CPC's self-reform reflects wisdom of governance

The rise and fall of political powers has been a recurring pattern throughout human history. Breaking this historical cycle has therefore remained one of the most enduring challenges for political leaders and scholars alike.

Through decades of exploration and practice, the Communist Party of China has identified two approaches to addressing this conundrum: people's oversight and self-reform.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, self-reform has evolved into a systematic approach to Party governance that not only strengthens governance in China but also offers valuable insights into modern political administration.

A defining feature of the CPC's self-reform is its commitment to putting the public interest above everything else. This approach stems from the very nature and purpose of the Party.

As the vanguard of both the people and the Chinese nation, the CPC is dedicated to wholeheartedly serving the people.

With no special interests of its own apart from those of the people and not driven by private gain, the Party is better positioned to confront its own shortcomings and undertake genuine self-reform.

By contrast, most political parties across the world primarily represent the interests of particular social groups or political constituencies.

Under many Western multiparty systems, political competition is often shaped by competing interest groups, making it difficult for governing parties to pursue reforms that may undermine entrenched interests.

The CPC's self-reform is based on a different logic. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC has advanced anti-corruption efforts. Through coordinated campaigns targeting both senior and grassroots officials, as well as fugitives overseas, China has secured an overwhelming victory in the fight against corruption.

Those gains have been further consolidated by addressing potential risks within the Party, the State and the military.

This determination to address deep-rooted problems from within the Party itself has few parallels in modern political history. It demonstrates that when a governing party places public interest above private gain, it can overcome vested interests and resolve its problems through internal reform.

Equally important is the CPC's emphasis on systemic checks. Political determination alone cannot sustain self-reform. Lasting results require institutional guarantees.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC has progressively established a comprehensive framework for supervising the authorization, exercise and oversight of power. By improving transparency and accountability while plugging the institutional loopholes exposed during anti-corruption efforts, the Party has strengthened institutional safeguards.

The objective is to curb opportunities for rent-seeking at their source and ensure that public authority operates within clearly defined rules rather than personal discretion.

Just as importantly, these rules are enforced with consistency. No individual is permitted to stand above Party discipline, and institutional authority is upheld through strict implementation rather than symbolic regulation.

Although many Western political systems have sophisticated legal and institutional frameworks, they continue to grapple with problems such as the influence of money in politics and the capture of public power by vested interests.

For many developing countries facing persistent governance challenges, China's experience suggests that effective oversight does not depend on replicating the Western multiparty political model. Instead, institutions can be strengthened according to national conditions to improve accountability, curb the abuse of power and foster a healthier political environment.

Another distinctive feature of the CPC's self-reform is its emphasis on improving Party conduct. The implementation of the central Party leadership's eight-point decision on improving Party and government conduct demonstrates the CPC's determination to enforce discipline through concrete action. By translating commitments into visible improvements, this approach has won the public's trust and support. It offers important lessons on governance for other countries as well.

Corruption doesn't happen suddenly. It often begins with the erosion of everyday discipline. In many countries, anti-corruption efforts focus primarily on high-profile cases while neglecting routine misconduct, allowing small problems to turn into systemic ones.

The CPC has adopted a different approach by addressing problems early and persistently. Beginning with issues that ordinary people encounter in daily life, such as extravagant banquets funded by public money, excessive gift-giving during holidays and the misuse of official vehicles, the Party gradually advanced disciplinary reform.

Instead of one-off campaigns, it has maintained sustained pressure and gradually institutionalized improvements in official conduct.

These sustained efforts have strengthened public confidence by demonstrating that commitments to clean governance are backed by visible action and measurable results.

At a time when corruption remains a shared challenge for countries around the world, China's practice of self-reform provides a useful point of reference for political parties across the world. Its experience underscores three essential principles of effective governance: commitment to self-reform, systemic checks on power and translating words into concrete action.

Hu Guangyu is a teacher at the School of Marxism at Sichuan Tourism University and Hu Xueju is the former vice-president of the Sichuan Academy of Social Sciences.

The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

If you have a specific expertise, or would like to share your thought about our stories, then send us your writings at opinion@chinadaily.com.cn, and comment@chinadaily.com.cn.