CCP Centre Resolution on Investigation and Research

“CCP Centre Resolution on Investigation and Research” drafted by Mao Zedong for the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on August 1, 1941. It is included in the Since the Sixth National Congress of the CPC compiled and printed by the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China in 1941 and in Collected Works of Mao Zedong, Vol. 2, in 1993.

The “Resolution” points out that the CPC, as a major political Party with a great revolutionary task, must refrain from being vague and superficial, it should eliminate the subjectivist style and adopt a concrete approach to increase its investigation and research into the history, the environment, and the specific conditions at home and abroad, in and out of the provinces and counties, so that it can effectively organize revolutionary forces to overthrow the rule of Japanese imperialism and its lackeys.

The “Resolution” points out that in the 20 years since the founding of the CPC in 1921, the CPC's study of Chinese history, Chinese society, and the international situation, although our Party’s research on Chinese history, Chinese society, and international affairs has gradually advanced in the last 20 years and brought an increase in our knowledge, it still remains extremely inadequate; subjectivistic and formalistic tendencies—roughly finished work, failure to seek a detailed understanding, self-satisfaction—are still seriously prevalent in the Party. Subjectivistic and formalistic tendencies have not yet been completely eliminated. The seriousness of the loss suffered by revolutionary work in the last 20 years, through subjectivism, formalism, and immature lack of knowledge, is still not completely recognized by leading organs of the entire Party and all comrades. A majority of the comrades who come to Yan’an to report lack systematic and thorough understanding of the internal and external conditions of the region where they do their own work, no matter whether the aspect is class relations, the enemy and puppets, allied parties and troops, or their own tasks. A great many comrades in the Party still do not understand that “no investigation, no right to speak.” They still do not understand that systematic, thorough social research is the basis for policy decisions. They still do not know that the basic mission of leading organs is to understand conditions and to direct policy, and that, if conditions are not understood, policy is necessarily mistaken. They still do not know that not only imperialistic Japan’s investigations and research on China are complete in every detail but that the KMT’s understanding of domestic and foreign conditions is a great deal richer than ours. They still do not know that the subjectivistic tendencies of self-righteousness and roughly finished work are the principal manifestations of an impure Party spirit, and that seeking the truth from facts and closely relating theory and practice constitute a minimum attitude for comrades in strengthening the Party spirit.

The “Resolution” states that to raise the awareness of the Party organs and all comrades in the Party of investigation and research, to systematically master the methods of investigation and research, to gain a deeper understanding of the actual situation at home and abroad in all aspects, and to achieve the Party's revolutionary goals, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China has decided to adopt the following six methods to strengthen the Party's investigation and research:

(1) For direct assistance in its work, the Centre is to establish investigation and research organs which will collect and carry out research on all types of materials on domestic and international politics, military, economic, and cultural affairs, and class relations.

(2) For direct assistance in their work, all central bureaus, sub-bureaus, district and provincial Party committees of the independent regions, higher organs of the Eighth Route and New Fourth Armies, and all higher levels of administration in the War Bases must establish investigation and research organs, which will collect and carry out research in their respective regions on pertinent materials pertaining to political, military-economic, and cultural affairs and to class relations in respect to the enemy, our allies, and ourselves. At the same time they will supply the Centre with materials.

(3) The following is an example of the method for collecting materials: Firstly, gather, select, edit, and study newspapers, magazines, and books printed by (A) the enemy, (B) our allies, and (C) ourselves on political, military, economic, and cultural affairs, and class relations. Secondly, gather together men of experience and hold investigation meetings—from three to five men for each session—to investigate a sample locality, district, county, town, market town, army, division, factory, shop, school, or problem (e.g. the agrarian problem, the labour problem, the problem of vagrancy, the problem of societies).

(4) Aside from the investigation and research organs of the Centre and each locality, organs at all levels of the entire Party, army, and government, and all comrades, must be mobilized to concentrate on the investigation and study of conditions in enemy, allied, and our own areas, and must supply the higher investigation and research organs with materials.

(5) Carry out a program of education in the understanding of objective conditions (in enemy, allied, and our own areas) for active cadres and cadre training schools at all levels.

(6) Party offices at all levels are charged with the responsibility of relating this resolution to the April 1 resolution issued by the Centre on “Strengthening the Party Spirit”, reporting to Party committees and cadre meetings, and, in addition, discussing methods of enforcement.

“CPC Centre Resolution on Investigation and Research” as an important document during the Yan'an Rectification Movement, not only re-emphasized the truth that “no investigation, no right to speak”, but also clarified the methodology of conducting investigation and research, which is of great significance for the Party to promote the wind of investigation and research and effectively grasp the actual situation in all aspects at home and abroad.