The CPT is a based on the concept of democratic centralism, a principle conceived by Russian Marxist Vladimir Lenin, that entails democratic and open discussion of policy issues within the party followed by the requirement of total unity in upholding the agreed policies.

The party had pursued state socialism,[1] under which all industries were nationalized and a command economy was introduced.

This changed upon the ascension of Mikhail Gorbachev in 1985 when he and his allies envisioned the introduction of an economy similar to Lenin's earlier New Economic Policy through a program of "perestroika", or restructuring, but their reforms, leading to the unraveling of the CPT in the 1990 Dushanbe riots, the banning of the CPT in 1991 and the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

The first social democratic groups arose in Tajikistan during the 1905 Russian Revolution and by late 1917 and early 1918, Bolshevik organizations were created in Khodjent, Ura-Tyube, Penjikent, and Shurab.

On 6 December 1924, the government formed the Organizing Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Uzbekistan in the Tajik Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic.