In the book "Some theoretical and practical issues about socialism and the path to socialism in Vietnam", Professor, Dr. Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) emphasised that: "We should define socialism and the path toward socialism in accordance with the specific circumstances and characteristics of Vietnam" and "National independence associated with socialism is the basic and transparent line of the Vietnamese revolution and also the core in President Ho Chi Minh's ideological legacy. These viewpoints show that national independence associated with socialism is both an important factor in shaping and a flag orienting the development path of our revolution. This article hopes to further clarify the importance of these two factors.
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| Delegates conduct voting at the 13th National Party Congress (Photo: VNA) |
In many documents of our Party, national independence associated with socialism has always been strongly and decisively affirmed. One of the major lessons drawn from our country's revolution confirmed in the Platform for national construction in the transitional period to socialism (supplemented and developed in 2011) is that: “National independence is a prerequisite for the realisation of socialism, and socialism is a solid basis for national independence. Building socialism and defending the socialist Fatherland are two closely related strategic tasks”. The Resolution of the 11th National Party Congress once again emphasised: "Under any conditions and circumstances, it is necessary to persevere in implementing the renovation policy and goals, steadfastly and creatively apply and develop Marxism - Leninism, Ho Chi Minh's thought, and be steadfast in the goal of national independence and socialism"; The Resolution of the 12th National Party Congress continued to affirm that: “Strengthening, creatively applying and developing Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh's thought in accordance with Vietnam reality; being steadfast in the goal of national independence and socialism, on the path of renovation”. Consistent with the previous congresses, the 13th National Party Congress also determined the guidelines for national development in the coming time as: "Consistently and creatively apply and develop Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh thought; steadfast in the goal of national independence and socialism”.
Looking back at the history of Vietnam and the world in the twentieth century, especially the first two decades of the twenty-first century, we can see that the choice of our Party and people is absolutely correct. We have enough arguments to affirm that national independence associated with socialism is "the basic and thorough line of Vietnamese revolution and also the core in the legacy of the President Ho Chi Minh” – as affirmed by Professor, Dr. Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam.
1. As we all know, Vietnamese people have a tradition of patriotism, heroism, and have defeated many invaders. Since the French colonialists invaded our country, the patriotic movement has grown robustly, attracting a large number of people from all walks of life, including a part of feudal mandarins. Can Vuong movements, Yen The uprising; Duy Tan, Dong Du, Yen Bai uprisings and dozens of other struggles were all bloody suppressed by the French colonialists. This proves that our people are very patriotic and ready to support and participate in patriotic movements. However, they all failed and could not solve the national issues in our country no matter how brave and determined they were.
In that context, the issue of national independence became an ever more fundamental and objective requirement of Vietnamese society - a half-colonial, half-feudal society. At that time, the cause of national liberation in Vietnam was like a dead end. By what way and by which class would that be settled? But then history had the answer. The inception of Marxism has shown the way to liberate for the worker class and the working people. And, the outbreak of the Russian October Revolution in 1917 opened a new development trend of the world history. The success of the Revolution has shown the way to solve the contradictions of society, pointed out revolutionary forces and revolutionary methods. In the meantime, it was a shining light, a bell that signaled a new page in the world's history, i.e. national independence associated with socialism.
The light of Marxism-Leninism and the Russian October Revolution were blended with Vietnamese patriotism, bravery and qualities to form the Vietnamese revolution. With the enthusiasm of leader Nguyen Ai Quoc, Marxism - Leninism combined with the patriotic movement and the Vietnamese workers' movement brought about a great event in 1930, the inception of the Communist Party of Vietnam. This milestone marked the combination of national and class, national and international factors, national independence and socialism in the essence of the Party. Upon its establishment, the Party made a statement on: "Conducting bourgeois civil rights revolution and land revolution to advance to communist society". That statement also meant an outright rejection of feudalism and capitalism, or not any other path, in a broader sense. It came as a natural thing that, right after that proclamation, socialism was not only a chosen goal but actually promoted the change of Vietnam history; was the path that the Vietnam has been following until the final destination. President Ho Chi Minh has pointed out: only socialism and communism can liberate oppressed and working people in the world from slavery; only communism can save the humanity, and provide everyone, regardless of race and origin, a good society with freedom, equality, fraternity, solidarity, and well-being.
2. Overcoming contradictions and limitations in solving independent problems can be done only by the way of associating national independence with socialism, that is, to solve the problem of national independence according to the stance of the working class and scientific socialism. This means true national independence must be political, economic, cultural and foreign independence. Real national independence requires the elimination of economic, political and spiritual oppression, and the exploitation and enslavement of one nation to another. Therefore, independence is associated with freedom and equality, the internal affairs of a nation must be solved by that nation itself, without the outside interference.
Socialism implements national independence to pave the way to economic prosperity, richness and diversity in culture and spirit, and the fullest realisation of the people's power. Only by socialism can national independence achieve the goal of serving the interests and power of the workers, making all members of the national community the true owners with a fuller material and spiritual life. That makes the foundation of independence and self-reliance more solid, the defence of national independence more and more capable.
Substantial and sustainable development of national independence is measured by the capabilities and conditions that prevent the nation from slavery, dependence, oppression, exploitation and enslavement. They also ensure that the nation overcomes poverty and backwardness in relation to other peoples in the world and grows stronger and stronger to achieve equalities in relations among peoples and nations. All those capabilities and conditions can only be found and solved by developing socialism.
National independence and socialism have become the development values of Vietnam, under the leadership flag of the Party in today's era. That is also the logic of development of Vietnam nation under the leadership of the Party, forming the core and bravery of Vietnam, and its position in the world.
Perceiving and acting in accordance with that choice and value system, since 1930 to date, the Communist Party of Vietnam, founded and trained by President Ho Chi Minh, has led our people to wage a long and arduous revolutionary struggle, overcoming numerous difficulties and challenges and achieving great victories: the victory of the August Revolution in 1945, establishing the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, bringing our country into the era of independence and freedom; the victory of the resistance wars against the French colonialists and the American imperialists, culminating in the historic victory of Dien Bien Phu in 1954, the great victory in the Spring of 1975, national liberation, national reunification, and stable advance towards socialism.
3. After 77 years of gaining and maintaining national independence, building socialism and defending the Fatherland, especially 36 years of renovation, with that value system, the Communist Party of Vietnam deserves to represent for the bravery and wisdom of Vietnam in maintaining the socialist orientation. It has demonstrated its independence and self-reliance in all domestic and foreign lines and policies, developing our country from a semi-colonial, semi-feudal country to an independent, free, socialist-oriented country, our people from slavery to masters of the country and society. Our country has escaped from poverty and underdevelopment status, and been accelerating industrialisation, modernisation and international integration; has increasingly opened international relations, and enhanced its position in the international arena.
Thus, national independence and socialism, for Vietnam, is not only a goal, a necessity, an action program, a summoning banner, but also a driving force and a steadfast belief of Vietnamese people. National independence associated with socialism is the combination of two forces into a new strength; is the source of victory of Vietnamese revolution yesterday, today and in the future.
4. The first two decades of the twenty-first century, the third millennium of a volatile world - an era of integration and fierce competition of the international community, have passed. The world has witnessed many painful situations of many peoples in Africa, the Middle East, etc., despite having achieved independence. Due to their wrong directions which created internal instability and outside interference, their countries have been heavily damaged, and their lives have become extremely miserable. So, no matter what changes, difficulties, challenges, and uncertainties we may face, the values of national independence and socialism, in our consciousness and actions, are still the goal, the ideal, the national treasure in line with the trend of times. Forever raising the banner of national independence and socialism, under the leadership of the Party, our people will certainly win greater victories in the cause of renovation, industrialisation and modernisation, firmly building and defending the socialist Vietnam Fatherland, for the goal of a rich people, a strong, democratic, equal and civilized country, on par with other countries in the region and the world.
Professor, Dr. VU VAN HIEN