China should champion its anti-corruption success stories to fight the cynicism
Robert Klitgaard says inspiring accounts are the antidote to ignorance about anti-graft drives, as passion and discipline complement each other
China is doubling down on fighting corruption. A major message of October’s Communist Party plenum was more discipline; punishment with tougher penalties and zero tolerance, regardless of position.
At an anti-corruption workshop in Yunnan last month, one leader put it this way: “Stricter supervision and criticism should make officials flush and sweat.”
Cynicism and ignorance are the enemies of reform. The antidote is success
Discipline is essential but insufficient. One must also attack cynicism and ignorance, which dissipate the passion for reform. One way to do so is to find success stories within China, document them, celebrate them, and use them to instruct and inspire.
Around the world, people are sceptical about their countries’ anti-corruption efforts. They have heard all the fine words before. They have watched laws multiply and regulations flourish. Citizens, officials and even leaders can become cynical. And many people are ignorant about fighting corruption. They are not aware that it can be reduced and has been reduced, even in situations where it is systemic.
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