CASS published more than 360 treatises, more than 4,000 papers and more than 2,000 research reports as well as thousands of results in other formats in 2014, among which 39 achievements stood out for selection after a thorough evaluation and review.
 

In the past four years, scholars from CASS have produced nearly 2,000 treatises, more than 15,000 papers and more than 5,000 research reports as well as thousands of academic materials, collections of ancient books, translations, popular readings and textbooks.

'New Public Philosophy'
At present, China is in a transitional period, prompting scholars to look to theories for answers to pressing issues. Edited by CASS President Wang Weiguang in collaboration with many other philosophers and compiled over the past four years, the book New Public Philosophy is an example of attempting to make knowledge more accessible to the general public.

In the 1930s, Chinese philosopher Li Shengxuan published Philosophy for the Masses under the pen name Ai Siqi, inspiring thousands of young people to join the revolution under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party.
 

The seven-volume New Public Philosophy carries on Li's legacy by explaining profound theories in simple, readable language. Focusing on a specific philosophical theme, each volume applies different perspectives to address practical issues that arise in the effort to build socialism with Chinese characteristics.
 

The New Public Philosophy has been praised by academics and average readers alike as a masterpiece on the Sinicization and popularization of Marxism. Wang Weiguang observed that the drastically changing times and rapid development of society require innovations in Marxist philosophy and the updating of related theories and methods.
 

Translating the latest breakthroughs in Marxist philosophy and its Sinicization into solutions for contemporary problems by making Marxism a philosophy of the masses was not only the lifetime goal of philosophers like Ai Siqi but also remains to this day the aspiration of the people and a crucial task for the Party and the country, Wang added.
 

The work draws upon Marxist philosophy to offer a sense of theoretical clarity to the public in a time of confusion over the way forward.
 

“The influence of the book will grow with the passing of time. The research ideas, the methodologies it applies, its key focal points, and the attitude of studying and writing it adopts represent a milestone in the research of Marxist philosophy,” said Feng Ziyi, a professor from the Department of Philosophy at Peking University who participated in the evaluation and review of the New Public Philosophy.

Highlighted achievements
The humanities, as basic academic disciplines, occupy a significant role in the CASS disciplinary system.

 

Several newly released major works are worthy of attention. Ranging from a few volumes to hundreds of volumes, these works in the field of humanities, for the most part, were co-compiled by more than a few scholars after five or 10 years or even decades of  strenous efforts.
 

The most voluminous one, the Research Project on the Past and Present of China’s Southwest Frontier Region provides valuable information for the research on the southwestern borderlands of China.
 

In addition, several other research results released this time are also of pioneering importance as frontiers of their own field. For example, the Encyclopedia of Chinese Archaeology is the first Chinese encyclopedia published on archaeology. 

 

Research on the History of Foreign Literature (32 volumes) pays particular attention to the academic life of preeminent foreign literary writers, making up for the dearth of Chinese foreign literary study.

Sanskrit Buddhist Scriptures is an attempt to interpret Sanskrit Buddhist Scriptures in modern Chinese language, making the book more accesible for readers whose native language is Chinese.
 

Some other research results have made positive contributions to  Chinese academic discourse. The “Comprehensive Evaluation Index System for Chinese Humanities and Social Sciences Journals” developed by the Chinese Evaluation Center for Humanities and Social Sciences is a good example of this. It has evaluated as many as 733 Chinese academic journals in the field of humanities and social sciences.

Drawing upon the positive aspects of evaluation systems adopted by other academic institutes, the index also offers new ideas that ensure evaluations are conducted more fairly and reliably.

 

Policy contributions
Focusing on the important theoretical and real-world issues highlighted by the Decision on Major Issues Concerning Comprehensively Deepening Reforms approved in the plenary session, CASS has made full use of its academic advantages in applied policy research.
 

A result of the academy’s whole-hearted dedication, CASS Research Report Series on China’s Economic System Reform is a reference work for guiding the reform of the Chinese economy.

In the arena of foreign relations, some notable books include Country-risk Rating of Overseas Investment from China (CROIC-IWEP), American Think Tanks and the Post-Cold War US Policy toward China and Frontiers of World Socialism Studies.
 

Furthermore, academics are taking note of blue books, such as the Economy of China Analysis and Forecast (2015), the Society of China Analysis and Forecast (2015), the Report on Combating Corruption and Upholding Integrity in China (2014), and the Annual Report on Development of New Media in China (2014) as well as the green book the Annual Report on Actions to Address Climate Change (2014).