Implementation of Anticorruption Policies in Reform-Era China: The Case of the 1993-97 "Anticorruption Struggle"

Abstract

This article analyzes Chinese corruption in the reform era in terms of policy implementation, selecting the ”anticorruption struggle” (1993-97) as a case. The author makes two arguments. First, Chinese anticorruption policy witnessed developments both in content and in implementation process. The content of anticorruption policy became clearer and more specific, and institutional supervisory mechanisms played an increasingly important role in implementation. We can confirm the process of institutionalization in the implementation of anticorruption policy Second, the anticorruption struggle, however;had fatal weaknesses in the implementation process: difficulties in mobilizing local government and party organizations, conflict in terms of policy goals, differences of opinion over anticorruption policy, and factional struggles. Moreover, problems such as the dual leadership of the party and government supervisory apparatuses hampered legal and institutional mechanisms. As a result, anti-corruption policy was not successfully implemented in the 1990s.