Preventing and combating populist manifestations among current cadres and party members

Populism is a demagogic political ideology, tendency, and tactic that is developing strongly in many countries around the world and has an impact and influence on the political and social life of our country.

In reality, “there have been actions and statements that are unprincipled, contrary to the Party Platform, policies, and Statutes among a number of cadres and party members” (1). Therefore, preventing and combating populist manifestations among cadres and party members is an urgent requirement, contributing to building and rectifying the Party and the political system to be truly clean and strong, and to strengthening and consolidating the close relationship with the people today.

Lesson 1: Identifying populism and its current manifestations

Since its inception, to affirm its leadership role in the Vietnamese revolution, our Party has always had to fight fiercely against ideological trends opposing Marxism-Leninism, Ho Chi Minh thought and the impact and influence of populism.

Causes of populism

Populism is an ideological trend and political line that began to appear in the international communist and workers' movement in the mid-19th century in France, and rose strongly in Russia at the end of the century, due to a group of intellectuals who sympathized with the peasant class, advocating the construction of "rural communes" on the ideological foundation of utopian socialism. At first, populism also played a certain role in the fight against oppression, exploitation, and injustice; however, the development process has tried to hinder Marxism, denying the leading role of the proletarian party. V. Lenin called the populists the public enemies of the Russian revolutionary movement. In 1894, he wrote the work "What are the "friends of the people" and how do they fight against the social-democrats" to expose the populists as false, hypocritical "friends of the people"; At the same time, he affirmed that the principled issues in the struggle of the working class must always maintain the leading role of the revolution and that the peasants are the strategic allies of the workers. The great victory of the October Socialist Revolution in Russia in 1917 not only proved the scientific and revolutionary views of Lenin but also left valuable lessons about the leadership role of the Communist Party and the alliance between the working class, the peasantry and the intellectual class in the socialist revolution.

Unlike before, populism today is a concept used to refer to ideological trends, tendencies, and political tricks of individuals and organizations that appeal to the psychology of the crowd to call for and organize movements to gain support and attract the masses to serve their political and economic interests. In Vietnam, populism has no economic, political and social basis to exist as an "ism" but only appears as a small, unsystematic viewpoint and ideology and is expressed in the statements and actions of a number of individuals, including officials and party members. Regarding the causes of populist statements and actions, in addition to external impacts and influences, there are also subjective causes such as: The four risks that our Party has pointed out since the mid-term National Delegates Conference of the 7th term (January 1994) still exist and are more severe today. Notably, corruption, waste, negativity, along with the degradation of political ideology, ethics, lifestyle, "self-evolution", "self-transformation" within the Party and social grievances are still complicated. Meanwhile, the role of setting an example in words and actions of some cadres and Party members is not regular; awareness of democracy and the law of a part of the people is still limited, leading to ineffective implementation in practice at times and in some places, or confusion between democracy and populism. Inadequacies in solving some social problems such as unsustainable hunger eradication and poverty reduction, the growing gap between rich and poor, and social inequality... are also conditions for populist statements and actions to erupt and flourish. In addition, reactionary forces and political opportunists always take advantage of democracy and human rights issues to distort and sabotage, causing a number of cadres, party members and people to enthusiastically accept populist statements and actions. Therefore, we must proactively identify and effectively prevent and combat populist manifestations among cadres and party members.

Preventing and combating populist manifestations among cadres and party members today - Part 1: Identifying populism and its current manifestations

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Manifestations of populism today

In forums and conferences, there are "shocking" statements and actions to build an image and win the hearts of the masses. In all conditions and circumstances, cadres and party members must strictly comply with the resolutions, directives, and regulations of the Party and the laws of the State, and set an example for the people in both words and actions. However, a small number of cadres and party members, when attending political, economic, cultural, and social events with many participants, often make shocking statements to build an image and gain the support of the masses. In some forums and conferences, unlike the exemplary images and somewhat cautious statements of delegates, these cadres and party members often use strong words and actions, knowing how to choose the right hot, pressing issues that are attracting the attention of public opinion; from there, they put forward recommendations and conditions for solutions that are "popular", but exceed their authority, or do not have enough basis to implement in practice. When having the opportunity to meet with the people, these officials appear to be very enthusiastic and responsible in receiving and promising to direct or directly handle the people's petitions, difficulties, problems, and concerns, but they suffer from "promise disease", making the people wait, not knowing when they will be resolved.

Borrowing the name of “people’s representative” to amend and apply the Party and State’s guidelines and policies to benefit individuals and interest groups. In the Document of the 13th National Congress, our Party affirmed: “The people are the center and the subject of the cause of innovation, construction and protection of the Fatherland; all guidelines and policies must truly originate from the requirements, aspirations, rights and legitimate and legal interests of the people”. However, a small number of cadres and party members, especially when they have achieved a high position in society, take advantage of the name of the people to turn the real into the fake, the fake into the real, in order to benefit individuals, families and interest groups. It is easy to see that these cadres and party members are often very "sensitive" in detecting and proposing issues related to the interests and lives of the people, such as this locality or that region, due to the impact of economic recession, or the impact of epidemics, environmental incidents, natural disasters, fires... are facing difficulties, thereby proposing to the Party committees and authorities at all levels policies and measures to overcome them, but instead they seek to "fix" or incorrectly apply the Party and State's guidelines and policies to benefit themselves, their families and their interest groups. In the construction, appraisal and approval of a number of projects and works or in directing and resolving difficulties and pressing issues in society, these cadres often "know how" to handle them quickly to bring local, immediate benefits to a segment of the people, but then secretly "adjust" policies for personal gain. If praised by some media, these officials will be judged by public opinion as decisive and “for the people”. Only when the inspection agencies step in and clearly announce the violations, then will people clearly understand the nature of the problem.

Taking advantage of positions and powers, causing trouble and harassment to the people, and profiting for themselves, their families and interest groups. Currently, besides the majority of leaders who are truly close to the people and care for them, there are still a few officials and party members who act bureaucratically, arrogantly, and infringe upon the legitimate rights and interests of the people. In forums and conferences, these officials often speak very correctly in line with the Party's guidelines and viewpoints, the State's policies and laws, but in reality, they are indifferent and insensitive to the difficulties and even the lives of the people, and have corrupt and negative behaviors. In the assessment of the 13th National Congress Document, our Party pointed out: "The state of degradation in political ideology, ethics, lifestyle, individualism, group interests, wastefulness, indifference, and achievement disease among a number of officials and party members has not been pushed back". These cadres and party members often take advantage of the lack of understanding of democracy of a part of the people and choose times when people have issues that need to be resolved immediately, or are facing difficulties in life, to secretly make "demands" that benefit them and their interest groups.

To deceive the people and others, these cadres often appear to be close to the masses, or always use the correct policies of the Party and the State as a cover, even intentionally doing some "good deeds" to please their colleagues and the people. That shows that these "for the people" actions are always covered under a very sophisticated cover, not always immediately recognizable.

Using the name of “protecting the rights and interests of the people” to gather, propagate, and incite the masses, causing instability in security, politics and society. In our country, disaffected elements and political opportunists always collude with hostile forces from outside to “take advantage of the situation”, to raise the flag of protecting “human rights”, “democracy”, and “interests of the people”, but in reality, they incite and incite people to oppose the Party and the government, causing social disorder. A small number of cadres and party members, due to degradation in political ideology, morality, and lifestyle, have also joined in, demanding that party committees and governments at all levels “expand democracy”, straying from the Party’s principles and goals; not steadfastly following the path to socialism; following distorted perceptions and erroneous viewpoints. In a few localities, these cadres and party members (often retired and not participating in Party activities) also use the name of "protecting the interests of the people" to organize large gatherings, file lawsuits and complaints, and even commit radical acts, inciting violations of the law, causing instability in political security, order and social safety. Our Party has pointed out: "A very small number of cadres and party members have been exploited by bad elements to entice, incite, incite and bribe them to have thoughts and actions opposing the Party and the State" (2).

It can be seen that the appearance of populist manifestations among cadres and party members is very dangerous and unpredictable. Because these manifestations are often concealed under a "hard cover" (political power) and a "soft cover" (fake prestige), they cannot always be immediately recognized. The gradually spreading populist manifestations will become a new trend in political and social life in our country, undermining the leadership role of the Party, the effectiveness of the State's social management and the efficiency of the political system; at the same time, creating loopholes for reactionary, opportunistic, and dissatisfied elements to promote, collude, and form forces to sabotage. If not proactively prevented and effectively fought, it will be like a toxic virus, directly threatening the survival of the regime.

(continued)

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(1) Communist Party of Vietnam (2016), Documents of the 12th National Congress of Delegates, National Political Publishing House Truth, Hanoi, p.195

(2) Communist Party of Vietnam (2016), Documents of the 12th National Congress of Delegates, National Political Publishing House Truth, Hanoi, p.185

Ta Ngoc (According to qdnd.vn)

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