Good can drive out the bad

Top leaders of China are showing that the new normal for the political and social environment they envision is attainable

'New normal" is a phrase that has been mentioned by Xi Jinping since he became the new Party leader in late 2012. And media outlets have begun using it to describe his policies. In this context, "new" means that the top leaders through high-pressure means will revolutionarily change the old political system hard hit by corruption and misconduct. "Normal" means that the fight against corruption will be continual instead of a short-lived battle.

The ultimate aim of the new normal is transparent governance and a political environment that is under the rule of law.

An analysis of the speeches delivered by Xi and the measures taken by the new leadership over the past two years reveal the changes in policy they consider necessary to achieve the new normal.

Reversing the once-rampant practice that "bad officials drive out the good" is doubtlessly the first. The best example of this is the recent investigation in Shanxi province, North China, which showed how corrupt officials get promoted by bribing superiors, and how they cooperate with each other to isolate those colleagues with integrity.

Such a political environment follows distorted rules whereby the most corrupt survive; the new normal will change this by creating an environment in which the clean and capable thrive, while corrupt officials are dismissed and prosecuted.

The new normal means that not just corruption but the tolerance of it will be curbed. The rampancy of corruption over the passing years has a lot to do with abnormally light penalties corrupt officials have received. This has been, in effect, systemic protection and tolerance of corruption. When officials found they could easily grab millions of dirty dollars and the worst consequence would be a few years in prison, there was little motivation for them not to abuse their power for personal gain.

The ongoing swatting of "flies" and hunting of "tigers", the pursuit of both petty and high-ranking corrupt officials, together with most corruption cases being made public, has sent a clear, unambiguous signal that the top leadership will not forgive any official found to be corrupt. The resulting shock wave has been more effective than any persuasion or education, in convincing corrupt officials to give up the illusion they might be lucky and escape being swatted or hunted.

Another common complaint about local governments, namely the failure of officials to fulfill their duties, will also be addressed by the new normal. As the campaign against corruption has continued it has restrained the tendency for graft among officials, but the problem of them refusing to perform their duties persists. For example, while many local government leaders have been avoiding adopting new development programs because they dare not make a personal profit out of them and have to prioritize sustainable development, environmental agencies nationwide still tend to turn a blind eye to polluting industries.

This is what the new normal will prevent. Several times, Xi has called for leading officials to "shoulder their duties", and Premier Li Keqiang has emphasized that implementation is the key to new reform measures. There have been examples of officials being punished for failing to do their duty. This will help the new leadership rally public support and consolidate the legitimacy of the government, because people judge a government by what it has done for them.

The rule of law is the foundation for the new normal. All too often in the past, laws have been reduced to scraps of paper, with government agencies and officials following orders instead of the law. The media has even reported incidents in which the verdict of a local people's court cannot be executed because a leading local official said no.

That has damaged the credibility of the government. Worse, rule of man is an obstacle to reform and will make the new normal unstable - it is hard to imagine the new normal will last long if it is a superior's orders rather than the law that is binding.

The top leadership knows the rule of law is indispensable to the new normal. Xi said that "the Constitution is above all" when he assumed the position of general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee in November 2012. And the fourth plenum of the 18th Communist Party of China Central Committee, which will be held later this month, has already set the rule of law as its theme.

It should be noted that the new normal will not only improve the political environment, it will also produce lasting effects on the other aspects of society. A new political normal and a new social normal are within reach, and together they will create a harmonious society and healthy economy steered by clean and clear governance.

The author is professor and deputy director at the Clean Governance Institute, Beihang University.