Research of Historical Theories in China in the 40 Years since Reform and Open Up: the Annual Work Conference (2018) Held at the Research Centre of Historical Theories of CASS

　　On July the 14th, 2018, the annual work conference (2018) of the Research Centre of Historical Theories, CASS was held in Beijing. The key-mote of the conference is “research of historical theories in China in the 40 years since reform and open up”. About 30 scholars from IWH, Institute of History, Institute of Modern Chinese History, Institute of Contemporary China, Editorial of Chinese Social Sciences of CASS, as well as Renmin University of China, Beijing Normal University, Nankai University, Tianjin Normal University took part in the conference and gave excellent lectures. The participant scholars also made active academic communications during the conference.

　　The Research Centre of Historical Theories, CASS was founded in July of 2015. Its aims is to organize research of historical theories and relevant methodologies under the guideline of Marxism, promote academic communication and cooperation at home and abroad, as well as support the construction and academic development of the subject of historical theory and historiography in China.

　　In the opening ceremony, Researcher Chaoguang Wang (president of IWH) pointed out that the study of historical theories is one crucial part of historical research and plays an important role in historical analysis and evaluation. He then welcomed the participant scholars for taking part of the conference on behalf of IWH and the Research Centre of Historical Theories.

　　Xinjie Dong (vice president of the Research Centre of Historical Theories, CASS) concluded the conference. She pointed out that the conference admirably summarized and analyzed the research of historical theories in China in the 40 years since reform and open up. It not only confirms the achievements of the study of historical theories in China, but also recognized its problems and limitation. The views of participant scholars are relevant and consistent, which serve as guidelines for us to understand the development of the study of historical theories in China in the last 40 years. The participant scholars also summarized the development of historical theories in specific branch of historical studies, such as the study of materialism, history of civilization, study of cultural history, history of CPC, Chinese history after 1949, and the study of Chinese reform and open up. It tells us that materialism needs to be put into use in the specific historical research in China, so as to provide broader space for the development of the research of historical theories in China.