Good can drive out the bad

"New normal" is a phrase that has been mentioned by Xi Jinping since he became the new Party leader in late 2012. And media outlets have begun using it to describe his policies. In this context, "new" means that the top leaders through high-pressure means will revolutionarily change the old political system hard hit by corruption and misconduct. "Normal" means that the fight against corruption will be continual instead of a short-lived battle.

The ultimate aim of the new normal is transparent governance and a political environment that is under the rule of law.

An analysis of the speeches delivered by Xi and the measures taken by the new leadership over the past two years reveal the changes in policy they consider necessary to achieve the new normal.

Reversing the once-rampant practice that "bad officials drive out the good" is doubtlessly the first. The best example of this is the recent investigation in Shanxi province, North China, which showed how corrupt officials get promoted by bribing superiors, and how they cooperate with each other to isolate those colleagues with integrity.

Such a political environment follows distorted rules whereby the most corrupt survive; the new normal will change this by creating an environment in which the clean and capable thrive, while corrupt officials are dismissed and prosecuted.

The new normal means that not just corruption but the tolerance of it will be curbed. The rampancy of corruption over the passing years has a lot to do with abnormally light penalties corrupt officials have received. This has been, in effect, systemic protection and tolerance of corruption. When officials found they could easily grab millions of dirty dollars and the worst consequence would be a few years in prison, there was little motivation for them not to abuse their power for personal gain.