Recently, the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee released the second‑round list of key columns for philosophy and social science journals. Two columns from journals affiliated with Zhongnan University of Economics and Law (ZUEL) have been added to the list: “Intellectual Property Law for an Innovation‑Oriented Country” in Studies in Law and Business, and “Paradigms and Methods for New Liberal Arts” in New Liberal Arts Education Research. This marks a landmark achievement in the development of ZUEL’s academic journals
The key column initiative launched by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee aims to guide philosophy and social science journals to follow Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, align with the Party and the country’s core priorities and major strategic plans, and shoulder the cultural mission of the new era. Journals are required to uphold correct political, academic and value orientations, pursue rigorous scholarship, exercise academic leadership, foster sound academic conduct, and develop distinctive academic platforms. The initiative seeks to build core platforms for interpreting the Party’s theoretical innovations and an academic hub for developing philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics. High‑quality journal development will empower the development of China’s cultural strength and the advancement of Chinese modernization.
In May 2015, Studies in Law and Business launched the column “Intellectual Property Law for an Innovation‑Oriented Country”. It addresses contemporary issues of innovative practices through the lens of the rule of law, covering legislative improvement, administrative enforcement and judicial protection. It spans the full chain of intellectual property creation, exploitation, management and protection. Over the past decade, responding to major national demands for the rule of law, the column has generated a series of research outcomes on major issues such as online platform governance, drug‑patent linkage, and institutional reforms of intellectual property. Many of its policy proposals have been adopted by relevant government departments. Numerous papers published in the column have been reprinted in authoritative Chinese secondary literature including Xinhua Digest. It boasts remarkable academic value and social impact.
Launched in June 2021, the column “Paradigms and Methods for New Liberal Arts” in New Liberal Arts Education Research takes interdisciplinary integration as its core mission. It focuses on cutting‑edge interdisciplinary topics at the intersection of humanities, social sciences and natural sciences, and follows a problem-driven approach. Since its inception, articles from the column have been reprinted or excerpted 25 times by authoritative Chinese secondary publications including Xinhua Digest, representing an 86 percent reprint rate. This demonstrates the column’s academic leadership and theoretical influence.
The inclusion of the two columns in the key column initiative for philosophy and social science journals by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee represents full recognition by the central authorities of ZUEL’s achievement in academic journal cluster development and its core academic leadership. Going forward, ZUEL’s journal cluster will center on the development of these key columns and leverage its distinctive strengths in the deep integration of finance, economics and law. It will continue to contribute to developing China’s independent knowledge system of philosophy and social sciences and promoting ZUEL’s high‑quality development.
(END)