History of the Chinese Communist Party

In this episode, we explore the history of the Chinese Communist Party through a 1976 publication by the Norman Bethune Institute, examining how the Party presented its origins, authority, and revolutionary mission during the Cultural Revolution. The discussion traces the CCP’s identity as the proletarian vanguard, its ideological foundation in Marxism-Leninism-Mao Tsetung Thought, and its belief that class struggle continued even after the establishment of socialism. We also consider the Party’s warnings against revisionism and capitalist restoration, its emphasis on unity and revolutionary discipline, and its long-term goal of building a classless communist society. Framed as a guide for educated youth, the text offers a revealing snapshot of how the CCP interpreted its own historical development and political responsibilities at the height of the Mao era.