Communist Review - The conference founding the Communist Party of Viet Nam on February 3^rd, 1930 decided to publish a political theory review for the whole Party and three dissemination newspapers for the three regions (namely North Viet Nam, Central Viet Nam, South Viet Nam)⁽¹⁾. Just a few months after the birth of the Communist Party of Viet Nam amidst the 1930-1931 revolutionary high tide, the Party Central Committee published the Red Review, initiated and first directed by Nguyen Ai Quoc.

Since then, over the revolutionary periods characterized by different circumstances, the review has been published one after another, becoming a key part of the Party's ideological and theoretical work. Between 1930-1945, the Red Journal was followed by the Communist Review (1930), the Bolshevik Journal (1941) and the Communist Review (1943). During the resistance war against the French, the review was named as the Journal of Internal Activities (1947-1950) and the Communist Review (1950). With the peace restoration in the North, the Journal of Study came into being in December 1955 and was published monthly. In the South, the Central Office for South Viet Nam published the Journal of Research and the Tien Phong Journal during the resistance wars against the French colonialists and the US imperialists respectively. On January 5^th, 1977, the Journal of Study was renamed as Communist Review which was still published monthly. On February 3^rd, 2002, the e-Communist Review was officially launched on the internet-based digital platform; and on January 1^st, 2007, the Editorial Department of the Communist Review published a special edition Event Archives.

Over the 90-year revolutionary cause, since the first issue, the Communist Review has always served as a political and theoretical flag, a "heavy weapon" in the Party's ideological and theoretical work. It has received frequent interest, attention and direction regarding its operation and quality improvement to meet revolutionary requirements from the Central Executive Committee, the Politburo, and the Secretariat. During the 12^th Party Congress term, the Politburo issued Decision No. 199-QĐ/ TW, dated July 31, 2016, on functions, tasks and organizational structure of the Communist Review. In addition, General Secretary, President Nguyen Phu Trong and other Party and State leaders contributed significant and valuable guidance for the operation of the journal. To promote the glorious tradition of 90 years and follow that leadership and direction, the Editorial Board and all the journal’s editors and staff need to focus on the basic measures as follows:

1-Firmly grasping the nature of a political theory journal, based on which to ensure that the Communist Review always maintains its mission and purpose, deserving to be an ideological and theoretical flag of the Communist Party of Viet Nam.

Political theory is distinguished from academic theory that reflects the perceiving needs of an individual/school or an industry’s theory that reflects a certain sub-module or aspect of life. The nature of political theory stipulating direction and tasks for research, dissemination and theoretical education derives from the political objectives supporting the Party's political mission. In other words, it is the practice that directs political theory research, dissemination, and education, condensed by the Party into specific tasks for the journal. Research outcomes, in return, improve practice. Political theory does not require an answer to research, dissemination and education questions of each individual or school. Instead, it clarifies the matters concerning the ruling party's theoretical perceptions, or practical problems that require proper and timely support of theoretical work. Improper academic perception only affects the understanding and behaviors of individuals or groups within that academic school. Meanwhile, improper theoretical perception leads to unpredictable consequences in reality as political theory is not restricted to perception, but aimed to improve reality through governmental institutionalization, dissemination and education in the whole society. In other words, political theory always requires carefulness and consideration, regarding reality as a measurement for all suggestions, conclusions, dissemination, and education as well as avoiding subjectivity to prevent potential errors.

The platforms, resolutions of the national party congresses and the full-term working program of the Party Central Committee, the Politburo and the Secretariat act as the most important bases for planning theoretical research, practice review, editing, publishing and dissemination of the journal. The nature of political theory requires that each research work should neither go too deep into the academic schools nor encroach on too detailed and specific issues of each industry or field. Academic schools must also be assessed by analysis, examination, world view, methodology of dialectical materialism and historical materialism enlightened by the Party's views and guidelines. Any theory for any certain industry needs studying, reviewing and approaching from the perspective of political theory. Diverse issues of localities, agencies and units - especially new models and good measures to draw theoretically general lessons - must be attached great importance to before reviewing.

Political theory itself is expected to submit to politics, but during research, dissemination and education as a specific activity of human thought, it is relatively independent, especially methods of researching and applying communication laws. Only scientific research can bring about objective results, find out scientific truths, and provide convincible arguments for politics. Such theoretical basis can help to give tasks consistent with reality and laws of objectivity, harmonizing relationships of interests, realizing opportunities, turning challenges into opportunities, bringing into full play resources, minimizing losses, and shortening developmental processes. Theorists are tasked with drawing scientific and objective conclusions, but the measure, the time and the scope of their publication, popularization and education of research results are regulated by the political viewpoint if those activities are not conducive to the revolutionary cause. Some hundred-page or even thousand-page research results of political theory cannot be printed or published like basic one, but can only be condensed into proposals to leaders of the Communist Party of Viet Nam. This is regarded as one of the disadvantages for researchers in the field, especially when research results published in prestigious international journals are increasingly gaining credit.

Dissemination and education of political theory require strict adherence to the party nature. The Communist Review editors must always be politically sharp when performing the task of disseminating and educating political theory, know what to be disseminated by the journal and what to be done by other newspapers and magazines, when to publicize issues to ensure dissemination effectiveness as earliness may lead to the lack of necessary maturity and tardiness may result in the loss of communication effect. Other journalists always value the update and topicality of the information, but the political theorists require calmness, alertness, and depth when analyzing, commenting and assessing events. Dissemination efficiency requires a thorough grasp and application of communication laws, including the use of digital media.

Unlike arguing academic theory schools, researching and discussing in the Communist Review are aimed at narrowing down and unifying perceptions influenced by different opinions in order to provide arguments for the Communist Party of Viet Nam leading agencies to make wise decisions based on laws of objectivity. Once resolutions are issued, research and discussions in political theory journals are designed to clarify published views and policies, creating a unified perception in the whole Party and a social consensus for successful implementation. They do not really mean "explanatory studies" but must present views and ways reasonably and convincingly, because each opinion and guideline prior to publication is based on a firm basis of theory and practice, meticulous research, thorough surveys, careful discussions and approved by the majority. Discussions in the journal also help find measures for the effective implementation of resolutions.

2 – Closely sticking to the functions and tasks of the Communist Review in the new period in order to renew practice review, theoretical research, and scientific research; improving persuasiveness, effectiveness of political theory dissemination and education; actively fighting to preserve the Communist Party of Viet Nam’s ideological foundation.

Practice review and theoretical research play a direct role in improving the staff’s professional skills, especially the quality of their research, writing and editing. The new context require a great importance to be attached to practice review to ensure that theory is always based on practice and aimed at preventing and overcoming subjectivism in theoretical research. Not only reflected in the editorial plan and publication structure, practice review must also be integrated into a systematic program in each congress term. That program must cover all branches or areas where new models and creative measures appear; use theory to dissect each case to find out development laws and trends of specific models; apply practice to verify theory, and supplement and develop the theory that fails to catch up practice. Field trips must be well prepared in terms of theory, theoretical framework and secondary documents; inspection must be on location, analyzing situations scientifically with a thorough grasp of the opinions of officials, party members and the public, avoiding one-way reports as a formality without going into details. Each field trip must bring about some specific findings for its purpose and main topic, applying theory in analysis and supplement the theory with some practical lessons drawn after each trip. In addition, it is necessary to avoid submitting to the journal with articles which are basically modified reports without convincing argument or vividness of the real life in a specific event, region, and community associated with specific characters and activities. Practice reviews attract readers through not only vivid and true reflection of life but also experience, lessons, and even laws with practice being illuminated and analyzed by theory, which helps improve the persuasiveness of each theoretical point, argument or comment.

The Communist Review is naturally tasked with dissemination and education of political theory and improvement of the task’s persuasiveness, combat power, and effectiveness. Persuasive does not only lie in the art of using words, but also builds trust among readers in each issue. Without convincing themselves, writers cannot convince readers. Therefore, writers must have a strong belief in the Party's ideals and objectives and invest all efforts, feelings, responsibilities and knowledge in their writings. Each written work must be the result of hard work and artistic creation regardless of the fact that it is their writing or editing for collaborators. The persuasive power of the article is reflected through the depth of reliable sources, truthful information, solid arguments, and sharp reasoning that those without sympathy cannot refute. Practice, which is full of richness and vividness, daily and even hourly sees the clash between the new and the old in all branches, levels, localities and social strata that writers should learn about. The effectiveness of dissemination and education requires a style that is easy to understand, remember, follow, and avoids clichés.

Preserving the foundation of ideology and contradicting wrong and hostile views act as the Communist Review’s key task. Since its birth, the Communist Party of Viet Nam has always faced various sabotage activities of hostile forces and political opportunists regarding its foundation of ideology, guidelines, policies, organization, and personnel. In the present boom of transnational digital platforms as well as social networks, hostile forces are intensifying their action against the foundation of ideology, guidelines, policies of the Party and the State. Therefore, preserving the Party's ideological foundation and opposing wrong and hostile views require greater attention and efforts. When the socialism in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union was in a crisis and then collapsed, Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh thought were fiercely attacked, the Communist Review always published well-written articles to defend the Party’s ideological foundation, defend the right, and fight against hostile forces’ distorting and defamatory conspiracies and tricks. Since 2019, the journal has maintained the column titled "Preserving the Party's ideological foundation, opposing wrong and hostile views". Through this effort, the Communist Review has gathered up a large number of contributors whose both articles and fighting power have been improved day by day. Demanding writings in forms of polemics, ideological struggles, and reasoning require writers not only to have a good understanding of hostile forces’ intrigues, tricks and activities, but also use their wisdom in their written works to oppose each theoretical point, expose each trick and defend the Party convincingly. In the new context, hostile forces are seeking any possible measures to "influence transformation", and incite "self-development" within the Party to promote "peaceful evolution". Therefore, the struggle for ideology and theory is becoming more and more complicated. It is imperative to highly isolate reactionaries and political opportunists, who publicly oppose, discuss with people whose misperceptions need rectifying before they become worse, rapidly gather up the progressive force for the defense, and train ideologists and theorists in bravery and fighting power.

The Communist Review's scientific research has been increasingly upgraded to its status as a political and theoretical body of the Party Central Committee. Not purely journalistic activities, the Communist Review’s editing and publishing must be based on methodical and meticulous scientific research, without which the editors can neither write in-depth essays nor increase the theoretical content for collaborators' articles. From 2021, the Communist Review strives to issue specialized publications, requiring more scientific research to be promoted and professionally conducted. Scientific research should be designed as a purposeful long-term program, mobilizing and gathering up many experts for clarifying the issues in need of an answer from theoretical agencies. Seminars and discussions must select right topics of political theory stature or issues in which theory-practice gaps exist. Before each party congress and each central conference, in case of any dividing issue, the journal can hold seminars to discuss the issue. For example, in the first years of Doi Moi when the contracting policy under Directive 100 of the Secretariat (in 1981) showed plenty of limitations that hindered farmers' productivity, the journal held discussions with the participation of researchers, leaders and managers, which gradually narrowed the gap between contradicting views and proposed a reform of agriculture-based economic management mechanism. In 1988 amidst galloping inflation causing macroeconomic and socio-economic instability, the Communist Review and the Central Economic Commission held a famous national seminar to discuss different views and propose measures to curb inflation. Early in the 2^nd decade of the 21^st century amidst worsening "self-development" and "self-transformation" within the party, the Communist Review, the Party Committee of central agencies, and General Department of Politics (Ministry of Defense) held a seminar to identify and clarify the new concepts of "self-evolution" and "self-transformation" across the party and propose solutions. Scientific activities should not go deep into basic research and must be closely linked with dissemination, editing, and publishing so that each written work is truly the result of elaborate scientific research and closely linked with and able to improve practice.

3- Increasing external information on political theory issues, expanding international cooperation on the exchange of theory and communication skills, working closely with ministries, branches, localities, the Central Theoretical Council, Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, research institutes, universities, press agencies and the likes to improve the effectiveness of political theory research, dissemination, and education.

The task of sharing external information on political theory issues has been clearly stated by the Politburo in Decision No. 199-QĐ/TW on the functions and tasks of the Communist Review. In the digital age, the e-version has been upgraded, bringing into play its utility that cannot be applied by the printed version to increase external information. In recent years, the e-version has been renewed including interface and format, the quality of writings in all columns has been improved, attracting 100,000 readers daily with a large proportion of overseas Vietnamese and international readers. Websites in English, Chinese and Lao have actively contributed to updating external information. The review strives to create a Spanish version in 2021 to increase external information for Spanish-speaking countries. More articles in English will be available on SolidNet, a Greece-based website for communist parties and international workers. The translation quality will be constantly bettered to raise the efficiency of dissemination and external information on political theory issues.

Continuing to expand, strengthen and improve the effectiveness of cooperation with Alunmay Magazine of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, expand cooperation with theoretical research institutions, policy and strategy consultancies, press bodies of the ruling and non-ruling communist parties, ruling parties worldwide for sharing work experience. Continuing to help Alunmay Magazine to create an e-version together with training its staff to operate the internet-based platform smoothly, exchange regular visits for experience sharing and professionalism enhancing.

Closely coordinating with ministries, branches, cities, provinces, and party organizations to enhance and renew political theory dissemination and education, instruct how to buy, read and use the printed works effectively. Well implementing cooperation programs between the Communist Review and ministries, branches, cities, provinces; reviewing the 5-year implementation to further improve the effectiveness of practice review and dissemination for coming terms. On the basis of those programs, when its partners need consultancy and advice, especially while preparing documents and resolutions, the journal should make active and responsible contributions, helping to improve its staff’s ability to review practice with the clever application of theory and practice. Improving the quality of seminars co-hosted by the Editorial Board of the Communist Review and either city/provincial party committees or ministries/branches; choosing practical issues, especially the urgent ones that require theoretical clarification. Their results must have a pervasive effect, helping to change perceptions and adjust policies. One key area that needs close coordination between the Communist Review and ministries/branches, cities/provinces in the coming time is to instruct how to buy, read and use the Communist Review effectively. It is also necessary to train, praise and replicate good examples of buying, reading and using the Communist Review for political theory research, consultation, dissemination, and education. Increasing the coordination between editing, publishing, distributing and buying, reading, using the Communist Review to spread the value of each article in the real life. Strengthening cooperation with party organizations should go together with expanding cooperation with the Central Theoretical Council, Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, institutes, and universities to promote scientific research and create a profuse source of collaborators. The more scientific research is pushed, the more it is necessary to strengthen cooperation with research bodies and universities via co-organizing seminars and issuing specialized publications as well as articles. This cooperation gathers up prestigious experts, scientific and theoretical researchers, which requires diversified cooperation to create a strategic source of collaborators for the journal’s theoretical cause. Press agencies, together with the Communist Review, serve as the dissemination pioneers for the Party and the State, each of whom is assigned its specific tasks of dissemination and has its own advantages to be shared for a greater effect in communication. Increasing the effectiveness of cooperation with fellow press agencies in various forms such as press awards, media programs, and events especially building a mechanism of sharing and using the Communist Review articles as a rich source for the production of different programs and written works.

4- Continuing to innovate and raise the efficiency of the organizational structure, attaching great importance to training staff and collaborators, increasing the scientific and technological application to operation.

On the basis of organizational restructuring in recent years, the Communist Review has further improved functions and tasks of subordinate units in association with renewing the process of editing, publishing, and rotating manuscripts to raise the responsibility of each organization and individual driven by the motto "one unit, one individual can be assigned a number of tasks, each of which the responsibility should be assumed by either one unit or one individual". One of the key tasks is to train each professional board, publication board, and permanent agency as a fundamental unit with sufficient staff who are capable of organizing events such as professional exchanges, seminars, discussions, practice reviews and training fellow staff at work in the role of mentors. Therefore, professional exchanges must be regular and disciplined in order to learn from experience after each publication, seminar, or field trip, etc. Continuing to improve the process of editing, publishing, and rotating manuscripts to specify responsibilities in each stage and each task as well as overcome the situations of responsibility shifting and delayed publication.

Ensuring the quantity, quality and structure of personnel is a decisive task in the short term and the long term for the development of the Communist Review. In the absence of young writer generation and influential key writers, cadre work must be promoted more than ever, ensuring a force of qualified staff in theoretical research, practice review, editing, and dissemination. The Communist Review staff must possess firm political willpower, good expertise, and a deep understanding of practice. To realize that goal, it is necessary to standardize qualifications and skills in political theory, professionalism, foreign languages, information technology, scientific research, practice review, editing, and using specialized software. Right from the recruitment, the journal must attract excellent graduates majoring in basic theory, send them to training courses and equip them with basic political theory, step by step standardize the editors’ qualifications by sending them to postgraduate courses for Master’s degree and doctorate. It is also necessary to bring into play the role of on-the-job training via professionalism sharing and apprenticeship, ensuring that each staff appointed as the head or the deputy of a unit must be the leader in professionalism and can lead, support and train his subordinates.

Creating a strategic force of collaborators is specially crucial to ensuring that the journal can accomplish its political tasks. As a political theory agency of the Party Central Committee, the journal publishes a large number of writings by leaders of the Party, the State, ministries, departments, branches as well as theorists. Therefore, building a close relationship with collaborators plays a decisive role in raising the quality of the articles and the proper execution of editorial plans. Increasing the responsibility of collaborators via editing at the Editorial Board to help improve the quality of their writings. Strengthening relationships and diversifying interaction between specialized units and strategic collaborators to help have a thorough grasp of editorial plans and information requirement in the journal; working with seminar and discussion organizers to collect suitable and valuable articles, contributing to improving the effectiveness of dissemination. Attaching great importance to building a force of young collaborators trained from multiple sources to ensure the inheritance, innovation and development of collaborator generations. Regularly holding theme-based conferences for collaborators to share information and exchange ideas for high-quality.

Promoting the application of scientific and technological achievements, especially information technology, to editing, manuscript rotation, and internal administration. It is necessary to build a system of digital data for internal search or linkage with large data centers and libraries all over the country to effectively support scientific research and editing. Accelerating the construction of electronic editorial office that not only helps editors work with ease anywhere at any time, but also increase the transparency of editing responsibilities associated with digital evidence based on which the staff’s ability can be accurately evaluated and responsibility shifting can be minimized for jobs involving different sections. Modernizing the Communist Review’s e-version to optimize the effectiveness of dissemination, especially for tasks that challenge the printed works such as publishing large-data articles, uploading digitally useful posts (with videos, images, sounds, etc.) and updating external information. Upgrading the new version of the e-administrative system to optimize the efficiency of management and operation, which both ensures the smooth implementation of tasks and saves time and cost.

With a firm basis built over the past 90 years and under the leadership of the Party Central Committee, the Politburo, the Secretariat, leaders of the Party and the State, leaders and staff of the Communist Review pledges to do their best to fulfill all assigned tasks, deserving to be an ideological and theoretical flag of the Communist Party of Viet Nam./.

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(1) Complete Party Documents, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 1998, volume 2, page 12

This article was published in the Communist Review, No. 947 (August 2020)