

In 1997, the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics amalgamated with the Institute of Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought to establish the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics. The two publications executed a strategy to amalgamate and release a single publication, the Political Theory Journal.

In January 2001, the Political Theory Journal released its inaugural issue and transitioned to a monthly publication. The Journal has assimilated the esteemed legacy of its two predecessor journals over the span of nearly twenty-five years, encompassing traditional values, a distinct research identity, and theoretical discussions shaped by time, supported by a reliable team of collaborators and a substantial readership that has remained loyal for many years.

The Political Theory Journal, serving as the official publication and academic platform of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, consistently leverages the strengths and experiences of its predecessor journals. It adheres rigorously to the principles and objectives of researching, disseminating, and educating on Marxism-Leninism, Ho Chi Minh’s thought, the Party’s perspectives and guidelines, as well as examining theoretical frameworks and synthesizing practical experiences in the pursuit of socialism, safeguarding the Party, defending the regime, and countering erroneous and hostile viewpoints.

The Political Theory Journal has established itself as a credible source on the Party’s ideological and theoretical dimensions, garnering significant political and academic esteem, and attracting several leaders and theorists nationwide to contribute articles and engage with its content.

From 2014 to 2021, the Journal diversify the sorts of publications and enhance the quality

In response to contemporary demands and to align with modern journalism trends, the Journal has renewed its categorization, presentation format, and printing quality of Vietnamese-language publications. Beginning in January 2014, an English version was introduced, published quarterly, and from June 2014, a bilingual Vietnamese and English website was launched.

The English printed Journal and its website consistently uphold the fundamental ideas, objectives, and substance of the publication, offering extensive and rapid promotional reach that facilitates easy access for both readers and writers.

The English-language journal is elegantly designed, printed to a high standard, featuring curated articles that cater to foreign readers interested in the principles and perspectives of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the policies of the Vietnamese State, Vietnam’s developmental achievements, and the operations of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics.

The English edition has proven effective, garnering positive reviews for its quality and presentation. To satisfy readers’ demands, the Journal has enhanced its presentation, altered the paper type to achieve a formal yet lightweight standard for easier distribution, and simultaneously concentrated on innovating its distribution and communication strategies to engage a broad international audience.

The inauguration of the Journal’s website in June 2014 was a step in adherence to contemporary journalism practices. The website consistently publishes articles, recent research findings, subjects, seminars, conferences, and scientific symposiums at various levels. Between June 2014 and August 2021, the website published 3,691 news articles, averaging 461 articles per year. It has garnered substantial traffic, with numerous articles receiving tens of thousands of visits shortly after publication; thereby significantly contributing to the dissemination of the Party’s guidelines and directives, the State’s regulations, the dissemination of theoretical research findings, and the synthesis of practical experiences, ect.. As an electronic platform, it is however constrained to referencing pieces from the printed magazine and published sources.

2021 marked a significant and extensive advancement of the Political Theory Journal

The Academy’s Leadership Board has mandated essential innovation in the operations of the Political Theory Journal to fulfill the new development needs. The Journal has initiated a Project to establish the Political Theory Journal in both printed and electronic formats, approved by the President of the Academy. It received License No. 628/GP-BTTTT to operate the Printed and Electronic Journal from the Minister of Information and Communications on September 24, 2021, marking the official commencement of the Electronic Political Theory Journal. The Vietnamese printed journal expanded from 120 pages to 160 pages, while the English printed journal grew from 100 pages to 120 pages. This is a new developmental milestone for the Political Theory Journal.

The e-Journal have progressively evolved in content and format: All regulations, conventions, formats, and procedures for publishing journal articles are publicly disclosed on the e-journal in accordance with standard scientific journal regulations; emphasizing on the timely update of new articles and news; and enforcing a strict e-Journal publishing process that aligns with the printed journal publishing process.

The e-Journal has both republished select pieces from the print edition while swiftly released updated news and articles. Thereby, it has fulfilled the necessity to comprehend contemporary knowledge regarding the actions of Party and State leaders, along with many other related matters.

Since September 2021, the Electronic Political Theory Journal has disseminated more than 1,500 news items and articles, averaging 525 annually, with a monthly increase above 50% in the total volume of published content. The e-Journal has garnered rising public interest with its news and articles. Numerous communication and media institutions, along with the Propaganda Department of the Provincial/Municipal Party Committee, have requested the republication of news and articles from the Electronic Political Theory Journal.

The English edition of the e-Journal primarily republish articles from the English printed Journal, emphasizing its role in facilitating the external communication efforts of the Party, State, and international collaboration of the Academy.

The aforementioned accomplishments have bolstered the scientific reputation and standing of the Political Theory Journal, facilitating the dissemination of political theory research findings from the Academy and Vietnam domestically and internationally, resulting in a significant rise in both the volume and quality of submitted articles.

Articles published in the e-Journal have received equivalent scores from the State Council of Professors as those in printed publications across numerous disciplines and categories. To date, the list of scientific journals approved by the State Council of Professors includes Vietnamese and English printed publications, with the Electronic Journal receiving scores in the following disciplines: Interdisciplinary Science, Philosophy, Political Sciences, and Sociology ranging from 0 to 1.0 points; Journalism and Ideology from 0 to 1.0 points; Economics and History increasing their scores from 0 to 0.5 points to 0 to 0.75 points; Culture and Security from 0 to 0.5 points; and Education from 0 to 0.25 points, among others.

Diversifying modalities and executing digital transformation

The Political Theory Journal has proactively adopted the Digital Journalism Transformation Strategy until 2025, with a vision for 2030 approved by the Prime Minister, aiming to establish a professional, humane, and contemporary press organization.

In 2023, the Ministry of Information and Communications’ assessment indicated that the Political Theory Journal ranked commendably, placing in the TOP 5 of national scientific publications regarding the advancement of digital transformation in journalism.

The Journal of Political Theory, in collaboration with Vietnamnet newspaper, has initiated the development of a new interface for the Electronic Journal. On June 21, 2024, the new interface was officially launched, characterized by a contemporary design that incorporates numerous innovative features and user-friendly elements. Its fundamental advantages include a modern homepage and section page layout, high-definition graphics with a distinctive style, and vibrant imagery, suitable typography, font sizes, font colours, page margins, and line spacing, all aimed at providing an optimal experience for readers.

The journal continues to enhance scientific quality

Throughout the years, the Political Theory Journal has preserved consistent conventional parts, encompassing essential categories: Theory Research, Cadre Training, Practice, Forum, and International Issues.

The Journal has reflected the evolution of the Party’s theoretical perspectives as evidenced in the Party Congresses and Central Conferences, recent advancements in theoretical research, the synthesis of practical experiences, and the scientific findings of the Academy to support education and training, as well as foster thinking innovation, theoretical progression, and the provision of empirical rationale for the Party’s strategic planning.

The articles in the journal enable readers to comprehend the Party’s new perspectives and guidelines, as well as the evolution of its theoretical framework in developing new positions on significant subjects. This encompasses theories regarding socialism and the path to socialism in Vietnam, the socialist rule of law State, the socialist-oriented market economy, the establishment of socialist democracy, the renovation and refinement of the political system, international integration, human rights and social security, foreign relations, and national defence and security, among others.

The Journal predominantly features articles that identify and critique erroneous viewpoints while actively opposing hostile perspectives, all conducted with a scientific approach, robust arguments, and substantial persuasiveness, in order to safeguard the Party’s ideological foundation. Since 2021, the column “Protecting the Party’s Ideological Foundation” has been established as a regular feature, consistently including 2-4 articles per issue.

Special articles or summaries, breaking news, assist readers in understanding scientific activities, seminars, conferences of the Academy, key outcomes of programs and research projects conducted by the Academy’s scientific personnel.

On contributors and readers: The success of the Journal’s content is significantly attributed to the strong commitment of the contributors and the trust of the readers. The confidence and collaboration among scientists and researchers sustain the stability of the Journal’s column structure and the quality of the published articles. The principal contributors include of the scientific personnel from the Academy system, encompassing numerous leaders from various periods, as well as a group of close, frequent collaborators, including many prominent theorists in their respective fields.

The Political Theory Journal, categorized among political theory publications, serves a specific readership, particularly senior leaders, researchers, lecturers, and students in the field of political theory, especially in the context of the robust advancement of information technology. Throughout the years, the Journal has demonstrated its appeal to the team of scholars and educators specializing in political theory at research institutions, academies, and universities around the nation.

Recent research findings published in the Journal offer scientific rationale for policy formulation by Party committees across all levels, departments, ministries, and branches.

On professional development: Throughout various stages, generations of cadres, editors, and employees of the Journal have evolved; some have ascended to prominent positions within the Party and State, others have attained the status of professors or associate professors, many have retired, while other individuals are currently engaged in new roles across different units. Under all situations, including the nation’s challenging periods, the Journal’s cadres consistently exhibit unwavering political resolve, commitment to socialism, adherence to Marxism-Leninism, Ho Chi Minh’s ideology, and loyalty to the Party’s leadership. Numerous individuals endeavour to enhance their understanding of political theory, specialist sciences, professional competencies, and journalistic abilities.

The Journal presently possesses a streamlined organizational structure with one Editor-in-Chief, two Deputy Editors-in-Chief, and two specialized divisions: the Editorial Division and the Administrative-Distribution Division. The overall workforce currently comprises 19 officials, including 2 Associate Professors with PhDs, 4 PhD holders, and 2 PhD candidates. All editorial personnel possess advanced degrees in political theory, including bachelor’s and master’s degrees or above. The Journal’s team is consistently engaged in study, training, and enhancement to fulfill escalating professional standards.

The substantial editing and publishing tasks for three publications in Vietnamese, English, and electronic formats reflect the considerable dedication of the staff, editors, and employees of the Journal, characterized by a strong sense of responsibility, enthusiasm, seriousness, and passion for their work, in alignment with the esteemed 75-year legacy of the Central Party School - Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics and the Journal’s nearly fifty-year tradition. The Journal is a collective that embodies togetherness, unanimity, adherence to the Party’s views and guidelines, as well as the State’s laws and the regulations of the Academy. Through a commitment to diligent work and consistent enforcement of discipline, the Journal has consistently fulfilled its assigned responsibilities over the years.

3. Contributions of the Political Theory Journal to the progress of the Academy

The Political Theory Journal, as one of the premier political theory journal in the country, functions as a research agency, forum, and scientific discourse platform for the Academy. It has significantly contributed to the Academy’s primary political objective of training and developing mid- and senior-level leaders, managers, and political theory cadres within the political system, as well as advancing scientific research.

First, it fulfills the specific function of teaching and developing personnel for the Academy. The Academy’s political mission has been complemented by articles focused on the development and cultivation of personnel, which have directly facilitated the innovation of content, programs, teaching and learning methodologies, theoretical research approaches, and the synthesis of practical experiences, while also disseminating new research findings and supplying fresh knowledge resources to support training efforts.

Second, the Journal gradually establishes itself as a national academic platform, articulating scientific viewpoints and diverse perspectives from the disciplines of political theory across many regions both domestically and internationally. Approximately 50% of the total articles received annually are contributed by collaborators who are scientists and researchers external to the Academy, including Vietnamese researchers overseas and international researchers submitted to the Journal. This reinforces the Academy’s status as a national hub for study in political theory science.

The Journal serves as a platform for disseminating novel research findings, offering significant scientific rationale for the formulation of policies and policies of the Party and State, thereby aiding in the execution of the Academy’s advisory and consultative responsibilities.

Third, The Journal has consistently served as the scientific voice of the Academy and a trustworthy theoretical platform for scholars both within and beyond the Academy, fostering original thought and enhancing the theoretical discourse of the entire Party. Consequently, the Journal enhances the Academy’s reputation by extensively disseminating and educating on Marxism-Leninism, Ho Chi Minh’s thought, and the Party and State’s directives and policies to all societal sectors.

Fourth, the Journal aids the external communication efforts of the Academy, the Party, and the State, facilitating international acquaintances and partners in comprehending Vietnam’s internal and foreign perspectives and policies, so fostering mutual understanding and establishing strategic trust. This will strengthen the Academy’s scientific and political theoretical standing as a national hub for study on Marxism-Leninism, Ho Chi Minh thought, the Party’s guidelines and directives, the State's policies and laws, researching political science, and various other social sciences.

Fifth, the Journal serves as the premier news agency within the Academy’s press system, directly aiding in the development of the Academy’s Journalists Association.

The Academy system presently comprises 15 scientific journals, one publishing house, together with newsletters, electronic information portals, news websites, fanpages, and communication channels on social media platforms, thereby constituting a comprehensive information and communication network operating nationwide. There are more than 20 periodic publications, encompassing various printed and electronic formats in both Vietnamese and English. The Political Theory Journal operates as a division of the Academy, serving as the central hub for press activities, including statistical assistance and reporting. In recent years, the Journal has facilitated and upheld consistent training in editorial and administrative tasks for the staff of the Academy system’s unit and publications.

The Journalists Association of the Political Theory Journal operated as a division directly under the Vietnam Journalists Association (prior 2021). Under the guidance of the Party Committee, the Leadership Board, and the President of the Academy, the Association became the core factor in founding the Journalists Association of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics in 2021 and convening its inaugural Congress, fulfilling the ongoing responsibilities of the Executive Committee of the Academy’s Journalists Association.

The Journalists Association of Political Theory Journal has engaged comprehensively and actively in initiatives under the framework of the Vietnam Journalists Association. The Journal’s Association engaged in submitting articles for press prizes at all levels, achieving numerous accolades; its members also participated in sports contests, collecting multiple awards from the Journalists Association in Table Tennis.

The Political Theory Journalist Association serves as a bridge between the Journalists Associations within the Academy’s Journalists Association and the Central Committee of the Vietnam Journalists Association, facilitating connections among the associations and their members. Timely inform the activities of the Vietnam Journalists Association, the Spring Press Festival, and consider awarding national, industry and field journalism awards to the associations.

4. Conclusion

Following nearly 50 years of establishment and evolution within the historical context of the 75-year glorious tradition of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics and the centenary of the Vietnam Revolutionary Press, the Political Theory Journal has made significant contributions to the Academy’s collective accomplishments through its commitment to innovation in response to assigned responsibilities. In light of the demands of the country’s new era and of the Academy, the cadres, editors, and staff of the Journal recognizes the necessity of intensifying efforts, enhancing achieved outcomes, and making meaningful contributions to the training and development of cadres, scientific research, and supplying scientific rationale for the Party and State to formulate guidelines, policies, and strategies in the new era of national progress.