In order to make our Party pure and strong on a par with the task requirements, the Party should synchronously implement many measures. In particular, effectively preventing “self-evolution” and “self-transformation” among a number of cadres and party members is a primary task these days.

In the building of the Party, the requirement for improving the political quality and fighting against degradation of the contingent of cadres and party members is one of the most fundamental issues. To that end, it requires the Party to maintain the ideological foundation, regularly educate cadres and party members on Marxism-Leninism, Ho Chi Minh Thought, Party’s guidelines, State’s policies and laws, revolutionary tasks and defined requirements in each revolutionary stage. This is because only by having a thorough understanding of Marxism-Leninism and Party’s revolutionary guidelines, would cadres and party members set the right objectives and ideals and show their absolute loyalty to the Party, Fatherland and people. Being imbued with revolutionary morality, cadres and party members would keep their pure lifestyles and resolutely fight against individualism, opportunism, pragmatism and all social evils. It is political quality, morality and lifestyle of cadres and party members that plays as a strong “resistance” against any degradation as well as an important factor to boost the prestige of the Party, to make people wholeheartedly believe and follow the Party, and to be determined to successfully implement the Party’s guidelines.

The revolutionary reality has shown that thanks to the Party’s attaching importance to the enhancement of political quality, ethics and lifestyle, the great majority of cadres and party members have been loyal and ready to sacrifice for the cause of the Party’s revolution. When the Party was just founded, despite the enemy’s severe repression, imprisonment, misery, it was the belief in the ideal and the high qualities that helped the revolutionary soldiers stand all sacrifices and hardships, bravely fight against the enemy, and lead people to make the revolution successful. In the two anti-French and American resistance wars in the past and in the cause of building and protecting the Fatherland today, despite facing many powerful invaders and undergoing enormous political and social changes, cadres and party members have still firmly believed in the final victory and voluntarily fought and sacrificed for national independence and socialism. The whole Party has united as one with the Party Central Committee playing the core role in leading people to carry out the revolution and win great victories. Specifically, our country gained independence and unification; the cause of national building and protection has increasingly obtained important achievements, etc.

However, in the face of hostile plots and tricks and the impacts of social negativity, some party members have abandoned the ideal and even betrayed the revolution due to individualism and the lack of self-improvement. Especially, after the collapse of the Soviet Union and socialist countries in Eastern Europe, because of the negative influences of the market economy and international integration, a large part of cadres has been degraded in political ideology, ethics and lifestyle and shown the manifestations of “self-evolution” and “self-transformation”. This is one of the reasons that makes the country’s development not corresponding to its potential and strengths, and weakens the people’s belief in the Party and socialist regime.

“Self-evolution” and “self-transformation” is negative changes in cadres and party members’ political ideology, ethics and lifestyle, which goes against the progressive movement and is harmful to the revolution. This is the ideological struggle between socialism and capitalism, between working class and collective interests and individual ones of party members. During this process, the standpoints towards capitalism and personal interests will be gradually stimulated while the steadfastness in socialism and the working class and collective interests will gradually fade away. The Resolution of the 4th Plenum of the Party Central Committee (12th tenure) has clearly pointed out 9 signs of degradation in political ideology, morals, and lifestyle, as well as “self-evolution” and “self-transformation” of cadres and party members. In particular, there have been manifestations of denying Marxism-Leninism, Ho Chi Minh Thought and the Party’s organisational principles; demanding “pluralism”; and clamouring for the “separation of powers” and the “civil society”, and so on. Additionally, some people publicly have spoken, written and done things opposite with the viewpoints and guidelines of the Party, policies and laws of the State; exaggerated the shortcomings of the Party, State and authorities at all levels; distorted history; defamed and slandered the Party and State leaders; incited dissent and opposition thought, etc. They have taken advantage of the media and social networks to deny the Party’s leadership role, cause internal separations, and call for “depoliticalization” and “civilization” of the armed forces, and so forth. Obviously, “self-evolution” and “self-transformation” not only degrade the contingent of cadres and party members but also seriously undermine the prestige and leadership role of the Party and the management and administration of the State and authorities at all levels, even threaten the existence of the socialist regime. Therefore, opportunely and effectively preventing “self-evolution” and “self-transformation” is an urgent and crucial task, ensuring that the Party is strong and capable of leading the cause of renewal and international integration, and building a complete socialist society.

The Resolution of the 4th Plenum of the Party Central Committee (12th tenure) has identified important points to prevent and repel “self-evolution” and “self-transformation”. Particularly, the Resolution has emphasized the need to concentrate leadership and direction on raising the whole Party’s awareness of the role, importance and necessity of learning, researching, developing, and creatively applying Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought to Vietnam’s reality. To follow that spirit, for the theoretical and ideological work of the Party, it is necessary to strengthen the work of educating cadres and party members on Marxism-Leninism, Ho Chi Minh Thought, Party’s guidelines; to heighten the awareness of revolutionary goal and ideal, of the socialism’s superiority and of the inevitable constraints in the implementation of the market economy, open-door policy and international integration. It is imperative to pay due regard to the work of studying practice and theory, proposing new issues, and finding effective models to supplement the path to socialism of our country. It should be affirmed that “self-evolution” and “self-transformation” are brought about by both objective and subjective causes. One of those causes is that cadres and party members disregard theoretical study or learn just to get a degree or get promotion rather than apply the knowledge to practice. Therefore, in order to improve the quality of theoretical education, it is essential to well manage the learning of cadres at all levels, ensuring the “real education”. Besides, there is a need for concentrating on building a strong contingent of cadres and party members, especially in the realms of quality, ethics and lifestyle; strengthening the leadership of the Party, and keeping the socialist orientation in the cause of national renewal and development and international integration.

One of the important matters is defining the criteria and effectively carrying out contents of building the Party ethically with a focus on the standard system of relationships of cadres and party members with party organizations and people. This task should be closely linked with learning and following Ho Chi Minh Thought, morals and lifestyle. The role of leaders, cadres and party members should be promoted in the practice of training and fostering their quality, morals, lifestyle, fighting against degradation, “self-evolution” and “self-transformation”. Party committees and organizations are required to take measures to inspect and supervise the commitment implementation of cadres and party members in their localities, agencies and units. Each grassroots level party organization must improve and stringently carry out the exemplary responsibility of cadres and party members, especially party secretaries and party committee members at all levels. In addition, it necessitates these party organizations continuing to renovate the contents and forms of party cell meetings; heightening the spirit of self-criticism and criticism; and overcoming the situation of being afraid to fight against the manifestations of violation. At the same time, there should be mechanisms to protect and encourage the people dare to raise their voice to fight, ensuring the opportune prevention of all manifestations of “self-evolution” and “self-transformation” right at the grassroots level. The inspection, supervision and protection of internal politics need to be strengthened. Facing the complicated happenings of “self-evolution” and “self-transformation”, the Party’s inspection and supervision should be actively and opportunely supplemented with the appropriate contents; closely combined with the work of internal political protection in detecting and handling cadres and Party members with violations. All-level party committees, party organizations and inspection commissions need to fully grasp the realistic situation and the risk of “self-evolution” and “self-transformation” in their own organizations; and opportunely detect and effectively prevent all manifestations of violation from afar.

Functional agencies should well manage press, publishing, internet and social networking activities; bring into play the role and responsibility of press agencies in the fight against hostile allegations and in the prevention and fight against “self-evolution” and “self-transformation”. It is essential for all-level authorities to actively provide orientation information both regularly and unexpectedly, and inform all cadres, party members and people about the Party’s guidelines, the State’s policies and laws as well as the achievements in the cause of reforming, building and protecting the Fatherland, contributing to eliminating all information distorting and opposing our country’s revolution.

Preventing internal “self-evolution” and “self-transformation” is an essential requirement of the Party’s building. This is a long-term as well as urgent task for all party organizations and all cadres and party members to ensure that our Party is strong and capable of fulfilling the mission entrusted by the people.

Sr. Col.  PhD. Nguyen Viet Hien