Communist Review - Democratic centralism is the fundamental organizational and operational principle of the Communist party. Democratic centralism aims to arouse enthusiasm and creative capacities among party members, so that every decision should be the crystallization of collective wisdom, and the majority should be exerted by and binding upon every single party member and organization with self-discipline.  

Basing on theoretical and practical foundations, the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) has always been convinced of and steadfast in the practice of democratic centralism 

Since its inception, the CPV with President Ho Chi Minh as its founder and trainer has firmly taken democratic centralism as the main organizational principle governing the whole process of its organization and operation. This practice not only safeguards the unanimity in thought and action but also taps democracy, which cumulatively results in the Party’s massive power. As steadfastly stated by President Ho Chi Minh and the CPV, democratic centralism remains the core organizational principle of the Party, and negating this principle means negating the Communist Party from within. 

The Charter of the CPV reads: “The CPV is a close-knit organization with unity of thought and action. It takes democratic centralism as the primary organizational principle, and adopts the model of collective leadership - individual responsibility with high sense of comradeship and strict discipline. In the meantime, the practice of criticism, self-criticism and solidarity is exerted in accordance with the Party’s Political Platform and Charter. The CPV shares a flesh-and-blood bond with the masses, operating within the framework of Viet Nam’s Constitution and laws”.

The basic content of this principle is specified in Article 9, the Charter of the CPV as follows: “1. Governing bodies of the Party are elected and organized on the basis of combining collective leadership and individual responsibility. 2. The Party’s supreme leading organ is the National Party Congress and the Central Committee it elects. The Party’s leading bodies at all levels in the localities are the Party congresses at these levels and the committees they elect. 3. Party committees at all levels are accountable and report work to the congresses at their respective levels, the superior level and the subordinate level. 4. Party organizations and Party members must comply with the resolutions of the Party. The individual Party member is subordinate to a Party organization; the minority is subordinate to the majority; the lower level organization is subordinate to the higher level; each organization and all members of the whole Party are subordinate to the Party’s National Congress and the Central Committee. 5. Resolutions of Party committees are only valid once approved by more than half of their membership. Party members can express their opinions before voting. Party members with minority opinions are entitled to reserve and report to their superior committees or the National Party Congress; they, however, must strictly abide by the resolution and must not disseminate opinions that go against the Party’s resolutions. Authorized committees should take such views into consideration, and should not discriminate against those with minority opinions. 6. Party organizations shall handle, independently and responsibly, matters within their jurisdiction, which does not run counter the Party’s principles, guidelines, policies, the State’s laws and the superior level’s resolutions. 

The CPV always affirms and persists in practicing the principle of democratic centralism on account of, first of all, the nature of the Party and its historic requirements and mission. Marxism-Leninism defines the Communist Party as the vanguard of the working class, being imbued with the nature of the working class. It is the most organized and enlightened contingent of the working class. The Communist Party only approves the admission for membership of those who are the most elite, forward-thinking and communist conscious among the working class and the toiling masses. 

President Ho Chi Minh made it clear that “Staging a revolution to liberate oneself and to transform the former evil society into a new better one is a very glorious career, but it is an extremely tough mission and a highly complicated, long, arduous struggle as well” (3). If the revolution is to succeed, “First and foremost, there must be a revolutionary party which engages in mobilizing and organizing the local people, as well as communicating with oppressed nations and the proletariats here and there. A strong Party is the prerequisite to a successful revolution, which is like a skillful sailor guides his boat smoothly.”(4). In order to build a strong Communist Party, the premier task is to build it into an organizationally mighty one. That is to say, the apparatus of the Communist Party from central to local levels must be tight, integral with strict discipline. Solidarity makes up its strength, while discipline serves as an essential condition and factor to maintain unity of will and action, and enhance the leadership and combativeness of the Communist Party. According to President Ho Chi Minh, solidarity and discipline are inseparable within the Communist Party. The invincible strength of the Party lies in the spirit of self-discipline and high sense of organization among cadres and party members. Taking a formidable, complicated and prolonged historic mission, the Communist Party has fought against hostile forces that spare no effort to do harm to itself and socialism. Hence, the Communist Party must be built in a centralized manner with unity in organization and operation, while strict discipline must be maintained should the glorious historical mission be accomplished. 

Secondly, basing on historical experience of the international communist and workers' movements, the practical experience of the CPV. The reality of  international communist and workers' movements shows that democratic centralism in the Communist Party is the source of its organizational strength and the excellent foundation for its unity of will and action. 

Discussing the role of democratic centralism in the Communist Party, classic theoreticians of Marxism-Leninism have been unanimous that this practice exerts an important influence on enhancing the enthusiasm and creative capacities of party members in the revolutionary struggle for the cause of the Communist Party whereby all decisions turn into the collective brainchild of its members and leading bodies, raising discipline and proletariat consciousness of the Communist Party. Democracy in the Communist Party is absolutely contrary to democracy conceived by opportunism. While the opportunists under the banner of “democracy” orchestrate attacks against centralism and clamors for factionalism within the Communist Party, the communists in contrast strive to exercise socialist democracy in order to promote the leadership role of party members and educate them to have a sense of mastery in the Communist Party. Centralism in the Communist Party is the manifestation of collective leadership. That is, policies of the Communist Party are soundly established upon the summation of experience and opinions of all party members, whereby  empirical and paternalistic style of work are limited,  and arbitrariness and authoritarianism are avoided. In the words of V.I.Lenin, “Democratic centralism, on the one hand, entirely deviates from bureaucratic centralism, and on the other hand does diverge from anarchism”(5) and  “There is nothing more erroneous than the confusion of democratic centralism with bureaucracy and mechanical stereotypes”(6). He made it clear that this was the solely correct principle of the new-style proletarian party, which distinguished the true revolutionary political party of the working class from other parties. 

In his explanation of the nature of democratic centralism, President Ho Chi Minh wrote: “The people are the masters of the government. The people elect representatives to run it on their behalf. That is democracy. Governing bodies are of unity and centralism. At all levels ranging from the communal people's council and committee to the National Assembly and the Central Government, the minority is subordinate to the majority; the lower level organization is subordinate to the higher level. As such, it is both democracy and centralism”(7). Centralism and democracy are two inseparable aspects of dialectical unity. Centralism ensures the confined exercise of democracy. In return, democracy enables centralism to be flexibly implemented, whereby high efficiency in leadership and management is achieved. Consequently, it is necessary to integrate these two factors into the Party's leadership in a coherent and harmonious manner. Democracy must be guaranteed by centralism, and centralism must be based on democracy.  Centralized leadership without the extension of democracy will give rise to power abuse and corruption. Conversely, the absence of centralized and unified leadership is bound to result in arbitrariness, anarchism and individualism. 

In regard to leadership and management, President Ho Chi Minh required the practice of democratic centralism in association with the implementation of collective leadership and individual responsibility. As the President put it “Collective leadership is democracy. Individual accountability is centralism. The combination of collective leadership and individual accountability constitutes democratic centralism. “Non-collective leadership will potentially lead to the empirical and paternalistic style of work. It will end up with a failure. Non-individual accountability will risk chaos and anarchy. It will end up with a failure as well. Collective leadership and individual accountability should always go hand in hand” (8) 

The demise of the socialist model in the Soviet Union and Eastern European countries serves as a painful lesson about the Communist Party's inadequate attention to, deviation from, and improper implementation of the principle of democratic centralism. Some countries prioritized bureaucratic centralism and rigid unity, leading to violations of democracy in their Communist Parties such as patriarchy, authoritarianism, personality cult. In contrast, others overlooked centralism and unity, resulting in chaos and anarchy. Mistakes in the grasp and implementation of democratic centralism undermined the leadership of the Communist Parties and hindered the development of those countries. 

The CPV has always persisted in practicing the principle of democratic centralism, thereby gathering, uniting, bringing into full play bravery, wisdom, and exemplary pioneering norm of cadres and party members. These play the central role in evoking and promoting the strength of the great national unity bloc. Therefore, the sound leadership of the CPV is the decisive factor constituting all victories of the Vietnamese revolution, from the national liberation revolution to the renovation, construction and defense of the Viet Nam Socialist Fatherland.  

New progress in concretizing, institutionalizing and implementing the principle of democratic centralism of the CPV at present 

Over more than 90 years of construction and development, especially 35 years of the Doi Moi, the CPV has always persevered and gained numerous achievements in concretizing, institutionalizing and practicing the principle of democratic centralism in all domains and activities as follows: 

1- In building the Platform, formulating guidelines and policies of the Communist Party: Since its inception, not least during the Doi Moi years, important decisions, guidelines and policies have been made by the CPV ranging from the draft Platform to the draft Party Congress documents, all of which have been brought to democratic discussions, consultation with party organizations and members from the grassroots level upwards. Opinions of the National Assembly, the Fatherland Front, mass organizations and people of all walks of life have been taken into account. Issues, especially controversial ones have been thoroughly investigated from differing angles before reaching consensus. Newly-emerged, difficult and complicated issues have been discussed, exchanged at seminars carefully plus with expert opinions prior to their submission to the Politburo and the Party Central Committee for final decision. Following the 8^th National Party Congress, the Central Theoretical Council was established with the function of advising on political theory and the extension of democracy in shaping policies and guidelines of the CPV.  As a result, several thorny theoretical and practical issues, thanks to the sound application and promotion of the principle of democratic centralism, have been studied and decided by the highest leadership bodies of the CPV such as: building a socialist law-governed state; building a socialist-oriented market economy; universal economic model in the transition to socialism; the issue of party members doing private business; the function of social criticism of the Fatherland Front and mass organizations; identifying the private sector as an important driver of the economy; promoting international integration, among others. Newly-emerged and tough problems have been piloted before reviewing and drawing experience, such as public-private partnership investment; urban government construction; the grant of autonomy to Central-affiliated cities, and so on. As reality shows that the more widely the CPV promotes democracy, the more concentrated it will be in leadership, direction, and decisions of the Party's top governing bodies, such as the National Party Congress, the Party Central Committee, the Politburo, the Secretariat, and Party Committees at all levels. The more democracy is expanded, the more centralized the Party is; democracy must end up in centralism, contributing to the unity of views and policies in leadership and direction.   

Viet Nam is accelerating industrialization, modernization, and developing a socialist-oriented market economy and international integration; its social conditions have changed in various economic, cultural and human aspects compared to the periods of resistance war, national liberation revolution, subsidization and early years of renovation. Hence, compared to such previous periods, there have emerged new requirements and developments in the exercise of democratic centralism. At present, democracy serves as an essential need for cadres, party members and people, and at the same time a requisite for the development and perfection of a genuinely revolutionary party leading the State and society to score victory in the construction and defense of the Vietnamese Fatherland under new circumstances. Together with the creativity and wisdom of all party members, democracy should be considerably promoted for the collective decisions to be correct and highly unanimous. The practice of democratic centralism is not only an indispensable requirement in the organization and operation of the CPV at present, but also an essential principle in state management, building a Vietnamese socialist law-governed State of the people, by the people and for the people. 

2- In renewing the leadership and ruling methods of the CPV: Activities of Party committees and organizations at all levels have been conducted in a democratic and open manner. Party members have boldly presented their own opinions; such forms of discussion as of briefings, conferences, seminars, direct contact between key cadres, Party members and people have been encouraged. Since the 9^th National Party Congress, the practice of democracy within the CPV has been increasingly extended with question-and-answer sessions conducted at plenums of the Party Central Committee, the Politburo, and the Secretariat. The asking and answering of questions have been extended to meetings of Party committees and standing committees at all levels and applied to all party members in order to promote democracy, to strengthen solidarity and unity, to enhance responsibility and leadership capacity, combativeness of party organizations and party members, to prevent violations in performing duties, responsibilities and assigned tasks, and to preserve the moral qualities and lifestyle of party members. The Resolution of the 4^th Plenum of the Party Central Executive Committee of CPV, 11^th Tenure emphasizes: “Promoting true democracy in the Party, strictly implementing the Regulation on questioning within the Party, especially at meetings of the Party Central Committee and party committees at all levels”(9). The Politburo and the Secretariat have strictly implemented the practice of reporting task performance before the Party Central Committee or at the request of the Party Central Committee. Particularly, standing committees shall report to Party committees at their respective levels on their task performance between the two periodic Party committee meetings. That key leaders of the CPV, the State of Viet Nam and Party committees at all levels meet monthly serves as the basis for democracy promotion within the Party, ranging from the Politburo to the standing committee at all levels, the National Assembly, the Government of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam and local authorities, etc. 

During the 12^th Tenure of the CPV, a model working regulation of provincial and municipal Party Committees under the Central Government was issued, clearly defining the working regime, authority and responsibility of the standing and permanent members of Party Committees, especially those of the party secretary, rectifying the abuse of power by party secretaries in the name of standing party committees. 

3- In cadre work, especially in the selection of party members to be nominated and elected to leading positions of the State, the Fatherland Front and mass organizations: The principle of democratic centralism is institutionalized and concretized in the Election Regulations within the Party, which is observed from the grassroots to the Party Central Committee; the Regulations on decentralization of staff management and appointment, and candidate nomination adopts a 5-step process of personnel selection for re-elected and first-time candidates in line with the structure and standards of the standing committee at all levels, which enhances the leadership of party committees, promotes democracy among key cadres and party members, and upholds individual responsibility, first of all that of  leaders for staff management.   

4- In resolving the relationship between ensuring the centralized leadership and direction of superiors and tapping the initiative rights of subordinates: To effectively exercise democratic centralism, the political system apparatus has been streamlined with intermediate elements being reduced, which is in fact the limitation of power dispersion into middle ranks, ensuring centralized leadership and direction as well as clarifying the functions, tasks and authority of party organizations of various levels. Inspection and supervision have been strengthened in order to tighten discipline and promote democracy. Decentralization has been increasingly evident, creating conditions for subordinates to play an active role. Sectionalism and disunity among cadres and party members have been rectified and handled in a timely manner. 

Firmly grasping and well observing democratic centralism within the CPV in the time to come 

In the coming time, in order to well implement the principle of democratic centralism, it is necessary to focus on a number of key solutions as follows: 

Firstly, raising awareness for cadres and party members of democratic centralism in the Communist Party; clarifying the principle’s content and requirements in the new situation; fighting against false claims and denials of the principle. Each party organization and member must grasp the principle in a sound and unanimous manner. Accordingly, democracy must go hand in hand with centralism; promoting democracy must be associated with anti-democratic extremism and democracy that does not follow the State rules and regulations. Democratic centralism must be exercised in accordance with the Charter of the CPV and in a synchronous relationship with other principles, such as self-criticism and criticism, solidarity and unity within the Communist Party. 

Secondly, continuing to institutionalize and concretize the principle of democratic centralism in each field and aspect of the Party building work. It is necessary to concretize the basic contents of this principle as stated in the Charter of the CPV with specific guiding documents for party organizations and members to implement. Party committees and organizations shall review, amend and supplement working regulations accordingly, ensuring synchronization, consistency and connection with the working regulations of superior party committees and related regulations of the Party Central Committee. It is also essential to formulate regulations on organization and management of ideological work, on preparing, discussing and approving resolutions, on handling petitions, complaints and denunciations, and among others. 

Thirdly, the expansion of democracy goes hand in hand with the consolidation of discipline in the Communist Party. To build institutions and mechanisms that allow democracy to be brought into full play, first of all, it is of necessity to ensure the exercise of party members' rights, especially the right to discuss, question, criticize, inform and reserve opinion. At the same time, beside the expansion of democracy, it is required to fortify and strengthen discipline in the Party. All party organizations and members must strictly abide by the directives and resolutions of the Party.   

Fourthly, strengthening the inspection and supervision of the practice of democratic centralism in the Communist Party. Strictly and promptly handling party organizations and members that violate the principle, the Platform, the Party Charter, resolutions, directives and regulations of the Party, the policies and laws of the State. Acts of tolerating and covering up shortcomings and violations of party organizations and members should be handled strictly with punishments being publicized. Paying attention to inspecting and supervising heads of Party committees, party organizations, state organizations, Fatherland Front and mass organizations in the performance of their assigned responsibilities, tasks and authority and the preservation of moral qualities, lifestyle. Strengthening inspection and supervision of party cadres, party organizations in state agencies, economy units and other error-prone domains. 

Fifthly, upholding and promoting the role of leaders and key cadres in applying the principle of democratic centralism, along with maintaining and taking the initiative, actively preventing and combating deviation from this principle. Clarifying the individual responsibilities of leaders and key cadres in carrying out their duties to set an example, especially in exercising the principles of democratic centralism, collective leadership and individual responsibility, self-criticism and criticism. Developing a mechanism to encourage and protect those who dare to think, dare to do, dare to break through, dare to take responsibility for the common good. 

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(1) Communist Party of Viet Nam, Documents of the Party Congress in the Doi Moi period, Part II (the 10^th, 11^th, 12^th Congress), National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2019, p. 518 

(2) Communist Party of Viet Nam, Document of the Party Congress in the Doi Moi period, Part II (the 10^th, 11^th, 12^th Congress), Ibid.; p. 523 - 524 

(3) Ho Chi Minh: Complete Volume, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2011, Vol. 11, p. 601 

(4) Ho Chi Minh: Complete volume, Ibid., Vol. 2, p. 289 

(5), (6) V.I. Lenin: Complete Volume, National Political Publishing House., Hanoi, 2006, Vol. 36, p. 185, 186 

(7) Ho Chi Minh: Complete volume, Ibid., Vol. 8, p. 263 – 264 

(8) Ho Chi Minh: Complete Volume, Ibid.,Vol. 5, p. 620 

(9) Communist Party of Viet Nam, Document of the Fourth Conference of the Central Committee of the 11^th term, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2012, p. 30 

This article was published in the Communist Review, No. 957 (January 2021)