On January 24, the Ministry of Education announced the list of approved major projects on philosophy and social sciences research for 2024. The project “Research on the Construction of Historical Materials System, Discourse System, and Theoretical System of theCommunity for the Chinese Nation”, led by Professor Li Ran from the School of Ethnology and Sociology as the chief expert, was approved.

The construction of China’s indigenous historical materials system, discourse system, and theoretical system of theCommunity for the Chinese Nationis the core content of research on major foundational issues of theCommunity for the Chinese Nation. When presiding over the ninth collective study session of the Political Bureau of the 20th CPC Central Committee, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, “We must optimize discipline settings, strengthen discipline construction, ensure research directions, deepen research on major foundational issues of theCommunity for the Chinese Nation, and accelerate the formation of China’s indigenous historical materials system, discourse system, and theoretical system of the Community for the Chinese Nation”. This approved major project is guided by General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important thoughts on strengthening and improving ethnic work and Xi Jinping’s cultural thought, conducting systematic research and scholarly interpretation on the logical relationships of the “three major systems” of the Community for the Chinese Nation, the structural framework and main content of the “three major systems”, and the theories and methods for constructing the “three major systems”.

Professor Li Ran and his academic team “Southern Ethnic History and Culture Research” have long been engaged in theoretical research on the Community for the Chinese Nation and compilation of historical materials on “Three Interactions”, conducting in-depth research in multiple areas including the history and cultural heritage of interactions, exchanges, and integration among Chinese ethnic groups, the view of Chinese national history, and publicity and education on consolidating a sense of community for the Chinese nation. In recent years, the team has led six national-level projects, one Ministry of Education humanities and social sciences project, four State Ethnic Affairs Commission projects, five Hubei Province social sciences projects, and one key project from the Hubei Provincial Ethnic and Religious Affairs Commission; published over 40 papers and three monographs; and received two first prizes, two second prizes, and three third prizes at the provincial and ministerial levels for their research achievements. Multiple policy advisory reports authored by the team have been adopted as national-level internal references and received instructions from central leadership. The “Design of Thematic Routes for Consolidating a Sense of Community for the Chinese Nation in Lichuan City” led by the team was selected as one of the top ten exemplary cases of theme publicity and education in Hubei Province. The team participated in compiling the “Integration in Chu Land—Exhibition Outline of Cultural Relics for Consolidating a Sense of Community for the Chinese Nation” in Hubei Province, as well as improving the theme exhibitions at museums in Yichang and Xiangyang. Courses such as “Narrating theCommunity for the Chinese NationStory Through Cultural Heritage” have been selected by the online course department of the National Academy of Education Administration, with over 870,000 participant views.

The Major Project on Philosophy and Social Sciences Research of the Ministry of Education is an important component of the “Plan for the Prosperity of Philosophy and Social Sciences in Universities”. This project, along with the major projects of the National Social Science Fund, represents one of the highest-level, most well-funded, and most authoritative national major projects in China’s philosophy and social sciences research field, serving as one of the landmark indicators measuring the academic level of philosophy and social sciences in universities.