Ideological and political degradation - the top danger of the ruling party

One of the threats to the legitimacy and survival of the ruling Party is the degradation of political ideology. To talk about degradation is to refer to a state of gradual decline and regression, following a negative trend that is becoming increasingly serious. Degradation of political ideology is a situation in which a number of cadres and Party members have lost faith in the goals, ideals, and revolutionary path that the Party, Uncle Ho, and our people have chosen. If not prevented and revived promptly and effectively, this will be the top threat to our Party and regime.

Báo Quân đội Nhân dân•06/06/2025

The danger of political and ideological degradation

Reality shows that the political and ideological degradation is latent in a number of cadres at all levels, and the danger is that it includes strategic cadres and cadres holding important positions in the political system. The collapse of the socialist system in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe originated from the political and ideological degradation of communist party members. More dangerously, this degradation is found in those holding important positions in the party and state apparatus.

Ideological and political degradation is a serious issue related to the survival of the regime, so it is mentioned a lot in the resolutions, directives and regulations of our Party. Resolution of the 12th Central Committee, Session 4, on strengthening Party building and rectification, preventing and repelling the degradation of political ideology, morality, lifestyle and manifestations of "self-evolution" and "self-transformation" within the Party, pointed out 9 manifestations of ideological and political degradation.

In recent times, especially during the 13th National Congress, our Party has stepped up the fight against corruption, discovered and disciplined many cadres, including those holding high positions in the Party and the State. During the 13th National Congress, the Central Inspection Commission held many meetings, and the press releases after each meeting clearly stated the disciplinary actions against erring cadres. As of April 15, 2025, Party committees and inspection committees at all levels had disciplined 107 Party organizations and 3,209 Party members; disciplined 70 cadres under the Central Committee 's management, including 28 Central Committee members and former Central Committee members.

Illustration: Manh Tien

The fundamental cause of the degradation of political ideology is the lack of cultivation and training of political qualities and revolutionary ethics of a number of cadres. Cadres holding important positions, although well-trained and educated, have theoretical qualifications, but have been corrupted in power, abused their power for personal gain, formed interest groups, leading to many negative aspects in the promulgation and implementation of policies. In addition, under the impact of the negative side of the market economy , many cadres, due to greed, could not resist the temptation of material benefits, the magic of money, leading to abandoning political ideals, losing themselves, and chasing after trivial interests.

The degradation of political ideology will also lead to pragmatism, political opportunism, ambition for power, power struggles, interest groups, and the formation of a group of cadres who "rely on power and influence". This group of cadres only directs their thoughts and responsibilities to what brings immediate, temporary, and local benefits to themselves and their interest groups, even though they know that their actions and policies may be against Party regulations and State laws. This creates a situation of factionalism and factionalism to monopolize politics, manipulate the economy, impose power, form cliques, even slander and defame comrades, and cause internal turmoil.

The ideological and political degradation of a number of cadres has hurt the people's feelings and reduced their trust in the Party, the State and the cadres and party members; threatening the life and prestige of the Party and the survival of the regime. Preventing and repelling the ideological and political degradation of a number of cadres is an urgent requirement in the current Party building work.

Strengthening solutions to prevent political and ideological degradation

To prevent ideological and political degradation among cadres and party members, it is necessary to carry out comprehensive solutions. First of all, it is necessary to strengthen the education and training of political theory for cadres at all levels of the Party. Accordingly, it is necessary to increase the content of theoretical subjects on Marxism-Leninism, Ho Chi Minh's thought, the Party's guidelines and viewpoints, the State's policies and laws in training work according to the levels and grades of the education system and in training and fostering political theory for cadres at all levels; focus on the content of Party building and rectification; manifestations of ideological, political, moral and lifestyle degradation of a number of cadres and party members; the "peaceful evolution" plot of hostile forces and manifestations of "self-evolution" and "self-transformation" within the Party... On that basis, it is necessary to orient political ideology correctly, helping cadres always imbued with the class stance, upholding political responsibility before the Party, the State and the people.

Political and ideological qualities are formed by many factors, in which the decisive factor is the role, awareness of self-cultivation, training, and self-improvement of cadres. President Ho Chi Minh taught: "Revolutionary morality does not fall from the sky. It is developed and consolidated through daily struggle and persistent training." Being educated and nurtured is the initial foundation, the cultivation and self-training to become a stable system of personality qualities is decided by the cadres and party members themselves. Therefore, wherever they are, whatever their working position, whether favorable or difficult, arduous, cadres must always be aware of their responsibilities and obligations, always focusing on preserving political qualities and revolutionary morality at all times and in all places.

In the current situation, it is necessary to promote the work of Party building and rectification, perfecting the system of mechanisms for managing and controlling power over the cadres. The core of Party building and rectification is the building and rectification of the cadres. That means that along with building and training, it is necessary to do a good job of managing and controlling cadres. Accordingly, Party rectification should not only be carried out when there are resolutions and directives from the Central Committee, but it should be done regularly in Party committees and organizations at all levels with the aim of making cadres and party members always self-reflect, self-correct, self-adjust their thoughts, attitudes, and political responsibilities. In Party building and rectification, superior cadres, leading cadres, and leading cadres must uphold their responsibility to set an example. In addition, it is necessary to tighten the management mechanism, control mechanism, and constraint of power over the cadres, avoiding abuse of power, corruption of power, and power degeneration leading to ideological and political degradation.

Along with that, it is necessary to focus on doing a good job of inspection, supervision of the implementation of party discipline, and internal political protection work. Inspection, supervision, implementation of party discipline and internal political protection work are fundamental solutions to promptly detect and prevent officials from violating political standards, ethics, and lifestyle, and to detect signs of political and ideological degradation, negativity, and group interests in the performance of duties and tasks.

It is necessary to promote the role and responsibility of specialized inspection and supervision agencies, and internal political protection agencies. When cadres show signs of political and ideological degradation, it is necessary to make clear conclusions, not to cover up or conceal shortcomings; at the same time, resolutely handle the right person, the right job, the right nature and level of violations. Violations related to many cadres in interest groups, it is necessary to clarify the role of each cadre to clearly define responsibilities, especially the responsibility of the leader according to Party discipline, State laws, regulations of agencies, units and localities. With the spirit of strict handling to set an example, no forbidden areas, no exceptions, the higher the position of the cadre, the more severely he/she must be handled when he/she violates. Through that, to deter and educate cadres to always cultivate, practice, maintain political qualities, revolutionary ethics, and a clean and healthy lifestyle.

On May 9, 2024, the Politburo issued Regulation No. 144-QD/TW on revolutionary ethical standards for cadres and party members in the new period. It requires cadres and party members to strive for the Party's revolutionary goals and ideals throughout their lives; uphold patriotism, national pride, and be absolutely loyal to the Fatherland and the Party's revolutionary cause; wholeheartedly serve the Fatherland and the people; and always put the national interests and the common interests of the Party, the State and the people above all else; resolutely and persistently fight against all acts that harm the national interests and the interests of the Party, the State and the people.

This is the compass that guides the right path for cadres and party members to always maintain their political will and revolutionary stance, and at the same time is a "shield" to prevent ideological and political degradation.

Colonel DO QUYET KHOA, Deputy Director of the Military Security Protection Department, General Department of Politics, Vietnam People's Army