The Left from a Marxist Perspective

An international scientific symposium on the theme "The Theoretical Foundations of the Left from a Marxist Perspective" was held over two days, November 25-26, in Hanoi.The seminar was one of the activities of the project "Choosing Left-Wing Theories in a Changing World," supported by the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation (Federal Republic of Germany) and implemented in collaboration with the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in 2009-2010. In this seminar, scientists and managers from Germany, the United States, and Vietnam focused on discussing and exchanging experiences in researching the Marxist theory of the Left in the process of globalization and change. Professor Vu Cao Dam (Director of the Center for Policy Research and Analysis), in his introductory report, presented different perspectives on the current state of the Left. Traditionally, the "Left" includes the bourgeois class, intellectuals, and workers belonging to the Third Estate, often seated to the left of the Speaker of the National Assembly, always representing the revolutionary spirit demanding justice and freedom; In contrast to the "Right Wing," seated to the right of the chairman, comprised of conservative clergy and nobility seeking to maintain the existing political and social order, the "Left Wing" advocates individual freedom, social justice, democracy, and a rapid transformation of the contemporary political and social order. The spirit of the "Left Wing" is the revolutionary spirit of new values. Theoretical studies of the Left Wing in individual countries and regions are a central focus of many reports. Some notable reports include: "Socialist Tendencies in the Current Left-Wing Movement in Latin America" ​​– by Pham Hoang Giang, which outlines some fundamental trends that the Left-Wing movement is creating on the path towards socialism in several Latin American countries, namely: the ideology of building a socialist path and direction for Latin American Left-Wing parties; Implementing a path of national independence, escaping the imposition of the capitalist world and foreign dependence, strengthening international solidarity and cooperation, and realizing the goals of people's livelihoods, democracy, and justice in the economic, cultural, and social life of Latin American countries are crucial. Other examples include "The 'Left' and 'Right' Issue of German Political Parties Today" by Dr. Luong Van Ke, and "The Differences Between the Latin American Left and the European Left Creating a Breakthrough" by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen An Ninh… Many other reports also focus on theoretical research on the Left in several countries: Germany, the United States, Venezuela… In his theoretical research on the Left from a Marxist perspective in Vietnam, Professor Dr. Dang Canh Khanh particularly emphasizes "Ho Chi Minh's Humanist Thought and the Vitality of the Current Left Movement." He stresses the position and role of human beings in the development of the current Left movement. He argued that promoting the role of human beings as the subject and driving force of the Leftist movement and of development; human happiness is the highest goal of development, and also the highest goal of the Leftist movement. Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Van Kim – Vice Rector of the University – affirmed: The seminar not only contributes to promoting new research directions on the Leftist movement but also contributes to expanding research and training activities in the fields of political science and historical science of the University in particular, and in the social sciences and humanities of Vietnam in general.