Problems of the Red Army’s Political Work[1]

(October 11, 1936)

The Red Army’s political work has achieved results in overcoming the phenomenon of fatigue during the Long March and in raising political morale. Special attention should be paid to the education of cadres. In this regard, there have been achievements in the past and also much experience, the main points being: equal emphasis on military and political matters; equal emphasis on theory and practice; linking theory with practice; and educational courses that are few in number but concise in content.

The methods of political work must be characterized by planning, programmatic focus, and flexibility. There must be both centralized unity and adaptability, with attention paid to differences among various localities, periods, and units, and they must suit the characteristics of guerrilla warfare. The entire education of the Red Army, including military education, political education, discipline education, and cultural education, should enhance the army’s combat effectiveness.

Our cadre policy: first, trust cadres and employ them without suspicion; second, regarding the mistakes of individual cadres, they should not be magnified, and we should help them thoroughly resolve the problems; third, respect local cadres, who have close ties with the masses; fourth, pay attention to providing political education for cadres. Our standards for cadres are: first, implement the Party’s line; second, be able to maintain ties with the masses; third, possess the ability to work independently; fourth, observe Party discipline.

[1] From October 11 to 12, 1936, the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China held a meeting to discuss the issue of the Red Army’s political work. Mao Zedong delivered an important speech, pointing out the achievements of the Red Army’s political work and summarizing the experience of political work in cadre education. This is the main content of Mao Zedong’s speech at the meeting.