President Ho Chi Minh commented on the constrution planning of Hanoi, 1959 - Photo: DC

1. Ho Chi Minh’s political thinking was always loyal to the stance and views of Marxism - Leninism

The concept of objective scientific thinking about politics and political research is derived from the Greek term “Politica” (which means affairs of the state, the art of management, governance, and enforcement of state powers).

Politics can also be defined as the whole ideology, theory, and organization related to the forms, tasks, activities of the state, the class struggle for the dominant position in the country, and to the political relations among classes, among peoples and nations.

Another approach shows that politics is the policy and direction of a political party to gain power or control the state apparatus to serve the interests of the class represented by that party. In terms of politics, all concepts originate from the relationship of interests between classes, social groups, and nations, especially economic interests. It can be said that class relations and state powers are the two most basic issues of politics.

It is possible to generalize the basic position of Marxism-Leninism on this subject from the above-mentioned general political perception. In his legacy, V.I. Lenin emphasizes that the organization of government - the state apparatus is the most important issue of politics, which is understood as the active participation of individuals or groups in the affairs of the state, orientation for tasks, missions, and activities of the state. Marxism-Leninism emphasizes that political relations are essentially class relations, forming the superstructure of society with apparatuses and organizations to carry out political activities such as political parties and states which are defined and created on the foundation of the economic infrastructure.

Thus, politics is a reflection of class struggle, ultimately determined by the economic status of those classes. V.I. Lenin points out that politics is a concentrated expression of economics, economic change, and development, but absolutely not a passive, negative result of economics. The superstructure formed on the economic infrastructure greatly influences the economic development. This is the active role of politics in all economic, organizational, and other matters.

President Ho Chi Minh emphasizes that there are four important issues in social life: economics, politics, culture, and society. His point of view is neither absolutist nor apolitical, but completely correct from the point of view of Marxism-Leninism.

Marxist-Leninist doctrine clarifies the law of social development, the transformation of society from poverty and backwardness to modern industry-agriculture, and advanced science-technology, which are the results of the correct political line. Foreign political achievements are the continuation of domestic political achievements.

Marxism-Leninism clearly shows that politics is both a specific practical field of operation and a scientific one. These two aspects are closely linked and cannot be separated. Emphasizing only practical activities but underestimating the scientific nature of politics will not see the basis of political activities, gaining and holding powers, and managing the state. That art is not a subjectivity but is based on the results of accurate, scientific research, awareness, and deep understanding of the objective laws of the social development process, for the benefits of society. At times, “political trickery” is understood in a broad sense as a method and way of manipulating and handling relations in any given period of history. However, political “art” or “trickery” are always based on scientific knowledge about politics, research, and summaries of scientific research and theory. On the contrary, the research, understanding, and grasping of the theory and objective laws of politics without applying them to practical political activities is just a theory, “a bookcase”.

Understanding the ideology, theory, and political organization in Ho Chi Minh’s legacy needs to affirm the core of Marxism-Leninism. It is no coincidence that Ho Chi Minh starts the Revolutionary Road with a quote by V.I. Lenin asserting, “Without revolutionary theory there can be no revolutionary movement... Only parties that are guided by an advanced theory can fulfill their role as the vanguard soldiers”⁽¹⁾. Also, in the same work paving the way, he points out: “The Russian Revolution teaches us that in order for the revolution to succeed, the people (workers and peasants) must be the root and must be led by a strong and united party which perseveres, sacrifices for the determined cause. In short, the revolution must follow Marxism and Leninism”⁽²⁾, he emphasized: “Nowadays there are many doctrines, many theories, but the most genuine, most certain, most revolutionary ideology is Leninism”⁽³⁾.

Since encountering the theories of V.I. Lenin, Ho Chi Minh has remained firmly committed to Marxism-Leninism as the guiding principle, handbook, and shining sun lighting up the path to victory. In the light of Marxism-Leninism, he led the entire people to rise up to abolish colonial and feudal domination and regain power for the people. Since the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, in the process of organizing the apparatus, the state government, and orienting the State’s activities with specific tasks and missions, President Ho Chi Minh led and directed the implementation under the light of Marxism - Leninism. With steadfast belief in the nature of the working class, he always stood firm following the stance of Marxism - Leninism not only in class struggle, but also in the process of forming and regulating the relations between classes, nations, peoples, and social forces.

Ho Chi Minh determined that the Vietnamese revolutionary path was to build a people’s democracy in the transition to socialism after the government had been returned to the people. The socialist revolution is “the most difficult and profound transformation. We must build a completely new society unprecedented in the history of our nation. We must radically change the ways of life, habits, thoughts, and prejudices that have deep-roots going back thousands of years. We must change the old relations of production, abolish the exploiting class, and build a new production relationship free from exploitation and oppression. To do that, we must gradually transform our country from a backward agricultural country into an industrial one. We must gradually collectivize agriculture. We must perform socialist reform of private industry, commerce, and handicrafts. We must turn an ignorant, miserable country into a country of high culture and happy life”⁽⁴⁾.

With the question “what shall we do to gradually move to socialism and solve these problems well?”, he wanted us to learn from the experience of our brother countries and apply their experiences creatively. According to him, “We must improve our cultivation of Marxism-Leninism in order to use Marxist-Leninist stances, viewpoints, and methods to summarize our Party’s experiences and properly analyze the characteristics of our country. Only then will we be able to gradually understand the development law of the Vietnamese revolution, determine the specific guidelines, mottos, and steps of the socialist revolution suitable to our country’s situation. Therefore, it is necessary to study theory, improve the general theoretical level of the Party, starting with the Party’s core cadres”⁽⁵⁾.

With commitment and loyalty to Marxism-Leninism, after only 15 years since its establishment, our Party led the people to the successful General Uprising; led the people to the historic victory of Dien Bien Phu “Splendid in five continents, shaking the world” while maintaining and consolidating the people’s democratic government for 9 years”. In 10 years of renovating and building the initial material foundations for socialism (from 1954-1964), “under the people’s government, 17 million of our compatriots in the North all united with one heart and one mind to strive to build the country, build a new life, strengthen our forces in all aspects. The remarkable achievements of the North have increasingly showed that the socialist regime is very good and strongly encourages the patriotic struggle of the Southern people... In the past 10 years, the North of our country has made unprecedented strides in the nation’s history. The country, society, and people are all renewed”⁽⁶⁾.

2. Ho Chi Minh’s political thinking bears his own unique characteristics

The victory of the Vietnamese revolution is the result of our Party and President Ho Chi Minh following the correct political life of Marxist-Leninist doctrine along with the unique imprints of Ho Chi Minh. This is because politics - beyond the big picture - is always considered within a given space, time, and environment. In reality not everyone has a political vision with their own manifestation and nuances when operating in the same space and time.

Ho Chi Minh’s research is not about memorizing every word, but “practicing theory” and “rationalizing practice”. The victory of the Russian October Revolution in 1917 came to millions of people around the world, but Ho Chi Minh was one of the few special and rare figures who was aware of the great stature and significance of that revolution. Ho Chi Minh received political knowledge mainly via his aspiration for national liberation and developed if further based on the needs of the country and the Vietnamese people.

From his own political activities, President Ho Chi Minh educated and trained cadres and party members on how to view and perform political activities. He wrote: “When teaching cadres, party members and people about Marxism-Leninism, many people will memorize it, but do you make people understand what Marxism-Leninism is? According to Uncle Ho, understanding Marxism-Leninism means fulfilling any task assigned by the revolution, regardless of being the President or a cook. Do not train people who just memorize but do not complete the assigned tasks, etc. Understanding Marxism - Leninism is to live together with affection and gratitude. If you memorize many books but live without affection and gratitude, you don’t understand Marxism - Leninism, etc. Taking the example of good people and real good deeds among our people, cadres, and party members to educate each other is the most practical way of propagating and educating Marxism - Leninism”⁽⁷⁾.

One of Ho Chi Minh’s most distinctive political conceptions is that solidarity and revolutionary ethics are the core of politics. He wrote: “In a nutshell, politics is:

1. Solidarity.

2. Purity from big to small things”⁽⁸⁾.

Solidarity has been mentioned in the legacy of Marx - Lenin, but solidarity as a political aspect - especially “Unity, Unity, Great Unity - Success, Success, Great Success” is completely imprinted with the character of Ho Chi Minh. This is unique political thinking that demonstrates the creative application and development of the Marxist - Leninist view of “The proletariat of all countries, unite!” and “The proletariat of all countries and oppressed peoples, unite!”.

This political thinking originates from the reality of Vietnam, where the national contradiction between the entirety of the Vietnamese people and the invaders and henchmen selling the country on the other - is the fundamental and main contradiction of colonial Vietnam. On the other hand, in Vietnam, the national bourgeoisie tends to be anti-imperialist and patriotic, becoming a force for the building of socialism.

According to Ho Chi Minh, building socialism is not only a class issue but also a national issue; It is not the private cause of the workers and farmers, but the common cause of the whole nation. In order to successfully build socialism, it is necessary to make every effort to promote the strength of the great national unity bloc. Only the successful construction of socialism can strengthen the national strength and maintain national independence.

Ethics has been mentioned a lot by K.Marx, and especially V.I.Lenin. However, the concept of politics as morality is the mark of Ho Chi Minh. Ho Chi Minh always thought a lot about ethical issues before the birth of the Party. In his Revolutionary Road, he mentioned,

Be public-spirited and selfless.

Not to be fame-seeking and arrogant.

Talk the Talk, Walk the Walk.

Hold the doctrine firmly.

Do sacrifice.

Control craving for material things”⁽⁹⁾.

When writing about politics with purity, Ho Chi Minh clearly stated: “What is a Democratic Republic government? It is the common servant of the people from the President of the country to the village. If the people are the masters, the government must be the slave. Working today is not for promotion. If the government harms the people, the people have the right to expel the government”⁽¹⁰⁾. In his will, he deeply advised on moral issues: “Our Party is a ruling party. Each party member and cadre must be truly imbued with revolutionary morality, thrift, integrity, uprightness, and impartiality. We must keep our Party pure and worthy of being a leader and a faithful servant of the people”⁽¹¹⁾.

Ho Chi Minh highly regards and emphasizes that ethics in politics have a profound and far-reaching significance, and that political activity without attention to morals and moral cultivation will lead to the degradation of politics and the abuse of power. He warned of this early on, consistently throughout his revolutionary activities, especially when our Party became the ruling Party.

Half a month after reading the Declaration of Independence, with the Party in power, he sent his letter to the committees of the regions, provinces, districts and villages, warning about serious mistakes such as: lawlessness, reliance on power, corruption, sectarianism, division, arrogance. At the end of the letter, he emphasized: “For the happiness of the nation, for the sake of the country, I must speak out., We must engrave the words “Justice, uprightness” in our hearts”⁽¹²⁾. In the following years, together with the Party ruling, In the following years, together with the Party’s hold on power, he became more concerned about maintaining the party’s power and preventing corruption by always upholding revolutionary morality. He wrote: “People in government offices have more or less power. If you do not maintain integrity, thrift, honesty, and righteousness, you are likely to become corrupt and become parasites of the people”⁽¹³⁾. Resolving the relationship between power and morality was a constant focus of Ho Chi Minh’s thought. He wrote: “Officials in agencies, organizations, higher-ups have more power and lower-level officials have less power. Whether big or small, having power but lacking conscience will lead to opportunities for corruption, embezzlement, and ‘conflicts between public and private interests’”⁽¹⁴⁾.

According to him, every cadre and party member must understand that “being a cadre means being a loyal servant of the people for life. Not everyone understands a, b, c, they have to learn forever, learn for a lifetime to memorize them”⁽¹⁵⁾. He pointed out that our people are heroic, our Party is great, the Vietnamese people are loyal and virtuous, which is thanks to our morality, willingness to sacrifice for everyone. If we cannot maintain a shining morality, we will fall into individualism, and will not be able to show that our Party is “moral and civilized”, all glory will become meaningless. He wrote: “From now on, our people and our Party must preserve and promote forever that shining morality. Our nation, our Party and every individual person, yesterday was great, had great attraction, today and tomorrow, they are unlikely to still be loved and praised by all if their hearts are not pure if they fall into individualism”⁽¹⁶⁾.

To better understand the special imprint in Ho Chi Minh’s conception and political activities, one question is what is the purpose of Ho Chi Minh’s politic activities as an individual? At the macro level, the obvious answer is to help the working-class capture state power and then to keep it, strengthen it and use that power to carry out the will and interests of the ruling class. According to Ho Chi Minh’s thought, our State is a State of the people, by the people, and for the people, with the nature of the working class. The Vietnamese working class has no other interests other than the national interest and only national liberation can liberate the working class thoroughly.

During the process of leading the revolution, President Ho Chi Minh rarely spoke about politics from the scientific and theoretical aspects, but often mentioned specifically and clearly the purpose of his political activities, “how to make our country completely independent, our people completely free, all people have food, clothing, accommodation and education”⁽¹⁷⁾. He said: “The sole purpose of my life is to strive for the interests of the Fatherland, and the happiness of the nation, and so on. Whenever and wherever it is, I only pursue one goal that is for the sake of the country, for the benefit of the people”⁽¹⁸⁾. More generally, He wrote: “My last wish is: Our entire Party and people unite to strive to build a peaceful, united, independent, democratic and strong Vietnam, and make a worthy contribution to the world revolutionary cause”⁽¹⁹⁾.

With the aim of making sure that all compatriots have food, clothes, and education, “Politics must be put into practice”⁽²⁰⁾. During the revolutionary cause, he always upheld the role and position of the people - compatriots as one of the political subjects. In general, this belongs to the principle of Marxism-Leninism. In terms of practical application, this is a unique feature of Ho Chi Minh’s thinking and political activities.

Brining politics into the midst of the people is a kind of everyday politics in which everything comes from the people, for the people, and “from the bottom to the top”⁽²¹⁾. President Ho Chi Minh was born from the people, he lived and worked in the hearts of the people, cared about the people’s worries, was happy with the people, and attached to the people all his life. He concluded: “Experience at home and abroad tells us: no matter how difficult it is, the people can do it. Without the people, nothing can be done. The people know how to solve many problems in a simple, quick, and complete way that can’t be done by intellectuals and large organizations”⁽²²⁾.

With the consensus of the people, anything can be done; Without the support of the people, nothing can be done, a concept of political activities bearing Ho Chi Minh’s own unique identity. He wrote: “Believe in the people. Bring all problems to the people to discuss and find solutions. We have flaws, we must honestly admit it in front of people. Any resolution that the people think inappropriate, let them propose to fix it. Rely on the opinions of the people to correct our cadres and organizations”⁽²³⁾.

In the renewal process, our Party consistently applied and creatively developed Ho Chi Minh’s political views in the spirit of “researching, supplementing, and perfecting revolutionary moral values on the basis of “Our Party being moral and civilized” to suit the new conditions and good cultural traditions of the nation”⁽²⁴⁾. From the perspective of political ethics, the 13th National Party Congress emphasized the task of strengthening the Party’s moral building to “fight the corruption of power⁽²⁵⁾; tighten the close relationship between the Party and the people and rely on the people to build the Party. With the political approach of solidarity to strengthen the revolutionary forces in the construction of socialism, our Party clearly states: “Great national unity is the strategic guideline of the Vietnamese revolution, the driving force and great resource in the construction and defense of the Fatherland”⁽²⁶⁾.

The above explanations show that despite changes around the world and the country, Ho Chi Minh’s views and political activities remain intact, paving the way for renewal, illuminating the future, and enduring with the nation and humanity.

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Received: January 03, 2023; Revised: February 04, 2023; Approved for publication: February 21, 2023.

Endnotes:

(1), (2), (3), (9) Ho Chi Minh: Complete Works, vol.2, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, pp. 279, 304, 289, 280.

(4), (5) Ho Chi Minh: Complete Works, vol. 11, ibid, pp.91-92, 92.

(6) Ho Chi Minh: Complete Works, vol. 14, ibid, p.272-273-275.

(7), (11), (15), (16), (19) Ho Chi Minh: Complete Works, vol.15, ibid, pp.668-669, 622, 670, 627, 614.

(8), (10), (13), (20), (21), (22), (23) Ho Chi Minh: Complete Works, vol. 5, ibid, pp.75, 74-75, 122, 338, 338, 335, 337-338.

(12), (17), (18) Ho Chi Minh: Complete Works, vol.4, ibid, pp.66, 187, 272.

(14) Ho Chi Minh: Complete Works, vol.6, ibid, p.127.

(24), (25) CPV: Documents of the 13th National Party Congress, vol.I, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2021, pp.184, 198.

(26) CPV: Documents of the 12th National Party Congress, Office of the Party Central Committee, Hanoi, 2016, p.158.