Institutionalization Of Administrative Ethics In Contemporary China

Institutionalization of Administrative ethics means, via the institutionalization of the essential administrative ethic norms, to establish and improve modern government ethic accountability system integrating ethics with regulations. This proposition can be attested in terms of two respects. On the one hand, ethic accountability is one of the accountabilities of the accountable government and service-oriented government, which is the practical basis for the institutionalization of administrative ethics. On the other hand, the homogeneity and compatibility of ethics and regulations make up the theoretical basis for the institutionalization of administrative ethics. China today is undergoing social, economic and governmental transitions and the process is deepening. Along with the trend, some social problems such as the anomie of administrative power and administrative ethics have also appeared, threatening national security and the foundation of government legitimacy. However, the institutionalization of administrative ethics is found, in theory and in practice, to be one of the important solutions to the problems.This dissertation, considering the background of the institutionalization of administrative ethics in China today, in accordance with the idea of "one way, two boundaries; a system, two major target",expounds the institutionalization of administrative ethics as methodology and gives a proper definition of the concept as well as its scope. Further, the dissertation proposes that institutionalization of administrative ethics in China today involves mainly the establishment of the professional standard of administrative ethics (legislation of administrative ethics), the formation of administrative ethics organization, the promotion of administrative ethics education, and the reinforcement of administrative accountability. In terms of these four aspects, the dissertation puts forward corresponding solutions to the problems. Further, great importance is attached to the organizational goal (good governance) and individual goal (honesty and uprightness) under the institutionalization of administrative ethics.This dissertation comprises four main parts. Part I starts with a review of the relevant studies at home and abroad, introduces the major framework of this study, and defines the key terms. Part II discusses the significance of the domestic and foreign practices in the institutionalization of administrative ethics to China today based on the analyses of the background and practical measures concerned. Part III, predicated on the institutionalization of administrative ethics combining institutional arrangement with morality development, defines the theoretical and practical scopes of the institutionalization of administrative ethics. It is expected to provide a series of operational principles for the institutional transition of administrative ethics.Part IV attempts a systematic construction of the institutionalization of administrative ethics in China today in terms of the four aspects mentioned above. It is proposed in this Part that legislation of administrative ethics is the legal guarantee for the institutionalization of administrative ethics, that professional standard of administrative ethics is the institutionalized behavioral principle for the administrative subject, that administrative ethics organization is the organizational guarantee for the institutionalization of administrative ethics, and that administrative accountability is an important mechanism for the fulfillment of administrative ethics accountability.