On the Questions Concerning Intellectuals

Zhou Enlai's report at the Conference on Intellectuals held by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on January 14, 1956, published by People's Daily on January 30, 1956, and published in a single volume by the People’s Press in the same year. It was included in Selected Works of Zhou Enlai (Part II) in 1984, published by the People’s Press.

The report contains the following main contents:

(1) Expounding the relationship between the question of intellectuals and the tasks of socialist construction.

It is pointed out that we are building a socialist economy in order to provide maximum satisfaction of the constantly rising material and cultural demands of the entire society. To reach this goal, we must constantly expand the productive forces, raise labour productivity and increase and improve socialist production on a foundation of high technology.

Therefore, in the socialist era, it is more necessary than ever for us to raise production technology, develop the sciences and utilize scientific knowledge. In order to develop socialist construction with greater, faster, better and more economical results, we must rely not only on the working class and the peasant masses but also on the intellectuals. In other words, we have to rely upon close co-operation between manual workers and mental workers and upon a fraternal alliance among workers, peasants and intellectuals.

More and more of our construction projects require the efforts of intellectuals. Intellectuals, therefore, are important to all aspects of life in our country. In order to fulfil the general task in the transition period, it is essential to handle correctly the question of intellectuals, to mobilize them and let them play their role in the service of the great cause of socialist construction. All departments and organizations of our Party must recognize the importance of this question.

(2) On the basis of examining the political situation of our intellectuals, it made a correct estimate and judgment of the situation of our intellectuals, pointed out that our intellectuals are "already part of the working class", and put forward two tendencies that should be prevented and corrected on the issue of intellectuals.

The main tendency is sectarianism, which underestimates the tremendous progress of the intellectuals in politics and business, underestimates their important role in the cause of socialism in our country, ignores that they are part of the working class, does not conscientiously implement the Party's intellectual policy, and does not seriously study and solve the relevant knowledge points. Sub-problems: How to fully mobilize and give full play to the strength of intellectuals, how to further transform intellectuals, expand the ranks of intellectuals, and improve the professional ability of intellectuals, and other pressing issues are indifferent.

One of the main tendencies is sectarianism, a tendency that underestimates the tremendous political and professional progress the intellectuals have made and the important role they have played in our socialist cause, does not recognize them as a component of the working class, does not seriously implement the Party's policy on intellectuals, does not seriously study and solve problems concerning intellectuals; and is apathetic about such urgent matters as mobilizing and developing the potential of intellectuals, further transforming them, expanding their numbers and raising their professional level.

At the same time, there is a tendency of trusting intellectuals blindly, not being on guard against evil elements among them, do nothing to educate and reform them.

These two tendencies seem contradictory. But in essence they are both manifestations of Right conservatism, characterized by an abandonment of leadership and a lack of the will to struggle. They hamper our effort to deal correctly with the questions of intellectuals, science and culture, and impede the development of our socialist programs. We must therefore combat both these tendencies simultaneously.

(3) Emphasizing that in order to mobilize and bring into full play the strength of intellectuals, we must first of all try to improve our arrangements for using intellectuals, so that they may fully develop their specialized talents for the benefit of the state. Secondly, we should have a full understanding of the intellectuals we use and give them the confidence and support they deserve, so that they can work with enthusiasm. Thirdly, intellectuals should be provided with necessary working conditions and appropriate material benefits.

(4) Emphasizing that it is one of the important political tasks of the Party in the transitional period to continue to help intellectuals carry out self-remoulding. The transformation of intellectuals usually goes through three ways: one is observation and practice through social life; the other is practice through their own business; and the other is general theoretical study.

(5) Emphasizing that science is a critical factor in our national defense, economy and culture. Modern science is now advancing by leaps and bounds. The current scientific and cultural backwardness of our country is very disproportionate to the needs of a large socialist country. We must make an urgent effort to expand our scientific and cultural force and raise its standards in order to reach the highest world levels in a comparatively short time.

This report comprehensively discussed the problem of intellectuals, correctly identified the attributes of intellectuals in China, clarified the Party's policy on intellectuals, and played a positive role in motivating intellectuals to participate in socialist construction.