VietnamPlus E-newspaper respectfully introduces the article "Communist Magazine - leading the theoretical path in the hundred-year journey of revolutionary journalism" by Dr. Hoang Trung Dung - Member of the Party Central Committee, Editor-in-Chief of Communist Magazine.
In the glorious 100-year journey of the Vietnamese Revolutionary Press (1925-2025), the Communist Review - the political theory agency of the Central Party has always been a steadfast ideological flag, a pioneer on the theoretical front; deeply demonstrating the strategic thinking, innovative vision and political mettle of the Party through each period; a prestigious academic forum, contributing to clarifying the theory of socialism and the path to socialism in Vietnam.
In the context of the world and the country facing new turning points, the Communist Magazine must clearly demonstrate its role of guiding, going ahead, and providing scientific and convincing arguments for the Party's ideological and theoretical work.
The theoretical flag of the Party and the Vietnamese revolutionary press
On June 21, 1925, Thanh Nien Newspaper was founded by leader Nguyen Ai Quoc, giving birth to the Vietnamese revolutionary press.
Not long after the Party was founded, on August 5, 1930, Red Magazine - the predecessor of Communist Magazine - published its first issue. Comrade Nguyen Ai Quoc was the founder and editor-in-chief of the Magazine.
Through historical periods, with many different names (1), Communist Magazine has made important contributions to the ideological and theoretical work of the Party, an important part of the Vietnamese revolutionary press.
The birth of the Communist Party of Vietnam ushered in a period of extensive and fierce revolutionary movements. In the context of the Party's infancy, while creating the organizational, ideological and policy foundations and directly leading the revolutionary movement of 1930-1931, the Party Central Committee directed the publication of the Red Magazine to carry out propaganda tasks. This was a policy that demonstrated the strategic thinking, vision and scientific revolutionary methods of leader Nguyen Ai Quoc and the Party Central Committee.
The organization of theoretical agencies right from the dawn of the revolution shows that our Party has placed ideological and theoretical work in the vanguard position, considering ideological work as the core part of the revolutionary cause; if the revolution wants to succeed, it must have theory to guide it; if it wants to build a team of steadfast revolutionary soldiers, it must cultivate ideology and improve the level of political theory.
When the struggle movement is rising, the formation of a theoretical forum to educate and foster revolutionary ideology, unify awareness and improve the theoretical level of cadres and party members is an inevitable and urgent requirement.
During the period of secret struggle, the Magazine propagated communist ideals, Marxism-Leninism, promoted Party building work, and encouraged the people to rise up and seize power. To fulfill its functions and tasks well, in many periods, the Magazine was directly in charge of the head of our Party (2).
The victory of the resistance war against the French colonialists opened a historic turning point for the Vietnamese revolution, marking a new step of development for the Revolutionary Press in general.
The North was completely liberated, the South continued the people's national democratic revolution to fight against the US imperialists and their puppet regime. The strategic task for the entire nation at this time was to unify the country, to build a peaceful, unified, independent, democratic and prosperous Vietnam. However, the profound transformation from wartime to peacetime, from dispersion to concentration, from rural to urban areas, posed new requirements for the Party's ideological and theoretical work.
Within the Party, there have appeared some deviations in the direction of "rightism" and "leftism," requiring timely rectification, improvement of the quality of theoretical work, and clarification of the ideological and scientific foundations of our Party in the new revolutionary period.
At the 7th Central Conference of the 2nd term (March 1955), the Party Central Committee decided to establish and publish the Study Magazine. This was a strategic step, laying the foundation for the development of the Party's political theory work during the period of socialist revolution in the North and the struggle for national reunification.
The birth of the Study Magazine marked a new step in the development of the Communist Magazine. The Study Magazine was positioned as the "theoretical and political organ of the Party," directly led by the Party Central Committee; the Politburo assigned comrade Truong Chinh, General Secretary of the Party Central Committee, to be Editor-in-Chief.
During the resistance war against the American imperialists, the Magazine has always played a pioneering role in propaganda, education, and revolutionary enlightenment for cadres, party members, and people to unite around the Party, maintain revolutionary loyalty, and contribute significantly to the success of the resistance war against the American imperialists and unify the country.
During the 21 years (1955-1976) under the name of Study Magazine, the Communist Magazine made important contributions to the Party's theoretical and ideological work, actively contributing to the successful implementation of the two strategic tasks of the Vietnamese revolution.
During the 21 years (1955-1976) under the name of Study Magazine, the Communist Magazine made important contributions to the Party's theoretical and ideological work, actively contributing to the successful implementation of the two strategic tasks of the Vietnamese revolution.
The great victory of Spring 1975 ended the resistance war against American imperialism; the South was completely liberated, the country was unified, the North and the South reunited - a new era of the nation was opened.
The 4th Party Congress (December 1976) outlined the path of socialist revolution nationwide; decided to change the name of the Vietnam Workers' Party to the Communist Party of Vietnam.
Based on the situation and tasks in the new period, on January 5, 1977, the Politburo of the Party Central Committee (term IV) issued Resolution No. 01/NQ-TW to change the name of the Study Magazine to the Communist Magazine, starting from January 1977 - this was the fifth time the Magazine was named the Communist Magazine and has carried this name until today.
During the pre-renovation period, the Communist Review made an important contribution to the theoretical-practical basis for the renovation policy of our Party. The articles of the Communist Review serving the Resolution of the 6th Central Conference, Session IV and the Resolution of the 8th Central Conference, Session V expressed the Party's "transformation" viewpoint, both seeking directions suitable to the actual situation; closely combining theory with practice; having a great effect in orienting issues: contracting in agriculture; three-part plan (the part assigned by the State with guaranteed materials; the part that enterprises do themselves; the part for secondary production)...
As the Party leads the country's renovation, the Communist Review further affirms its role as the political theory organ of the Party Central Committee. Works published in the publications of the Communist Review always delve into theoretical research and summarize practice, contributing to solving problems arising in life, providing a theoretical basis for the formulation of guidelines and policies of the Party and State.
As the political theory agency of the Central Party, the Communist Review focuses on researching, propagating, disseminating and educating the system of policies, guidelines and viewpoints of the Party, policies and laws of the State, actively contributing to bringing the resolution into life, clarifying the Party's viewpoints and guidelines on socialism and the path to socialism in Vietnam.
The works published in the Journal's publications cover the strategic tasks of the Vietnamese revolution; on industrialization and modernization of the country; socialist-oriented market economy; development of economic sectors; on building and promoting cultural values and the strength of the Vietnamese people; on promoting the strength of great national unity; on building a socialist rule-of-law State of Vietnam of the people, by the people, for the people; on the work of building and rectifying the Party and the political system; on studying and following Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and style; fighting against erroneous and hostile views, protecting the Party's ideological foundation; proactively participating in the fight against bureaucracy, corruption, waste and negative phenomena in society; on the open foreign policy of the Party and State; on contemporary issues, on the contradictions and development trends of today's world; on globalization, international integration, the fourth industrial revolution, knowledge economy, digital economy...
The organization of articles in the publications of the Communist Review ensures systematicity and timely clarification of the theoretical and practical basis of the new contents of the Central Resolutions in the renovation period. The theoretical, political, practical and scientific content of the articles of the Communist Review are increasingly improved, receiving feedback and high appreciation from readers at home and abroad.
In the general development trend of the press, the Communist Magazine always innovates itself, diversifies its publications, and uses many ways of expression to bring the Party's guidelines, lines, and viewpoints, and the State's policies and laws to a large number of cadres, party members, and people, especially to senior leaders, key cadres, experts, researchers, scientists, etc.
Following the Politburo's direction, since 2002, the Communist Electronic Magazine has been officially published on the Internet; in addition to the Vietnamese page, there are also pages in English, Lao, Chinese and Spanish. In 2006, the Communist Magazine published additional publications: the Communist Magazine with a special theme of the grassroots and the special magazine with a special issue of Event Records.
Since 2021, the Communist Magazine has published a specialized Communist Magazine publication, providing in-depth explanations on new and urgent political theory issues, in order to contribute to providing scientific, theoretical-practical arguments for the Party Central Committee and provincial Party Committees to develop and organize the implementation of major policies and guidelines of the Party and State.
In April 2025, after taking over the functions and tasks of the Party committees' magazines, the Communist Magazine published the publication Party Building - research and propaganda of Party work.
Up to now, Communist Magazine publishes two issues per month; Communist Magazine publishes a special issue per quarter; Event Profile magazine publishes two issues per month; Communist Magazine publishes in English; Party Building publication publishes one issue per month; Communist Magazine e-newspaper updates information daily.
At the same time, Communist Magazine selects news articles, translates them into English to be published on SolidNet - the electronic information site of Communist and workers' parties around the world.
Along with publishing publications, the Communist Magazine promotes scientific research, actively and effectively participates in theoretical research and summarizes practices. This is a content that the Editorial Board of the Communist Magazine pays great attention to.
The Journal has organized research on national, ministerial and grassroots scientific topics; organized scientific-practical seminars and scientific discussions.
The topics of scientific seminars and conferences always closely follow the Party's resolutions, focusing on basic theoretical issues and practical life issues, attracting the participation and enthusiastic and responsible contributions of scientists, leaders and managers of ministries, branches and localities; providing scientific and practical bases, contributing to the good performance of the advisory function for the Central Committee in formulating policies, guidelines and strategies.
The products of scientific seminars and conferences have made practical contributions to research, study, implementation, and timely application of the Central Committee's policies and resolutions to life, helping the staff of the Communist Review improve their professional qualifications and skills, enrich their knowledge, meet the requirements of theoretical and practical research, and provide important scientific arguments for the construction, supplementation, and completion of the viewpoints, policies, and major decisions of the Party and State.
The Communist Review always focuses on building a team of cadres and editors with strong political will, research qualities and abilities, and experience in their work. The Communist Review has many writers who have won many journalism awards and are experienced experts, scientists, and researchers. The Journal's team of collaborators is increasingly large and comprehensive in all fields.
Looking back at the process of formation and development, in each specific situation, our Party has issued a policy of publishing political theory publications. It is a matter of pride that the Communist Review is an important part of ideological and theoretical work; accompanying the glorious career of the Vietnamese Revolutionary Press over the past 100 years.
The position, role and historical mission of the Communist Magazine have been determined by the Party Central Committee through each historical period with consistency and continuity as the political theory agency of the Central Executive Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam.
On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the publication of the first issue of the Study Magazine - Communist Magazine (1955-1985), the Communist Magazine was awarded the Ho Chi Minh Medal by the State Council.
On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the publication of the first issue of the Study Magazine - Communist Magazine (1955-1985), the Communist Magazine was awarded the Ho Chi Minh Medal by the State Council.
Comrade Truong Chinh, Chairman of the State Council, sent a letter to the Editorial Board, affirming: Over the past 30 years, under the close leadership of the Party Central Committee, the Communist Magazine has tried to combine Marxist-Leninist theory with Vietnamese revolutionary practice to deeply propagate the guidelines, mottos, and policies of our Party and State.
The magazine has contributed to improving the theoretical and political level of cadres and party members, and motivating the revolutionary movement of the masses. A large number of cadres inside and outside the party consider the magazine a reliable document for studying and researching the guidelines, policies and viewpoints of our Party and State.
Communist Magazine is worthy of being the theoretical flag of the Communist Party of Vietnam. In August 2003, Communist Magazine was honored to be awarded the Gold Star Order - the most noble order of our Party and State - "for its great contributions to the revolutionary cause of the Party and the nation."
It can be affirmed that, throughout the process of construction and development, in any circumstances, the Communist Review has always been steadfast, making many important contributions to the Party's ideological and theoretical work, contributing greatly to the victory of the revolutionary cause of national liberation, national reunification, building socialism and defending the Fatherland (3).
Difficulties and challenges need to be clearly identified
Besides the advantages, the activities of the Communist Magazine are currently facing many difficulties:
Firstly, the country is standing on the threshold of a new era, an era of national growth; the regional and world situation is changing rapidly, complicatedly, and unpredictably; the Fourth Industrial Revolution is changing all aspects of political-economic-social life in the world... posing great challenges to the work of the Central Party's agency for research, propaganda, dissemination, and political theory education.
In the digital transformation era, political theory needs to be transformed into an interactive, data-driven, multi-platform ecosystem that spreads across cyberspace.
Second, the reception of functions and tasks from the Party Committees’ magazines is an opportunity, but also places high demands on the organization and operation of the Communist Magazine. The magazine must reorganize its apparatus reasonably and scientifically, ensuring effective operations, promoting traditions and identity, but must innovate its organizational model to suit new requirements and tasks.
Third, the Communist Review always receives the support and collaboration of a team of quality contributors, including leaders, managers, experts, leading scientists, and experienced researchers in the field of political theory and related fields. However, specific mechanisms related to writing responsibilities and royalty payment regimes still face many difficulties.
Fourth, there are not many breakthrough research articles that meet the urgent requirements of practice and theory, articles that resonate in society and in the theoretical research community, and sharp articles based on scientific arguments to fight against erroneous viewpoints, against "peaceful evolution" and "self-evolution" and "self-transformation" published in the publications of the Communist Review.
The magazine's staff must meet the increasingly high demands and tasks of editorial staff, while also meeting the new requirements of modern journalism. This is a big challenge for the magazine to complete its tasks according to the functions and tasks prescribed by the Politburo and the Secretariat.
Continuing to carry out the noble mission in the new era
In the article “Radiant Vietnam” on the occasion of the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam, General Secretary To Lam affirmed: “A solid theoretical foundation is the compass for the Party’s actions, deciding the correctness of the country’s leadership and development strategy” (4). The country is firmly entering a new era of development under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam.
The cause of national renewal and international integration has been and is presenting many new issues in both theory and practice that need to be studied, handled and resolved; requiring ideological and theoretical work to improve the quality and effectiveness of its operations, contributing to building our Party to be truly clean and strong in politics, ideology, organization and ethics, with sufficient prestige and capacity to lead the People to successfully carry out the Vietnamese revolutionary cause.
On December 28, 2024, the Politburo issued Decision No. 213-QD/TW, regulating the functions, tasks, and organizational structure of the Communist Review. It defines the Communist Review as a political theory agency of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, under the direct and regular leadership of the Politburo and the Secretariat, with the function of researching, propagating, disseminating, and educating the Party's political theory.
The seven tasks of the Communist Review are stipulated by the Party Central Committee: 1- Summarizing practice, researching theory; 2- Researching political theory; 3- Propaganda and education; 4- Fighting against distorted, incorrect, hostile thoughts and arguments, protecting Marxism-Leninism, Ho Chi Minh thought, the Party's guidelines and viewpoints, and the State's policies and laws; 5- Foreign information work and international cooperation; 6- Participating in propagating and disseminating Party work expertise to Party committees, Party organizations, cadres and Party members; 7- Being the Standing Agency of the National Press Award on Party Building (Golden Hammer and Sickle Award).
Based on the functions and tasks assigned by the Politburo and the Secretariat; promoting the glorious tradition of the 100-year journey of the Vietnamese Revolutionary Press and continuing on the journey of the new era of the nation, in the coming time, the Communist Magazine will focus on the following key tasks:
Firstly, improve the quality of scientific research, associated with editing and publishing activities. It is necessary to bring scientific research activities to the level of the Central Executive Committee's political theory agency; improve the quality of editing and writing in-depth theoretical articles. Clearly identify that scientific research activities are an important political task and a decisive factor in the quality of content, scientific content, theoretical nature and practicality of the Journal. The Journal's staff, reporters and editors actively conduct research on scientific programs and topics to clarify theoretical and practical issues, to improve their qualifications and awareness, and successfully complete assigned tasks.
Second, closely linking theoretical research and practical summarization. The Journal, together with scientific research agencies and theoretical agencies, builds and establishes scientific arguments for planning, adjusting, supplementing and perfecting the Party's guidelines and policies and the State's laws; researching and innovating the Party's leadership methods and the operation methods of the two-level local government model; on institutional perfection; on private economic development; on synchronous, comprehensive, extensive and effective international integration...
Strengthen theoretical research and practical summary to directly serve propaganda, editing, and building in-depth articles and topics with extensive communication effects. In-depth theoretical research helps propagate policies through reasoning, using theory to illuminate practice. Practical summary must be made into a systematic scientific program.
Create opportunities for reporters and editors to have many environments to conduct practical research, stay close to the base, especially in mountainous areas, remote areas, ethnic minority areas, border areas and islands, key economic areas and hot social areas; go deep into people's lives, listen, speak up for the people, help and guide people to properly implement the Party's guidelines and policies, and the State's policies and laws.
Third, diversifying propaganda forms. In addition to improving quality and maintaining existing columns, Communist Magazine promotes propaganda work, selects modern media, and creates interaction between the Magazine and readers through appropriate forms.
Fourth, skillfully combine “building” and “fighting.” Communist Magazine must fully demonstrate the tasks of “building” and “fighting” in the Party’s ideological work. Improve the quality of articles identifying and fighting against erroneous and hostile viewpoints with sharp and convincing arguments.
Fifth, improve the effectiveness of research work, serve leadership, direction, propaganda, and political theory education. Summarize the practice of researching, reading, and using Party newspapers and magazines according to the conclusions and directives of the Secretariat, and propose that the Secretariat issue new documents.
Through many appropriate “channels”, the Communist Magazine provides information to directly and widely serve domestic and foreign readers, soliciting comments and evaluations on the Magazine’s performance of its tasks. Continue to promote coordination and communication activities, and connect with central and local departments, ministries and branches in the process of implementing its functions and tasks.
Sixth, expand the scope of international research and promote international cooperation. In the context of our country's deep international integration, the task of researching international issues of the Communist Review must have a breakthrough and expand its scope. Develop a plan to promote international cooperation with research and theoretical agencies of communist parties and progressive parties in the world, thereby exchanging, learning, and summarizing experiences to apply to the activities of the Review.
Seventh, focus on building a force of research and editorial staff, expanding the number of collaborators. Build a team of Communist Magazine staff with strong political will, sharp in theory, close to practice, proficient in journalism, research and editing skills. Pay attention to attracting high-quality human resources to work at the Party's theoretical agency. Create a favorable working environment, ensure working equipment to meet the requirements of journalism in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution; take care to improve the material and spiritual life of the team of staff, editors and reporters.
Promote the development of a team of collaborators who are theorists, experts, scientists, leaders, managers of ministries, branches, localities, and foreign experts.
Forming a mechanism for interaction and regular information exchange, helping collaborators understand the purpose, requirements, and plans of the Journal, coordinating to participate in writing articles and participating in forums, so that the publications and forums of the Communist Journal are increasingly of high quality, worthy of the trust and expectations of the Party Central Committee, the Politburo, and the Secretariat for a political theory agency and an academic forum with a long and glorious tradition./.
(1) From 1930 to 1945, after the Red Magazine came the Communist Magazine (in 1931), the Bolshevik Magazine, then the Communist Magazine (in 1941) and the Communist Magazine (in 1943). During the years of resistance against French colonialism, the magazine was called Internal Activities (in 1947-1950) and the Communist Magazine (in 1950).
After peace was restored in the North, Study Magazine was born in December 1955 and published monthly.
From January 5, 1977, the Study Magazine was renamed the Communist Magazine and continued to be published monthly. In the South, during the resistance war against French colonialism, the Central Office for Southern Vietnam published the Research Magazine and during the years of fighting against American imperialism and saving the country, it published the Pioneer Magazine (According to the "Foreword" to the book Communist Magazine - Development Stages (6th edition), Hanoi, 2020).
(2) President Ho Chi Minh was the founder and first director; followed by comrades Ha Huy Tap (1934 - 1936), Truong Chinh (1941-1957)
(3) See: "Congratulatory Letter from General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong to Communist Magazine on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the Magazine's first publication (August 5, 1930 - August 5, 2020)," Communist Magazine, No. 947 (August 2020), p. 3
(4) Prof. Dr. To Lam: "Bright Vietnam," Communist Magazine, No. 1,055 (February 2025), pp. 7-8
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