Brief Introduction to School of Marxism at

 Peking University

Peking University is the earliest founding place that pioneered in studying and educating Marxism in China. In the early twentieth century, one of the founders of Chinese Communist Party, Li Dazhao and his colleagues from Peking University started to teach and spread Marxism. They established the earliest Marxist research group in China. In 1920, Li Dazhao introduced three Marxist courses in Peking University, namely, “the view of materialistic history”, “socialism and social movements” and “international worker movement and the future of socialism”. He introduced Marxism to the school and incorporated these courses as part of the modern university education, heralding Marxism studies as a theoretical discipline.

In April 1992，Peking University founded the first school of Marxism in China. Along with rapid growth for two decades, School of Marxism is now conferring Master and PhD degree. Besides to its candidates, there are three second class Master and PhD subjects, including Marxist Philosophy, Political Economy, Scientific Socialism and International Communist Movements (National Key Subjects). Further, School of Marxism has Education Ministry’s key research unit— Research Center for Theoretical System of the Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, Beijing philosophy and social science key research unit—Research Center for the Development of Chinese Marxism. 

School of Marxism has started several important projects recently, namely, the project of the Marx Building, the first building named after Karl Marx in China; the project of

editing and compilation of Marxist classics; the project of International Marxist Literature Center with an area of more than 5000 square meters and a collection of 500,000 volumes; the project of cultivating Collaborative Innovation Center on the Chinese Path and Sinicized Marxism at Peking University, the project of holding a world class academic forum—World Congress on Marxism; the project of creating a journal about World Marxist movement; the project of holding a forum with the deans of different schools of Marxism across the countries; the project of holding a conversation between Chinese and western Marxist, and the project about PhD students’ forum on Marxist Theories.

Facing new challenges and opportunities today, School of Marxism of Peking University insists the principle of “promoting Marxism from a Marxist stance”, adapts itself into the new conditions, seeks truth and innovation, and strives to be excellent. Its aim is to build a world-class school of Marxism with the Peking University style as well as Chinese features.

Professor Yu Hongjun is the dean of school of Marxism. He is also the executive deputy secretary of the Party committee at Peking University.