Leadership and Public Sector Reform in China

Abstract

This chapter discusses how China’s rapid economic development since the 1970s has involved three different periods of administrative reform, stretching out over seven successive five-year plans. The author focusses on leadership style, specifically, the thinking that is expected from leaders in each period of leadership for development, open leadership and innovative leadership. The author discusses that leadership for these reforms comes from the highest levels, the Communist Party of China (CPC), as articulated by successive secretary generals of the CPC, that the purpose of reform is not only to achieve policy goals but also to uphold CPC leadership in China, and that public managers throughout China are assessed by the party as well as the government. The author also provides an excellent case of reform anti-corruption leadership that shows how the CPC deals with complex and entrenched issues through education and strict implementation, leading to punishment of 1.2 million people, including senior officials. The case shows well senior officials setting the general direction, preserving the role of the CPC, achieving results, learning through practice and innovation, trends towards increasing the rule of law, and the use of audits.

Citation

Wu, J. and Jingjun, S. (2018), "Leadership and Public Sector Reform in China", Berman, E. and Prasojo, E. (Ed.) Leadership and Public Sector Reform in Asia (Public Policy and Governance, Vol. 30), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 85-102. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2053-769720180000030004