历史经验教训告诉我们,决定民族命运的因素固然很多,但是思想、理论的作用举足轻重。一个没有思想,没有先进理论作为指导的民族注定要衰落,“三个代表”重要思想正是在这样的历史背景下提出,并在实践基础上丰富和发展了邓小平理论。它对实现中华民族伟大复兴起主导作用,确立了实现中华民族伟大复兴的新起点。 一、“三个代表” 重要思想回应了实现中华民族伟大复兴的时代要求 中华民族曾经创造过历史的辉煌,长期处于领先地位,正如美国学者保罗·肯尼迪在其名著《大国的兴衰》中指出,在“近代以前时期的各种文明中,没有哪一种比中国 Historical experiences and lessons tell us that there are certainly many factors that determine the fate of the nation. However, the role of ideology and theory is decisive. A nation without any ideology and advanced theory is doomed to decline. The important thinking of the ’Three Represents’ was just put forward under such historical background and enriched and developed Deng Xiaoping Theory on the basis of practice. It played a leading role in bringing about the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and established a new starting point for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. First, the important thinking of the ’Three Represents’ has responded to the era of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. It requires the Chinese nation to have enjoyed a brilliant history and has long been in a leading position. As the American scholar Paul Kennedy pointed out in his book The Rise and Fall of Great Powers, In "all kinds of civilizations in the pre-modern times, none of them is more than China